The X-men Thread (spoilers)

[Previsionary]

I haven't read the issue yet, prolly will later on or this weekend, but marvel's long events seen to be slow moving in the beginning and pick up major pace during the middle and end (WWH, CW, Rise and fall of the shiar empire...), so you probably shouldn't expect major progression until probably the next uncanny issue. All those details (pointless, rehashed, or important) are padded into the book and then slowly disappear throughout in an usual event, so I'm hoping there's not a repeat of that OR it's significantly less than it usually is.

Just some general things I'm noticing in X-books lately, discuss as you will (or won't):

[spoiler]

• Cyclops, Havok, and Vulcan are really being defined and differentiated from each other in ability, skill, and leadership techniques
• Rachel seems to be somewhat more tolerable
• Iceman is getting some type of development as well
• Angel is finally being used again even though he's been reduced to a scout
• Cyclops may or may not have control over his powers [see cover to Giant size astonishing #1]
• I'm thinking that X-factor will be dramatically affected after Messiah Complex
• Lorna is sane again + her and Havok seem to be a couple again.

[/spoiler]

[detourne_me]

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]

you don't think it's been progressing??
[spoiler]it seems like a LOT of moral boundries are being forgotten here, how many X-men now are willing to kill?  and the madrox story is great.  i want to see the future the other dupe got sent too.[/spoiler]

[murs47]

[spoiler]I meant more in terms of this mutant baby thing going on. Sorry, should have been more specific.

The only thing we learned in regards to that is the Purifiers don't have it. Which was really obvious in the first place because it would be dead already if they did have it.[/spoiler]

[Previsionary]

[spoiler]Firstly, I will say that the art is a step up, imo, from issue 43. I'm for alternative art, but issue 43 kinda turned me off...so, to the story:

I kinda have a problem with everyone downing Xavier. He may as well be a bad guy with the way everyone is constantly yelling at, downing, or belittling him. Has everyone suddenly forgot that they live in HIS [500th] house, use HIS gear, and eat HIS food while they train under HIS supervision (not true now, but...)? Xavier may not be as morally great as he used to claim to be, but they really need to lay off the guilt tripping when said characters have done shady things themselves (CYCLOPS!). I think that's one of the main reasons I didn't like Deadly Genesis...it painted Xavier as morally corrupt very early in the X-men career and it gave the X-men another reason not to trust Xavier's leadership (and really linking him to Magneto in some cases).

I feel bad for Madrox since it looks like he'll be dealing with trust issues, losing Layla, and w/e damage his clones dying did to him thanks to forge and cyclops (and by virtue, I don't expect cyclops to be down xavier's throat anymore with this decision he made regarding layla/Jamie especially when he let emma force suggestions into their psyches)

I agree with Murs about not much progressing this issue. It felt like a filler to me so I'm hoping next issue really picks up pace. It seems the New X-men have altered cyclops's plan by once again rushing off and not obeying orders and someone had to pay the price for it. I don't expect hellion to die thanks to what Blindfold said, but I assume he'll be greatly injured. Also, I don't expect the New X-men to be able to hand Lady D (her costume looks...odd...especially if you read this book while half awake) by their lonesome so I'm predicting that pixie *may* be hurt trying to get them out of there...and possibly rictor.[/spoiler]

[Podmark]

Well X-Men 205 is in and comics worst kept secret is out
[spoiler]Cable is still alive and has the baby.

This was easily my favorite issue. Tons of action and I'm a huge Bachelo fan so the art was a real treat. Plots still kinda slow but the action made up for it, plus this is one of the first issues that I didn't know 90% of what was going to happen. I had no idea how the New X-men would escape their fight (just that they didn't teleport back to the mansion), I didn't know Rictor would help, or how the X-Men's fight would end up.

Also bonus points to Mike Carey for using the Sentinel pilots and for knowing Pixie's teleport spell. I'm really wondering who took over the Sentinels. I don't think it would be Cable, so I'm leaning on Malice, but I really don't know.

Silly X-Men, 6 vs 15 is really bad odds.[/spoiler]

And Cyclops' secret weapon?
[spoiler]Gentle![/spoiler]

[murs47]

[spoiler]Easily the best issue so far. The story progressed ever so slightly, but in a big way. Cable has the baby! :o
It was just pure non stop mutant on mutant action. Plus Reaver and Sentinel action as well.

Possible dead X-Men in the immediate future: Nightcrawler and Hellion. :([/spoiler]


Podmark:

[spoiler]What do you mean Nehzno being Cyclops' secret weapon? :huh: Spill the beans Pod, you know something the rest of us don't.  :P
[/spoiler]

[Previsionary]

Yes, it was a good issue.

[Podmark]

Podmark:

[spoiler]What do you mean Nehzno being Cyclops' secret weapon? :huh: Spill the beans Pod, you know something the rest of us don't.  :P
[/spoiler]

[/quote]

[spoiler]On the page that shows the next cover it implies that Cyclops has a secret wearpon and beside that text is the variant cover with him and Nezhno. Previews for the next issue show Nezhno in action.[/spoiler]

[murs47]

oh....I guess I didn't catch that..... :doh:

I know Podmark has seen this already, but has anyone else?
[spoiler]
I wonder who's blood they're covered in.
[/spoiler]

[Podmark]

oh....I guess I didn't catch that..... :doh:

I know Podmark has seen this already, but has anyone else?
[spoiler]
I wonder who's blood they're covered in.
[/spoiler]

[spoiler]Rumor is that it's Hellion's. There's conflicting theories over whether he lived or died.[/spoiler]

[murs47]

[spoiler]After reading X-Men #205, I think it's Nightcrawler............time will tell though.[/spoiler]

[Talavar]

My Marauaders' knowledge is hazy at best...

[spoiler]
the character who turned off Wolverine's healing, is that long term?  And I can't be the only person who was happy when Wolverine ventilated Gambit's chest, can I?
[/spoiler]

[Podmark]

My Marauaders' knowledge is hazy at best...

[spoiler]
the character who turned off Wolverine's healing, is that long term?  And I can't be the only person who was happy when Wolverine ventilated Gambit's chest, can I?
[/spoiler]

[spoiler]Scrambler's ability is short term.[/spoiler]

[thanoson]

But, he can do weird things with your powers too. Like super amp it up. Or, shoot your friends with your power.

[Podmark]

Just read through the latest Uncanny

[spoiler]I really enjoyed this issue but there's some hiccups. Did Bobby pick up all the kids or just some of them? How exactly did the X-Men escape Sinister's? Did Brubaker forget that Angel has healing blood? (which won't work for Nightcrawler and only for people with the same blood type) And Elixir's off panel write-out was kinda lame. Also minus points for the old random students trick, and Cable's abrupt new costume.

On the positive side, we finally see Warpath, Hepzibah, Cannonball and Caliban. At least some of the random students were somewhat recognizable, and Tan did a decent job on the mecha sentinels. Actually Tan's art was pretty good here (cept Bishop he looked pretty lame) much better than the previews looked. The action was good, but still not a whole lot happened. Nano sentinels were pretty cool but I really doubt Cable was responsible, I'm thinking the Purifiers and Reavers for the moment or perhaps...a traitor?? Kinda dissappointed that Lexington has been taken down like this.

Looking forward to the next one.

[/spoiler]

[Previsionary]

Pod,
[spoiler]
I thought this cable was from a different point in time or something? Since I haven't read the book yet, I guess I'll see.[/spoiler]

Also, did Darwin finally show up again? He kinda disappeared off the face of the Earth after Hulk kicked his ever-adapting butt.

[Podmark]

Pod,
[spoiler]
I thought this cable was from a different point in time or something? Since I haven't read the book yet, I guess I'll see.[/spoiler]

Also, did Darwin finally show up again? He kinda disappeared off the face of the Earth after Hulk kicked his ever-adapting butt.

[spoiler]
No Darwin yet but previews show him appearing in New X-Men which I think makes Kitty the only missing X-Man. I think Brubaker isn't comfortable with larger casts. I read that he purposely left Darwin out of the Morlocks story because he didn't plan for him to have a role and didn't think he needed a "and this is where Darwin is" panel. Not a fan of that treatment.

Not sure about Cable, in X-Men 205 he was wearing the same costume he "died" in and said the same phrase that Gambit and Sunfire mentioned so I've assumed it's the same Cable but I don't really know yet.

[/spoiler]

[murs47]

I haven't picked it up yet....my comic shop didn't get their deliveries on time today. <_<

I didn't check your guy's spoilers, but was the issue good?

[Podmark]

I liked it.

[murs47]

[spoiler]First and foremost, I loved this issue! Heck, I love this arc...IMO it's living up to the hype. This combined with the last issue have given me the feeling that the X-Men are the underdogs in this event, which is what I was waiting for.

There are some "huh?" moments though. When did Bobby go rescue the children? How the heck did Wolverine's team get to the Blackbird safely? Is Nehzno dead? How does Cable find the time to change uniforms while on the run from murderous mutants and X-Men all while carrying a baby? That Nathan Summers sure is talented.[/spoiler]

[Previsionary]

this issue was ok. It seems that Brubaker just fast forwarded through all that backstory to jump into the full out action sequences. Also, was that jean in cyclops's locket? She sure has been showing up/referenced a lot this year. She'll be out of that white hot room soon, I suppose. I would like it if COlossus would get a bit more action. He's been incredibly underused since his return (I'm rightfully ignoring his mini).

[spoiler]I'm pretty sure nehz isn't dead. I remember seeing him on a cover...for w/e that's worth. I'm starting to expect that kitty just disappeared in whedon's arc. Or maybe the rumors about her death are true? If so...more reason to pick up Wolverine: First Class.[/spoiler]

[Previsionary]

So, any thoughts on X-factor this week? I've no spoilers to spread, but I thought it was ok, definitely not as action packed as the other issues, but still ok. I'll assume the cyclops/charles thing will last for awhile. *shrugs*

[Podmark]

I thought it was a step back from the last two but still decent. It was one of those mid-arc set-up issues. The Madrox plot is starting to annoy me, it's just taking too long to get anywhere. I also didn't like the Cable/Reaver fight, it just seemed off. Cable was way outnumbered and I don't know if he has his powers, so I'm kinda wondering why the Reavers didn't just rip him apart. Fight looked great though, that was Eaton's spotlight on art.

And a prediction
[spoiler] there's supposedly a death coming up in one of the next two issues and I'm thinking it's either Caliban or Hepzibah, most likely Cal.[/spoiler]

[Talavar]

My thoughts on the new X-force...
[spoiler]
Cyclops described them as the best trackers and fighters - are Caliban and Rahne really among the X-men's best fighters?  Seems like a stretch to me.
[/spoiler]

[murs47]

[spoiler]Cable is so talented...he once again finds the time to change costumes again while babysitting and being chased down by persons that want him dead.

The issue was okay, I guess. The action wasn't up to par with the past couple of issue, and there really wasn't any progression. I kind of expected the Madrox/Layla segment to really take huge strides forward because it was an X-Factor title, but no.

The reality is not every issue is going to be non-stop action; set-up issues are necessary. [/spoiler]

[Previsionary]

Murs,

[spoiler]I don't think us readers want non-stop action, but we do want consistency and progression. Setup issues are fine, but you also need to keep the story moving fast enough to keep the reader enticed and wanting to know more without rehashing certain elements to death (IE: yet another cyclops/charles fight). Of course, a lot of things were referenced in this issue...but the general story is kinda slow and I fear that the final issues will be speedy...like the typical marvel event. Also, let's not forget that certain questions are still left up in the air: A) who attacked the telepaths? B) How are the fallen xmen? C) Kitty is where (astonishing can't come out fast enough...-_-) D) How did Sinister know Cable was back?  E) How did Storm and her team survive/escape?  F) Is Gentle dead (though wizard confirms him as dead)? G) etc. and so on...

Oh, most importantly, and I can't stress this enough, how is that baby still alive in the cold wilderness with no type of support and it's an infant/newborn.  *arrests cable*  :P[/spoiler]

[thanoson]

Easy answer on the last one. He's a mutant. Hell, Cable was making energy bubbles as a baby too. I wouldn't be suprised if this was a Summers kid. Thus the interest by Sinister so bad.

[Podmark]

And a prediction
[spoiler] there's supposedly a death coming up in one of the next two issues and I'm thinking it's either Caliban or Hepzibah, most likely Cal.[/spoiler]

I love it when I'm right :)

[Previsionary]

And a prediction
[spoiler] there's supposedly a death coming up in one of the next two issues and I'm thinking it's either Caliban or Hepzibah, most likely Cal.[/spoiler]

I love it when I'm right :)

[spoiler]So, without having read the book, I'm assuming caliban died since he's not on any X-force cover, correcto?[/spoiler]

[Podmark]

And a prediction
[spoiler] there's supposedly a death coming up in one of the next two issues and I'm thinking it's either Caliban or Hepzibah, most likely Cal.[/spoiler]

I love it when I'm right :)

[spoiler]So, without having read the book, I'm assuming caliban died since he's not on any X-force cover, correcto?[/spoiler]

Correcto.

[spoiler]The issue is mostly a big fight, that I probably would have loved if it wasn't drawn by Ramos. Actually Ramos' art wasn't really bad in this, but he's not my first choice. I actually really liked his Caliban though.[/spoiler]