The X-men Thread (spoilers)

[Previsionary]

[spoiler]Predator X is a relatively new (set of) character(s) that was introduced in New X-men. I don't know much about it either but it was created on Stryker's command and survives by eating mutant DNA. IIRC, it can track down mutants for a great amount of time without getting tired and it seems to be hard to take down since it's only been shown to have one weakness so far (energy beams).[/spoiler]

Hope that helps, Det.

[Podmark]

[spoiler]Yeah Det, I wasn't really impressed with how they just threw Predator X in there at the end, and the page in the back didn't really explain it well enough.

Here's the story, in New X-Men Reverend Stryker found a broken Nimrod from an alternate future and tapped into it's databases so that he could learn about the future. Through this he found out about the mutant birth and contacted the Facility (who created X-23, they specialize in organic weapons) to create something to destroy this new mutant "anti-christ". Stryker created the Purifiers and declared war on the students of the Institute and was killed. The Facility continued to build the weapon, known as Predator X. They captured Mercury to use her metal skin to complete it. There were a few Predator Xs but the X-Men, New X-Men and ONE killed all but one that escaped. For currently unknown reasons it's form has changed to the one seen in MC1. Recently it detected the birth of the new mutant and raced to Alaska. The Purifiers have been tracking it and extrapolated it's destination to arrive in Alaska to battle the Purifiers.[/spoiler]

[Silver Shocker]

Uncanny X-Men -Messiah Complex pt 2


[spoiler]The X-Men fight some Acolytes, Xavier and Cyclops trade some more fighting words, Emma for once doesn't act like a rhymes-with-witch, and Rictor shows up along with Layla and her boytoy Jamie Maddrox (yay on all three! X-Factor fan speaking here). Rictor, being a former mutant (whose powers are somehow slightly resurfacing) is going to infiltrate the Purifiers. Layla and Jamie are sent to go visit Forge. The X-Men recovered a gun from the Purifiers which apparently is a familiar design....

I really enjoyed this episode, though I'm not quite sure why. I just enjoyed the writing and really liked the art. I've never really been a big fan of Billy Tan but I think this is the best work I've seen from him, I really enjoyed the art by him. The only character I didn't like drawn by Tan here was Layla, who looked--I don't know, too tall? Too old?. Otherwise, I really liked this issue.

If this installment is any indication, I think Messiah Complex is going to be a lot of fun. [/spoiler]

[Previsionary]

[spoiler]This issue was fairly good and it seems this event will be really good in the character development dept. for Cyclops. I say this because he's finally going back to his roots and leading the team and he once again reacted to his family members' various situations (but no rachel love...poor girl). Between this and astonishing Cyclops (I urge you all to read issue 23...cyclops gets his moment and it's quite good), it seems he's finally changing up a bit instead of being the stock brooder he's come to be. Though I hope his issue with Xavier will end in this event, Cyclops is no saint either and we all know as the years go on, Xavier will suddenly have more skeletons revealed and Cyclops will find a way to hurt the people he cares about.

It was also nice seeing Logan lead the field team, though, that really makes me wonder what Nightcrawler's job is suppose to be. I don't think we've seen him actually lead his team at all, not even when they were all trapped in space.

Another question I have is, why didn't the x-men look for the parents of the baby mutant? If the person(s) was/were still alive, they'd provide several clues. Of course, I'm assuming the baby gave off some powerful display of power and if they did, it would most likely have a strong link to its parents (or mother) and that'd put the x-men back in the race against the big bads.

New exiles preview saddened me. At least sage cut her hair and got a new costume so she could stand around the crystal palace in style. Also, Sabretooth (AoA) is slowly morphing into a  Logan clone...even in clothing style.[/spoiler]

So yeah, those are my thoughts...though any x-men comic that uses some of the original New X-men (+ an original X-member) will automatically get some points with me.

[Silver Shocker]

Actually, I was going to comment on the New Exiles preview. I thought the design ideas were kinda nifty. And as someone who read New Thunderbolts, which had Grummett as the regular artist for Fabian's entire run, I'm glad to see I don't hate his work here (I kinda hated his Thunderbolts work because all his characters tended to have the same face, somehow his work here didn't bother me as much). I was really happy with all the bonus stuff Marvel stuffed in here. I mean, the full page next issue blurb with both covers shown (varient smaller in black and white though), the fun facts, the preview, the interview, and the survey, it really seemed like they were trying to go out of their way to make thier fans feel like they were getting an extra treat.

[Podmark]

Hah! I knew Bendis was in love with Luke Cage!

[spoiler]I liked part 2, this storyline is building nicely. So far it's a Cyclops story and he's really coming off well. I've heard what happened in Astonishing and it's looking like a few good months for Cyke fans. The Acolytes fight was very fun, and it's nice to see the X-men continue to be effective. Also the Scott/Charles confrontation was very good, but I'm hoping it doesn't continue to be a big plot point. I'm not really a fan of "evil" Charles Xavier. I was very pleased with the way they worked in X-Factor too, using Rictor to infiltrate the Purifiers makes prefect sense.

Couple of things kinda bugged me. How could Layla know they were going to see Forge without knowing who Forge was? It just kinda broke the Layla mystique for me. I wasn't totally sold on Bru's take on Madrox and Layla so I'm looking forward to David taking over with them next issue. The whole Acolytes thing was kinda weird, all of those guys were on Genosha went the Sentinels attacked and should be dead, I think Neophyte even showed up as a zombie in New Avengers. That's not really a huge deal to me though, the thing that really bugged me is that it didn't explain how the X-men knew how to find them. I also found it odd they'd be in costume if they're not actually aligned with Exodus. Lastly Tan's art is hit or miss every time I see it. Love some shots, others not so much. He kinda reminds me of Copiel. Generally I find his art kinda stiff. Anyway those complaints were pretty minor ultimately as I did enjoy the issue.

Prev, Kurt wasn't the leader of the team that went into space, it was Havok or arguably Charles. I'm not really sure who lead the team in the next arc. [/spoiler]

The New Exiles preview was nice, the designs were nicely done but this whole New Exiles thing seems like a perversion of Exiles. Couldn't Marvel just make up some new title to hide Claremont?

[Previsionary]

Prev, Kurt wasn't the leader of the team that went into space, it was Havok or arguably Charles. I'm not really sure who lead the team in the next arc.

That's kinda my point. Nightcrawler assumed leadership position after storm left (and he had it previously before with Angel) but he never actually did anything that could be considered leadership worthy, iirc. After the space adventure, he stood by charles the whole time and it seemed like storm (who was part of the fan4 then) came in and temporarily reclaimed her role. I dunno, it just seems like Nightcrawler isn't really being given any development this year, imo.

I don't mind some of the New eXiles costumes, but I generally just don't like CC's writing style...in fact, I haven't liked any character CC has created and written for until after he let go of them (Ex: Sage). With Sabretooth, it's more of a matter of that I would expect Wolverine to wear that and not so much any version of sabretooth. Also, the lineup kinda makes it seem like just another X-team which wasn't really the case with the other incarnations of the team....but, I'm willing to give one or two issues an honest shot...

[EDIT] To clarify my opinion on the next lineup, the new team seems like a core X-book team and it'll just feel like the readers will be getting a double dose of most of them.

[Podmark]

I think part of it is the two many X-men in the fryer situation, only one can lead thing. Also Kurt, as an X-men (I'm not counting Excalibur), is never shown as a comfortable leader Casey showed that in his run.

[Talavar]

Uncanny 492 was a lot of fun, particularly the team action sequence.  Overall, I thought it was a step up from the one-shot.

New Exiles fills me with sadness too.  It's not the art, just what Claremont's done to the team and concept and writing.  It used to be one of my favourite titles, then at least a consistent one, now I've dropped it.

[Mowgli]

I don't read a lot of X-Men, but this series sounded interesting. I must say, I was disappointed with the latest X-Men issue. It was basically the same comic as the one shot. I mean, they were back at the mansion, instead of discovering the attack, but they discussed the same things:

"Cerebro's broken, we better fix it."
"Sinister and the ministry fought, but we don't know who won."
"There was a new mutant there, who may have manifested at birth... that's weird."
"Both the ministry and Sinister are ahead of us... how'd that happen?"

Aside from a fight scene with third stringers and Xavier's "I need a hug moment", it just seemed like a re-cap of the one shot. I liked the beginning of the story, but I already read it. Let's have a new issue now.

[thanoson]

Is there a preview of New Exiles someone can post? I had no idea there was going to be a new team. Summary please.

[Podmark]

There's some cover art circling the web, but this issue had a double spread of Tom Grummett's New Exiles sketches with some short commentary.

The team is:
Sabretooth - AoA
Morph/Proteus
Pyslocke - regular MU
Sage - regular MU
Mistiq
Rogue
Cat Pryde

It's down to one original, and technically he no longer exists.

[thanoson]

Where's blink?

[Previsionary]

Where's blink?

Blink and most of the old team (issue 98-99 at least) leave in issue 100 which takes place after X-men: Die by the sword. So, you get a full claremont team + Morph. I'm pretty sure Morph is only sticking around because he has nowhere to go and like Pod said, he doesnt really exist anymore (which i think was one of psylocke's original purpose on the team).

[EDIT] Added clickable preview pages behind spoiler tag and claremont's hints about what's to come...

[spoiler]


claremont's plans...
[/spoiler]

[murs47]

So wait, they brought back T-Bird just so they can give him the boot again?

My letter to you is one step closer to being mailed Mr. Claremont. :angry:

But seriously, it actually sounds a bit interesting, and once again I'll be giving Claremont another chance. Even though I hate him. :doh:

[thanoson]

Ok, I know 16 year old girls. They do not kneel on their knees while everyone else stands. Hmm... that could have been taken out of context. Still, I don't like that pic at all. Wasn't Sabes hanging around to protect Blink? What's his motivation now? Psylocke? Here's hoping they visit more What If worlds. Would love to see them visit these following tales:

1. What if Proffessor X had become the Juggernaught?
2. What if Dracula had lived?
3. What if the Inferno had not been stopped.

[detourne_me]

four words:
To me, my X-men.

[murs47]

four words:
To me, my X-men.

That was a bit weird to me. I've never heard Cyclops refer to the team as "his." Sounds more like something Magneto would say.........if you know......he led the X-Men.

Is he a Skrull? :unsure:

But, he was still so cool in that issue. :wub:

[detourne_me]

well its kind of a parody of silver surfer right.  maybe its cause in that moment scott felt almost god-like... as the silver surfer must feel all the time.

[murs47]

well its kind of a parody of silver surfer right.  maybe its cause in that moment scott felt almost god-like... as the silver surfer must feel all the time.

I wish I would have interpreted it that way, it just sounds so much cooler.

My train of thought is so linear sometimes. :mellow:

[Previsionary]

well its kind of a parody of silver surfer right.  maybe its cause in that moment scott felt almost god-like... as the silver surfer must feel all the time.

How is it a parody of SS? And I can't believe you guys didn't connect that with Xavier...he used to say that a good deal of the time. IIRC, he said it a lot during the 60s and I'm sure he said it in X-men: First class.

Anyway, I took it as a homage to his old mentor and a signal of cyclops finally taking control of the team (See Messiah Complex). That and he seemed to have humor this issue which he rarely has. With this issue, it really seems like Astonishing happens sometime before MC, but we'll see when the final 2 whedon books come out...one day.

...On cyclops dialogue, i cringed every time cyclops said a pet name for his dear emma...gruh

[murs47]

My mom was still wearing diapers in the 60's so I can't say I've ever read Xavier saying that before. But, I'll take your word for it.

As for First Class, haven't given it a shot, yet. But I here some pretty good things about it.

First my linear thinking, and now my young age makes me a victim of not understanding a cool piece of dialogue. :(

[Previsionary]

I think...I think you just called me old! :angry:

Actually, I remember the line fairly well since I read a good deal of the early X-issues (while working on my mod) and said issues are on dvd now. I want to say that Xavier says that exact line at the end of the confrontation with magneto in issue 1.

[Podmark]

lol I love that line. Didn't get Astonishing so for a while I was sitting there going, what are they talking about :P

[detourne_me]

oh man thats right!! hah! i completyely forgot.
i just remmeber SS saying it a lot "To me, my board"
i guess Stan the Man wasn't always completely original

[Silver Shocker]

X-Factor #25-Messiah Complex pt 3

[spoiler]

Rictor infiltrates the Purifyers and learns that they have a large number of very large hideouts all over the states. Jamie and Layla meet Forge how gets Jamie to send two dupes into alternate timelines that may help them, as they havn't completely "flatlined" mutant-wise, but Layla follows one in not knowing it's meant to be a one-way street. Wolverine, Storm and Nightcrawler go after Amelia Voght of the Acolytes in order to find the Marauders. And when the New X-Men insist Cyclops let them go out and help, he shoots them down (literally! He knocks Rockslide down on his butt with his optic blasts!) and tells them "And you will [help]. But it will be where I say so, and when I say so. If any of you has a problem with that, you know where the door is." "You'd do that...Just let us go?" "Then I'd go after you, haul you back here, and chew you out for abandoning your own species in its time of need. They also serve who stand and wait. And when your time comes...you may wish it hadn't."

Now we're talking!  PAD's been a favourite of mine lately and he shows he's got the chops to write X-Men comics with his installment of the crossover. He continues to write the X-Factor characters just as well as he normally does, and although it doesn't inherantly feel like X-Factor because of the sheer amount of characters the plot divides time between, the focus is still mostly on Jamie and Layla. PAD shows how to make new readers feel a bit more comfortable (take note, Kyle and Yost!) by introducing the core characters quickly and succently without making the writing seem expository and taking you out of the story. Even with Wolfsbane and Siryn's limited dialogue you get a feel for thier personalities. Jamie and Layla's dialogue explains everything you need to know about the characters for this story while simultaneously moving the plot forward. It's really nice to see the New X-Men both written and drawn well for once while still acting in character, and at the same time, great to see Scott put them in thier place. I've quickly become a fan of Eaton's art, but I really liked his art here. There were some great little touches, like Layla's freckles (I don't know if she's had them before, and they're not consistantly drawn in but they look cute on her), and her wearing a t-shirt with a a number sequence that reads the same forward and backward, that somehow seems fitting for her. Another nice touch was the drawing of a cocky Surge zooming into the room, reminding me of when Alan Davis drew Quicsilver in Busiek's Avengers. This issue has made me realize that I really want to see PAD write New X-Men, I'd probably love it if he wrote it (he has experiance with teen heroes by way of Young Justice).  I don't know exactly who decided to give Scott a pair (either Morrison or Wheadon)  but I'm loving him right now. I didn't use to be a big Cyclops fan but he's really stepping up as a leader.

My guesses for who dies in this storyline: Rictor and/or Cyclops.
[/spoiler]

:thumbup:

[Previsionary]

I don't know exactly who decided to give Scott a pair (either Morrison or Wheadon)  but I'm loving him right now. I didn't use to be a big Cyclops fan but he's really stepping up as a leader.

I haven't read the issue yet, but i've seen good reviews. I'll check it out tomorrow along with captain marvel and all those other books I bought. Anyway, Cyclops didn't get his *ahem* manhood until after Morrison. Cyclops was at his lowest during New X-men (Morrison) and he cut himself from everyone and psychically cheated on then ran away from Jean and refused to face anything. I give him some slack since that was after the apocalypse thing. I would say he really started to turn around after Vulcan returned and he found out yet another Xavier secret, though it really wasn't until astonishing and then Messiah Complex that he really took up the mantle.

On another subject, is it me, or are the current New X-men lacking some respect for the older team? I haven't really noticed until now when I was looking through some old issues. The current team seem to do and say whatever they want to their respective leaders and the new mutants/Gen X didn't do that half as much...but I guess it goes both ways since the X-men haven't really protected or shielded the New X-men from all that much. *shrugs*

[Silver Shocker]

[spoiler]I would have said Wheadon (who wrote Cyclops totally hardcore during the Ord/Danger/Nova thing), but Morrison had Scott go all hardcore on Magneto at the end of Planet X.

I totally agree with you about the New X-Men team being disrespectfull towards the big cats, the leaders/instructors/ect. That was kinda what I was trying to get across when summerizing the (two page) scene. They say things to Scott like "Oh, you remembered my name, I'm surprised." Again, I don't hold it against PAD (who has proven his worth to me on books like Captain Marvel, FN Spider-Man and X-Factor), because it's pretty much in character for them, and they do kinda have every right to be bitter (the thing with Nimrod was pretty much exactly the same as Kitty home alone with the Brood except this time it felt more like the X-Men adandoned them ("good luck, try not to bleed on the furniture")), but it may have been a bit more extreme than Kyle and Yost would have done. Cyclops shooting Rockslide may have been a bit much, even if Rockslide is a jock and bully born, and tends to respect force and violence more than words. But you KNOW it's not just the kids, it's everything else that's gone wrong in Scott's life lately. He's agitated, and he's looking for any chance to lash out that he can without compromising his integrity as a leader. So I both understand and agree with his decision, if not the way he went about it. [/spoiler]

[murs47]

[spoiler]Chapter 3 was indeed good. Seemed a little short. But, time flies when you're having fun, I guess. ^_^
Cyclops once again shines, but I felt the optic blast to Rockslide was a bit extreme.[/spoiler]

[murs47]

Messiah Complex part 4  :thumbup:

[spoiler]Looks like the kiddies are out for blood! :o
.......Hellion..... :(

I didn't really feel the event progressed, besides the reveal at the end, but the issue was still darn entertaining.[/spoiler]