Also this week:

AVENGERS #501 - Wow.  This really isn't working.  Brian Bendis is a great writer, but he's a writer who deals in plot, mood and character.  He's not a writer who deals in Big Thing Go Boom, and boy does it show.  This is basically an issue of people reacting to the Big Thing Going Boom last issue, which ought to play more to Bendis' strengths, but it rings hollow.  The tone is off - for example, you can't get away with a silly visual like a little miniature Wasp tucked into a full-size hospital bed unless you're playing the story in goofy, primary-coloured superhero mode.  When you try to play the story as dark and angst-ridden - which certainly seems to be what they're aiming for - it just looks stupid.  C-

STREET ANGEL #3 - A lot more deadpan than the first two issues, but the more I re-read this, the funnier it gets.  Street Angel helps the local Christians fight off a bunch of lunatic Satanists straight from the Daily Mail paranoia farm.  Knowingly silly, but perhaps less obviously so than usual, given that stories on these themes have a nasty habit of being ludicrous and arbitrary anyway.  Wasn't sure about this one on first reading, but it's definitely growing on me with time.  A-   

Last week's Article 10 is still up at Ninth Art.

No X-Axis next week - I'm on holiday.  I'll review the books when I get back.  However, here's what's shipping next week:-

District X #5, continuing "Mr M."  Ultimate X-Men #51, with more of Gambit.  X-Force #2, which speaks for itself.  And X-Men: The End - Dreamers & Demons #3.  There's also the ninth Ultimate X-Men trade paperback, collecting Brian Vaughan and Brandon Peterson's "The Tempest".

The week after that, Cable/Deadpool #7 begins "The Passion of the Cable" (no, seriously).  Madrox #1 reunites the Peter David X-Factor cast.    New X-Men #5 continues the opening arc.  Greg Rucka rounds off his run on Wolverine with issue #19.  A new Brotherhood of Mutants debuts in X-Men #161.  Emma Frost #15 continues "Bloom."  And Wolverine: The End #5 brings the miniseries towards a conclusion.

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