The even more unbelievable crime fact (which I learned relatively recently) is that burglary has fallen by more than 90% since the 1990s. Did anyone notice? Nope. Does anyone believe it? Nope. But is is true? It is!

I've read the whole thing and I still don't know what the premise of it is. I mean, he's an alt-future Luke Cage with the powers of Hulk, Sentry and Iron Fist, but what the hell is this nonsense about the System?

I figured I'd better read Power Man: Timeless now the whole thing's on Unlimited, since Arakko shows up in it, and ... ... yeah, it's basically unintelligible. I have absolutely no clue what anyone involved was going for. Awful.

It’s quite do-able from a legal perspective. I don’t think dismissing Reform in this way is wise. Voters need to understand that this stuff can happen if they vote for it - and that it would be morally, socially, culturally, economically disastrous. So they shouldn’t vote for it.

Also covered lower down the charts: The Fuzztones, Yeah Yeah Noh, Alien Sex Fiend, Meat Whiplash, The Pogues, Erasure, Husker Du, Felt with the fantastic "Primitive Painters" (sadly not a number one in the NME indies), Toy Dolls and Chumbawamba.

On House to Astonish, this week's chart post.

On House to Astonish, this week's X-Axis.

On House to Astonish, annotations for Magik #10.

On House to Astonish, annotations for Phoenix #15.

On House to Astonish, annotations for Uncanny X-Men #21.

A really heroic effort here to win the 2025 award for Least Effort Put Into Rewriting The Press Release Before Calling It An Article In A Mainstream Newspaper.

On House to Astonish, Daredevil Villains #59: The Hand.

One final plug for this, during which I'll get out my begging bowl with "shameless" written on it and say: 1. Have a read of the blog because it's my birthday 2. I've been blocked by 4 accounts today presumably because of the reference to red socialist flags, which is absurdly over-sensitive.

"Why bother with stealth when you can just chuck expendable swordsmen at the problem?"

On House to Astonish, Daredevil Villains #59: The Hand.

On House to Astonish, this week's chart post.

If you're wondering what the Jeph Loeb-written Age of Apocalypse book is like, well, here's your chance to find out

On House to Astonish, this week's X-Axis.

On House to Astonish, annotations for Exceptional X-Men #13.

House to Astonish Presents: The Lightning Round Episode 27 is now live, as @ifdestroyed.bsky.social and I look at Thunderbolts (1997) issues 69-71. Ever wondered if the existence of "French" as a concept could be a hoax? Then this is the episode for you, True Believer! bit.ly/lightning27

On House to Astonish, this week's chart post.

On House to Astonish, this week's X-Axis.

On House to Astonish, annotations for Magik #9.

This is a cracking read, and I think anyone worried about a far-left surge can rest easy, as it's clear that this lot of warring twats still couldn't organise a piss-up in a brewery, never mind a coherent political party

On House to Astonish, annotations for Laura Kinney: Wolverine #10.

On House to Astonish, annotations for Wolverine #13.

Since when is 11 years a generation?

On House to Astonish, annotations for Uncanny X-Men #20.

I'm glad you read this issue so I'll never have to.

On House to Astonish, Daredevil Villains #58: Ladykiller.

On House to Astonish, Daredevil Villains #58: Ladykiller.

On House to Astonish, this week's chart post.

On House to Astonish, this week's X-Axis.

On House to Astonish, annotations for Phoenix #14.

From this week’s Beano.

On House to Astonish, annotations for X-Men #21.

And people say rock music is over

The Breeders

On House to Astonish, this week's chart post.

On House to Astonish, this week's X-Axis.

I know Mercedes Mone is doing a “belt collector” gimmick, but the Discovery Wrestling Women’s Title? Really? A promotion that runs four times a year in Portobello Town Hall?

On House to Astonish, annotations for Psylocke #10.

On House to Astonish, annotations for Wolverine #12.

On House to Astonish, annotations for Exceptional X-Men #12.

This is a little unfair since the judgment spends some time saying that it's a factor of limited weight. That said, I find the conclusion that the balance of convenience favoured an interim injunction pretty much unfathomable and I'd have thought it was worth appealing.

House to Astonish Episode 214 is now live, with chat about Die: Loaded, Infernal Hulk, Doctor Strange, Batman/Static: Beyond and Batman/Deadpool, and reviews of Superman: The Kryptonite Spectrum and Uncle Scrooge: Earth's Mightiest Duck! bit.ly/astonish214

On House to Astonish, this week's chart post.

On House to Astonish, this week's X-Axis.

On House to Astonish, annotations for Magik #8.