tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-36903652556751170592024-03-13T10:17:57.823-04:00Illegitimate Children of the AtomA fan of the Uncanny X-Men, who misses the old days of comic books when things were simpler, reminisces through his collection. I'm offering up my opinions, perspectives, confusions, conclusions, quibbles, suggestions, nitpicks, gripes, and reviews... as soon as I can get around to writing them down. Also, beware of MAJOR SPOILERS!Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04709986041684718470noreply@blogger.comBlogger301125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3690365255675117059.post-21764828141592718712014-05-17T15:21:00.002-04:002014-05-17T15:21:50.259-04:00300 Posts!I know I've been struggling to get material on this blog, but it, like me, is still a work in progress. I apologize that my professional and personal lives haven't left a lot of time and energy for this blog, but I do appreciate those who still visit, and I am still trying to get a more regular writing schedule down. Until then, I hope you enjoy what I do post, and thank you for visiting.Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04709986041684718470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3690365255675117059.post-49566203098959038662014-05-17T15:12:00.002-04:002014-05-17T15:17:03.754-04:00X-Factor #126<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pRtw9oYDotc/U3e0qE8bIqI/AAAAAAAAAnI/RD4OeIj3xjY/s1600/xfa126.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-pRtw9oYDotc/U3e0qE8bIqI/AAAAAAAAAnI/RD4OeIj3xjY/s1600/xfa126.jpg" height="200" width="130" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">X-Factor #126</b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Writing: Howard
Mackie</b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Art: Stefano Raffaele</b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>What Went Down:</b></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Forge starts of this issue repaying Mystique
and Sabretooth for saving him by painfully reactivating their inhibitors with
technology around him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They regroup with
the rest of X-Factor to find that Havok and Random have been captured.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Polaris and Shard are left to guard the
prisoners while the rest break up to look for Beast.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Mystique and Wild Child trade banter while overcoming
some traps within the building, while Creed fights off some metal tendrils with
Forge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Forge deactivates them, and they
continue on while Forge contemplates the series of strange orders Washington
has been giving him, the most recent of which has been to work with
Sabretooth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Creed discovers the Beast
hooked to manacles that shock him with every step taken on the floor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Above, Fatale ambushes the two agents, but
she is ambushed by Wild Child and knocked out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Outside, Polaris lectures Random for lying to her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Random explains that Dark Beast was helping
him control his powers and keeping him from becoming just a pile of goo.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact Dark Beast created the Random
identity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He also admits Dark Beast has
been messing with Havok’s head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Once freed, Beast is eager to rejoin the X-Men to fight
Onslaught.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sabretooth notices that this
Beast is actually Dark Beast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Forge
threatens to put Creed down, even though he acknowledges that Creed’s collar
should be stopping him, and Wild Child confirms that it’s the Dark Beast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Meanwhile Alex tricks Lorna into setting him
free.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Random breaks out of his
restraints in an attempt to save her from Havok.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Havok blasts Random, turning him to a puddle
that oozes into the sewer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Shard leaves
Polaris to guard Havok while she goes after Random.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This gives Havok the perfect opportunity to
knock out Polaris and admit his treachery.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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Back inside, Forge is still pointing a gun, convinced
Sabretooth is attacking the real Beast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Creed knocks down a wall, revealing the real Beast restrained in a
different room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dark Beast still tries
to convince Forge that he is the good one, but the original Hank McCoy attacks
him and knocks him out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Shard returns to find Polaris unconscious and dying.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She gives CPR and tells Forge they need to
get to the hospital.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Forge orders Fatale
to teleport them all, and Dark Beast tells them to do it so that they can bid
their time as prisoners, exactly where he wanted to be.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>How It Was:</b></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve already written about how bizarre it is
that the Beast/Dark Beast plot resolution appeared in, of all places, <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">X-Factor</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So let’s forget about the randomness and
ineptitude that lead to that decision and instead focus on the pay off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After months of being held captive and
chained up in a small room—after having dozens…potentially hundreds of people
from his life, as well as innocent bystanders, murdered—Beast finally gets his
payback on the cruel, sadistic version of himself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So he kicks the villain once…and then the
fight and issue are both over.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>What??!!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s one thing to shunt
the focus of the majority of this story to X-Factor, and Sabretooth and
Mystique in particular, but to offer absolutely no satisfaction in the triumph
of our hero who has been put through the ringer the last few months is the
worst.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The absolute worst!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The only reason <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">X-Men</i> readers were picking up <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">X-Factor</i>
was to see how Beast was rescued, and the abrupt and anticlimactic end robs the
story of any sense of closure or gratification.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In fact Dark McCoy is gleeful to be captured, in regards to another
conspiracy theory with no payoff.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Aside from the lousy Beast thread, nobody else comes out
looking too great in this issue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
plot decisions just seem antithetical to telling an interesting story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The villains without restraints…that’s pretty
cool, but it gets undone by the first page this issue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Random’s betrayal…apparently he’s been working
with Dark Beast since the beginning, retroactively tainting all his previous
appearances.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh, and the tough bounty
hunter is actually a teenager, which is a little weird and disappointing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
If not for the Beast letdown, the worst offense would be
the obvious ruse Havok uses on Polaris to get free, making her look all kinds
of awful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All she had to do was be
patient and wait for the authorities to pick up the bad guys, but she frees
Havok because…?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Similarly Forge refuses
to believe both Sabretooth and Wild Child about Dark Beast, even though they
have no reason to lie, and Creed’s inhibitor is letting him hurt the
Beast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everything is just too
predictable…it’s no fun if the audience expects what is going to happen.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s fun to have the villains pulling the
strings, but not if the heroes are so obviously dumb that there’s no challenge
or sense of tension.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Completists Only</b></span>
</div>
Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04709986041684718470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3690365255675117059.post-64956357026754417812014-05-17T15:07:00.004-04:002014-05-17T15:23:08.613-04:00X-Factor #125<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oUyxrLu1ZEg/U3e0AOT1gYI/AAAAAAAAAnA/w57PHg7IukQ/s1600/xfa125.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-oUyxrLu1ZEg/U3e0AOT1gYI/AAAAAAAAAnA/w57PHg7IukQ/s1600/xfa125.jpg" height="200" width="128" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">X-Factor #125</b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Writing: Howard
Mackie</b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Art: Jeff Matsuda
and Stefano Raffaele</b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">These two issues take place prior to <a href="http://illegitofatom.blogspot.com/2011/08/x-men-55.html" target="_blank">X-Men #55</a></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>What Went Down:</b></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dark Beast has taken Onslaught to his lab,
and Onslaught is conducting a painful looking probe on McCoy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fatale tries to free her master, but fails
miserably.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Former hero, and Cyclops’
brother, Havok shows up too, and Onslaught says he has plans for him.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Over at the Fall’s Edge base, X-Factor is being attacked
by a training Sentinel that has somehow been reprogrammed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Random suggests calling in the X-Men, but
Forge orders Mystique to go free their “heavy-hitter” Sabretooth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mystique threatens to kill Sabretooth, but
frees him anyway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both discuss how they
are biding their time in X-Factor to fulfill their own agendas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Creed mentions that Mystique might have feelings
for Forge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Suddenly Fatale appears and
abducts both of them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She also teleports
the Sentinel away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Forge seems convinced one rogue Sentinel is more
dangerous than a missing Mystique and Sabretooth, so he sets X-Factor to
finding it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Random tries to warn Polaris
not to go on this mission.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Back at their
base, the emergency transmission from Jean Grey warning about Onslaught plays
for the empty room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
X-Factor tracks the Sentinel’s signal to the abandoned
Brand Corporation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Havok and Fatale
attack the team; Polaris is heartbroken that Alex has turned villain, while
Random again tries to warn her away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>While Polaris shields everyone from Havok’s power, Random reveals that
he is a traitor as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Inside the Brand facility, Forge discovers an army of
Sentinels.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is attacked by someone off
panel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Outside, Polaris tries to reach
Havok.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fatale and Havok are about to
kill the team, but Random protests about killing them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dark Beat appears to tell him the bargain has
changed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Forge and Onslaught’s henchman
Post bursts through the wall, interrupting the proceedings and giving Polaris a
chance to take out Havok.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Random tries
to help Polaris, but Havok shoots him, revealing that Random is really a
teenager.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Polaris again tries to reach
Alex, and it appears to work; however, instead of trusting him, Polaris decides
to knock him out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Post grows bored and
escapes, having succeeded in his mission to distract X-Factor long enough for
the Sentinels to launch.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>What Else Went
Down:</b></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The second story deals with
what happens to Sabretooth and Mystique after being teleported.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After surviving a steep drop, the pair is
confronted by the Dark Beast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>McCoy
explains everything about Onslaught and holding his other self hostage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dark Beast wants them to join Onslaught, and
offers to deactivate their inhibitors and let them kill Forge. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mystique and Sabretooth consider it, but
decide if they weren’t sanctioned operatives, they couldn’t use their positions
for their own purposes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Sabretooth attacks Dark Beast; McCoy gets the upper hand,
but Mystique uses her shape-shifting abilities to create pointy armor for
herself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dark Beast almost kills both
her and Forge, but Sabretooth saves them both and continues to fight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Creed is about to kill him, but Forge stops
him because they need information.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dark
Beast activates a teleporter, explaining that the real Beast will be dead
before they can find him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>How It Was:</b></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A double-sized Onslaught tie-in issue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>How did I get so lucky?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After Peter David left <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">X-Factor</i>, the book struggled to find an identity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No longer the quirky, funny book with the
C-list X-Characters, it tried to become the edgy, violent book with C-list
X-characters.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Too bad nobody at the
X-offices realized that title was already called X-Force.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>X-Factor’s attempt to stay interesting and
relevant to fans was to have Mystique and Sabretooth recruited by the team and
forced to work with more traditional mutant heroes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
As for its attempt at ecking out its own identity, Mackie
seems to be going the conspiracy angle with multiple characters having
different conflicting goals and motivations, from the villains to the
government funding X-Factor itself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
is all well and good considering they are the government based X-team—why not
introduce some <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">X-Files</i> like
government conspiracies and political intrigue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The problem of course exists that none of these motivations or
conspiracies feel planned ahead; Sabretooth, Mystique, and Dark Beast all
insist that they have specific reasons for the things they are doing, with no
substantial hint as to what they might be.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Forge recognizes there might be strange motivations for including
villains on the team, but again nothing is done with this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
As an Onslaught tie-in, this story offers a unique
opportunity to bring in new readers by showing how great and interesting the
team is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead we see a team that
struggles to take down one Sentinel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>One!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And it’s a Sentinel that
Forge was rebuilding.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Right off the
start the X-Factor team isn’t looking great, especially when over in books like
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">X-Men</i> and <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Uncanny</i>, the X-Men, Avengers, and FF are taking out Sentinels left
and right by themselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Another problem is how telegraphed the twists are.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Random warns Polaris twice that she shouldn’t
go on the mission, and then we’re supposed to be surprised when he says he’s
working for the villain of the issue?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>None of this feels laid out or natural to the character as
established.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Havok being a bad guy is
interesting, since he is the character that became synonymous with X-Factor after
the original X-Men left.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The downside is
that his defection (at this point the story was that he was being brainwashed
by Dark Beast) reduces Polaris to a simpering and whiny character that gets
tiring after a while.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
This issue should feel bigger than it does: Post shows up
for like four panels (?!), the Sentinels that attack New York are activated
here, and Sabretooth and Mystique get their inhibitors deactivated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Of course failing to stop the Sentinels makes
the team look incompetent, and the other two things are quickly brushed to the
side.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It feels like the plot is trying
to cram in as many Onslaught related concepts in it as possible without
actually contributing to or moving the story along in any meaningful way; of
course, this was the main problem with the majority of Onslaught tie-ins.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Finally, we pick up on the captive Beast subplot that has
appeared in all three <u>X-Men</u> titles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Why the X-offices would choose to resolve this months’ long story in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">X-Factor</i> is beyond me. None of the
characters have a close connection with Hank; it just feels like the team had nothing
better to do than resolve this plot line that has nothing to do with them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just some baffling choices.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Completists Only</b></span></div>
Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04709986041684718470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3690365255675117059.post-63785551474679868482014-03-23T13:44:00.000-04:002014-03-24T00:06:05.214-04:00X-Men Unlimited #12<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jxL06I4WBlA/Uy8dJUHiKqI/AAAAAAAAAmo/Lu9I6AGFx-k/s1600/xun12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-jxL06I4WBlA/Uy8dJUHiKqI/AAAAAAAAAmo/Lu9I6AGFx-k/s1600/xun12.jpg" height="200" width="128" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">X-Men Unlimited
#12</b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Writing: John
Francis Moore</b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Art: Steve Epting
and Ariel Olivetti</b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">This takes place
after <a href="http://illegitofatom.blogspot.com/2011/08/uncanny-x-men-335.html" target="_blank">Uncanny #335</a>. After go back to <a href="http://illegitofatom.blogspot.com/2011/08/avengers-401.html" target="_blank">Avengers #401</a> </i><br />
<br />
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">.</i><span style="font-size: large;"><b>What Went Down:</b></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dr. Strange’s astral form approaches the
X-Mansion, having sensed some great mystical disturbance or something.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Strange casts a spell and discovers that
Onslaught did not kill the Juggernaut in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">X-Men
#54</i>, but rather he somehow trapped Cain Marko in the Gem of Cytorrak (in case
you couldn’t tell from the cover).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
is strange because Onslaught’s powers are psionic, not mystical, but we’ll soon
learn Onslaught can do anything.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While
Strange contemplates this, a Chinese symbol appears from a computer screen and
is about to attack Strange.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Strange is
rescued by Gomurr the Ancient One, the little sage from <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Uncanny #329-330</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Apparently
the symbol was a spider from Gomurr’s nemesis Tar.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Gomurr explains that having Marko in the gem is somehow
more dangerous, but refuses Strange’s assistance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He goes into the gem to look for
Juggernaut.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Meanwhile, Cain is trying to
free himself from the gem, which looks a lot like hell on the inside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some lava boils up and starts to burn
him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He passes out, but when he wakes
up, he finds himself in a bed paralyzed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Charles Xavier comes in and explains that Cain has been
hallucinating.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When they fought in
Korea, Cain was paralyzed when the Temple of Cytorrak came down, causing him to
open a school for students with physical and psychological issues.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His X-Men appear as normal humans with
different handicaps.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gomurr interrupts
the illusion, and the fake Xavier is revealed to be Spite, the sister of
D’Spayre.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gomurr chases her off with
some magic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
After freeing Cain, Gomurr explains that Cain no longer
possesses his strength, but offers to lead him out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The pair comes across a copy of the X-mansion
carved in stone and enter it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Inside
Cain no longer has his armor and is forced to observe memories from his
childhood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They include Cain watching
his dad and stepmom talking about how gifted Charles is as well as Cain’s
attempt to blackmail his father with knowledge that Kurt Marko was responsible
for the death of Charles’ father.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
results in Charles questioning them both, but Cain knocks over some chemicals
and causes an explosion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kurt Marko dies
saving Charles, and Cain blames him for taking his father.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Gomurr insists that Juggernaut’s path will only lead to
the destruction of everything, followed by his own consumption.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cain contemplates giving up his obsessive
anger towards Charles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However, before
he can follow through, Spite reappears to offer Cain Charles’ death and the
subjugation of all his enemies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gomurr
warns that his need to destroy will overwhelm him and leave him utterly
alone.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Spite restrains Gomurr and
explains that long ago Gomurr and Tar were charged with containing the deity
Cyttorak.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In order to defeat the being,
they constructed the crystal, but neither could trust the other with the power,
so they buried it in a temple in Korea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Juggernaut goes with Spite to get his power back, leaving Gomurr behind
and at the mercy of a mystery character.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Spite takes Cain before Cyttorak.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She is repaid by being eaten, and Cyttorak
explains that he is going to try to leave the crystal in Cain’s body.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cain tries to beat Cyttorak, but he doesn’t
have his powers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gomurr, now freed, and
Tar, the mystery person, team up to help Cain contain Cyttorak.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unable to destroy the power, they give it to
Cain, hoping he will defeat Cyttorak and that the X-Men will be able to contain
him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Cain destroys Cyttorak, destroying
the dimension within the crystal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Juggernaut reappears in the X-Men’s study, declaring how he’s bigger
than ever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dr. Strange laments Cain’s
short sightedness.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>How It Was:</b></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Oh cool, a Dr. Strange story in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Unlimited</i>!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While a needless cross promotion, this could
still have potential…oh, wait…this isn’t a Dr. Strange story; it’s a Gomurr the
Ancient One story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To be fair, Gomurr is
alright in his own right—he still gets a few funny lines in (like the one about
being no relation to Dr. Strange’s Ancient One), but he’s just not that
interesting to carry the story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We do
learn some of his history, only there just isn’t enough to make him stand
out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When Juggernaut calls him Yoda, he
makes a good point about just how clichéd and derivative Gomurr is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Still there’s some good material for Juggernaut
here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most of it has already been
touched on, and like most <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Unlimited </i>stories
the book feels the need to go into one too many flashback sequences.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The idea that the Juggernaut is a curse and
could be lifted if Cain let go of his obsession with Xavier has potential.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Plus the design for Cyttorak the god is
pretty impressive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The plot is a weighed
down by an unnecessary appearance from Spite (maybe her last appearance had her
trapped in the crystal?), and a long padded out sequence of events and
flashbacks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The end also only works in
that magical deus ex sort of way; basically Cyttorak takes back Juggernaut’s
powers, so Gomurr and Tar give the powers back and destroy Cyttorak (the deity
appears decades later though).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
This may’ve been the first of its kind, but it feels like
a slog that I’ve already read before—Juggernaut dealing with his jealousy,
toying with overcoming it, then deciding not to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s hard to root for Cain since he is such
an alpha male bully douchebag.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
isn’t Moore’s fault, he’s writing him in character, it’s just frustrating to
spend so many pages delving into the character, only to have absolutely nothing
change at all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also, this issue has
nothing to do with Onslaught.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>If you’re
a really big Juggernaut fan, hunt it down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Otherwise just assume that he gets let out when Onslaught dies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Completists Only</b></span></div>
Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04709986041684718470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3690365255675117059.post-14994654600523182242014-03-23T13:40:00.001-04:002014-03-23T13:44:12.026-04:00X-Men Unlimited #11<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8z0-dZjPQI8/Uy8cbdz_UWI/AAAAAAAAAmg/oFcwHfjiyvw/s1600/xun11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-8z0-dZjPQI8/Uy8cbdz_UWI/AAAAAAAAAmg/oFcwHfjiyvw/s1600/xun11.jpg" height="200" width="133" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">X-Men Unlimited
#11</b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Writing: Scott
Lobdell and Terry Kavagh</b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Art: Steve Epting
and Mark Millar??</b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">This takes place
after <a href="http://illegitofatom.blogspot.com/2011/08/x-men-53.html" target="_blank">X-Men #53</a>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Go back to <a href="http://illegitofatom.blogspot.com/2011/08/uncanny-x-men-344-writing-scott-lobdell.html" target="_blank">Uncanny #334.</a></i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>What Went Down:</b></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Melody Watkins (Rogue’s landlady from <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">X-Men #52</i>) is at the local Humanity’s
Last Stand headquarters to report Rogue as a potential threat to her son.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unbeknownst to her, Rogue is enjoying her
life as a Hollywood Café waitress, free of the frustrations of superheroing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On her drive home from work, she notices a
construction crew that has been working for four nights and hasn’t gotten a lot
of work done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Once home, Melody confronts Rogue to confess that she
turned Rogue into Humanity’s Last Stand, saying she was worried about her son
and the Legacy Virus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This leads to an
attack by soldiers in power armor who try to capture Rogue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rogue beats them all, but she stops when she
sees Bastion holding Melody’s son Stevie as a hostage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rogue takes a laser blast to save Melody.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
At Humanity’s Last Stand’s compound, a shadowy figure
named Mr. Trask tells Bastion that Rogue can’t stay.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bastion explains his plot to Rogue: he is
going to burn down the compound, murder her and all the occupants, then blame
the deaths of all the humans on Rogue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This will then stir up anti-mutant hysteria.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Before the soldiers can carry out Bastion’s plan, one of
them starts using super powers to defeat the others and free Rogue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bastion runs off while Joseph introduces
himself to Rogue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He explains that after
the page in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">X-Men #53</i>, he joined
Humanity’s Last Stand to go undercover and hopefully run into the X-Men.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rogue, thinking this is regular Magneto,
attacks Joseph.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Joseph manages to
convince Rogue of his sincerity, and the two team up to save all the compound
dwellers from being murdered by soldiers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Rogue and Joseph defeat the soldiers, but the civilians train weapons on
them, telling them to leave.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Joseph
demonstrates that he could kill the people if he wanted to before lecturing
them on prejudice and flying off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
After flying for a while, Joseph asks Rogue about his
past as Magneto.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rogue tells him she’d
rather wait until they’re around the other X-Men, and Joseph explains how
Sister Maria told him about the X-Men.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Their conversation is interrupted by an attack helicopter with Trask on
board.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Joseph uses his powers to catch
two missiles, but instead of killing the humans, he just detonates the missiles
and uses the explosion to cover their retreat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Rogue and Joseph return to her apartment to get her car.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Melody apologizes, and Rogue and Stevie say
goodbye.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>How It Was:</b></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Some stories like to surprise you with plot
turns and revelations that make a reader stand up and take notice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While there is one pretty big surprise in the
plot, this story still reads like a predictable, by the numbers story; you
pretty much know how it’s going to end five pages in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And that’s not necessarily a bad thing—having
one of the X-Men become fed up with the lifestyle after the previous months of
hardship is a legitimately interesting direction to go.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Like most of these <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Unlimited </i>stories, it’s just unfortunate that Rogue’s taste of
everyday living is all but forgotten as soon as she returns to the
X-books.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lobdell sets up and explores a
simple, if tragic, idea that the X-Man who can’t touch would crave a normal
life more than others by way of the fact that she can never really have
one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
What really works in this story is that Rogue actually
succeeds at her normal life, and it’s prejudice and persecution, i.e. other
people’s issues with her, that destroy what she’s built.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lobdell wisely avoids bringing up Gambit too
much, choosing instead to deal with Rogue’s personality—she is outgoing and
desires to be around people, but she can never get too close.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He also tries to make Rogue’s landlady Melody
come off as sympathetic, constantly bringing up her concerns for her son, but
really she just comes off as stupid and unlikable; she’s going to report her
friend to this group, and they’re going to “take care of her” somehow—frankly
I’m glad when her house gets destroyed.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
While Humanity’s Last Stand is the same generic bigoted
human group the X-Men always come across (this one situated as a survivalist
militia), I must admit that I do love the designs for their power armor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And the fight with Rogue is well done.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The one twist of the story (ruined by the
cover) is that Joseph has actually joined the racist organization that persecutes
mutants.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His idea to infiltrate the
group to learn about the X-Men seems farfetched, but if you can ignore the huge
coincidence, it’s an efficient enough means of getting them to meet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
What really feels odd is that once Rogue and Joseph fight
each other, stop the soldiers from killing everyone, and have the civilians
turn on them; it feels like the story is over.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Unfortunately, due to the format of the book, the story has to keep
going, so we see Rogue refuse to tell Joseph anything and an anticlimactic show
down between the Master of Magnetism and a metal helicopter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The end does have a nice moment with Melody’s
son and Rogue, but it feels like it would’ve meant more right after they were
turned away by the humans they helped saved.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This issue works for Rogue fans, and it goes through all the beats
Joseph needed to after his previous appearance to line him up to join the
X-Men.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>X-Fans Only</b></span></div>
Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04709986041684718470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3690365255675117059.post-50996681278852522492014-03-23T13:37:00.001-04:002014-03-23T13:45:34.463-04:00X-Men Unlimited #10<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Fk0GhEuAP8k/Uy8bRdgFIQI/AAAAAAAAAmY/WsbdOrb7bIY/s1600/xun10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Fk0GhEuAP8k/Uy8bRdgFIQI/AAAAAAAAAmY/WsbdOrb7bIY/s1600/xun10.jpg" height="200" width="130" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">X-Men Unlimited
#10</b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Writing: Mark Waid</b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Art: Frank Toscano
and Nick Gnazzo</b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">This takes place
after <a href="http://illegitofatom.blogspot.com/2011/07/x-men-50.html" target="_blank">X-Men #50</a>, but before <a href="http://illegitofatom.blogspot.com/2011/07/uncanny-x-men-331.html" target="_blank">Uncanny #331</a></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">What Went Down:</span> </b>Our
story begins with a flashback to a young Hank McCoy fixing a school bus and
annoying the heck out of Groundskeeper Willy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The flashback is being retold by the former school principal, who is
retelling the story with pride in the present at a hospital.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unfortunately the principal’s visitor is the
evil Hank McCoy from the Age of Apocalypse, who promptly suffocates the principal
after learning everything he can about the Hank of this world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As Dark Beast leaves the hospital, it is
apparent that he’s killed everyone there, not just the principal, as he
recounts his history up until now.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Meanwhile, the real Beast is using the Danger Room as a
giant microscope to manipulate the molecules of the Legacy Virus for
study.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Professor X and the other X-Men
interrupt him to implore that he spend more time outside the lab.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In a secret lab, Dark Beast has hacked into
regular Hank’s computer and is keeping track of his work.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Dark Beast meets with another person from Hank’s
life—this time a former girlfriend named Mindy who recounts teenage Hank’s
fixation with the robotics of a haunted tunnel ride.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As she tells the story, Mindy becomes ill,
and Dark Beast reveals he infected her and the rest of the restaurant with a
deadly virus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
At the institute, Iceman is helping Beast with yet
another experiment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bobby has to use his
powers to keep a microscope from overheating, even though this eventually
causes him pain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The computer eventually
overheats and blows up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Afterwards,
Bobby gets Hank to agree to leave the lab, but it’s a trick to get rid of
him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Dark Beast then visits a priest who retells the origin of
Hank’s fur to the villain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The priest is
repaid by having his church blown up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>After acquiring some files from the Brand Corporation, Dark Beast is
able to turn his fur blue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He heads to
the home of Hank’s parents to learn more about the genuine article.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Evil Hank gets more of his origin filled in,
pertaining to the radiation accident that may have given him the x-gene.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both parents notice something wrong with
their son, and just when it seems like Dark Beast might kill them both, he
falters and leaves abruptly. On his way out of town, he kills a random
passerby.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
As real Beast works on his computer, Dark Beast hacks his
computer and leads him to the abandoned Brand Corporation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dark Beast traps regular Beast in a box and
gloats about all the people in Hank’s life that he has killed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Enraged Beast bursts free and a fight
ensues.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just when Beast has the upper
hand, he realizes he is about to kill Dark Beast and lets up, allowing Dark
Beast to knock him out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When Hank wakes
up, he is being bricked into a dungeon.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Beast begs him to let him go and help him cure the Legacy Virus, but the
villain seals him in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>How It Was:</b></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well when you have a dark version of a
character hanging around a super hero universe, it is inevitable that he will
end up facing his better self at some point.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>While it’s not the most original set up for a comic story, Mark Waid
wrote it, so there is actually a little substance to this tale.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dark Beast is a problematic character because
theoretically he shares the same temperament and personality with regular Beast,
only without all the patience and ethical concerns; his vague fear of Mr.
Sinister, who probably doesn’t know he exists at this point, seems
unfounded.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Waid quickly defines the evil
McCoy by making him a remorseless killer the likes of which we haven’t seen in
the X-books up to this point.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even when
Sabretooth escaped and had a dozen chances to kill someone, he was never
allowed to; compare that to Dark Beast who wipes out entire hospitals and
restaurants full of people on a whim.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s off-putting, but the violence does serve a purpose.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Having racked up an enormous body count by
the middle of the issue, I was almost certain Dark Beast was going to kill
Hank’s parents, who are probably as crucial to the X-books as all the made-up
characters from Hank’s life in this issue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There is a marvelous sense of tension as Dark Beast reaches for the
axe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact, it might’ve ended up a
more memorable story and cemented Dark Beast as a more palpable threat long
term if he had gone through with it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Some of the flashbacks are a little hokey (why is Groundskeeper
Willy at Hank’s school), but they establish that downhome mid-western
Smallville charm that makes for an excellent contrast with the over-the-top
violence of the Dark Beast.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Regular
Beast’s experiments are shown for a little too long, and I don’t really get how
an electron microscope can overheat and explode, but once he’s lead to the
Brand Corporation, it’s worth it to see his reaction to Dark Beast’s
remorseless crimes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s unfortunate
that most of this is forgotten after Onslaught because although he’s sort of
derivative in terms of comics stories, Dark Beast would’ve made a more
interesting obsession for Beast to focus on as opposed to the Legacy Virus plot
that just kept going and going and going.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Waid injects personality and a hint of humor into the
characters (I love the line about Bobby getting a 200 point lead in
Scrabble).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And although the two Beasts
couldn’t seem more different, Waid wisely uses the corny flashbacks to
establish the commonality that both of them need to satisfy their own
curiosities when it comes to how things work; Dark Beast just uses living
people as opposed to machines and lab equipment.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both are obsessed with figuring out how
things work, and it’s a shame we aren’t given more of Dark Beast’s history to
really drive home the similarities and differences.</div>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
This is probably one of the best issues of <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">X-Men Unlimited</i> I’ve ever read.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It feels like a narrower focused story,
unburdened by the myriad of subplots that would undoubtedly be included in the
main titles; however, for the first time most of the book doesn’t feel like
padded filler.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Dark Beast seems like a
genuine threat, even if he never does anything threatening or interesting while
undercover at the X-Mansion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This
could’ve been the foundation for rehabilitating a contrived villain—it’s too
bad it never was followed up on, so Dark Beast actually comes across in later
appearances as C-level Mr. Sinister.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Still, this is quite a good one. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Everyone Should
Read</b></span> </div>
Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04709986041684718470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3690365255675117059.post-52887159295585059772014-03-03T23:19:00.000-05:002014-03-03T23:24:54.491-05:00The Adventures of Cyclops and Phoenix #4<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e5r-Asvl-A0/UxVUBMMEfYI/AAAAAAAAAmI/rWRKhrUE4kE/s1600/adcph4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-e5r-Asvl-A0/UxVUBMMEfYI/AAAAAAAAAmI/rWRKhrUE4kE/s1600/adcph4.jpg" height="200" width="128" /></a></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The Adventures of
Cyclops and Phoenix #4</b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Writing: Scott
Lobdell</b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Art: Gene Ha</b></div>
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<br />
<i>Note: Story continues in <a href="http://illegitofatom.blogspot.com/2010/11/x-men-35.html" target="_blank">X-Men #35</a></i>.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>What Went Down:</b></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nathan is at death’s door as the
techno-organic virus is breaking down his body completely.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Apparently he has been in remission for a
while, but hitting puberty has caused the virus to flare up again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Turrin and his people are doing everything to
help him, but it doesn’t look good for the boy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Jean thinks she could help him if she could reach him telepathically,
but she says there is psi-interference through the coma.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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Over at Apocalypse’s citadel, the villain is preparing to
possess Stryfe’s body, in spite of the protests of Ch’Vayre.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We learn that Apocalypse named the boy Stryfe
after an enemy who almost defeated him centuries ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The irony being that Apocalypse thinks this
boy is an abducted Nathan Summers, but really he is the same Stryfe that will
grow up to try to kill him in the past yet again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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As Nathan is dying, he has an out of body experience, and
he is visited by the spirit of a young Rachel Summers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the physical world, Scott decides to stay
with Nathan in lieu of going on another raid to defeat Apocalypse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He refuses to abandon his son again after
doing it once already.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The rebels attack
the citadel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Turrin is taken out by a
psi-attack from Ch’Vayre, who proposes an alliance with Redd.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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Rachel explains that the techno-virus is something he has
to accept and that he has more power than any other telepath.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She explains that as the Mother Askani, she
brought Nate to this time and created a clone as a decoy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rachel explains his destiny as Cable,
although she tells him he won’t remember any of this.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just as Nathan dies on the table, Nate fights
and comes out of it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He thanks Slym for
not leaving him and tells him they’re needed where Redd is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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As Apocalypse prepares to take Stryfe’s body, he taunts
Xavier and the other villains he outlived.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>He is interrupted by a psi-attack from Jean and Ch’Vayre.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The villain knocks them back and goes to
complete the ritual.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Since the boy is a
clone, he cannot contain Apocalypse’s essence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Scott and Nathan show up, and the Dayspring family focuses their powers
on Apocalypse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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As they are about to defeat the villain, Scott and Jean
begin fading from existence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nathan
frees Stryfe, preventing Apocalypse from transferring his essence, and
Apocalypse “utters his final cry.” Scott and Jean try to say goodbye to Nathan
as they fade away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rachel appears to
Jean and explains that her physical body died minutes ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She says she lived a long life and asks Jean
to take the name Phoenix in remembrance of all the good the Phoenix force
did.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As Scott fades, he tells Nate he’ll
never be alone, and he will be a cable that unites the past to the future.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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After the couple fades, Ch’Vayre explains that
Apocalypse’s followers will try to avenge him and find his heir, Stryfe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He says his resources will protect Stryfe and
himself, but not Nathan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nathan says not
to worry about him as he’s going to put back together the dream Apocalypse
dismantled.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>How It Was:</b></span><b> </b>Well it’s the final issue, and we’re finally getting to the
meat of the story we’ve been waiting for.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Here’s the final battle with Apocalypse, which turns out to be very
underwhelming.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What it amounts to is the
Dayspring clan shooting an old man just before he transfers bodies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s disappointing to see Apocalypse die in
such an anticlimactic and lackluster way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Plus I thought Apocalypse ruled Cable’s future when he was an adult as
well, but I could be misrembering.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On
top of the toothless defeat of one of the X-Men’s greatest enemies, there’s the
problem that Scott, Jean, and Ch’Vayre really have no major contribution to the
end.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ch’Vayre especially, as the only
new character we’ve really spent time with, feels like his potential has been
wasted by having him focus on the unlikable Stryfe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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Still this issue does have a lot going for it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The material dealing with Nathan’s near-death
is handled wonderfully.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gene Ha’s art as
the virus breaks down the young boy’s body is surreal and haunting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And the depiction in his mind of Nathan
accepting the virus is really well handled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Having Scott stay in spite of the final battle is a nice touch, even
though as I said last issue we haven’t really seen him neglect Nathan yet.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And then there are the inevitable goodbyes
that you’ve been expecting since issue one that are all pretty strong.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes we all know Nathan isn’t going to die,
and Scott and Jean aren’t going to stay in the future.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But the idea of them being separated from
their child is wonderfully handled, even if the trauma is forgotten after a
month or two in the other x-titles.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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Along with Apocalypse, it’s sad to see there is no
comeuppance for Stryfe, since the boy has killed more in the series than anyone
else in the entire story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Obviously he
has to grow up to be the regular Marvel Universe villain, but almost getting
possessed just doesn’t seem satisfying enough.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There are also some pretty wonky plot devices going on related to
Stryfe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s necessary that Lodell
establish a purpose for Stryfe’s existence (a decoy for Nathan) as well as show
that there is some difference between the two.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>So we get Apocalypse crying about how Stryfe isn’t the authentic child,
completely stopping the possession process, followed by saying it doesn’t
matter, and he’ll possess the boy anyway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I do love the touch that Stryfe is named after his future self.</div>
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What does work is both the low-key and full-on dramatic
moments: Rachel and Nathan talking in his mind, Scott saying goodbye, and
Rachel saying goodbye to Jean.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s nice
to go back to a time when the Marvel Universe didn’t automatically associate
the Phoenix with destruction, because that’s not its primary function.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although Rachel’s reasoning for Jean naming
herself Phoenix is somewhat off (as a tribute to the Phoenix force and all the
good it did) it comes off more as Jean’s tribute to the incredibly complex and
difficult life her alternate reality/possibly future daughter had to live.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even though the action is a little
disappointing, and the resolution is rather abrupt, there are some nice
character moments hidden in here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Plus
it does finally clear up some of the tangled continuity about Cable, Apocalypse,
Stryfe, and Cyclops.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>X-Fans Only</b></span></div>
Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04709986041684718470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3690365255675117059.post-30706003332368549492014-03-03T23:16:00.000-05:002014-03-03T23:19:28.620-05:00The Adventures of Cyclops and Phoenix #3<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-v4duO6CmXeo/UxVTaT56ftI/AAAAAAAAAmA/p9v6sIxpBGE/s1600/adcph3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-v4duO6CmXeo/UxVTaT56ftI/AAAAAAAAAmA/p9v6sIxpBGE/s1600/adcph3.jpg" height="200" width="129" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Adventures of
Cyclops and Phoenix #3</b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Writing: Scott
Lobdell</b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Art: Gene Ha</b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>What Went Down:</b></span>
We enter on Jean again instructing a now eight-year-old Nathan on using his
powers to conceal his disease.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is
difficult for him, but he manages to do it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Nathan complains about the fact that the family has to conceal who and
what they are, and Jean does her best to console him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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In the heart of the great city, we see Apocalypse and
Ch’Vayre interrupting Stryfe as he tortures humans for fun. Ch’Vayre again
brings up how Stryfe is being robbed of a childhood, still somehow oblivious to
the idea that Stryfe is to be his master’s vessel, even though Apocalypse tells
him again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Back with our heroes, Scott
and Jean meet up with Turrin and some other rebels to plan a raid on one of
Apocalypse’s facilities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Turrin
expresses regret that Redd and Slym won’t kill in a war, and Jean pulls Scott
aside to tell him that he is neglecting Nathan, just as he did back in his
X-Factor days.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many of the rebels share
their distrust of the couple with the group, all while Nathan excitedly
observes the meeting in a tree.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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Nathan follows the group secretly as they break into the
installation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A robot rebel named Gyak
discovers files that Scott and Jean recognize as the Legacy Virus, although
this version is designed to kill humans.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The rebels are suddenly ambushed by prelates; Nathan tries to go down to
help, but a voice stops him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Scott and
Jean do a good job of fighting back without their powers, although the rebels
lament how the couple always wounds instead of kills.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Stryfe appears and tells the soldiers to
ignore Ch’Vayre’s orders and kill all the rebels.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Scott feels there is no choice but to use his
optic blasts, revealing himself as a mutant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Ch’Vayre chides Stryfe for panicking the rebels, while the mystery voice
instructs Nathan on using a computer, even though he’s never seen one in his
life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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Stryfe sees the light from Nathan’s location and goes
after him while Ch’Vayre recognizes Redd and Slym as the rebels who got
away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nathan and Stryfe meet and are
astonished by their resemblance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Stryfe
begins to kill Nathan, commenting on how he can feel the pain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The voice instructs Nate to fight back, and
he knocks Stryfe unconscious.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However,
the strain compromises his body’s control of the tech virus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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The prelates are confused as to why mutants are helping the
resistance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As the facility blows up,
Turrin saves Scott while Jean saves Nathan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We learn that Nathan programmed the self-destruct, and that the voice’s
name was Rachel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Later Scott visits the
comatose body of Rachel and thanks her for the help.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We end on Ch’Vayre contemplating how
Apocalypse and Stryfe betray the idea of survival of the fittest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>How It Was:</b></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-size: large;"> </span> </span>Issue three of this series continues to
depict events without any real feeling or understanding of their
significance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The entire raid has some
decent action, but there’s never a point where it feels like it matters to the
big picture—the battle against Apocalypse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Even worse, all the rebels come off as ungrateful and self-serving
jerks, complaining about Scott and Jean even though they themselves never seem
to contribute to the rebellion in any meaningful way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’re introduced to a half dozen new
characters, and they’re all either whiney or completely void of
personality.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s also at this point
that I’m starting to see just how incidental Scott and Jean are to this story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Really we’re just waiting for Nathan to age
old enough to be left on his own, and in the meantime Cyclops and Jean are left
padding time with adventures that don’t seem to affect Apocalypse one way or
the other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After all, both the rebels
and Ch’Vayre decide blowing up the lab is a good idea, so it’s obvious that
neither side really cares all that much about its strategic value. </div>
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Speaking of Ch’Vayre, the interesting aspects about him
have waned.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While it was nice to see him
as an outsider and true-believer in the philosophies of Apocalypse last issue,
now he’s devolved into this nervous mother figure worrying about and scolding
Stryfe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His compassion for the boy
wouldn’t be so bad if Stryfe wasn’t such a spoiled and remorseless brat with
absolutely no redeeming value.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
audience wants the sadistic Stryfe to suffer; aligning Ch’Vayre’s sympathies to
Stryfe makes him almost as unlikeable.</div>
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Lobdell does get some pretty good material out of the
conflicted Jean and her knowledge of young Nathan’s fate and the life she is
condemning him to.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But other than that,
nothing really stands out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For such a
long and padded series, it seems strange that we would have to receive
exposition that Scott is neglecting Nathan as opposed to actually seeing an
example of it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All in all this issue is
more of the same as last.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’re teased
with reveals that in hindsight never pan out to anything meaningful, such as
the Legacy Virus, and the battle driving the plot never seems impacted one way
or the other.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Completists Only</b></span>
</div>
Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04709986041684718470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3690365255675117059.post-20423816680840754942014-03-03T23:12:00.001-05:002014-03-03T23:13:36.637-05:00The Adventures of Cyclops and Phoenix #2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ejgzd4m8I0I/UxVSfkx1L6I/AAAAAAAAAl0/H7gQiQgWt-0/s1600/adcph2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-Ejgzd4m8I0I/UxVSfkx1L6I/AAAAAAAAAl0/H7gQiQgWt-0/s1600/adcph2.jpg" height="200" width="130" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Adventures of
Cyclops and Phoenix #2</b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Writing: Scott
Lobdell</b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Art: Gene Ha</b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>What Went Down:</b></span>
Jean and Scott, now going by the aliases Redd and Slym Dayspring, have taken
the now five-year-old Nathan to the settlement of Coastcrest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>According to Apocalypse’s law, all
non-mutants must return to their home for scanning, and this is the location
given on their forged papers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Redd and
Slym have spent the last years travelling from town to town, trying to keep
Nathan protected.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Scott and Jean are
overheard by another traveler speaking Old English, and we learn that Scott’s
knee was injured in his fall last issue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Crestcoast also happens to be home to the remnants of the Askani clan.</div>
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Over at the House of Apocalypse, we catch up with Ch’Vayre,
finding himself in the midst of a party while condemning his fellow mutants for
becoming lazy, weak, and decadent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Caught
up with notions of pageantry and status, Ch’Vayre feels that the ruling mutant
race has lost sight of Apocalypse’s philosophy of the survival of the
fittest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also all of the partygoers are
intimidated by him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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While contemplating his failure to end the Askani Clan
years ago in issue one, Ch’Vayre walks into a young Stryfe incinerating one of
his instructors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The soldier tries to
explain to the boy how he shouldn’t use his powers on people, but he is
interrupted by an elderly Apocalypse, who embraces the boy and greets him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Once Stryfe leaves, Ch’Vayre expresses
distress at the decision to enhance the boy’s powers at his age, but Apocalypse
is desperate since each body he takes wears out sooner and sooner.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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Back at the gates of Crestcoast, Jean instructs Nathan
how he can hold back his techno organic virus with the power of his mind.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Scott and Jean give a lecture about hard
work, and how one day he’ll be accepted for who he is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the gates, the guards destroy the group’s
transit papers and rough up Scott, thinking the group only human.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The traveler that overheard them speaking Old
English has ratted them out for a reward.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Scott takes the beating, hoping to alleviate suspicion, but Nathan
decides to attack and bite one of the guards.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
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Scott is about to engage the guards when a man named
Turrin shows up and recommends the guards back off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Turrin is mostly machine, having been
presumed dead at a raid years ago, but apparently he’s been living in
Coastcrest, and the guards use him as a means of obtaining “amenities.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The snitch argues that Turrin is a criminal,
so the guards kill the rat as the group departs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Turrin takes the group to an Askani
stronghold, where they lay eyes on the suffering humans.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>How It Was:</b></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Right from the beginning of the issue the
creators have over-embraced the idea of Nathan as a messiah.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We see Scott and Jean crossing a desert, with
donkey, while Jean holds the young Nathan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s obvious that they’re going for a biblical motif—Jean even has a
blue veil on similar to the Virgin Mary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s an interesting motif to go for, and while the script doesn’t do a
lot with the Nathan as messiah idea, the art sure makes the most of it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The cities even look like the sets from a
biblical story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although the future
world is never fully defined, it definitely has a grand scope to it.</div>
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Where things get complex is when dealing with the
language of this world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Scott and Jean
at times speak in subtitled dialog, which I assumed was the native language of
this world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They are approached by the
traveler speaking unsubtitled English, and the traveler accuses them of
speaking Old English then, but in English without the brackets that indicate a
different language.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While the way our
heroes are caught is functional enough, it doesn’t come across clearly in a
written medium.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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Also Ch’Vayre is getting a little more interesting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’s definitely more likable as a noble warrior
in a room full of spoiled and pampered debutantes, but he brings up an
interesting question that is never fully addressed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Apocalypse’s defining attribute as a villain
was this idea of honing all life into the fittest survivors: the ones worthy of
life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But this world of privilege and
excess for mutants flies in the face of that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We get some half-hearted excuse that Apocalypse can’t really be bothered
because he just needs a new body, but that’s pretty unsatisfying.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The main villain has been diluted into this
parasitic body snatcher, which really isn’t that interesting.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We get none of the ruthlessness or cunning
seen in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Age of Apocalypse</i>, nor the
stoic acceptance of fate—the willingness to fight and prove himself worthy, as
we did in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">The X-Cutioner’s Song</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also, Ch’Vayre seems weirdly fixated on how
Stryfe is being brought up when it is obvious with Apocalypse’s dialogue that
the boy is just being used as another body.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
This is actually a pretty quiet issue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There’s no real action to speak of, other
than Scott being hit a few times and Nathan biting a guard.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead we get some of the quiet character
moments that Lobdell is known for.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nothing
really stands out though, and it’s all a little slow.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is a scene showing Jean instructing
Nate in his powers, but we get a similar scene next issue so this one is
redundant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nothing outstanding really
happens—the plot just continues to chug along.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Ha’s art is just great; the alien look of Turrin almost
makes up for how little we learn about him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The landscapes and backgrounds as the family travels to the gates are
beautiful.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’ve read reviewers comment
about how ugly some of the designs are, but that is sort of the point—seeing
the horrifying amalgamation of machine and man that is Turrin is supposed to be…well,
horrifying and grotesque.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s just too
bad this character (or any of the others) never really gets fleshed out or
defined.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And although the end isn’t
really a cliffhanger, it works because of the pained expressions on the people
and the elaborate complexity of walls, pipes, and debris in the room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You don’t learn much about the organization,
but you can feel the desperation and despair in the splash page at the end.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Honestly this isn’t anything groundbreaking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are a couple of tidbits for fans—we
learn how Nathan got his surname of Dayspring, and see some of his training in
his burgeoning powers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Plus Gene Ha
draws such intricate designs for the parts of Nathan enveloped in the virus, as
opposed to the standard shiny, metal arm. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The plot’s slowed down after the spectacle of
issue one, and what we discover about our main villain is underwhelming.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Still, the art is some of the best you’ll
see.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Completists Only</b></span></div>
Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04709986041684718470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3690365255675117059.post-54838295473542833792014-03-03T23:10:00.000-05:002014-03-03T23:23:45.183-05:00The Adventures of Cyclops and Phoenix #1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QdJqQOyeyMI/UxVR-MpjT4I/AAAAAAAAAls/y72EyIPYODs/s1600/adcph1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-QdJqQOyeyMI/UxVR-MpjT4I/AAAAAAAAAls/y72EyIPYODs/s1600/adcph1.jpg" height="200" width="129" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">The Adventures of
Cyclops and Phoenix #1</b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Writing: Scott
Lobdell</b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Art: Gene Ha</b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br />
<i>Note: This story takes place after <a href="http://illegitofatom.blogspot.com/2010/10/x-men-30.html" target="_blank">X-Men #30</a>, but right before <a href="http://illegitofatom.blogspot.com/2010/11/x-men-35.html" target="_blank">X-Men #35</a></i><br />
<i> </i></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">What Went Down:</span> </b>Jean
Grey wakes up in an unfamiliar setting after falling unconscious during her
honeymoon with Cyclops.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unable to use
her powers, she still manages to escape and save a fellow prisoner who just
happens to be Cyclops.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Turns out the
happy newlyweds have been transported two thousand years into the future to the
Askani Cloister during a raid by Apocalypse’s troops.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The remaining Askani are losing, but still
fighting, and their leader is an elderly Rachel Summers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Rachel is almost defeated by one of Apocalypse’s head
soldiers, Ch’Vayre.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The powerless Scott
and Jean attack him, and manage to fend him off with the help of a futuristic
gun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While they escape, Rachel explains
that Apocalypse rules the world.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
Askani is the organization that took Scott’s son to the future back in the
eighties in <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">X-Factor</i> to cure his
techno-organic virus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A clone was
created to throw Apocalypse off the real Nathan’s trail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You see, Nathan is the perfect bodily host
for Apocalypse, since the villain wears out the bodies he possesses faster and
faster with each one.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Together a cured
Nathan and Rachel would be powerful enough to defeat Apocalypse.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Rachel uses her powers to give Scott and Jean weaker
versions of their own powers, since the bodies they inhabit are cloned from
their genetic descendants.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then she
falls into a coma.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The couple recalls
passing out on their beach vacation, and then they discover Apocalypse’s
army.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ch’Vayre holds up the baby Nathan,
and threatens to kill the child if they don’t turn over Mother Askani
(Rachel).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Scott and Jean get in another
fight, rescue the baby, and flood the area to cover their escape.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Trapped in the future in bodies of their
closest genetic descendants, the couple vows to raise Nathan (the future Cable)
by themselves.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>How It Was:</b></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even though Cyclops is my favorite X-Man, the
idea of him headlining a series without the benefit of the other X-Men to
demonstrate his leadership is still a hard sell.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Add in the fact that Jean is along for the
ride, and we all know this series is going to be chock full of reaffirmations
of undying love and affection.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Still
it’s good that Scott Lobdell takes the time to celebrate the couple’s new
status quo as husband and wife with a mini that resolves some lingering
storylines.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The real reason to buy this book is the artwork by Gene
Ha.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everything is so clear, but looks so
alien—the design of the Askani Cloister is a perfect example with its angled
and curved walls.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Just looking at it
makes you feel like you could get lost in it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>His Scott and Jean duplicates are suitably old and haggard, as opposed
to the pinups most super heroes resemble, and Ha’s characters are some of the
most expressive I’ve seen in comics.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Rather than just draw Baby Nathan with some metal crap on his face, Ha
goes the extra mile and makes something that is creepy and unnerving in its
appearance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
As for the plot, it moves at a decent pace even though
it’s all setup.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The body-swap of Scott
and Jean is a nice callback for Rachel from ‘Days of the Future Past,’ and realistically
Cyclops never got any sort of narrative closure from the eighties <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">X-Factor</i> story where he gave up baby
Nathan.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There’s a decent amount of
action to break up the exposition, even though the stakes aren’t readily
apparent at the beginning.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Where it falters is that this issue doesn’t really give
us much of a feel for the new alien world Scott and Jean find themselves in,
nor does it give them any time to really reflect on their situation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are some fun comments where Scott pokes
fun at the absurdity of Summers family continuity, and they do acknowledge that
everything they know is gone, but we never get the “freakout” or any relatable
response to these circumstances—Scott and Jean just go on because they’re X-Men
and that’s what they do.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also, the enemy
Ch’Vayre is sort of interesting—he’s characterized as an honorable knight-sort
who genuinely believes in the order brought by Apocalypse’s rule—but his
design, especially his hair, is bland and generic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In a world where mutants are dominant, I was
hoping to see more than a bulked up helmetless-Robocop.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Immunity to shock and despair aside, this is a fun little
adventure so far.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unlike most dystopian
Marvel Universes, this one doesn’t have the fun geek appeal of seeing changes
to all your favorite characters and concepts because they’re all gone at this
point.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What works is the family on the
run, and the fact that by the end we have an impossible task for the couple to
complete.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Though their reactions are a
little too stoic to be believable, it’s still fun to see Scott and Jean face
such a huge problem with limited allies, resources, or familiarity with
anything.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>For X-Men Fans</b></span></div>
Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04709986041684718470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3690365255675117059.post-63914939328961132702014-02-12T10:33:00.000-05:002014-02-12T10:33:25.011-05:00X-Men Unlimited #4<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-APRZvNhQuAA/UvuT_doodpI/AAAAAAAAAlc/LeJ9JDDkdKM/s1600/xun4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-APRZvNhQuAA/UvuT_doodpI/AAAAAAAAAlc/LeJ9JDDkdKM/s1600/xun4.jpg" height="200" width="129" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">X-Men Unlimited #4</b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Writing: Scott
Lobdell</b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Art: Richard
Bennett</b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>What Went Down:</b></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mystique kills a US General for working with
the Friends of Humanity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In a mansion in
France, Graydon Creed has been living with some random woman.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The couple is interrupted by a private
investigator Graydon has hired; the investigator confirms that Sabretooth and
Mystique are his parents and offers to reveal the identity of his brother for
more money. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Enraged, Creed beats the
man, offering to spare him if he reveals the information.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After the man whispers it to Creed, Creed
kills the man.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When his sugar momma
demands Creed leave, Creed threatens her and mentions he has issues with being
kicked out and abandoned.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
At Dulles Airport, a disguised Nightcrawler scares an
abusive father into being nicer to his son.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Rogue shows up and chastises him, as both mutants wonder why Forge has
summoned them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They go to Arlington
Cemetery for the funeral of the murdered general.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both notice Graydon Creed in attendance right
before the priest insults the dead man and kicks over the casket.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The corpse has a bomb attached to it, and the
priest is revealed to be Mystique.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rogue
gets rid of the bomb while Nightcrawler pulls Mystique from the soldiers firing
on her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mystique punches Kurt, mentions
some vague hints about his birth, and escapes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As the guards close in on Nightcrawler, Rogue flies him off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Forge questions Graydon Creed about Mystique’s
appearance.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After he leaves, Rogue and
Kurt come out and discuss Mystique.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Forge reveals that during Mystique’s treatment, she went through his
files.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Forge then tells the two X-Men
that they may have a chance of reaching the good part of Mystique, although he
refuses to tell Nightcrawler why.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Rogue and Nightcrawler fly to Mystique’s house in
Caldecott, Mississippi.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rogue recalls
her first meeting with Mystique, before she took Rogue in and raised her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The two split up, and Nightcrawler flashes
back to a memory flirting with his foster sister Amanda Sefton.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Creed confronts Nightcrawler and reveals they are
brothers as he attacks Kurt, and that Mystique is their mother.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Graydon explains that Mystique was posing as
a German Count’s wife, but was discovered when Kurt was born a mutant.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While a mob chased her, Mystique lost the
baby and it was thrown over a waterfall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
As the two brothers fight, Rogue remembers the triggering
of her powers with a boy she liked named Cody.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>When Cody appears in the present to comfort and taunt her, Rogue
realizes it is Mystique in disguise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Rogue wants to know if she ever knew the real Mystique.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While the two women argue, Graydon shows up
with the unconscious Nightcrawler.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Mystique explains he abandoned Graydon when he turned twelve and didn’t
develop mutant powers, and that he killed Kurt as an act of
self-preservation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mystique actually
turned into a villager and was the one who threw baby Nightcrawler in the
waterfall.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
In the present, Mystique shoots at Graydon, who teleports.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This Graydon was Nightcrawler using an image
inducer, with the real Graydon dressed in Kurt’s costume.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Creed summons an attack helicopter to kill
Nightcrawler, Rogue, and Mystique.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rogue
attacks the gunship, but is forced to stop in order to save Kurt and
Raven.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mystique lets go of the cliff on
purpose so Rogue will rescue Nightcrawler.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>As Nightcrawler wonders why Mystique did what she did, Rogue flies him
off into the sunset.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>How It Was:</b></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Continuing the trend of focusing more on
villains than heroes in the last two issues, here we get the spotlight placed
on Mystique.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The problem is that the
Mystique in this issue is very inconsistent, going from tragic and
misunderstood to completely psychotic and unremorseful in the span of mere
panels.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lobdell picks up on some vague
hints Chris Claremont had put in about Mystique and Nightcrawler looking
similar back in the eighties.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
revelation that the two characters were mother and son didn’t do a lot for
either character.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
As with every issue of Unlimited, the story is quite
padded out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The opening murder scene is
seven pages just to establish Mystique killing a random general for working
with the Friends of Humanity.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Many of
the flashbacks also seem unnecessary; it’s good to include the scene of Rogue
first meeting Mystique (Question: Why does little girl Rogue have a shotgun?),
but the scene of Rogue’s powers first triggering is an unnecessary
retread.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also Nightcrawler’s flashback
to the circus doesn’t do anything but establish his pattern of hitting on
foster sisters (he hits on Rogue earlier in the book).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
But I’m nitpicking.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>One aspect that works really well in this book is the idea that Rogue
doesn’t know how to rectify the mother of her childhood to the Mystique of
present day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s a great angle since
Rogue obviously has love for her, but doesn’t know if she was being manipulated
or if Mystique really cares about her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Nightcrawler doesn’t fair as well; he gets beat up a lot this issue, and
while Mystique does sacrifice herself at the end for him, there’s every
indication that she doesn’t really care about him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Speaking of which, the end is completely
absurd where Nightcrawler can’t teleport to safety and Rogue, who can lift cars
and take out helicopters, can’t carry Nightcrawler and Mystique at the same
time.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
So the plotting is pretty scattered and drawn out, and
things happen for no clear reason (why wouldn’t Forge tell Nightcrawler his
relation to Mystique right there?), and Mystique and Creed both come off as
homicidal maniacs as opposed to villains with believable motives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While the main attraction is supposed to be
the revelation of Nightcrawler’s mom, the real highlights involve Rogue trying
to come to terms with her own feelings towards Mystique.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Completists Only</b></span></div>
Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04709986041684718470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3690365255675117059.post-28234404594644934622014-02-05T12:35:00.000-05:002014-02-05T12:35:19.898-05:00X-Men Unlimited #3<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-q99b3yiIINw/UvJ2A4I3wkI/AAAAAAAAAlM/Kb49cLpG1AI/s1600/xun3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-q99b3yiIINw/UvJ2A4I3wkI/AAAAAAAAAlM/Kb49cLpG1AI/s1600/xun3.jpg" height="200" width="130" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">X-Men Unlimited #3</b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Writing: Fabian
Nicieza</b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Art: Mike McKone</b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">This issue takes place between <a href="http://illegitofatom.blogspot.com/2010/10/uncanny-x-men-308.html" target="_blank">Uncanny #308</a>
and <a href="http://illegitofatom.blogspot.com/2010/10/x-men-28.html" target="_blank">X-Men #28</a></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>What Went Down:</b></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maverick breaks into a church to discover the
grisly murder of a priest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is
tracking Sabretooth, and discovers the mutant holding another dead priest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sabretooth is on a killing spree because his
assistant Birdy, a telepath, died and is no longer around to give him the
“glow” which calms him down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The two
fight, and Sabretooth manages to stab Maverick with his claws before
fleeing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maverick decides he needs
Wolverine’s help.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In Germany, we see an
old man named Mr. Geinstach attempting to hire a mercenary named Bashur to kill
Sabretooth because of his killing spree.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It turns out all the victims were members of a government operation,
even the priest.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bashur refuses the job
since the potential for failure is so high, but recommends Maverick and
Wolverine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He also deduces that
Sabretooth’s next target will be in Japan due to the conspiracy.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
In Westchester, Gambit is freaking out as Rogue drives
like a maniac on the road; Maverick is tracking them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When the X-Men return to the mansion, Bishop
greets them with his guns drawn.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He was
worried because they entered without activating the perimeter override, but
apparently it can just read biosignatures, so it doesn’t matter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While all the X-Men argue, Maverick attacks
them with anesthetic gas and tranquilizer darts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After taking down the three X-Men, Beast and
Professor X show up and calmly ask Maverick what he’s doing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’s here to recruit Wolverine, and decided
it was somehow easier to attack the X-Men first.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Beast explains that Wolverine left the team
after losing his adamantium, but offers the X-Men’s help.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Sabretooth meets with the merc Bashur, asking where he
can find a telepath.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Bashur tells him
that there is one on the Yahsida estate, and that Maverick is already on his
way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On the Blackbird, Bashur contacts
Maverick and tells him what he told Sabretooth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Maverick and the X-Men debate whether they should kill Sabretooth, and
the team decides to split up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rogue,
Gambit, and Bishop go to Germany to protect Geintach, while Beast and Maverick
go to Japan.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
In Germany the X-Men find everyone dead, and Sabretooth
ambushes them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Rogue accidentally
absorbs Creed’s memories, and Bishop is forced to let Creed go for Rogue’s
life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In Japan, the remaining two
protagonists meet with the Silver Samurai and agree to help him fight
Sabretooth, despite having been adversaries as recently as <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">X-Men</i> #22.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Sabretooth fights through the ninja guards and discovers
that the telepath in question is an old man whose mind shut down after the
bombing at Nagasaki.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The man wakes up
long enough to link everyone’s minds.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Creed thinks back to his Team X days when he was assigned to kill a man
and his family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Creed had to chase the
young boy, who only wanted to say goodbye to his pet rabbit. Sabretooth has
been killing everyone connected to this operation.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When Beast wakes up, the old man has been
killed by Sabretooth, with messages of help written in blood on the walls.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Sabretooth decides to go to the X-Mansion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Professor X calmly greets him and holds him
off with his mental powers. The X-Men show up and Bishop shoots Creed in the
head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Using this opportunity, Xavier
enters Creed’s mind to view a memory of a young Creed locked in a basement and
forced to kill a rabbit to survive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Having learned harshly that killing is the only way to survive, Xavier
feels sympathy for Sabretooth and offers to help him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He tells the X-Men that Sabretooth will be
staying.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We end on Creed and Xavier
standing in the Danger Room simulating the outdoors.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Xavier explains that he is a prisoner, and
that Charles is man enough to stop him.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>How It Was:</b></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is a slight improvement over last issue
and does significantly impact the main titles for years to come.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also it works a lot better because the focus
of the story, Sabretooth, has a lot more to do and say this time, as opposed to
dozens of people just talking about him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Sabretooth actually feels dangerous here as he’s finally allowed to kill
people, and while the bunny rabbit thing is corny, I like what it says about
the character.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The idea that he was
conditioned as a young child to think that killing is a means to survival, that
attachment is a weakness, well that’s as good a take on what motivates
Sabretooth as any.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s better than, “I
just like killing people because I’m evil.”</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The X-Men don’t come out too well this issue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They get taken down once by Maverick and
again by Sabretooth in a matter of a few panels.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>What’s worse is how repetitive the action
is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sabretooth holds a character by the
neck and threatens to kill them no less than three times this issue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although I will admit that the repetition
does pay off in the climax when Bishop once again has Sabretooth at gunpoint
and just shoots him in the head.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Maverick doesn’t get a lot to do once he shows up to explain the plot to
the X-Men, and the Silver Samurai is similarly wasted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sure we get to see him eventually in his
armor carrying his cool glowing sword, but he doesn’t ever actually use
it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His only role is to be the caretaker
of the plot device old man.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
You know who does come out great in this issue?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Xavier.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Man he’s tough, not even blinking when confronted by Maverick or
Sabretooth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The surety of his position
is fantastic as he makes his decisions without giving a crap about his
students’ positions because he knows that morally he’s right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Who are they to judge Sabretooth when he
hasn’t had any of the benefits that the other X-Men have had?</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Mike McKone’s art is disappointing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When characters are standing around and
talking, they look fantastic, but any time they fight on the same panel it
looks awkward and stiff.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Thus the
emotional stuff works a great deal better, and the action is dialed back quite
a bit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There’s one bizarre sequence
where the X-Men are between Sabretooth and the telepath, so he dives through a
door or window and ends up next to the telepath.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also Gambit’s eyes should be red in the
opening, but that’s not McKone’s fault.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Ultimately this is a much more satisfying villain-centric
story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s still padded out quite a bit
(the killing debate could be a little shorter), but there’s enough here to make
you think the writers have bright plans for the future of Sabretooth and the
X-Men.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Xavier gets some awesome moments,
and although Sabretooth’s flashbacks are a little sappy, they work as a way of
taking him beyond the two dimensional maniac he’s always been, especially now
that Wolverine isn’t around anymore.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>For X-Fans</b></span></div>
Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04709986041684718470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3690365255675117059.post-49755450400298655982014-02-05T12:30:00.004-05:002014-02-05T12:31:23.416-05:00X-Men Unlimited #2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-h0wtRmOYULs/UvJ0hN_bsNI/AAAAAAAAAlA/aeeEYy92_0E/s1600/xun2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-h0wtRmOYULs/UvJ0hN_bsNI/AAAAAAAAAlA/aeeEYy92_0E/s1600/xun2.jpg" height="200" width="134" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">X-Men Unlimited #2</b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Writing: Fabian
Nicieza</b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Art: Jan Duursema</b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Note: This story takes place between <a href="http://illegitofatom.blogspot.com/2010/09/uncanny-x-men-306.html" target="_blank">Uncanny#306</a> and <a href="http://illegitofatom.blogspot.com/2010/09/x-men-25.html" target="_blank">X-Men #25</a></i></b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">What Went
Down:</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b>Our giant-sized story starts
on a flashback of Magneto fighting the East German army as the military tries
to overtake Wundagore Mountain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A
soldier named Adrian Eiskalt and his brother Ute flee the battle, but Ute stumbles
into and knocks over the tombstone of Magneto’s wife Magda.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Enraged, Magneto kills Ute and leaves Adrian…who
swears revenge.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
This flashback was actually a story Adrian was telling
his psychiatrist.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The doctor tells
Adrian he has to let go, even as he fantasizes about killing Magneto.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At Empire State University, Gabrielle Haller
gives a lecture on the history of Magneto, and whether he should be labeled a
dictator or a crusader.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On a plane to
Manhattan, Adrian reads the book <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Fatal
Attractions—</i>a study on mutants and Magneto.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Adrian mistakes a passenger for Magneto and almost kills him with a
poison needle disguised as a pen.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Once in Manhattan, Adrian watches an ABC News special
where Ted Koppel interviews J.B. Chambers, the author of the Fatal Attractions
book, and Graydon Creed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The author
offers that humans can live with mutants, and that there is merit to Magneto’s
positions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The next day Adrian has
breakfast with Gabrielle Haller, asking for her help in apprehending Magneto,
even though he means to kill the Master of Magnetism.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gabrielle can sense Adrian’s personal stake,
and tells him he will doom himself.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
On a boat in the Atlantic, Exodus appears to the New
Brotherhood of Mutants, but only tries to recruit Phantazia.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She refuses, and the other members are
offended that they weren’t selected.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Later Adrian interviews the Toad about working with Magneto and listens
to the tape.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We next see Gabrielle
Haller talking to Moira MacTaggert about their previous relationships with
Charles Xavier.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gabrielle asks Moira
about her studies of Magneto when he was regressed to a child, and also asks
for her help neutralizing him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Moira
still blames herself for Magneto not turning out right, so she agrees.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
At a Genetech Bio lab, scientists show Adrian and
Gabrielle the new armor that will hide Adrian from the magnetic spectrum (these
are the suits that Storm stole the plans for in <i>Uncanny </i>#305).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is also shown a plastic taser to be used
to capture Magneto, but Adrian knows he can modify it to kill.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
In Washington, Peter Gyrich, Val Cooper, and Alexi Vazhin
meet with Gabrielle and Adrian.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
first half of the Fatal Attractions crossover has occurred, so it is confirmed
that Magneto is definitely alive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The government
agents debate the merits of attacking Magneto, while Adrian thinks he knows
where the mutant will go.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
At Wundagore Mountain, Magneto is once again visiting the
grave of Magda.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Adrian sneaks up on him
and has him targeted.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Suddenly Adrian
returns to the flashback and reveals that Ute—his brother, pulled a gun on
Magneto, and it was the ricochet off Magneto’s forcefield that killed him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Adrian drops his gun, and the two men look at
each other with understanding.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Adrian
attempts to shoot himself in the head, but realizes he’s lost nothing except
for the hatred he’s been carrying.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>How It Was:</b></span> Hard
to believe that once upon a time you could get a sixty page comic in the
nineties for the price of a twenty page comic today.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Then again, if this was the standard for
content today, would you want to pay that at all?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This issue is a loose tie-in to the Fatal
Attractions crossover.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s not part of
the crossover, but it deals with its events and focuses on its main antagonist
Magneto. Much as Magneto’s crusade against humanity is a response to the death
of his family, we are given a new protagonist inspired by a dead brother to
gain our new perspective on Magneto.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Although Adrian is very one note, there is something fascinating
about the way he ignores his surroundings as he focuses on Magneto’s
death.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This story works best when it
does juxtapose Adrian’s quest with Magneto’s, and whether Magneto is motivated
by compassion or vengeance or ego or guilt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We see all these outsiders weigh in on Magneto, and the only hints we
get from the actual man are when he visits his wife’s grave, which could lean
toward any or all of the motivations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The art is very nice looking as far as the characters go; in the first
couple of pages, Magneto looks awe inspiring.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Unfortunately the backgrounds let down the image somewhat, as some of
the tanks and soldiers don’t look like they’re drawn properly in the
background, giving the impression that Magneto is just attacking tiny men.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also, it seems unnecessary in the latter
pages to draw Adrian exactly like Gambit from the neck up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There’s also a tiny error with a word balloon
that is pointing to Graydon Creed when it should be pointing off panel as the
response from his opponent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The real problem with this issue is that there is far too
much exposition.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yes his history during
the Holocaust is very important to our understanding of him here, but it just
never ends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gabrielle’s history of him
lasts for four pages!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Toad talks about
resenting him as a member of the Brotherhood for another six!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>With sixty pages to fill, it’s obvious that
Nicieza is padding out this story as much as possible, but the story suffers
because of this; we get away from Adrian and his perspective as all these other
characters ramble on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And it’s not just Magneto exposition here.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There’s the TV debate that is three pages of
summarizing the themes of the X-Men, and nine pages with a scientist explaining
Adrian’s tech.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He repeats how it will
make him invisible to Magneto like three times.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>This writing just isn’t succinct or gripping and it really waters down
the main conflict.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Worst of all, the end tries to create a twist, but really
it isn’t a twist, it’s just that information has been withheld until the
end.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ute pulled a gun on Magneto, which
Adrian decides makes his whole rationalization moot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The problem is that this fact really weakens
Adrian’s position throughout the book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Adrian himself is a soldier, so he should understand the principles
behind self-defense.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also it cheapens
the conflict within Magneto; I much prefer the idea of Magneto overreacting
over a personal trespass directly after fighting a huge battle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>One of the great metaphors of Magneto, which
is used this issue, is that in trying to prevent another Hitler he becomes more
like the man.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It might be nice to see
Magneto have to confront this aspect of his worldview and personality.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also, it seems odd that Adrian would collect
all this info on Magneto when he was just going to sneak up and shoot him in
the back.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
This might’ve made an okay forty page story in an annual,
or even a decent ten or twenty page story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>But there’s too much here that distracts from the main ideas this story
is trying to get across.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will admit as
a comic fan it is neat to see all these nods to continuity, from the Silver Age
to the Claremont/Jim Lee stuff, but ultimately it detracts from the story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is a lot of attention to detail, but
most of it isn’t in service to the story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Plus after going through all of that, it’s disappointing to see Adrian
drop his gun without even a word exchanged by the two men.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Completists Only </b></span></div>
Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04709986041684718470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3690365255675117059.post-35436841248150160462014-01-19T13:47:00.000-05:002014-01-19T13:52:08.897-05:00Gambit #4 (vol 1)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6ZS1apLZaDU/Utwdje0g2jI/AAAAAAAAAAs/tzTRYMUs6OY/s1600/gmbmini4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-6ZS1apLZaDU/Utwdje0g2jI/AAAAAAAAAAs/tzTRYMUs6OY/s1600/gmbmini4.jpg" height="200" width="131" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i>Once you're done, feel free to go back to <a href="http://illegitofatom.blogspot.com/2010/07/uncanny-x-men-annual-17.html">Uncanny X-Men Annual #17</a> if you're reading these in chronological order.</i></span><br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i> </i></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Gambit #4</b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Writing: Howard
Mackie</b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Art: Lee Weeks</b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>What Went Down:</b></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gambit returns to New Orleans to the aptly
named Church of Lost Thieves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He finds
Julien there, and steals the final elixir component from the villain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gambit explains that he intercepted Julien’s
agent trying to steal the other elixirs, and then unmasks Julien, revealing a
haggard and drained man.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gambit takes
Julien to his father to confront him about the elixir.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It turns out that in some people the Elixir
of Life has horrible addictive side effects that cause pain unless the person
regularly ingests it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jean-Luc explains
that he’s seen it before, but it’s rare and a small risk for a long life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Just then the Tithe Collector bursts in with an army of
Thieves and Assassins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After saving his
father from a hail of gunfire, Gambit blows up a statue and takes off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Elsewhere, Bella Donna is convulsing, but
Rogue isn’t responding to Tante Mattie’s pleas for help.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Gambit fights off more soldiers, lamenting that some of
them are his old friends.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gambit makes
it back to his house, but the Tithe Collector is already there with Belle and
Rogue held hostage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As the bad guy goes
to kill the women, Gambit leaps forward and charges the Collector’s
jacket.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After kicking the Collector out
a window, Gambit gets to mixing the elixir.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Rogue tries to tell him what she’s done, but Gambit is too focused on
making sure the elixir turns out right.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Julien bursts in, stabbing Gambit in the hand and
shattering the vial of Elixir.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Marius
kills Julien by filling him full of arrows and thanks Gambit for trying to save
his daughter.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Candra shows up to see the
execution of Gambit, but Gambit gives a speech about how she has been using and
manipulating the guilds for her own selfish means.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Both guilds refuse to kill Remy, with Marius
blaming Candra for the deaths of both his children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Candra disappears, and Jean-Luc tells Remy
that he will always be seen as the death of the old ways and exiles him from
the city and the guild.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Gambit tears off a sheet with some of the elixir soaked
in it and drips it into Belle’s mouth.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Belle wakes up, but has none of her memories.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gambit leaves her to her father and tries to console
himself by taking Rogue out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>However
Rogue knows he still loves her, and disturbed by the memories she’s absorbed,
flies off.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>How It Was:</b></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Julien gets turned from an unstoppable force
to a weakling for plot expediency, and that’s just the first three pages of
this book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I feel like I keep saying
the same things, but that’s because they’re true.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The art is great, especially the fights.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Seeing Remy fight the combined guilds is
pretty exciting, even if all the thieves look like homeless people and all the
assassins look like every other Image Comics villain.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The writing refers to all the blood spilled,
so it’s vague if Remy actually kills them or not.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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The real problem with the story is that Gambit defeats
Candra basically by explaining how awful and stupid her plot is to everyone
else in the book and then the guilds realize how stupid it is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She gives a life elixir by tricking you into
killing each other.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And with the Tithe
Man killed, this plot is settled forever; I can’t understand why Jean-Luc is
unhappy for Gambit setting them free.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
just reads weird that he would exile Gambit just for pointing out how futile
their whole existence has been.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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I do like that Belle wakes up with no memories, leaving
the reader to wonder if it was Rogue or the elixir that did this to her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But overall this series has been a series of
unmemorable new characters peppered with some nice action scenes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All the villains are weak, and at no time do
we think any of them are going to beat Gambit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There is some tension with the fate of Bella Donna, but if you didn’t
read the Brood crossover, then all you know about her is she’s some unconscious
girl waiting for Gambit to rescue her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s
a commendable attempt to create a mythology around Gambit and his origins as a
thief, but in some respects it just would’ve been easier to say he was a thief
who eventually turned good and leave it at that.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Worth a look for the art though. </div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Completists Only</b></span></div>
Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00409672105256008834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3690365255675117059.post-5170636174870754542014-01-19T13:45:00.000-05:002014-01-19T13:50:09.911-05:00Gambit #3 (vol 1)<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8ydySiva9t4/Utwc_zlAO6I/AAAAAAAAAAk/UxzbdV-gHVo/s1600/gmbmini3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8ydySiva9t4/Utwc_zlAO6I/AAAAAAAAAAk/UxzbdV-gHVo/s1600/gmbmini3.jpg" height="200" width="126" /></a><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Gambit #3</b><br />
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Writing: Howard
Mackie</b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Art: Lee Weeks</b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>What Went Down:</b></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gambit enters an exclusive Paris club without
paying mind to the dress code.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After
making a scene with a woman, the security guards escort him to a parking
garage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When the guards, who are working
for Candra, go to kill him, Gambit subdues them all.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After changing into his uniform, Gambit is
knocked out by the Tithe Collector.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Back in New Orleans, Rogue and Gambit’s Tante Mattie, a
voodoo practitioner and healer, are watching over Bella Donna.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>When Mattie leaves, Rogue debates using her
powers to absorb Belle’s memories of Gambit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In Paris, Gambit wakes up in a nicely furnished room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He fights the Tithe Collector again and blows
a hole in the room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Candra breaks up the
fight, announcing that she has need of Gambit and revealing their romantic past
together.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Over in the Big Easy, Rogue
stops herself from touching Belle, but Belle’s hand reaches out to grab the
mutant anyway.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This forces Rogue to
relive the entire Gambit/Belle romance.</div>
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Candra reveals her elixir and offers to give it to Gambit
if he will kill his father.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She explains
that she created the guilds centuries ago to keep each other in check and do
her bidding.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now she wants to create a
new organization.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Assassins and
Julien burst into the room to steal the elixir for themselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Julien is powerful enough now to take Candra,
one of the Externals, but Gambit distracts him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In the middle of the fight, Jean-Luc Lebeau takes one of Julien’s claw
swipes to save his son.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Enraged, Gambit
subdues everyone while Candra knocks Julien out the window with a psionic
bolt.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gambit kisses Candra good-bye, but
uses the opportunity to steal the elixir from her cleavage.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We end on Candra telling the Tithe Collector
to order both guilds to hunt down Gambit, Rogue, and Belle.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>How It Was:</b></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Now this is more like it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gambit with a leather jacket, torn jeans, and
a cigarette, tearing into a high society club, flirting with ladies and beating
the crap out of jerks.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is the stuff
I want to see, even if it slumps a little once we get to…sigh, Candra.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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So the entire plot still centers on this elixir, the plot
device that the guilds exist to compete for.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>We learn that Candra created them for some vague purposes—something
about reaping benefits.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But it’s hard to
see what she needs them for because we don’t really know anything about Candra,
other than she sleeps with Gideon and had a fling with Gambit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I have no idea why a super powerful mutant
would need an army of thieves and assassins, and how giving them powers to
rival her own or having them kill each other is remotely a good idea.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s story logic that makes no sense
whatsoever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And the problem is, all
these issues are what drive the primary sources of Gambit’s origin.</div>
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<br /></div>
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The tension and mystique of the Tithe Man have been
completely shattered now that he has been beaten twice.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And there is this plot convenience of Julien
being able to almost kill these uber-powerful beings, but Gambit can smack him
in the head and hold his ground against him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Gambit might be a little too powerful in this series, which harms the
story when we don’t think there’s any chance Gambit could fail.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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Well we’ve got Gambit back in character, but now Rogue is
acting out of sorts.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t know why
Rogue would want to absorb Belle’s memories since they could only hurt her
emotionally. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Still, it’s Lee Weeks’ art that continues to carry this
book.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His layouts here are especially
memorable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There’s a nice sequence where
Gambit drops a card at the top of the page and it lands by a panel of Belle
grabbing Rogue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Or the composition of
Belle’s memory montage which looks great.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Even the explosion panel where Julien and his men enter the hotel is
fantastic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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So we’ve got some great scenes for Gambit mixed with some
dreadful Candra gibberish.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While I feel
this issue does some harm to Gambit’s back story, the stuff in the present is
rather fun.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I just wish Gambit had
something better to do than assemble a magic elixir from some fantasy novel
that somehow got stuck here.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>X-Fans Only</b></span></div>
Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00409672105256008834noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3690365255675117059.post-57961041349931060462014-01-12T21:51:00.000-05:002014-01-19T13:47:58.246-05:00Gambit #2 (vol 1)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--lGhmblafzQ/UtNUeMZkdKI/AAAAAAAAAkw/8YSf6QFcimI/s1600/gmbmini2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--lGhmblafzQ/UtNUeMZkdKI/AAAAAAAAAkw/8YSf6QFcimI/s200/gmbmini2.jpg" height="200" width="133" /></a></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Gambit #2</b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Writing: Howard Mackie</b></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Art: Lee Weeks</b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>What Went Down:</b></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Down in New
Orleans, Gambit breaks into an Assassin’s Guild base and finds his wife Bella
Donna unconscious, but alive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He then
attacks the assassins as they try to sneak up on him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>During the fight, Belle’s father Marius shows
up, blaming Gambit for the loss of both his children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They duel with swords, and Gambit spares
Marius’ life after defeating him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As the
rest of the assassins move in to kill Remy, Rogue shows up to help him out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They beat all the assassins and plan to take
Belle with them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Marius tells Gambit to
use the Thieves’ Guild’s Elixir of Life to cure Belle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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After the two X-Men leave,
Julien shows up and kills the remaining assassins.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He confronts his father, blaming Marius for
letting Gambit take his sister.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Marius
denounces his son, and Julien attacks the old man, leaving his fate
unresolved.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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Gambit takes Belle and Rogue to
the Thieves’ headquarters and interrupts the tithing ceremony.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Tithe Man disappears, saying he will
return when they are not busy.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gambit implores
his father to use the elixir on Belle, and fights off one of the angrier
thieves named Pierre.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gambit and Rogue
leave after Jean-Luc refuses to use the elixir on an outsider, and after they
leave Pierre tells Jean-Luc that they need three vials for the elixir to be
complete.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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Julien, Pierre, and an army of
assassins attack the Tithe Man, trying to get the vials for the elixir.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Julien tells Pierre that he has to steal the
vial that the thieves have to complete their deal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In a house that Gambit owns, he thanks Rogue
for staying with Bella Donna while he goes to Paris to retrieve part of the
elixir.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gambit mentions that the house
is for when he settles down, knowing that he probably never will.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gambit visits Marius for information to save
Belle, while Gideon apologizes to Candra for having to leave.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>How It Was:</b></span> The opening with the super-melodramatic panel of Gambit
screaming his wife’s name is not a good sign for the series.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Side note: why is Bella Donna naked…shouldn’t
the Assassins caring for her put clothes on her since she is a patient.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Again, the fighting is very cool, but Gambit
is challenged to his second duel by an assassin in a matter of pages.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So this is getting a bit repetitive, and the
fight doesn’t actually progress the story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>In fact, the fight just stops and Gambit calmly takes Belle away. Marius
as a character is pretty generic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He
does get a bit of an arc this series, but he doesn’t do anything particularly
defining or memorable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also we get the
first inference that Julien wants to be a little closer with his sister than is
normal, which is a might bit over the top and uncomfortable, at least for this
reader.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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The problem is I miss the fun,
wise cracking Gambit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is yet
another melodramatic ham fest when Gambit announces to his father “We will have
words!” And Jean-Luc doesn’t turn out to be any more memorable than Marius,
other than that Remy’s dad is calm and Belle’s dad is angry; Mr. Lebeau hardly
even reacts upon learning that his real son Henri is dead.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>None of these new characters, from the fathers
to the Tithe Man, are really that interesting or compelling.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There’s also a serious problem with Candra’s
scheme if her plot is to reward the guilds with enough power that they can
eventually beat up her and Tithe Man and steal more power for themselves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>On top of that, Gideon gets one panel to
reveal he’s not actually in this story, so what was the point in having him in
the first two issues at all?</div>
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There are some nice bits toward
the end as Gambit tells some of his origin to Rogue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And learning that he has a piece of land set
aside is a nice little character point for Gambit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although it is rather sexist that Rogue is
being sidelined as a nurse; I like to think it’s more to do with being Gambit’s
series than her being a girl, but we all know it’s a little bit of both.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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Hmm…what else?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The scenes of Julien carving up the assassins
are well sequenced and have the right mood I guess.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sorry, not much is coming to me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>None of these characters being introduced are
that interesting and Rogue doesn’t have anything to do except ask Gambit
questions that let him give exposition about his history; she helps fight, but
it doesn’t feel needed or necessary.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Plus the fact that Gambit has to retrieve three elixirs is frustrating;
it’s like a generic video game fetch quest delivered to our hero.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s just not very original.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Completists Only </b></span></div>
Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04709986041684718470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3690365255675117059.post-8298395841344066582014-01-12T21:49:00.000-05:002014-01-19T13:50:19.673-05:00Gambit #1 (vol 1)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Zhjp2XtLJzI/UtNT2L4ekAI/AAAAAAAAAkk/iHKB-EyQ8Zs/s1600/gmbmini1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Zhjp2XtLJzI/UtNT2L4ekAI/AAAAAAAAAkk/iHKB-EyQ8Zs/s200/gmbmini1.jpg" height="200" width="130" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i>The first Gambit mini-series takes place (by my estimate) between <a href="http://illegitofatom.blogspot.com/2010/07/x-men-23.html">X-Men #23</a> and <a href="http://illegitofatom.blogspot.com/2010/07/uncanny-x-men-annual-17.html">Uncanny X-Men Annual #17</a>, since Wolverine hasn't left the team after Fatal Attractions yet.</i></span><br />
<span style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><i> </i></span><b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"> </b><br />
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Gambit #1</b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Writing: Howard
Mackie</b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Art: Lee Weeks</b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: large;">What Went
Down:</span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></b>An enigmatic figure known as
the Tithe Collector scares some hoods away from a woman they are robbing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As the thieves run away, they are killed by
the monster from <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Ghost Rider #26</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In Salem, Storm and Wolverine observe Gambit
flirting with Rogue in the Danger Room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Outside the mansion, a man in black slips through the security.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Rogue saves Gambit from an explosion, and Gambit suddenly
announces that they have an intruder (somehow?).<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The intruder is Gambit’s adopted brother
Henri, and he has come to recruit Gambit for the tithing.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Henri is shot with an arrow and dies, but not
before revealing that Bella Donna and her brother Julien are still alive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gambit pursues the men who shot his brother
by himself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In New Orleans, Remy’s
adopted father Jean-Luc Lebeau requests permission to give his son an
elixir.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In Paris we see the Externals
Gideon and Candra talking cryptically about exciting plans.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Gambit pursues his brother’s killers, members of the
Assassins Guild, to an abandoned warehouse and fights them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the same time, Rogue reveals to Wolverine
that she loves Gambit, and Logan suggests that Rogue not wait to tell him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gambit then encounters the killer from the
X-Men/Ghost Rider crossover, who turns out to be Julien, his ex-brother-in-law
that he accidentally killed years ago.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>The two sword fight, and Julien impales himself on Gambit’s sword.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not dying, Julien and the assassins teleport
through a portal.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gambit returns to the
mansion, tells the X-Men that he has to follow up on this alone, and Rogue
announces that she is going with him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>How It Was:</b></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So it’s the 90’s and anti-heroes are super
in.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Iron Man, Captain America, and Thor
are getting demolished in the sales charts by the likes of Ghost Rider,
Punisher, and Wolverine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Due to the
success of the new X-Men title as well as the Saturday morning cartoon show,
Gambit was quite the popular character.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A
mini-series seemed like a sure bet (and it was), but of course the problem is taking
Gambit from member of the team (one piece in a greater story) and making him
the focus—giving him supporting characters and motivations outside of the
X-Men.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
To Howard Mackie’s credit, he does start out with some
serious stakes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’re introduced to
Gambit’s brother, who is almost instantly killed.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>A little cheap?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Maybe, but it is enough so you buy that
Gambit is willing to up and leave the X-Men for a little bit; this part would
be more effective if Gambit’s brother was mentioned at all during the rest of
the series.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Gambit doesn’t even do
anything with his brother’s body…he just leaves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The fight with the Assassins members is laid out rather
nicely.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Weeks changes it up enough when
depicting Gambit’s powers that it never gets old to see him pitching
cards.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In fact Lee Weeks does a nice job
with all the characters and poses.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
only weak spot is the Danger Room sequence—it’s a room that can literally
create anything, so I don’t know why so many artists decide to fill it with
empty white space.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We see some arms,
pistons, and rockets coming at Gambit and Rogue, but most of it is off panel
and just barely in view.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There are some
robots, but they’re drawn too close up to get any sense of how they are
attacking or what they might do as a threat.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>I get that the scene is supposed to be easy for Gambit and Rogue so they
can banter, but it would be more impressive if we could see the full threat in
a couple of panels, not just have it creeping in off panel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
And of course the real problem is the plot points that
Mackie is stuck with.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We’re exploring
the two guilds, which makes one think of ancient orders dedicated to a
craft.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Mackie knows he needs a conflict
for them to fight over, and the best he can come up with is this generic
macguffin of the elixir of life.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Plus we
meet Jean-Luc Lebeau, Gambit’s father, who is pretty much a generic
swashbuckler/Robin Hood type.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Things get
even more disappointing when we learn just how Candra is tied into all this. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The rest of the issue is serviceable, although there is one
inconsistency that always bothered me.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I
understand that all this is embroiled in Gambit’s past and family, and he wants
to solve his own problems, but surely the same was true in the X-Men/Ghost
Rider crossover that sets this series up.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>If the X-Men didn’t let Gambit go off alone then, why now?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It’s an intriguing start, and to its credit, Gambit #1
delivers everything a Gambit comic needs: Gambit + Rogue, an arch enemy for
Gambit to fight, and the unraveling of Gambit’s history.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We get one really good and one okay/decent
action sequence, and some scenes of Wolverine telling Rogue common sense.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Tonally it’s struggling a bit; Gambit is a
light hearted rogue, but he’s confronted with a lot of serious tragedy that
force him to be a little too serious.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Still, it catches your attention well enough.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>For X-Men Fans</b></span>
</div>
Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04709986041684718470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3690365255675117059.post-14901523907249788662013-12-30T04:27:00.001-05:002013-12-30T04:27:47.842-05:00Getting Back in the SaddleI hope everyone is having a wonderful holiday season! As the year comes to a close, I've been reflecting a lot on my accomplishments...thinking of all the the things I have to be thankful for (people in my life, steady job) as well as the things I want to work on. When I started this blog, the hope was to increase posts, or at the very least replace these posts with other writing of some sort of substance. Obviously by my post count this year, that didn't happen, and I'd like to apologize to anyone who was looking forward to new posts. <br />
<br />
However, people have still been reading the site, and I still love X-Men comics, so I'm determined to pick up where I left off. Well not exactly--first I've got some retro reviews lined up to fill in some gaps in the story. I'll be doing some issues of <i>Gambit</i>, <i>The Adventures of Cyclops and Phoenix</i>, some issues of <i>X-Men Unlimited</i>, and maybe a few surprises before getting back to my spot in X-Continuity with <i>The Magneto War</i>, the Kelly-Seagle swan song. Again, I'm sorry for any readers expecting more regular posts, but the bright side is that I've set the bar so low I think I can finally top my post total from the previous year in 2014. New posts should be up in about two weeks. Until then, have a wonderful New Year, and keep enjoying comics.Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04709986041684718470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3690365255675117059.post-55865375686204965502013-04-27T15:58:00.000-04:002013-04-27T15:58:42.077-04:00X-Men: Liberators #4<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oboGjkyMVR0/UXwtsuKbB4I/AAAAAAAAAkE/VtnTVrDNOs8/s1600/lib4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-oboGjkyMVR0/UXwtsuKbB4I/AAAAAAAAAkE/VtnTVrDNOs8/s200/lib4.jpg" width="135" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">X-Men: Liberators
#4</b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Writing: Joe
Harris</b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Art: Phil Jimenez</b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>What Went Down:</b></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>No flashback for the opening.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Instead Omega Red bursts into Province 13 and
threatens General Sergei.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sergei says
their transaction is complete, but Red wants to know why the X-Men are
involved.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nightcrawler is busy digging
up graves in the cold wilderness, searching for Wolverine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Colossus surprises him, and they are both set
upon by a naked Wolverine asking for his clothes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
At Province 13 the guards are on high alert, and the
students are being evacuated.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ariana is
being used as bait to draw out Nikolas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nanya
and her friend return to the classroom and meet Nightcrawler, while Omega Red
confronts Wolverine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As Kurt talks to
the two young girls, the Wolverine/Omega Red fight spills through a
window.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Omega threatens the young girls,
while Colossus goes to rescue Ariana.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Sergei sets fire to his office, while we see signs that
Nikolas has accepted the bait.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kurt and
Logan rescue the girls just in time for Nikolas to appear.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nikolas fights the villain, with Red fleeing
as his body starts to shut down.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Ariana
confronts her son, and sets him free from his hard existence with a shard of
broken glass.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the same time, Colossus
takes Nanya from General Sergei just before he kills himself.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the epilogue, we see that Ariana has
adopted Nanya and is taking care of her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The issue ends with a continuation of the flashback from
issue #1; Colossus holds a pneumatic press up while his friends are
rescued.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The story ends with the three
X-Men being greeted by the rest of the team in the present.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>How It Was:</b></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The issue opens with a compelling sequence of
Nightcrawler desperately digging through snowy graves to find Wolverine; it
would’ve been rather engaging if we didn’t see Wolverine dig himself out last
issue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
So after three issues revolving around the fate of
Nikolas, the last issue tries to squeeze some tension out of putting the little
girls in danger that we hardly know or care about.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Moreover, Omega Red is the one that threatens
them, and for no other reason than because he’s a huge jerk.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>His purpose in the story is so non-existent
that after a one panel confrontation with Nikolas, Omega Red realizes there’s
no reason for him to be there and leaves.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
There’s weak attempt to humanize General Sergei at the
end that doesn’t quite work, but I will admit that Harris does squeeze some
tragedy out of Ariana and Nikolas’ reunion.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Having both characters agonize over not being with each other for two
issues, only to have Nikolas killed by the only being that can touch him… well it’s
pretty sad.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Colossus learns to be
happier by appreciating what he has, which is a fine enough way to end his
journey after the grimness he’s been through.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The art is fantastic, only flawed by some pretty major
coloring mistakes on the final page for most of the X-Men.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even though all the fights consist of nothing
but Omega Red grabbing and throwing people, it still looks really great.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I can’t really understand the aversion to
fighting in this series; the few fights we do see feel very dull and hurried.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The final, climactic battle between Nikolas
and Omega Red consists of them staring angrily at each other before Omega runs
off complaining about pain.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
This is a pretty disappointing series all told.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I’m not so much bothered by how generic the
plot and villains are; it’s just that the entire execution feels rushed,
although competent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All the X-Men are in
character, but they don’t feel like they have much to do or say in this
story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It takes Colossus all of one page
to deal with his family’s death, and although Nightcrawler and Wolverine are
there for moral support, they have absolutely nothing to add.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nikolas unfortunately has no voice or
personality, so although we can feel bad for him as readers, we can’t connect
with him or find anything redeemable in his presence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Everyone else just serves as mouth pieces to
push the story around, with Omega Red in the middle to make the story
authentically Russian, I guess.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I don’t
think you’d miss a thing if you avoided this series because it is never
mentioned ever again.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>For Completists</b></span></div>
Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04709986041684718470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3690365255675117059.post-59493790528319811062013-04-27T15:56:00.001-04:002013-04-27T15:56:40.312-04:00X-Men: Liberators #3<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-60csViqgFEw/UXwtRwSmAYI/AAAAAAAAAj8/1PlHll1kF9E/s1600/lib3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-60csViqgFEw/UXwtRwSmAYI/AAAAAAAAAj8/1PlHll1kF9E/s200/lib3.jpg" width="133" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">X-Men: Liberators
#3</b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Writing: Joe
Harris</b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Art: Phil Jimenez</b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>What Went Down:</b></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This issue opens with a flashback of a Hide
and Seek game played on the mansion grounds around the eighties era.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Colossus manages to sneak up on Wolverine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At Provence 13 in the present, Wolverine is
“dying” from his exposure to the mutant Nikolas as scientists are examining
him. On a mountain, Colossus has found a cave where he and the old woman are
hiding.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He brings firewood for the
woman, whose name is Ariana.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She explains
how she is Nikolas’ mother and how he was taken away from her as a baby because
his touch killed everyone except her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Nikolas was taken by Sergei, and Ariana resents the Rasputins because
they were normal looking mutants able to hide from the government.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
At night Nightcrawler sneaks onto the base after
following the soldiers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He discovers the
children taken from their families by the government.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Sergei’s superior Alexei explains that the
government is shutting down Sergei’s base.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Nightcrawler tries to speak with the children, but he
doesn’t know Russian.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He is able to
communicate telepathically with the girl Nanya, who can translate for her
friends. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nightcrawler vows to rescue the
children.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the woods, Omega Red is
hunting Nikolas, and comes across a wrecked cabin with two dead adults and an
abandoned child.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Omega Red manages to find the cave with Ariana in it, so
he and Colossus battle.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Their fight is
interrupted by Nikolas, Ariana’s son.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Omega Red throws a rock, and both Colossus and Nikolas go over the
cliff.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Wolverine “dies” and is left alone by the
scientists.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nightcrawler finds him dead,
and takes his uniform with him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Colossus
unburies himself and sees that Nikolas has fled.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nightcrawler escapes, but we see that
Wolverine’s body has been buried, and he has healed enough to rise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>How It Was:</b></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We finally get to see where Colossus’ arc is
going this series; he is given Ariana’s tragic story to compare with his own
tragedies to realize how much worse his life could’ve been.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That’s as good a conclusion as any for
Colossus to come to after a decade of having family death after family death;
he learns to appreciate time he did have with his family.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Meanwhile, Wolverine sits on a slab for a whole issue,
and Nightcrawler has nothing to do except wander around Province 13 and meet
some kids.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The art is great as he sneaks
around and teleports stealthily, but it doesn’t hide the fact that he has
nothing to do; he’s searching for Wolverine, but after Kurt finds him,
Wolverine just gets dumped outside again by the soldiers making for a total
waste of an issue.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Then there’s the glaring fact that Omega Red has no
purpose in this story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The narration
claims that he’s working for the government after being freed from exile, but
there’s no motivation for him to be hunting Nikolas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He’s here because the X-Men are in Russia,
and heaven forbid they fight any other super villain in Russia other than Omega
Red.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Besides the interplay between Colossus and Ariana, there
is really nothing here to catch your attention.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>There’s a three page fight that ends abruptly, and that’s about it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The art is really nice and gives Colossus and
Nightcrawler a nice range of emotion and movement, but that still doesn’t
change the fact that they’re not saying or doing anything memorable.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Completists Only</b></span></div>
Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04709986041684718470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3690365255675117059.post-26843261323137964212013-04-20T11:27:00.002-04:002013-04-20T11:27:53.188-04:00X-Men: Liberators #2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-A5NxISwvwho/UXKzzAnDiCI/AAAAAAAAAjs/48JqoYNtXS8/s1600/lib2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-A5NxISwvwho/UXKzzAnDiCI/AAAAAAAAAjs/48JqoYNtXS8/s200/lib2.jpg" width="131" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">X-Men: Liberators
#2</b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Writing: Joe
Harris</b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Art: Phil Jimenez
+ Aiken, Leigh, & Pepoy</b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>What Went Down:</b></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Again we begin with a flashback, this one
occurring around <i>Giant-Sized X-Men #1</i>.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Wolverine attacks Colossus to see what he’s really made of.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In present day Russia, Colossus visits the
graves of his parents.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Over at Province
13, General Sergei observes two children being tested for psychic
capabilities.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The General swears one of
the girls, Nanya, is looking in his mind.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Peter encounters an elderly woman in the graveyard’s
chapel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After identifying himself as
Piotr Rasputin, the woman spits on the ground and curses his family, so Peter
leaves.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the woods nearby, Kurt and
Logan wait patiently for Colossus.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
discover oddly warped trees and dead animals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Assuming it’s hunters, Wolverine decides to go and teach a lesson about
killing animals for sport and leaving them there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Back at the church, a military helicopter lands and
soldiers flood out to surround the old woman.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Colossus bursts in and fights off the soldiers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He escapes with the woman.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After confronting the hunters, Logan and Kurt
observe them getting attacked by the mutant monster Nikolas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wolverine fights it off, but he soon gets
sick and passes out.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The soldiers carry
Wolverine away, and Nightcrawler is forced flee.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Sergei receives a call that one of his superiors from
Moscow will be visiting him.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We end on
some Russian soldiers discovering Omega Red in the Savage Land and offering to
bring him home. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>How It Was:</b></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Another low-key issue as the plot keeps
chugging along.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There isn’t really that
much to tell.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The purpose of the X-Men’s
visit gets fulfilled as Peter starts the issue at his parents’ graves and
dwells on it for a whole two sentences of internal monologue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For a series that is billing itself on the
group’s history by starting each issue with a flashback, there is surprisingly
no reflection on how Peter’s parents died, the deaths of his other siblings, or
his time with the Acolytes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>They
could’ve easily tied this into the main series by mentioning Colossus’
Christmas visitation from Illyana, but alas he’s just there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Peter’s just going through the motions of the
plot, and the cemetery visit ends up being nothing more than a plot convenient
way for Colossus to meet Nikolas’ mother who just happens to be at the same
church.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
With this issue the X-Men actually become embroiled in
the plot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although Wolverine and
Nightcrawler are supposed to be there to support Colossus, they take the time
to deal with some hunters because it bothers Wolverine.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And while the plot affords the opportunity
for some action, neither the writer nor the artists really seem interested in
dwelling on it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We get two panels of
Colossus getting shot at before beating up all the soldiers off-panel, followed
by Wolverine fighting Nikolas for all of one page which amounts to one dodge
and one claw swipe.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s disappointing
to see a super hero comic so uninterested in showing any type of action or excitement.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
As for the rest of the issue, the shady Russian soldiers
and their general still aren’t very interesting, and Omega Red shows up for no
purpose other than because this is a Russian-set X-story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>There is some mystery to be had in how the
X-Men are going to fight Nikolas if he can take Wolverine so easily, but other
than that this is just a story just plodding along with nothing impressive.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The closest bit to a standout moment is
General Sergei’s observations of the telepathic Nanya staring through him
behind the wall, but minor details can’t salvage how uneventful this is.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>For Completists </b></span></div>
Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04709986041684718470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3690365255675117059.post-60247928670248836582013-04-20T11:25:00.001-04:002013-04-20T11:28:49.971-04:00X-Men: Liberators #1<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ah-9uQEdV8Q/UXKzIO5BsPI/AAAAAAAAAjk/2ur2HVrLqgo/s1600/lib1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ah-9uQEdV8Q/UXKzIO5BsPI/AAAAAAAAAjk/2ur2HVrLqgo/s200/lib1.jpg" width="131" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">X-Men: Liberators
#1</b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Writing: Joe
Harris</b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Art: Phil Jimenez</b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>What Went Down:</b></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The intro involves a flashback to the
Claremont/Byrne era circa Days of the Future Past.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Our three stars of the mini, Wolverine
Colossus, and Nightcrawler, enjoy a test in the Danger Room.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>In the present, these same three X-Men are on
a plane to Russia to visit the graves of Peter’s parents.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nightcrawler scares a little girl by coming
out of the restroom before turning on his image inducer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
At a military base called Province 13, the Russian
equivalent of Area 51, General Sergei observes a room of children playing with
toys, some using super powers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
general slides back a panel on a dark cell, looks at the shadowy figure inside,
and laughs internally at his current predicament.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Arriving at the Moscow Airport, Wolverine decides to take
his friends to a local pub full of a “certain element.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Back at Province 13, a rookie soldier
relieves the guards of the mystery cell; he is afraid of the monsters that might
be lurking here, and he is teased by his peers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Back at the bar, Wolverine has talked Peter into arm
wrestling one of the thugs who taunted them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>During the bout, one of the other thugs tries to steal the X-Men’s bags,
so they start a bar fight and totally dominate the locals.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Back at the base, the shadowy creature hides from its
captors during meal time, tricking them into opening the door. Once the
creature touches the soldiers, their bodies start to decay.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
After trashing the bar, the X-Men leave some money and go
on their merry way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>We also learn that
the mystery creature’s name is Nikolas as he kills more soldiers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nikolas coincidentally winds up stowing away on
the same train that the X-Men are taking. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>How It Was:</b></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Liberators</i>
is a mini that is all but forgotten; it has no effect on continuity, it doesn’t
have anything profound to say about its characters, and its plot is basically a
takeoff of any Frankenstein story: the misunderstood monster that’s been seen
time and again.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The only thing that
could possibly set it apart is the emphasis on the three X-Men and their long
history.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The flashbacks do go a ways of
drawing out this history; these X-Men joined the team at the same time, and as
such their growth as teammates and friends has had profound influence on each
other and the team.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Conversely, their
interactions in the present don’t really highlight this history in any
meaningful way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Most of their brief conversations
deal with polite teasing and Colossus’ discomfort at the situations Wolverine
drags him into.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Still, I’m willing to give this one the benefit of the
doubt since it’s only the first issue, and so much of it is dedicated to the
antagonists.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This project is fueled by
pure nostalgia, highlighting a friendship that has been missing from comics for
almost a decade, due to the heroes frequenting other teams over the years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s excusable to start out with some
lighthearted joking and bar fighting, with a promise of possibly something more
substantial in later issues.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Plus fans
of the X-Men never really got to see Peter deal with the death of his parents
before he joined the Acolytes (although he probably dealt with it in <i>Excalibur</i>,
I would assume).</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
This leaves the Russian military who are trying to
weaponize mutants—all setup and exposition up to this point.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Again, this is nothing special, with all the
soldiers sharing the same personality and Nikolas’ escape being easily
predictable.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I will say that the design
for Nikolas is quite grotesque, although it doesn’t really stand out in any
way.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This is an okay start to the
series.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Not much happens; the characters
are all characterized well and their dynamic is well defined: Wolverine’s the
wild one, Colossus is the shy one, and Nightcrawler is a little bit of
both.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nothing to write home about, but
nothing offensive either.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>For X-Fans </b></span></div>
Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04709986041684718470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3690365255675117059.post-26323540668661123412013-04-20T11:23:00.003-04:002013-04-20T11:27:34.103-04:00Uncanny X-Men #365<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-04TgkuyBaPo/UXKyvFLx7mI/AAAAAAAAAjc/KwNm8elZC5U/s1600/u365.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-04TgkuyBaPo/UXKyvFLx7mI/AAAAAAAAAjc/KwNm8elZC5U/s200/u365.jpg" width="131" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Uncanny X-Men #365</b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Writer: Steve
Seagle</b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Art: Chris Bachalo</b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>What Went Down:</b></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s Christmas Eve in Salem Center when
Colossus is awakened by a mysterious voice leading him to the attic.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The voice tells Peter to “remember” after
doing some crazy things with his perceptions.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Peter immediately goes to Storm, who brushes it off as a bad dream.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Peter thinks the voice has something to do
with his latest drawing, but his canvas has mysteriously vanished.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Peter starts to recreate his drawing, but notices a light
outside.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Wolverine, Gambit, and Alpha
Flight’s Puck are in a cabin enjoying a fire.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Colossus returns to his room and finds his drawing returned with writing
on it telling the story of an ice princess who lost her face.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Peter starts a new drawing, but is again
interrupted by a noise downstairs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It
turns out that Nightcrawler and Kitty have obtained a tree to decorate for the
team.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
After excusing himself, Peter finds Xavier in his study
contemplating photos of his students that have passed away over the years.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The two heroes talk about ghosts and spirits,
until Peter takes his leave.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Peter
begins yet another drawing, believing he is being compelled by the spirit.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It again visits him, leading him again to the
attic.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Peter finds a teleportation ring and meets the spirit of
his dead sister Illyana.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She explains
that she left the portal there before she died, and she needs someone alive to
do something for her, but she cannot say it out loud.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After talking, Peter realizes that he has
left his picture of Illyana packed away.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>After unpacking it, his sister is able to move on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Peter makes one more sketch before falling
asleep. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
In the morning it is revealed that Marrow was the one
writing on Peter’s pictures; she frames one of them in bones as a thank you for
the picture he gave her in X-Men #81.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>How It Was:</b></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Seagle takes a stab at a Dickensian Christmas
tale in the Marvel Universe for a post crossover downtime issue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While this issue is somewhat of a nightmare
for continuity enthusiasts, it does capture the somber tone perfectly without
becoming too grim and broody.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Colossus
is definitely a character who has faded to the background up to this point, so
it’s great to see him get some time in the spotlight.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Although he had plenty of time to reflect on
his sister’s life in <i>Excalibur</i>, X-Men fans never got a chance to see Peter
really process his sister’s death; he just went off to Avalon and then came
back one day.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>This issue serves as a
nice bookend to bridge his previous affiliation with the X-Men up to the here
and now.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I also like that it is the members of the Claremont/Byrne
era, back from such a long absence, who are again in charge of pulling the
“modern” X-Men out of the doldrums of holiday depression.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even though they don’t have any subplots of
their own going on, it’s nice to see Kitty and Kurt serving a consistent function
on the team.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The scene with Xavier is
also a nice touch, tying well into the themes and resolution of the story.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It also reestablishes Xavier’s sentimentality
after being away from the books for two years.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
While the tone of Peter’s confused journey is spot on,
there are still some odd choices for the issue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Puck makes a baffling cameo for no purpose whatsoever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Also the climax of the story is a little
strange if you look at it literally.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Illyana can’t “move on” unless Peter figures out her vague riddle for
her?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Unfortunately she cheats by saying
“get the picture,” robbing Colossus of the personal victory of being able to
help his sister on his own.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And of
course with Illyana recently resurrected, I don’t know what that means for this
story continuity wise.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
I’m also not sure how I feel about Marrow’s turn as
sneaky secret Santa.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It feels like a bit
of character whiplash; I get that Peter’s efforts last issue were very selfless
and well-intentioned, but Marrow’s personality is seemingly changed overnight
in one issue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>She’s gone from the new
Wolverine to the new Jubilee: smiling, friendly, and excited about
Christmas.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>To me Marrow should be
reluctant to celebrate Christmas, but eventually discover a personal meaning in
it for her.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You could argue she does do
this, just all off panel.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It is after
all Peter’s story.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
It’s not the best sentimental issue, but it’s far from the
worst either.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Despite the weird
mechanics and out of place fairy tale shoehorned in, the dialogue and art make
this a relatively enjoyable read.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s
probably not going to the top of anyone’s reading stack, but it does manage to
feel like genuine X-Men Christmas, with a few extraneous parts tacked on.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>While it’s odd to see Illyana pop up again,
it’s nice to see Peter get some closure sixty-some issues after her death in
the X-Men titles.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>For X-Men Fans</b></span></div>
Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04709986041684718470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3690365255675117059.post-35017689583843077092013-04-13T23:54:00.003-04:002013-04-13T23:55:15.527-04:00X-Men #84<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5rp8gQiMkaI/UWooS2EghtI/AAAAAAAAAjM/285q71OV4ic/s1600/x84.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-5rp8gQiMkaI/UWooS2EghtI/AAAAAAAAAjM/285q71OV4ic/s200/x84.jpg" width="130" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">X-Men #84</b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Writing: Joe Kelly</b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Art: Adam Kubert</b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>What Went Down:</b></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Reunited, Xavier holds Nina as the prime
Cerebro basks among the captured X-Men and Brotherhood members.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Elsewhere, Nightcrawler has picked up Rogue,
Colossus, Gambit, and Renee.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Using
tracking systems, Kurt is able to find the captured X-Men as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Cerebro explains his origins to Xavier.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Its programming was shunted to a different
vessel when Bastion and a Prime Sentinel tried to use it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>After gaining sentience, it analyzed its own
existence and realized it needed a dream and purpose.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Creating the false X-Men from its own
detailed files, Cerebro wanted to create peace by cataloguing all humans and
mutants, imprisoning them forever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Cerebro wants to use Xavier’s telepathy to catalog the entire planet at
one time.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Xavier argues that he still doesn’t have his powers after
Onslaught, but Cerebro knows that Nina can return those powers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Fortunately the remaining X-Men come to the
rescue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Xavier decides that it is time
for Nina to return his powers to him, just as the remaining X-Men are
captured.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Using his powers Xavier is
able to free the X-Men, so Cerebro activates the Xavier Protocols—the files on
the weaknesses of every X-Man.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The X-Men
are put through excruciating torments, but it is all revealed to be an illusion
from Xavier and Nina. </div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The X-Men tear apart the Cerebrites, and Xavier uses his
powers to show the Prime Cerebro the minds of humanity, not just their genetic
codes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Before it dies, Cerebro
apologizes to the X-Men for not seeing how unique and special the world
is.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>How It Was:</b></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Well this issue concludes much as you’d
expect it: Xavier gets his powers back and Cerebro is vanquished.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The main difference between this issue and
the previous ones is that Kelly and Kubert both have the entire team to utilize
in the fight, and they find a way to give every character a moment to shine. Interestingly,
the Brotherhood is never brought up at any point other than when they are shown
as Cerebro’s captives.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Probably the best moment is the double page spread where
the Xavier Protocols are used on the X-Men.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It’s a dark and striking visual that stands up even if the moment itself
is revealed to be a hoax.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As with the
Machine Man/Bastion story, I am baffled by the idea that telepaths can use
their powers on machines to fool them, but whatever.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a standard X-Men solution, and Kelly
does try very hard to sell the idea of Cerebro gaining true sentience as a
response to Bastion’s attack.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
The imagery in the astral plane makes for another amazing
visual, causing me to be more forgiving of the sad, redemptive ending that
comes out of nowhere.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s hard to feel
sympathy towards Cerebro when he’s been such a bland villain…cataloguing people
by locking them into eggs.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Still, it’s a
good concluding fight and some of Adam Kubert’s strongest work.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Even if the Hunt for Xavier was too long and
stretched out, it had its moments.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s
just a shame that it had to stick so close to its parallel structure, almost
devoid of novelty or surprise.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>But this
is still a solid conclusion.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b><span style="font-size: large;">For Comics Fans</span></b></div>
Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04709986041684718470noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3690365255675117059.post-15139880788274693772013-04-13T23:52:00.003-04:002013-04-20T11:29:45.364-04:00Uncanny X-Men #364<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Lwd4GW9JRRs/UWon7ZyypkI/AAAAAAAAAjE/a-qIQNwCGVs/s1600/u364.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Lwd4GW9JRRs/UWon7ZyypkI/AAAAAAAAAjE/a-qIQNwCGVs/s200/u364.jpg" width="129" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Uncanny X-Men #364</b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Writing: Steve
Seagle</b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;">Art: Lenil Francis
Yu</b></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>What Went Down:</b></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Prime Cerebro unit is monitoring world
events and notes that it is likely that Magneto will be surfacing soon. It
orders a self-destruct sequence of its base, which includes the forms of the
fake X-Men from <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Uncanny </i>#360 to hide
any evidence.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
At Alcatraz the X-Men and the Brotherhood are trying
desperately to defeat the Beta Cerbrite.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Kitty tries to evacuate the Professor, but Post of the Brotherhood
refuses to allow it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Cerebrite fires
a beam at Toad, causing him to disappear, just as Storm did last issue. Nightcrawler
and Mimic use Kurt’s teleportation powers to teleport the Cerebro robot away.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Blob and Post won’t let Kitty take the Professor because
they see Xavier as their only hope. The X-Men fight the Brotherhood until
Cerebro returns.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Exhausted from teleporting
the Cerebrite, Nightcrawler returns to the Blackbird and radios the other team
of X-Men for help. Of course, they’re busy with their own Cerebrite, so they
don’t answer.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Kitty and Marrow try to
rescue Xavier, but they manage to phase right where the battle is occurring. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The Cerebrite chases Kitty, and the robot
shoots her, making her disappear as well.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>It then takes out the remaining members of the Brotherhood.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Xavier explains that they’re not dead, just
moved to the main Cerebro; Wolverine decides he and Marrow need to be captured
to rescue their allies.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Nightcrawler
sees everyone get shot as he brings the Blackbird in to rescue them.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He decides to take the plane to Russia to get
reinforcements from the other team.</div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<span style="font-size: large;"><b>How It Was:</b></span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
opening of this issue feels like somebody remembered that the phantom X-Men
from Uncanny #360 were tied to this Cerebro story at the last minute.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So those characters are all conveniently
disposed of in three pages.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The rest of
this issue is another big fight with a Cerebro robot.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Lenil Francis Yu replaces Bachalo, and
boy…their styles couldn’t be farther apart if the editors tried.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Yu specializes in darker tones and more
realistic proportions, which works for the most part.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He draws Post like a ghost made out of rocks,
and his Marrow is a little too attractive, but overall it looks great.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I love the detail of Kitty, Toad, and
Nightcrawler using Marrow’s bone shards to attack the robot since none of them
have offensive powers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
This fight is a lot less interesting, and I think it
basically comes down to the fact that all the X-Men and most of the Brotherhood
here just don’t have a big variety of offensive powers.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>All of them pretty much just hit people, and
that’s not as exciting too look at.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Plus
the Brotherhood has to have an obligatory disagreement with the X-Men in the
middle that makes no sense; if they care about Xavier, as a mentor or asset,
why wouldn’t they want the crippled and powerless man out of the way of the
huge battle?</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Once again we have a Seagle book ending the same way the
previous Kelly issue did, this time with the Cerebrite flying away triumphant
with its quarry after soundly defeating the X-Men.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And once again the ending is diminished by
the fact that we just saw this very thing happen last issue.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It’s a shame that Seagle has to follow up all
the Kelly issues with the exact same structures, plus he’s been saddled by a
weaker and less visually engaging team.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>Even the addition of the Brotherhood can’t make this one stand out.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>For X-<span style="font-size: large;">F</span>ans </b></span></div>
Joehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04709986041684718470noreply@blogger.com0