Uncanny X-Men #531 (preview)
Writer: Matt Fraction and Kieron Gillen
Pencils: Greg Land
Inks: Jay Leisten

From Marvel: “The X-Men on Utopia are getting sicker and sicker and their powers are shutting down one-by-one. Wolverine’s healing factor is down and he’s suffering adamantium poisoning, but he’s much better off than the mutants whose mutation defines their bodies, like Rockslide and Mercury. And if that weren’t bad enough, The Collective Man has Chinatown in the palms of his many hands and the Sublime Corporation is kicking the plan they’ve been hatching since #515 into high gear!”

In stores December 22, 2010.

Can’t say I really enjoyed this issue or the art, but Wolverine’s three pages were pretty awesome…

X-Men #6 (preview)
Writer: Victor Gischler
Pencils: Paco Medina
Inks: Juan Vlasco

From Marvel: “CURSE OF THE MUTANTS, CONCLUSION: Somehow, the X-Men have weathered the vampire raid on Utopia, but mutants can’t claim total victory yet. Jubilee still needs the X-Men’s help, and Xarus still commands an overwhelming force of bloodsuckers. Will Dracula’s intervention be the final nail in Xarus’s coffin…or will he make even more trouble for the X-Men than his upstart son ever could?”

In stores December 22, 2010.

The vampire arc, the first of this adjectiveless X-Men series, comes to a close. I can’t say I loved it either, but it does certainly change how Wolverine and Jubilee will be interacting in the future…

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Comusiv’s Completist Corner
–Spider-Man Marvel Adventures #9: Spider-Man/Wolverine team up in this all-ages tale…
–Strange Tales II #3: Indie anthology comedy series…

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Major probable/possible Wolverine appearances for this week (12/29/10)…
–Astonishing Spider-Man & Wolverine #4 (preview): Will this series start to make sense?
–Astonishing X-Men: Xenogenesis #4 (preview): Might be time for a reread…
–Daken: Dark Wolverine #4 (preview): Costumed Daken takes center stage — oh the horror!
–What If? #200 (preview): What If Norman Osborn Won the Siege of Asgard?
–X-23 #4 (preview): X-23 hits the road…

Uncanny X-Force #3 (preview)
Writer: Rick Remender
Art: Jerome Opena

From Marvel: “THE APOCALYPSE SOLUTION, PART THREE: Uncanny X-Force versus Apocalypse’s Last Horsemen to the death! With their target within striking distance the team separate in hopes that one of them might infiltrate the Akkaba stronghold and assassinate Apocalypse. However, breaking apart has left them vulnerable, and one member pays a heavy toll for the strategy. Will a member of the team die to stop Apocalypse? Or will the price be heavier still?”

In stores December 15, 2010.

I still haven’t been able to track down a copy of Uncanny X-Force #2 — so I’ve yet to crack this issue open.

Anyone else caught up care to comment?

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Comusiv’s Completist Corner
–I Am an Avenger #4: From last week, Wolverine cameos in a surprisingly well-done Thing story, though I’m surprised that the Fantastic Four don’t eat Chinese food family style…

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Major probable/possible Wolverine appearances for this week (12/22/10)…
–Uncanny X-Men #531 (preview): Quarantine!
–X-Men #6 (preview): X-Men vs. Vampires concludes…

Wolverine #4 (preview)
Writer: Jason Aaron
Pencils: Renato Guedes
Inks: Jose Wilson Magalhaes and Oclair Albert

From Marvel: “Demonically-possessed Wolverine vs. Colossus. What more do you need? How about Mystique and the Ghost Riders and Sabretooth and the devil wielding a really big sword, not to mention a shocking appearance by a figure from Logan’s past that no one’s expecting, least of all Logan himself. All of this as Wolverine’s epic descent into hell rolls on.”

On sale December 15, 2010.

Another strong issue, but I think the flaws are starting to show.

How can the Devil who has reigned in Hell for aeons be so vulnerable to someone with mere bone claws? What if someone with real power showed up? And how the hell can broken bone claws actually keep someone so big pinned against a wall?

That said, even though the final page was expected, it certainly packed a punch.

Anyone else care to comment?

New Avengers #7 (preview)
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Penciler: Stuart Immonen
Inker: Wade Von Grawbadger

From Marvel: “After the devastating fallout of last issue’s fatal battle for this dimension, the New Avengers have to figure out who really belongs on the team. Plus, Luke Cage and Jessica Jones need a nanny, and not just any nanny, they need to find a superpowered nanny. Who. Will. It. Be?! Plus: another illustrated chapter of the oral history of the Avengers!”

In stores December 8, 2010.

I liked this issue.

A lot.

No villains, just New Avengers bantering and interviewing nannies.

Super-powered nannies.

I know this issue is not up everyone’s alley, but I for one thought is was a hoot. Even if it did include Wolverine and Squirrel Girl.

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Comusiv’s Completist Corner
–Marvel Super Hero Squad #12: Christmas issue…

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Major probable/possible Wolverine appearances for this week (12/15/10)…
–Uncanny X-Force #3 (preview): Uncanny X-Force vs. Apocalypse’s Last Horseman…
–Wolverine #4 (preview): Demonic Wolverine vs. Colossus…

What If? Wolverine: Father #1 (preview)
Writers: Rob Williams
Art: Greg Tocchini

From Marvel: “If there’s one person who shouldn’t raise a child, it’s a berserker killing machine. In the regular Marvel Universe, Logan wasn’t there for Daken, and his son grew up to become the murderous Dark Wolverine. But what would have happened if Logan had known of Daken’s existence as a child, and had taken him under his wing from his first moments? Can a child with Logan’s blood running through his veins ever turn his back on murder? Can Logan find redemption and be a good father? Raising Daken will be Wolverine’s greatest battle.”

On sale December 8, 2010.

Brilliant cover by Leinil Yu.

Unfortunately, like most What If books of late, the story ignores continuity and comes up with its own pat denouement.

Generation Hope #2 (preview)
Writer: Kieron Gillen
Art: Salvador Espin

From Marvel: “THE FUTURE IS A FOUR-LETTER WORD: The Fifth Light has destroyed Tokyo, which can’t be good for the X-Men and mutant relations in general. Hope and her crew are in terrible trouble and it’s looking like Cyclops and Wolverine can’t get them out of it. Don’t miss the shocking twists and turns of the new X-Book that everyone is talking about!”

In stores December 2, 2010.

Wolverine appears in over half the book, but is still relegated to supporting cast…

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Shadowland #5 (preview)
Writer: Andy Diggle
Pencils: Billy Tan
Inks: Victor Olazaba

From Marvel: “With the help of his former enemy-turned-champion, Daredevil has thwarted his former friends and finds himself prepared to claim all of New York for himself. The chaos of Shadowland has reached a boiling point, and Daredevil himself may not survive to see the result!”

In stores December 2, 2010.

Very minor cameo that frankly was never really necessary…

Major probable/possible Wolverine appearances for this week (12/08/10)…
–New Avengers #7 (preview): The New Avengers get a nanny…
–What If? Wolverine: Father #1 (preview): What If Logan raised Daken…

Wolverine: The Best There Is #1 (preview)
Writers: Charles Huston
Art: Juan Jose Ryp

From Marvel: “CONTAGION, PART ONE: IMPULSION & WHIM: When Wolverine faces a problem of the villainous kind there’s a good chance that he’ll use his Adamantium claws to whip up a lethal solution to it. What happens, though, when he faces an opponent who becomes a much bigger problem if he’s killed? Enter: Contagion, a bold new addition to Wolverine’s rogue’s gallery. But first, Logan must contend with Contagion’s defenders, the aptly named crew known as the Unkillables.”

On sale December 2, 2010.

Dog collars, rave parties and ‘American Idol’ chit chat.

Not exactly my cup of tea. Nor did I think was it Logan’s.

Wow.

Anyone else care to comment?