X-Force #1
|
|
Released
|
March 21st, 2011
|
Running time
|
20:22
|
Previous review
|
|
Next review
|
|
Tagline
|
All I have to say is "Rob Liefeld" and I bet you could predict what's coming from this comic. But you'd be wrong, for this comic ALSO has a trading card!
|
Link
|
|
Linkara: Hello, and welcome to Atop the Fourth Wall, where bad comics burn. People often ask for recommendations about where to start out in comics, and yes, I am planning on putting together a blog post giving recommendations. But there's a bit of a problem for me when people ask where to start with the X-Men.
(Shots of the X-Men are shown)
Linkara (v/o): There are two things holding me back, the first being that I don't know all that much about the X-Men. "Really?" cried out the people who saw my "Uncanny X-Men" videos back in 2009 and corrected me about Angelo being a longtime member of the team and how dare I not know that. Sure, I know a lot of the history, I know a lot of the major events, but I'm not exactly a fan, beyond the '90s animated series. There have just been so many characters, so many stories that it's almost completely unwieldy. I admire the people who can keep a lot of the convoluted stories and history straight. The second is part of that. When you say "X-Men", it also kind of incorporates all the X-Men spin-off titles...
(Cut to a montage of such titles...)
Linkara (v/o): "X-Factor", "New Mutants", "Excalibur", "Exiles", "X-Staix", "Young X-Men", "Alpha Flight", "District X". And that's not even getting into the X-Men books that just add another word to the book title: "Astonishing X-Men", "Uncanny X-Men", "New X-Men", "X-Men Unlimited", "Ultimate X-Men", "Xtreme X-Men". And what about the titles for individual characters?
Linkara: (recoiling, holding up hands) Okay, okay, okay! That's enough! The point is, there's a lot of freakin' "X-Men" books! We're going to talk about one particular title today: "X-Force".
(Cut to some shots of "The New Mutants")
Linkara (v/o): Shortly after Rob Liefeld took over art duties for the book "New Mutants" in the tail end of its run, his popularity led him to taking over the writing duties as well. At number 100 in the series, the group renamed itself "X-Force", allowing them to create a whole new book for the series and launch a new number-one issue. Subsequently, the ensuing popularity meant the book sold around five million copies, making it the second most sold comic book of all time, right behind "X-Men #1", which we've already looked at.
Linkara: And hey, that book was fairly okay. Maybe this one won't be so bad. (smiles hopefully, then expression turns sour) Let's just dig into (holds up today's comic) "X-Force #1".
(AT4W title sequence plays; title card has "I Drove All Night" by Cyndi Lauper playing in the background; cut to a closeup of the comic's cover)
Linkara (v/o): The first thing I should note is that, aside from Liefeld's popularity, the other reason why this comic book sold so well was that it was a polybag comic. Polybags, for non-comic readers, are those plastic bags you'll sometimes see comics in, often with a white board in the back to keep it straight.
(Cut to a shot of polybags)
Linkara (v/o): People who collect comic books or want to preserve the quality of the comic tend to keep them sealed in them under the theory that it will help stop the decay of the comic. It's also used by some store owners to prevent people from reading the comic in the store, which is fine. I prefer a store to keep it so people can read what they want to buy, but a store should be allowed to set its own policies.
(A montage of comics in polybags are shown, including "Hardware" and "Superman #75")
Linkara (v/o): During the '90s, comics polybagged by the publishers were often done so for specific reasons, primarily if there was something that was sold with the comic. For example, "Superman #75", when he died, was polybagged with this special black polybag with a red, bleeding Superman emblem. Inside, it contained the comic, of course, but also a black armband, an obituary, a poster, and a few other items.
(Cut to 90s Kid)
90s Kid: Duuuuude! Polybags are the most awesome thing EVER! All I have to do is, like, buy fifteen of the same comic, save them all, and then, in a few years, I'll be the richest dude EVER! (makes an ILY sign with both hands)
Linkara (v/o): Yeah, this is that part of that "collector's edition" and speculator craze, where people believe that comic featuring Gun-Toting Hero #409 would be worth a million dollars in a few years. Hence, why people bought multiple copies. Now, in a hundred years, a polybag edition of "The Death of Superman" with all the trimmings intact might be worth a little bit of money, but certainly not much these days. Why am I bringing this all up?
(Cut back to the cover of "X-Force")
Linkara (v/o): Well, as it happens, one copy of "X-Force #1" that I own is a polybag copy, boasting not only of it being the first collector's item, but also a "FREE official Marvel super hero trading card ENCLOSED" and "available only with this collector's edition!"
(Cut to a shot of a trading card, showing Cable)
Linkara (v/o): Mine had Cable on it, and I'm pretending to be excited, even though it's really stupid!
(The card turns around, revealing stats on the back)
Linkara (v/o): Also, get this: it has stats on the back. Cable weighs 350 pounds, according to this thing. I'm sure someone would say it's all his muscle, but that can't be healthy...
(Cut to Cable on the cover)
Linkara (v/o): ...especially when he carries all that weight in his shoulder pads.
(Cut to a shot of additional trading cards, and a plain white T-shirt, with a card over it)
Linkara (v/o): It comes with a second card, this one giving us a "super-powerful offer": we can take one of those X-Force cards that were available and have them printed on a T-shirt!
Linkara: (holding up his trading cards) Even if it did have Mr. T on it, like all good trading cards do, who looks at (holds up card of Cable in front of camera) this picture and says, "Yeah, I want this on a T-shirt!" I don't mean just a picture. I mean, the example they show is just a white T-shirt (holds this card up in front of camera) with the entire trading card on it?? With the border and everything!
Linkara (v/o): Maybe they didn't exist in the '90s, but I'm almost dead certain you could go to a store and have someone do that for you. You didn't need to send away for it. I don't know, maybe I'm wrong. Let's just look at the comic itself.
(Cut back to the comic's cover)
Linkara (v/o): Like "Cable: Blood and Metal", this cover is a wraparound, showing the members of X-Force just standing there, Cable, of course, taking up most of it. And there are nice clouds of smoke on the bottom, because Liefeld has this aversion to feet, so he refuses to draw them if he doesn't have to. On the left is Shatterstar and his single shoulder pad, which would be fine if not for the fact that he's carrying two swords. What's better, one of the swords actually has two blades on it. I don't know how accurate a weapon that is, but I'm pretty sure the handle is too small.
(The comic opens to the first page)
Linkara (v/o): We open to Antarctica.
Narrator: Seven silent figures stand motionless...
Linkara: (impatiently) Yeah, yeah, we saw the cover; move on with the story!
Narrator: ...brooding, alone with their thoughts... and the weight of the road they have chosen to follow...
Linkara: (holding up index finger) Uh, pardon me for nitpicking, but generally, don't people walk on the road? Why the hell would the road itself be heavy unless they were carrying it? AND WHY WOULD THEY BE CARRYING THE ROAD?!
Linkara (v/o): Anyway, the group is here to attack the Mutant Liberation Front, the terrorist group that we also saw in the "Cable" reviews.
Narrator: Some would call them heroes, some would call them rebels.
Linkara: (as narrator) I call them (holds up index finger) "Rebeloes".
Linkara (v/o): So, on this two-page spread, we see our heroes and their names. Up on top is Cannonball, who is no doubt yelling because he can't stop and is going to collide into a nearby wall. Next down is Domino, who I really don't know anything about other than her being mildly popular; Warpath on the left here, who is so immense that he towers over the goons they're fighting – or that's actually everybody, because all of the goons look unusually tiny compared to our heroes. Below him is Feral, also huge, not only in general size, but also having hair three times bigger than her head. To the right is Boom Boom, who is wearing '80s sunglasses and the same as half the characters Liefeld draws. To the far right is Shatterstar, who we've already made fun of for his massive shoulder pads and goofy swords. And finally, Cable, who looks like he's trying to splash down all 350 pounds into a pool.
Linkara: (as Cable) Everybody out of the deep end!
Linkara (v/o): They comment to each other that they're just dealing with goons, and they'll be too tired to deal with the main honchos if this keeps up. Four more villains crowd out of a single doorway, and Shatterstar says they're coming from "Mark 32". Cable berates him for not using Earth's method of time, since apparently Shatterstar is from another planet, and of course, despite the fact that the four are clearly only five feet away and moving towards them, they're able to talk to each other for several sentences before they finally attack. Shatterstar takes on a guy named Reaper, whose only claim to that name is a scythe weapon; otherwise, he once again has that bizarre hairdo and big painted black circles around his eyes. Also, the high disco collar is so what I think of when I think a reaper. And then Shatterstar cuts off his hand, with remarkably little blood on the blade, which you may recognize from the "top 40 worst Rob Liefeld drawings" blog post. And yes, I've seen that. And it very well deserves to be on that list because I'm still not sure which hand was supposed to have been cut off in this image. Let's not even get into the fact that his hand has rocket boosters in it or something, since the thing goes flying away from the two, despite the fact that cutting off a hand would make it drop to the ground.
Linkara: Or maybe Shatterstar, playing an extreme version of "keep away", cut off the hand with one sword and then smacked it away with the other, just as a cruel joke.
Linkara (v/o): Anyway, yeah, fight scene. Fight scenes are hard to make fun of unless the dialogue is stupid or if it's handled incompetently. This is not all that bad, though it does have a lot of quirks here and there. For example, why did Domino decide to start doing splits here? Also, in the previous panel, this villain, Forearms [sic] – subtle – is holding Cable in a bear hug, while Warpath closes in from behind. Now, in this panel, Warpath is punching downwards from the front, and Cable's on the ground in front of him. How did they get in that position?! We cut to– Oh, Lord in heaven, two pages that I have to turn on their side to read! This is ridiculous! Liefeld, if you hate drawing feet so much, then don't bother doing a full body shot of a character, especially one that looks as goofy as Stryfe! I mean, I didn't think it was possible to make Stryfe look any stupider than he did in "Cable: Blood and Metal", but now we add Liefeldian proportions to the mix! His calf and thigh muscles are disturbingly huge, compared to the tiny knee! Also, look at the other leg. It should not be possible to raise his leg like that! And what is he even putting his foot on, the next panel? Then there's this character, Thumbelina. The only thing I'm gonna ask of her is, what the hell is up with her hair? Seriously, this is the fifth person I've seen in this comic who has this hairstyle. Why does Liefeld think this hairstyle looks good?!
Linkara: It's not just here, either. I think every Liefeld book I've reviewed has featured this hairstyle! I know he can draw other hairstyles! Why is this one the default one he keeps falling back on?!
Linkara (v/o): What's up with Stryfe's computer display? Is his screensaver set on Mondrian Squares? If you can't be bothered to draw what something looks like on a computer screen, then don't draw one this friggin' huge or have so many screens! What does Stryfe even need this many screens for?! Is he afraid he'll miss the action two inches to the right so he set up another camera?! Oh, I suppose you want to know what the story is associated with this. Stryfe realizes that Cable is too close and orders all the personnel to teleport out and to let the base self-destruct. Yeah, I can see what that necessitated all this garbage. More fight scene ensues, with Pharaoh fighting Wildside. They're evenly matched, you see; they both have the same huge, ridiculous hairstyle. She beats him, of course, causing Cable to question whether she plans on killing him. She says she could if she wanted to, but Cable tells her, only in self-defense.
Pharaoh: I walk away today and that's one more person who could nail me tomorrow!
Linkara (v/o): And Shatterstar, earlier in the fight, commented that normally he'd kill his opponents, too.
Linkara: Did Cable hire these people out of prison? Why the hell did he put together a team that wants to kill everybody, if he himself hates it?!
Linkara (v/o): Zero, the Mutant Liberation Front's teleporter, beams him out, and X-Force runs further into the base to confront Stryfe.
Cable: You're dead. End of story.
Linkara (v/o): Just two pages ago, you were lecturing Pharaoh about killing people. Our hero, ladies and gentlemen: a big friggin' hypocrite!
Stryfe: I think not, Nathan-- or whatever it is you're calling yourself this time... I think not.
Linkara (v/o): Somehow, despite Cable shooting before he says that, he has enough time to spout off that dialogue and then walk into a portal out of the base. What, are those two horizontal bars supposed to be Cable's blasts? If so, he can't aim for crap, which is pretty surprising, considering how friggin' large a target Stryfe is!
Cable: Stab his eyes! He got away again!!
Linkara: What point would stabbing his eyes serve? He already suffers from Youngblood's Disease. His vision is awful!
Linkara (v/o): The group realizes that the structure is blowing up, and they bid a hasty retreat, thanks to Cable's own teleporter, known as a Body Slide. Oh, and check out Domino here. All right, people, you want to argue with me about to single shoulder pads? Fine. But can someone explain why one arm has a single shoulder pad while the other arm has a double shoulder pad?! As X-Force makes its departure, their vehicles' lighting is bright red, which is exactly the kind of color you want to have on a ship when you're going into high-stress combat situations. Most of the group comments that they can file this one as a victory.
Linkara: Yeah, the terrorists got away, the base was destroyed, leaving nothing for you to investigate, trace or use. Clearly, this was a job well done!
Boom Boom: Ain't there a little more to it than winnin' or losin'? What about the kinda fashion statement we make?
Linkara: (sighs) Boom Boom, just shut up and go back to pretending you're Cyndi Lauper.
Linkara (v/o): We cut to Manhattan and the (reads text) "majestic penthouse of a very mysterious man named Gideon." Yes, see? Look at how mysterious he is in his skintight tank top and yellow armor rings on his arms. He's so mysterious! I'm sure this is character development for the other guy with our man of mystery, but really, it's just dull. They mention something about the guy's father being proud of him; Gideon makes a smirk like he's evil, and...
Gideon: Three o'clock. World Trade Center. Bring several tourniquets.
(Linkara stares at the comic, horrified)
Roberto da Costa: They're going to need some when we bleed them to death!
(Linkara is even more horrified; cut to a clip of Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home)
Spock: (to Kirk) Are you sure it isn't time for a colorful metaphor?
(Cut back to the comic)
Linkara (v/o): Okie-dokie, moving on! Back at the smoldering crater in Antarctica, a military unit is examining the remains of the MLF base. Then we have these two characters, one of whom has massive knee pads, because I guess he's afraid of falling off his skateboard. By the by, I'm sure the lack of proper protection against the cold, especially for your heads, will do wonders for you guys in flippin' Antarctica! They discover one of Cable's discarded weapons at the remains and decide that, with this latest incident, they need to take Cable and his group down. And now we cut to the Adirondack Mountains, where X-Force has set up its base.
Cannonball: (narrating) It's got everythin' we need. Computer set-up's great. Rec-room and the facilities're okay, too.
Linkara: (as Cannonball) I personally inspected every toilet.
Linkara (v/o): Cannonball asks Cable why they let the MLF go.
Linkara: Because you're ineffectual and can't do the job right? (shrugs)
Cable: We severely crippled both their operations and their manpower. To have tried to go beyond that would have jeopardized our unit more than I would have preferred.
Linkara: So the mission of X-Force is to inconvenience the enemy, but not actually stop them? (shrugs in confusion)
Linkara (v/o): Cannonball wonders if Cable is worried about Stryfe killing the team like he killed Cable's son. Cable clarifies that the boy, Tyler, was not actually his son; he just treated him as such. Tyler eventually joined up with the MLF. He explains that Stryfe put Tyler in a position that got him killed, but frankly, I'm distracted by the bizarre cross hatchings in the wall. What the hell are these supposed to be, exactly? Tic-tac-toe games that got way out of hand? Cannonball heads out as Domino shows up, Cable asking her how much of his secrets did she disclosed to the rest of the team. Cable suddenly starts floating around tools with his telekinetic abilities.
Cable: Simplifying my grunt work. Don't worry--I wouldn't have done it if anyone else was around.
Domino: Well, if you're going to hold back on telling these kids everything there is to know about you-- you'd better be prepared to sing like a canary if they catch you pulling stunts like that!
Linkara: (exaggerating) A mutant displaying mutant powers?! (slaps himself on the head) That would just be such a shock!
Linkara (v/o): We cut to the World Trade Center, where Gideon and his assistant are heading towards a meeting. On the way, they almost bump into Spider-Man and Daredevil discussing the Surgeon General in the next room over. This is a business meeting, involving a buyout of Gideon's and a few other businessmen's companies, with the aid of a supervillain named Black Tom. He says that the group is going to extort money from their own bosses by becoming hostages for him and the woman named Ariana. Aaaand cut away before we learn anything more, of course. The guy from Antarctica gets in contact with Nick Fury, the head of S.H.I.E.L.D., the international law enforcement and espionage agency within the Marvel Universe. The guy confirms to him that Cable is responsible for taking out the MLF base, and Nick Fury orders him to bring Cable in. And so, our comic ends with the guy saying it's time to bring in... WEAPON X! (a dramatic sting is heard)
Linkara: WOW! (stops, confused) Wait, "wow" wasn't the word I was looking for. (tries to think) It was, uh... (holds up index finger) Oh, yeah... YAWN! (closes comic and holds it up) This comic sucks.
Linkara (v/o): It is boring and badly-drawn. Most of it is badly-rendered action sequences or just stilted dialogue, talking either about stuff we already knew about or backstory that we don't care about. As a number-one issue, it fails to draw new readers in, and the only reason it sold as much as it did was for the crappy trading card, which is really sad when you think about it.
Linkara: Now, if you'll excuse me, I have to go print that Mr. T trading card on a t-shirt. (throws down comic, gets up and leaves)
(End credits roll)
For those of you who don't know what "Weapon X" is and why it's significant... well, let me put it this way – the continuity alarm would be going off constantly if I tried to explain it. More or less – spooky government project that gave Wolverine his adamantium skeleton and claws.
Also, some of my fans were quick to alert me that the first three pages of this comic are actually a rip-off of the first three pages of an issue of New Teen Titans and that Rob has a track record of sometimes outright tracing other people's artwork. Nice.
(Stinger: 90s Kid is seen again)
90s Kid: When I die, I want to be put inside of a polybag, along with a HOLOGRAPHIC TRADING CARD! Hey, I'm 90s Kid, (shucks his jacket to reveal his "WYSIWYG" shirt underneath) and what you see is what you get. (beat) Or is it?
Atop the Fourth Wall Transcripts
|
2008:
|
Spider-Man 56 · Doom's IV 2 · Batman 147 · The Top 15 WTF Moments in Comics · Titans 1 · Sinnamon 11 · US-1 1 · S.C.I. Spy 1 · Superman At Earth's End
|
2009:
|
Godzilla Vs. Barkley · Uncanny X-Men 423 · Uncanny X-Men 424 · Mr. T and the T-Force 1 · Star Trek comic 1 · Newmen 1 · NFL Superpro 1 · Neutro 1 · Amazons Attack Prologue · Amazons Attack 1 and 2 · Amazons Attack 3 and 4 · Amazons Attack 5 and 6 · Sultry Teenage Super-Foxes 1 · Top 15 Worst Heroes Becoming Villains · Daredevil 305 · Daredevil 306 · Blue Beetle Tribute · World of Warcraft 2 and 3 · Captain Planet and the Planeteers 3 · Wolverine: Adamantium Rage · Youngblood 1 · New Guardians 2 · The Marriage of Hercules and Xena · Secret Defenders 9 · Secret Defenders 10 · Superman vs Terminator 1 · Countdown Prologue · Countdown Part 1 · Countdown Part 2 · Top 15 Worst Moments of Countdown · Xena 1 · Cable 1 · Law and Order 1 · Batman: Fortunate Son · Air Raiders 1 · Nightcat 1 · Zero Patrol 1 · Blood Pack 1 · Mickey Mantle 2 · Adventures of the Kool-Aid Man 1 · Silent Hill: Dying Inside 1 and 2 · Silent Hill: Dying Inside 3 and 4 · Silent Hill: Dying Inside 5 · Maximum Clonage · 22 Brides 1 · All-Star Batman and Robin 1 and 2 · Doom 1 · Spider-Man, Storm and Cage · Bimbos in Time · The Dark Knight Strikes Again Part 1 · Extreme Super Christmas Special 1 · James Bond, Jr. 3 · Top 15 Missed Opportunities of AT4W
|
2010:
|
Pitt 1 · Scarlett comic 1 · Future Five 1 · Ultimates 3 1 and 2 · Ultimates 3 3 and 4 · Ultimates 3 5 · Youngblood 2 · Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers 1 · Strange Adventures 136 · Doom's IV 1/2 · X-Men comic 1 · Darker Image 1 · The Dark Knight Strikes Again Part 2 · Sultry Teenage Super-Foxes 2 · Star Trek/X-Men 1 · Athena 1 · JLA - Act of God Part 1 · JLA - Act of God Part 2 · JLA - Act of God Part 3 · Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles Meet Archie · Lunatik 1 · Chuck Norris Karate Kommandos 1 · AT4W & Spoony: Experiment Warrior 2-3 · The Dark Knight Strikes Again Part 3 · Tandy Computer Whiz Kids: Fit to Win · Anita Blake: The Laughing Corpse 1-2 · Freak Force 1 · Chain Gang War 1 · Ewoks 9 · Cable 2 · The California Raisins 3-D 2 · Hardcore Station 1 · The Others 1 and Brute Force 1 · Amazing Spider-Man: Skating on Thin Ice 1 · Star Trek Voyager: Elite Force · Action Comics 592 · Action Comics 593 · Top 15 Comics I'll Never Review · 100th Episode · Nolan Ryan 1 · Transformers comics 4-5 · Silent Hill: Dead/Alive 1 and 2 · Silent Hill: Dead/Alive 3 and 4 · Silent Hill: Dead/Alive 5 · Spider-Man: The Greatest Responsibility · Action Comics 1 · Amazing Fantasy 15 · Detective Comics 27 · The X-Men 1 · Brute Force 2 · New Kids on the Block 4 · Marvel Team Up 127 · Santa Claus Conquers the Martians · Top 15 Screw-Ups of Atop the Fourth Wall
|
2011:
|
Justice League: Cry for Justice 1-2 · Justice League: Cry for Justice 3-4 · Power Rangers Zeo 1 · Justice League: Cry for Justice 5-7 · Care Bears 13 · Superman: Distant Fires · Youngblood 3 · Doctor Who Classics 7 · Spider-Man and the Fantastic Four in... Brain Drain! · KISS Comics · Superman and Wonder Woman: Tandy Computer Whiz Kids · Spawn 1 · X-Force 1 · The Backstreet Project 1 · All-Star Batman and Robin 3 and 4 · Lady Gaga 1 · Star Trek: The Motion Picture 1-3 · The Godyssey 1 · Superman Meets the Quik Bunny · Ultimate Warrior's Workout · Ultimatum 1-2 · Ultimatum 3-4 · Ultimatum 5 · SCI-Spy 2 · Miller Time: Batman/Spawn · Gameboy 1 · Eminem and the Punisher 1 · Barbi Twin Adventures 1 · Rise of Arsenal 1-2 · Rise of Arsenal 3-4 · Comic Book Advertisements · Star Trek 2 (Gold Key) · PSA Hell: Captain America: Return of the Asthma Monster! · NBComics 1 · Mightily Murdered Power Ringers 1 · Kamandi at Earth's End 1 · US-1 2 · Twilight Zone 9 · Superman and the TRS-80 Whiz Kids: The Computers that Saved Metropolis! · Street Fighter 1 (Malibu) · Silent Hill: Paint It Black · Silent Hill: Among the Damned · Silent Hill: The Grinning Man · Spider-Man: Planet of the Symbiotes · Pokémon - The Electric Tale of Pikachu · All-Star Comics 8 · The Fantastic Four 1 · All-American Comics 16 · Captain America Comics 1 · Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan 1 · Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan 2 · Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan 3 · Top 15 Personal Favorite Jokes of AT4W
|
2012:
|
Marville 1 · Miller Time: Robocop vs. the Terminator 1 · Brute Force 3 · 15 Things That Are Wrong With Identity Crisis · New Guardians 1 · Gameboy 2 · Youngblood 4 · Star Trek III: The Search for Spock · Mr. T 1 (AP Comics) · Mr. T 2 · The Amazing Spider-Man and Captain America in Dr. Doom's Revenge! · The Invincible Four of Kung-Fu & Ninja 1 · Kamandi at Earth's End 2 · Black Web 1 · Transformers: Generation 2 1 · Captain Tax Time 1 · Superman 701 · Bloodstrike 1 · Marville 2 · The Amazing Spider-Man on Bullying Prevention 1 · The New Teen Titans Anti-Drug Giveaway 1 · Daredevil vs Vapora 1 · Batman: A Word to the Wise · Marvel Team-Up 74 · Blake's 7 2 · Battle for Bludhaven 1-2 · Battle for Bludhaven 3-4 · Battle for Bludhaven 5-6 · Sir Charles Barkley and the Referee Murders · Captain Electron 1 · Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home · 200th Episode · Rock 'N Roll 31 · Future Shock 1 · Catwoman: Guardian of Gotham 1 · Catwoman: Guardian of Gotham 2 · Psychoman 1 · Marville 3 · Tandy Computer Whiz Kids: The Answer to a Riddle · Batman: Jazz 1 · Starstream 1 · The Thing From Another World 1 · The Thing From Another World 2 · Spider-Man: Power and Responsibility · Bart Simpson's Treehouse of Horror 2 · Flash Comics 1 · Tales of Suspense 39 · The Brave and the Bold 54 · The Incredible Hulk 1 · Superman's Christmas Adventure · Archie Giant Series Magazine 452 · Teen Titans 13: A Swingin' Christmas Carol · Batman: Noel · The Next 15 Screw-Ups of Atop the Fourth Wall
|
2013:
|
Kamandi at Earth's End 3 · Raver 1 · Transformers 31 · Happy Days 2 · All-Star Batman and Robin 5 · Youngblood 5 · Star Wars 3-D 1 · Marville #4 · Titans Retrospective: Team History · Titans Retrospective: JLA/Titans: The Technis Imperative · Titans Retrospective: Titans 1-25 · Titans Retrospective: Titans 26-50 · Frankenstein Meets the Space Monster · Power Pachyderms 1 · Star Trek V: The Final Frontier · Dragnet 4 · Wild Thing 1 · Spider-Man 2099 1 · Punisher 2099 1 · Doom 2099 1 · Ravage 2099 1 · Comic Book Quickies 1 · Kamandi at Earth's End 4 · SCI-Spy 3 · Star Trek: The Next Generation/X-Men 1 · Mr. T and the T-Force 2 · Miller Time: All-Star Batman and Robin 6 · Tandy Computer Whiz Kids: A Deadly Choice · Battlestar Galactica: Journey's End 1 · Marville 5 · Miller Time: Tales to Offend 1 · The Culling: Teen Titans Annual 1 · The Culling: Superboy 9 · The Culling: Legion Lost 9 · The Culling: Teen Titans 9 · Plan 9 From Outer Space: 30 Years Later 1 · Brute Force 4 · Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country · SCI-Spy 4 · The Thing From Another World: Climate of Fear 1-2 · The Thing From Another World: Climate of Fear 3-4 · Spider-Man: Crossfire · 2001: A Space Odyssey 1 · Showcase 4 · Tales to Astonish 27 · Showcase 22 · Journey into Mystery 83 · The Punisher: Silent Night 1 · Solson Christmas Special featuring Samurai Santa 1 · Star Trek: The Next Generation 2 · Doctor Who Classic Comics 15 · The Next 15 Missed Opportunities of AT4W
|
2014:
|
Marville 6-7 · Comic Book Quickies 2 · Miller Time: All-Star Batman and Robin 7 · Preparedness 101: A Zombie Pandemic · Gameboy 3 · US-1 3 · Youngblood 6 · Star Trek: Generations · The A-Team 1 · The Wild 1 · Kamandi at Earth's End 5 · Nova Girls: Kissing Canvas · Avengers 200 · SCI-Spy 5 · Red Hood and the Outlaws 1 · Athena 2 · Bill and Ted's Excellent Comic Book 1 · Zolastraya and the Bard 1 · PSA Hell: Superman: For the Animals 1 · Chuck Norris: Karate Kommandos 2 · Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers: The Movie 1 · Speed Steer 5 · Batman: Jazz 2 · 2001: A Space Odyssey 2 · Comic Book Quickies 3 · 300th Episode · 300th Episode: Part 2 · 300th Episode: Part 3 · Godzilla: Kingdom of Monsters 1 · Batman: Shadow of the Bat 56 · Sinnamon 1 · US-1 4 · The Adventures of Jell-O Man and Wobbly 1 · Miller Time: All-Star Batman and Robin 8 · Tandy Computer Whiz Kids: The Computer That Said No to Drugs · Marvel Super Special 17 · SCI-Spy 6 · Kamandi at Earth's End 6 · Sonic Super Special 7 · Star Trek: First Contact · Cosmic Slam 1 · The Thing from Another World: Eternal Vows 1-2 · The Thing from Another World: Eternal Vows 3-4 · The Thing from Another World: Questionable Research · Spider-Man: The Trial of Peter Parker · Whiz Comics 2 · Tales to Astonish 44 · Detective Comics 38 · The Avengers 1 · The Hobbit 1 · The Hobbit 2 · The Hobbit 3 · Santa the Barbarian 1 · Top 15 Worst Comics I've Reviewed
|
2015:
|
Miller Time: All-Star Batman and Robin 9 · Godzilla: Kingdom of Monsters 2 · Trouble 1 · Comic Book Quickies 4 · PSA Hell: Energy and Safety with the Justice League · Youngblood 7 · ROMTROSPECTIVE: ROM Spaceknight 1-40 · ROMTROSPECTIVE: ROM Spaceknight 41-75 · The Star Wars 1 · Batman: Jazz 3 · Mr. T and the T-Force 3 · Big Bang Presents 3: Protoplasman! · Crimson 1 · Vampire: The Masquerade - Bloodlines (RPG Game) · Titans: Scissors, Paper, Stone · PSA Hell: Batman: Shadow of the Bat 57 · Comic Book Quickies 5 · Avengers Assemble Featuring Captain Citrus 1 · Doctor Who/Star Trek: The Next Generation: Assimilation Squared · My Cage · The Punisher 60 · The Punisher 61 & 62 · Steam Wars · Ultimate Power 1-2 · Homestuck, Act 1 · Atomic Robo, Vol. 3 · Just Imagine Stan Lee Creating Superman · Just Imagine Stan Lee Creating Batman · Just Imagine Stan Lee Creating Wonder Woman · Just Imagine Stan Lee Creating The Flash · Zyuranger Episodes 17-22 · Tandy Computer Whiz Kids: The Computer Trap · Trouble 2 · Pokémon Reburst, Chapter 1 · Green Lantern 23.1 · Team Youngblood 1 · US-1 5 · The Star Wars 2 · Power Man and Iron Fist 79 · Nightmares on Elm Street 1-2 · Nightmares on Elm Street 3-4 · Nightmares on Elm Street 5-6 · Spider-Man: Virtual Mortality · More Fun Comics 73 · Daredevil 1 · Action Comics 252 · Tales of Suspense 52 · Atop the Fourth Wall: The Movie, Part 1 · Atop the Fourth Wall: The Movie, Part 2 · Atop the Fourth Wall: The Movie, Part 3 · Atop the Fourth Wall: The Movie, Part 4 · Atop the Fourth Wall: The Movie, Part 5 · Deadpool Bi-Annual 1 · Cho Dengeki Stryker · Zombies Christmas Carol 1-3 · Zombies Christmas Carol 4-5 · Another 15 Missed Opportunities of AT4W
|
2016:
|
NFL SuperPro Special Edition 1 · Popeye: Borned to the Sea 1 · OnStar Batman Auto Show Special Edition 1 · Godzilla: Kingdom of Monsters 3 · The Star Wars 3 · Youngblood 8 · All-Star Batman and Robin 10 · Pokémon Adventures Ch. 1-2 · Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger Episodes 1-5 · Blue-Skying, Part 1: Blue Beetle Dan Garrett · Blue-Skying, Part 2: Blue Beetle Ted Kord · Blue-Skying, Part 3: Blue Beetle Jaime Reyes · Blue-Skying, Part 4: Blue Beetle Jaime Reyes New 52 · Star Trek Special: Flesh and Stone · Blackest Night 1-8 · Dart 1 · Batman: Shadow of the Bat 58 · The Legend of Heroes: Trails in the Sky · Ultimate Power 3 · Star Trek: The Next Generation 3 · Comic Book Quickies 6 · 400th Episode · 400th Episode: Part 2 · Superman vs. the Amazing Spider-Man · Titans/Young Justice: Graduation Day 1 · Titans/Young Justice: Graduation Day 2 · Titans/Young Justice: Graduation Day 3 · 15 Things Wrong With Marvel's Civil War · Star Trek: Deep Space Nine 1 · The Minister of Chance · US-1 6 · Star Trek: Voyager 1 · Unsounded, Chapter 1 · Biggles and the Menace from Space · Batman and Robin: The Official Comic Adaptation · Superman and the TRS-80 Computer Whiz Kids: Victory by Computer · Star Trek/Green Lantern: The Spectrum War · My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic 27-28 · Yu-Gi-Oh! GX Ch. 1 · Pryde of the X-Men · A Nightmare on Elm Street: Paranoid 1 · A Nightmare on Elm Street: Paranoid 2 · A Nightmare on Elm Street: Paranoid 3 · Spider-Man: Cyberwar · The Real Ghostbusters in Ghostbusters II 1-3 · Strange Tales 110 · More Fun Comics 73: Aquaman · Tales of Suspense 57 · All-Star Comics 3 · My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic 2015 Holiday Special · Ghostbusters: Past, Present, and Future · Elvira's House of Mystery Special 1 · Another 15 Screw-Ups of AT4W
|
2017:
|
Digimon: Digital Monsters 1 · Phonogram: The Immaterial Girl 1-6 · Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 1 · Trouble 3 · The Star Wars 4 · Spectacular Spider-Man Episode 1x10 - "Persona" · Youngblood 9 · The A-Team 2 · The Batman/Superman Movie: World's Finest · See You Next Mirror: Exiles Retrospective, Part 1 · See You Next Mirror: Exiles Retrospective, Part 2 · Reagan's Raiders 1 · Fist of the North Star, Ch. 1 · Godzilla: Kingdom of Monsters 4 · Iron Man: The Animated Series - The Wedding of Iron Man · Athena 3 · Batman: The Dark Knight 1-3 · The New Teen Titans Anti-Drug Giveaway 2 · Crisis on Infinite Earths · Secret Wars (1984) · The Infinity Gauntlet · Flashpoint · Babylon 5 1 · The Star Wars 5 · All-New Ghost Rider, Volume 2 · Robocop vs. the Terminator 2 · Superman vs. the Terminator 2 · Tandy Computer Whiz Kids: News By Computer Foils Kidnappers · Ultimate Power 4 · Delicious in Dungeon, Vol. 1 · Batman: Odyssey 1 · Asterix: The Legionary · Comic Book Quickies 7 · JoJo's Bizarre Adventures Episodes 1-4 (2012-2013 series) · Thunderbirds Are Go · Batman: The Official Movie Adaptation · Ultimate Iron Man Vol. 1 1-2 · My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic 11-12 · Stormwatch 0 · A Nightmare on Elm Street: The Beginning 1-2 · A Nightmare on Elm Street: Fearbook · New Line Cinema's Tales of Horror 1 · The Sensational Spider-Man 0 · Freddy vs. Jason vs. Ash · Marvel Comics 1 · Brave and the Bold 28 · Kamen Rider Fourze Episodes 1-4 · Clive Barker's Hellraiser Dark Holiday Special · Sensation Comics 14: The Story of Fir Balsam · Steam Wars Holiday Special · Christmas with the Superheroes 2
|
2018:
|
My Top 15 Favorite Episodes of AT4W · Legion of Superheroes: The Great Darkness Saga · James Bond, Jr. 1 · JLA/Avengers · Homestuck, Act 2 · Isaac Asimov's I-Bots 1 · Thunderstrike 1 · Youngblood 10 · Badrock 1A · Event Comics Month II: Infinite Crisis · Event Comics Month II: Infinity War · Event Comics Month II: World War Hulk · Event Comics Month II: Final Crisis · Power Rangers Turbo vs. Beetleborgs Metallix 1 · Diesel 1 · Teen Titans: "Betrayal" and "Aftershock, Parts 1 and 2" · The Punisher: Purgatory · Comic Book Quickies 8 · 500th Episode · Dark Knight III: The Master Race 1-2 · Just Imagine Stan Lee Creating Green Lantern · The New Guardians 3 · US-1 7 · Nova Girls: Space 34-24-34 · Batman: Odyssey 2 · Star Wars 3-D 2 · Pokémon - The Electric Tale of Pikachu 3 · PSA Hell: Captain America Meets the Asthma Monster · Superman and Spider-Man · Amazing Cow Heroes 4: Cold Cuts · Ravage 2099 2 · Adventures of the Kool-Aid Man 2 · Tandy Computer Whiz Kids: Safeguarding the Environment · Mr. T and the T-Force 4 · Star Trek 2 (DC) · Star Trek (2009): The Official Motion Picture Adaptation · Star Trek: The Next Generation 4 · Star Trek 1 (Gold Key) · Silent Hill: Hunger · The Thing: The Northern Nightmare · Freddy vs. Jason vs. Ash: The Nightmare Warriors · Spider-Man: Smoke and Mirrors · Hellraiser: Hell on Earth · Fantastic Four 52 · Marvel Comics 1 (The Human Torch) · The Incredible Hulk 181 · The New Mutants 98 · Batman Returns: The Official Comic Adaptation · The Punisher: Red X-Mas · Star Wars: The Force Awakens Comic Adaptation · Luke Cage, Hero for Hire 7
|
2019:
|
Yet Another 15 Missed Opportunities of AT4W · Godzilla: Kingdom of Monsters 5 · Batman/Aliens 1 · Phineas and Ferb: Mission Marvel · Pokémon 15x19-20 "Cilan Takes Flight" and "An Amazing Aerial Battle" · Tomb Raider Vol. 3: Queen of Serpents · Little Victory: Chimera 1 · Youngblood 0 · Kickers, Inc. 1 · The Savage Dragon 1 · Darkwing Duck 1-4 · The California Raisins 3-D 5 · Hellstar Remina, Ch. 1-3 · Gallery of Horrors · Batman: The Dark Knight 16-17 · Tremors · Ultimate Power 5-6 · Batman Forever: The Official Comic Adaptation · Street Fighter: The Official Comic Adaptation · Catwoman: The Official Comic Adaptation · Dune: The Official Comic Adaptation · Superman IV: The Quest for Peace Movie Special · Justice is Silent: Cassandra Caintrospective, Part 1 · Justice is Silent: Cassandra Caintrospective, Part 2 · Justice is Silent: Cassandra Caintrospective, Part 3 · US-1 8 · Tandy Computer Whiz Kids: Community Action Program · Captain America Goes to War Against Drugs · Comic Book Swimsuit Issues · Batman 45-47: The Gift · Star Trek: The Next Generation 5 · The A-Team 3 · JoJo's Bizarre Adventures Episodes 5-9 · Trouble 4 · Franken Fran, Ch. 1 and 4 · Youngblood: Judgment Day · Teen Titans 27-28 · Clive Barker's Hellraiser 1 · Clive Barker's Hellraiser Summer Special · Clive Barker's Hellraiser Spring Slaughter · Spider-Man: The Exile Returns · Detective Comics 225 (Martian Manhunter) · Batman: Harley Quinn 1 · DC Comics Presents 26 · The Flash 123 · Evil Dead 2: A Merry Deadmite X-Mas · Transformers (UK) 145 · The All-New Batman: The Brave and the Bold 14 · Star Wars: The Last Jedi Comic Adaptation
|
2020:
|
Top 15 Dumbest Evil Plans of AT4W · Batman/Aliens 2 · Star vs. the Forces of Evil: Deep Trouble 1-4 · Megamind · Revolution · Superman vs. Muhammad Ali · Hellstar Remina, Ch. 4-6 · Youngblood: Strikefile 1 · Comic Book Quickies 9 · Black Panther, Vol. 4 1-6 · Batman: Odyssey 3 · Justice League/Mighty Morphin Power Rangers · The Champions, Vol. 3 1-4: Beat the Devil · Star Trek vs. Transformers · Athena 4 · Daredevil: Born Again · Action Comics 775 · Comic Book Quickies 10 · 600th Episode · Star Wars: The Phantom Menace Comic Adaptation · Star Wars: Attack of the Clones Comic Adaptation · Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith Comic Adaptation · Star Wars: Rogue One Comic Adaptation · DC Challenge! 1 · Kyoryu Sentai Zyurangers Episodes 40-43 · Trouble 5 · Dan Dare: Voyage to Venus · Superman 358 · Zero Hour: Crisis in Time · House of M · Secret Empire · Heroes in Crisis · Animax 1 · Ninjutsu 1-2 · Green Goblin 1-2, 4, 8, 12-13 · US-1 9 · Emergency! 1 · Mr. T and the T-Force 5 · Pinhead 1-3 · Pinhead 4-6 · Pinhead vs. Marshal Law · Spider-Man: Web of Life · Marvel Super-Heroes 12 (Captain Marvel) · The Flash 110 · The Amazing Spider-Man 129 · Awesome Comics Holiday Special · Transformers (UK) 41 · Solo: A Star Wars Story Comic Adaptation
|
2021:
|
Yet Another 15 Screw-Ups of AT4W · Star Trek Book and Record Set: Dinosaur Planet · DC Challenge! 2 · The Mighty Heroes 1 · Justice League 1x01-3: Secret Origins · The Star Wars 6 · The King of Braves GaoGaiGar Ep. 1-4 · Youngblood: Strikefile 2 · Pokémon 15×01-02: "Enter Elesa, Electrifying Gym Leader" & "Dazzling the Nimbasa Gym" · Stanley and his Monster 1-4 · Marvel Than Meets the Eye: The Transformers 1-40 · Marvel Than Meets the Eye: Transformers 41-80 · Marvel Than Meets the Eye: Generation 2 and Regeneration One · Star Trek 9 (Gold Key) · Star Trek/Legion of Superheroes · Mystery Science Theater 3000 1 · Batman: The Dark Knight Returns · Ultimate Power 7-8 · Batman: The Dark Knight 23.4 · Just Imagine Stan Lee Creating Aquaman · Sword Interval: Flashback Arc · PSA Hell: The Amazing Spider-Man: Riot at Robotworld · Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (Ultimate Edition) · Transformers/Ghostbusters: Ghosts of Cybertron · The New Guardians 4 · Codename: Ninja 1 · Batman: Hush · Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger Ep. 15-16 · Mr. T and the T-Force 6 · Doom’s IV 1 · Batman and Elmer Fudd & Catwoman and Sylvester and Tweety · Batman: Odyssey 4 · The Dresden Files: Storm Front, Vol. 1 · US-1 10 · Godzilla: Kingdom of Monsters 6 · DC Challenge! 3 · Marvel Super Special 1: KISS · The Ring, Vol. 1 · The Ring, Vol. 2 · Spider-Man: Web of Death · Detective Comics 359 · The X-Men 4 · Batman 1 · Spider-Man Holiday Special 1995 · The Adventures of Chrissie Claus 1 · Christmas Quickies 1 · Still Another 15 Missed Opportunities of AT4W
|
2022:
|
Ultimate Power 9 · The Adventures of Superboy 3x05-06 and 4x07-08 · Batman: The Killing Joke Adaptation · Just Imagine Stan Lee Creating the JLA · Chew: Poyo Character Focus · Youngblood: Strikefile 3 · Doctor Who: Logopolis · Armageddon 2001 · Secret Invasion · Civil War II · Dark Nights: Metal · The Star Wars 7 · Sonic the Hedgehog: Tangle and Whisper · Star Trek: The Next Generation/X-Men: Planet X · Stargate SG-1: P.O.W. · Man of Steel · Godzilla: Kingdom of Monsters 7 · Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger Episodes 17-21 · US-1 11 · X-Men Green · Spider-Man: Maximum Carnage · DC Challenge! 4 · Comic Book Quickies 11 · 700th Episode · Ken Penders' The Lost Ones 1 · Star Wars Infinities: A New Hope · Transformers: Deviations · Legion of Superheroes 0 and Legionnaires 0 · Mr. T and the T-Force 7 · The Ring, Vol. 3: Spiral · The Ring, Vol. 4: Birthday · Spider-Man: Funeral for an Octopus · Christmas Quickies 2 · Batman 27: A Christmas Peril · Mr. T and Emmanuel Lewis in A Christmas Dream · Top 15 Goofiest Superheroes of Atop the Fourth Wall
|
2023:
|
Star Wars: A New Hope Comic Adaptation · Marvelman Family's Finest 1 · Superman vs. Aliens 1 · Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney · Hellblazer: Dangerous Habits · Youngblood: Strikefile 4 · What Dreams May Come, Part 1: The Sandman 1-20 · What Dreams May Come, Part 2: The Sandman 21-40 · What Dreams May Come, Part 3: The Sandman 41-60 · What Dreams May Come, Part 4: The Sandman 61-75 · Animax 2 · The Dome: Ground Zero · Action Comics 1 (Non-Superman Stories) · Transformers (UK) 132-134 · Just Imagine Stan Lee Creating Robin · Mr. T and the T-Force 8 · The Dresden Files: Storm Front, Vol. 2: Maelstrom · Captain Marvel: The Last Avenger · E-Robot, Ch. 1 · Overwatch: Legacy and Old Soldiers · Green Lantern: Emerald Twilight · Back to the Future: Who is Marty McFly? · Super Soldier 1 · Legends of the Dark Claw 1 · Spider-Boy 1 · Assassins 1 · DC Challenge! 5 · US-1 12 · The Star Wars 8 · Godzilla: Kingdom of Monsters 8 · The Ring, Vol 0: Birthday · Sadako at the End of the World · Spider-Man: The Mark of Kaine · Sadako-San and Sadako-Chan · Doctor Who: Remembrance of the Daleks · Doctor Who: The Klepton Parasites · Doctor Who: The Chimes of Midnight · Yu-Gi-Oh: Capsule Monsters Ep. 1-3 · Klaus 1-7
|
2024:
|
Still Another 15 Mistakes of AT4W · Batman vs. the Predator 1 · Ben 10 Ep. 1×01, 09, 13 · Kaizoku Sentai Gokaiger Ep. 14, 22-24 · Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back Comic Adaptation · Sonic/Mega Man: Worlds Collide, Act 1
|
Specials:
|
AT4W 2009 Trailer · Linkara's Take on Watchmen · Watchmen Review · Theme Song Contest · The Spoony Experiment: Warrior #1 · Theme Song Contest Winner! · Blackest Night · Silent Hill: Dying Inside Trailer · Silent Hill Alternate Endings · AT4W & Spoony: Experiment Warrior 2-3 · October 2010 Trailer · Silent Hill: Dead/Alive Review Alternate Endings · The Live Show! · AT4W Story Recap · October 2011 Trailer · Return of AT4W Live! · Revenge of the AT4W Live! · Southland Tales · Curse of AT4W Live · House of AT4W Live! · Ghost of AT4W LIVE! · October 2012 Trailers · Bride of AT4W Live! · Son of AT4W Live! · Night of AT4W Live! · Day of AT4W Live! · Dawn of AT4W Live! · Land of AT4W Live! · Diary and Survival of AT4W Live! · Power of AT4W Live! · Midnight of AT4W Live! · Planet of AT4W LIVE! · Genesis of AT4W LIVE! · 300th Episode Livestream Recordings · Destiny of AT4W LIVE! · Resurrection of AT4W LIVE! · Revelation of AT4W Live! · Remembrance of AT4W LIVE! · The New 52 · Atop the Fourth Wall: The Movie, Part 1 · Atop the Fourth Wall: The Movie, Part 2 · Atop the Fourth Wall: The Movie, Part 3 · Atop the Fourth Wall: The Movie, Part 4 · Atop the Fourth Wall: The Movie, Part 5
|