There are issues we expect to see in the Hottest Comics each week, and there are the key appearances that are suddenly lighting up the list. Then there are those that make you wonder, who’s buying this stuff? Today, we have both. Here’s more.
39. UNCANNY X-MEN #281 (+361)
When we talk about X-Men artists, the conversation is generally limited to the likes of Dave Cockrum, Gil Kane, John Byrne, and Jim Lee. That is why it is important to note the sudden spike in popularity for UXM #281, which happened to be the first in the Whilce Portacio run on the series. He had large shoes to fill after Lee left for Image Comics, and Portacio followed his dynamic, highly detailed style seamlessly. Portacio kicked things off in grand fashion with one of the most recognizable looks for the team on this cover.
99. UNCANNY X-MEN #282 (-49)
Speaking of Portacio, here we have one of his famous co-creations, Bishop, in his first appearance. Although this issue took a drop this week, it has been on fire in 2021, thanks to the MCU fan speculation. If the theories are true and Marvel Studios plans to use the man from the future in their franchise reboot, this issue is only going to get much more expensive. Just for a bit of trivia, did you know that Portacio also co-wrote the script with John Byrne? The two collaborated on several issues around this time, which goes largely unnoticed following Chris Claremont’s exit from the title.
40. UNCANNY X-MEN #283 (+109)
With all the X-Men speculation, Bishop’s keys are getting red hot, and that means UXM #283 is finally getting the respect it deserves. As I have written before, we are in the era of cover collecting, and those first cover appearances get most of the attention, which is why Bishop’s first full appearance is largely overshadowed by UXM #282. Much of that credit should go to Portacio’s brilliant artwork because Bishop’s cover debut was nothing short of amazing, and it makes the cameo appearance the bigger key. However, as we get more news of the new X-Men movie lineup, UXM #283 will continue to build momentum.
ODDBALL OF THE WEEK AWARD:
There weren’t as many oddballs to choose from this week, but it didn’t matter because we had the worst-yet-greatest comic of them all starring Chuck Norris.
93. CHUCK NORRIS: KARATE KOMMANDOS #1 (+906)
Who remembers the Chuck Norris cartoon and action figures? How many times can the theme song remind us that Chuck is starring in this goofy show? How many racial stereotypes can you squeeze into just one minute?
Before Mortal Kombat made it kool to misspell words, there was the Karate Kommandos. This is another in the long history of Marvel Comics and the toy companies.
Back in the 1980s, under the Star Comics imprint, Marvel had a virtual monopoly on the biggest kids’ comics of the day. Most of these were either based on a cartoon series, a toy line, or both. During the prime of Norris’s career, he was cashing in with his very own cartoon and action figures. With the Thundercats hysteria for their first comic fully raging, it is fitting that Karate Kommandos not only got a boost, but the debut issue made it into the top 100.
Join us Behind the Blog for conversations from your favorite bloggers!
