Era #11, Part 17: Bizarre Love Triangle (X-Men)

Grade: D

Peter Milligan and Salvador Larroca continue their run in one of the most aptly named collections. This is certainly a bizarre love triangle -- two, in fact. A new student, Foxx, arrives at the school and is immediately placed under Gambit's care. She has a not-too-subtle crush on the cajun thief and uses overt sexual appeal to get him alone. Gambit is going through a serious (and very public) rough patch with Rogue, so his interactions with the teenage student become the gossip of the school. The truth is even stranger than the set-up. Meanwhile, the soap opera tensions between Polaris, Havok, and Iceman continue to escalate as unresolved issues, unrequited love, and old wounds turn conversations into verbal (and sometimes physical) confrontations.   

There is something in how the characters are behaving that is throwing me off with this run. They are not wrong (meaning, they are not doing anything that you wouldn't expect them to do), but their interactions with each other seem to be missing the history that they share. It feels like we are watching an alternate reality version of the team in which they are all moody, depressed, and constantly suspicious of each other. I was again confused by the motivations and reactions of everybody except Gambit's squad (Bling, Flubber, Rain Boy, and particularly Onyxx). They provide a more realistic perspective as they attempt to make sense of Foxx and the ensuing scandal. 

[4-Stars] X-Men (1991) #171

[4-Stars] X-Men (1991) #172

[4-Stars] X-Men (1991) #173

[4-Stars] X-Men (1991) #174

Collected in X-Men: Bizarre Love Triangle

Era #11, Part 16: Dangerous (Astonishing X-Men)

Grade: A

The X-Men are committed to showing the world that they are heroes ready to protect everybody, but a new and more immediate threat emerges closer to home resulting in the death of a student. The Danger Room has fought and beat the X-Men countless times, and she is ready to do in with the gloves off in an effort to confront her oppressor -- Professor Xavier.

Joss Whedon and John Cassaday continue their incredible run with another fast-paced, thought-provoking story. The dialog is spot-on as they explore the characters a little more deeply, and the plot introduces another moral dilemma for the team to address. When did Xavier know the Danger Room was sentient, and why did he keep her in forced service? What a good read.

[7-stars] Astonishing X-Men #7

[7-stars] Astonishing X-Men #8

[7-stars] Astonishing X-Men #9

[7-stars] Astonishing X-Men #10

[8-stars] Astonishing X-Men #11

[7-stars] Astonishing X-Men #12

Collected in Astonishing X-Men (Vol. 2): Dangerous

Era #11, Part 15: Golgotha (X-Men)

Grade: C

Havok takes his X-Men squad to investigate a distress call from a mutant colony attempting to set up their own Utopia in Antarctica, but they quickly discover that the colonists both killed themselves and each other with a horrific scene of dead bodies and wandering mutants in zombie-like states. Tensions are already high between Polaris, Iceman, Rogue, Gambit, Emma Frost, and Wolverine, but their personal relationships are further strained as every one of them starts facing their own personal demons, fears, and insecurities. Only one cryptic word written in blood offers any clue -- Golgotha.

Peter Milligan takes the lead with this more psychological approach to the impact of small nudges and suggestions to the egos of a team that needs to work together. Things unsaid or repressed come to the fore. Gambit and Rogue confront the implications of not being able to touch (and why they stay together because of that inability). Havok and Iceman passive-aggressively vie for Polaris's attention in the most inappropriate times, while Polaris is still dealing with witnessing the Genosha genocide. Wolverine is reminded that he is an old man amongst the younger generation, and Emma Frost struggles with her body image. They attempt to avoid and even directly confront their own doubts and the source of the telepathic assault. 

Golgotha does not tread new ground regarding the issues each character is facing, but I do like the more subtle method used to express those deeply rooted insecurities. The run unravels at the end when the X-Men need to travel into space to deal with an incoming threat that just happened to arrive at this moment in time. They ask NASA for help (really?), and a single NASA general responds in perhaps one of the most unrealistic ways. There are too many confusing story points for me that I couldn't quite follow (such as the sudden global threat and how it ties to the growing resentment that launches the LA mutant riot/murders), but I still love Salvador Larroca's art.

[6-Stars] X-Men (1991) #166

[5-Stars] X-Men (1991) #167

[5-Stars] X-Men (1991) #168

[6-Stars] X-Men (1991) #169

[4-Stars] X-Men (1991) #170

Collected in X-Men: Golgotha

Era #11, Part 14: Gifted (Astonishing X-Men)

Grade: A+

Joss Whedon took a stab at scribing X-Men stories, and he came out swinging for the fences. Already well known for clever scripts and detailed characterizations from his work in television with Buffy the Vampire Slayer and Firefly, Joss attempted to bring his unique touch to this much-loved comic franchise. He did not disappoint. Partnered with artist John Cassaday, he launched a new title that felt as revolutionary as Grant Morrision's 2001 Manifesto. 

Cyclops forms a new X-Men team that includes Beast, Emma Frost, Shadowcat, and Wolverine with the goal of improving their public image as superheroes. Their first mission brings them up against a new terrorist threat, Ord of Breakworld. Meanwhile, respected and renowned geneticist Dr. Kavita Rao announces to the world that she developed a cure for the disease of mutants. The X-Men's investigation into both incidents not only uncovers a close connection between them but a darker conspiracy with far-reaching consequences.

The dialog is some of the best I've read in any X-Men title, and the complex stories challenge readers to decide where the line between good and evil really sits. I laughed at some of the great scenes (too many to even try and list here), but it was the thought-provoking moral dilemmas that stayed with me when I put the issues down.

[9-stars] Astonishing X-Men #1

[9-stars] Astonishing X-Men #2

[9-stars] Astonishing X-Men #3

[9-stars] Astonishing X-Men #4

[9-stars] Astonishing X-Men #5

[9-stars] Astonishing X-Men #6

Collected in Astonishing X-Men (Vol. 1): Gifted

Era #11, Part 13: On Ice (Uncanny X-Men)

Grade: D+

Chris Claremont continues his run with two more stories. In "World's End" (Uncanny X-Men #455-459), the X-Men encounter a new threat as the Hauk’ka prepare their invasion to reclaim Earth. These Saurians are direct descendants of dinosaurs and have their own mutant super team. They quickly claim their first victory by possessing Rachel who slowly becomes one of them in both body and mind. In the second tale (Uncanny X-Men #460-461), the Exiles return from their dimensional travels, but Mojo and Spiral are hot on their trail.

I am already on the record proclaiming that I do not particularly enjoy Christ Claremont's collaborations with Alan Davis. Normally, they delve deeply into English mythology and lore, but this time, they decide to return to another easy stand-by: a new race in the Savage Land looking for world domination. He followed that with another run-of-the-mill Mojo story (this time artist Tom Raney).  I was bored. 

There were some highlights. It is clear that Chris is dedicated to keeping his XSE arc from the pages of X-Men X-Treme going now that he is back on Uncanny X-Men. Psylocke returns in the exact same place where she was murdered way back in X-Treme X-Men #2 (with plenty of exposition to remind us). It was bound to happen after 3.5 years (who stays dead forever in comics?), but this felt like a good mystery. I also really enjoyed the return of the X-Babies in the second story. 

[4-Stars] Uncanny X-Men (1963) #455

[4-Stars] Uncanny X-Men (1963) #456

[4-Stars] Uncanny X-Men (1963) #457

[4-Stars] Uncanny X-Men (1963) #458

[4-Stars] Uncanny X-Men (1963) #459

[5-Stars] Uncanny X-Men (1963) #460

[5-Stars] Uncanny X-Men (1963) #461

Collected in Uncanny X-Men: The New Age (Vol. 3): On Ice

Era #11, Part 12: Haunted (New X-Men: Academy X)

Grade: C

This run collects two stories. In the first ("Haunted"), the New Mutants discover that the school is haunted, and in the second ("Too Much Information"), Dani Moonstar and Emma Frost remove the mental blocks that prevent David (Protegy) from permanently retaining the knowledge that his mutant gift allows him to "borrow" from others. 

Students dealing with a haunted presence on school grounds is nothing particularly new for young adult fiction (or the X-Men). I appreciate that Nunzio DeFilippis & Christina Weir resolved a dangling X-Treme X-Men thread, and I liked watching David's sister spend some time on campus. While visiting, she provides a different perspective from the normal responses of hatred or exploitation. I was a little envious of the fantastic things they can do and the camaraderie that they share.

"Too Much Information" was a great concept, but it played out in a way that felt out of character for David. His ability to temporarily absorb the knowledge from the minds of the people close certainly offers the perfect opportunity to explore the impact of not earning those skills. I am not sure that I followed the leap from "too smart, too fast" to "complete moral ambiguity".

[5-Stars] New X-Men (2004) #7

[5-Stars] New X-Men (2004) #8

[5-Stars] New X-Men (2004) #9

[5-Stars] New X-Men (2004) #10

[5-Stars] New X-Men (2004) #11

Collected in New X-Men: Academy X (Vol 2): Haunted

Era #11, Part 11: Underground, Part 1 (District X)

Grade:  C

David Hines keeps the perspective spotlight on Detective Ortega who is going through a lot after the events of Mr. M. His marriage is falling apart and he is unable to stay focused on the high-profile murder investigation in Mutant Town. Things continue to pile on as he is asked to also look into a mutant community living underneath the city and two missing friends. Izzy looks for outlets to deal with the mounting stress.

I was not as impressed with this second run of District X as I was with the first one. There are so many things going on that I also had a hard time keeping up, and it came at the expense of character development. There really was no empathy for the malformed murderer Winston Hobbes even though it was clear we were supposed to feel more at the end. The same can be said with the underground dwelling community which felt like an obvious (and overused) plot device. I am also surprised that there was absolutely no mention of the Morlocks. The missing people didn't seem to be much of a concern either.

I like the premise, of Detective Ortega's disintegration after a harrowing ordeal, but it didn't come across as a cohesive story or really explore the impact on his family, coworkers, or community.

[5-stars] District X (2004) #7

[5-stars] District X (2004) #8

[5-stars] District X (2004) #9

[5-stars] District X (2004) #10

[5-stars] District X (2004) #11

[5-stars] District X (2004) #12

Collected in District X (Vol. 2): Underground

Era #11, Part 10: Quiet (Mystique)

Grade: D+

It is the end game for Mystique when she must finally decide to continue to work for Professor X as his secret agent or assassinate him for the Quiet Man. Things get more complicated when her handler, Shortpack, goes missing after searching for Steinbeck, the mutant arms dealer who killed Prudance, the agent that Mystique replaced. There are plenty of double-crossings, revelations, and guest appearances in this series conclusion. 

I appreciated that the creative team provided closure to all of the various plotlines, but this run is a hot mess compared to the previous three. It feels like the title was directed to end, so Sean McKeever threw all the pieces together for a finale, but the result didn't have the same tone that made the series fun to read. In a move that seemed forced and completely out of character, Shortpack races off only to get captured for the rest of the story. Meanwhile, each issue runs Mystique through another unrelated caper that feels like fill-in stories to highlight guest appearances (Fantomex, Wolverine, and Rogue) -- often a sign of declining sales. 

[5-stars] Mystique (2003) #19

[4-stars] Mystique (2003) #20

[4-stars] Mystique (2003) #21

[4-stars] Mystique (2003) #22

[4-stars] Mystique (2003) #23

[5-stars] Mystique (2003) #24

Collected in Mystique (Vol. 4): Quiet

Era #11, Part 09: Unnatural (Mystique)

Grade: B

Mystique's next mission for Professor Xavier takes her to Europe to investigate rumors that a large biotech firm is illegally using mutants to test experimental cosmetics. Tensions continue to grow between Mystique and Shortpack, her field handler, as the trail leads to a deeper conspiracy that includes mutant trafficking and an unsettling revelation that hits close to home for the shape-shifting mutant terrorist turned reluctant spy. 

Sean McKeever takes over the title and keeps the tone and stories consistent with Brian K. Vaughan. I think he does a slightly better job portraying Mystique's more unpredictable and nonconformist side (rather than as a roguish anti-hero), but his portrayal of Shortpack seems to shift direction without much explanation. As for the plot, mutant slave trades and corporate exploitation are not new material in the X-Men books, but I appreciated that this one was a little more grounded. I was also intrigued by the Quiet Man storyline that is slowly played out in the background. 

While this was not an especially memorable run, it was a fun read. 

[6-stars] Mystique (2003) #14

[6-stars] Mystique (2003) #15

[6-stars] Mystique (2003) #16

[6-stars] Mystique (2003) #17

[6-stars] Mystique (2003) #18

Collected in Mystique (Vol. 3): Unnatural

Era #11, Part 08: The Cruelest Cut (Uncanny X-Men)

Grade: C

Chris Claremont continues his XSE storyline that he started back in X-Treme X-Men. Bishop, Marvel Girl, Nightcrawler, Sage, Storm, and Wolverine are the internationally sanctioned (?) police force of the mutant population. This collection covers two cases.

The first takes them to District X searching for a missing human. She is the daughter of a notorious crime boss ready to take justice into his own hands, the X-Men have only a few hours to uncover the truth before things get worse. Things get more complicated when they learn that the attacker's signature closely mirrors Wolverine creating some uncertainty about what they may be facing.  

The second sends Sage back into the Hellfire Club. The White Queen joins the team as they confront familiar threats. A larger conspiracy that includes Robert DaCosta (New Mutant's Sunspot), the Black King Sebastian Shaw, the Black Queen Selene, Donald Pierce, Courtney Ross, and Viper. The X-Men enter the fray to stop the mutant slave trade and determine where Sage's loyalty really lies. 

There are a lot of common and overly familiar themes from Claremont in this run. The first tale is a very obvious and traditional superhero trope: the misunderstood actions of a new hero. On the positive side, this is X-23's first introduction to a core X-Men title. The second tale is a retelling of a relatively recent Claremont story regarding the mutant slave trade by the rich and powerful. This time, however, I enjoyed the return of the Hellfire Club Lords Cardinal in this version.

[5-Stars] Uncanny X-Men (1963) #450

[5-Stars] Uncanny X-Men (1963) #451

[5-Stars] Uncanny X-Men (1963) #452

[5-Stars] Uncanny X-Men (1963) #453

[5-Stars] Uncanny X-Men (1963) #454

Collected in Uncanny X-Men: The New Age (Vol. 2): The Cruelest Cut

Era #11, Part 07: Heroes and Villains (X-Men)

Grade: D+

What a hot mess! I regularly read reviews bashing Chuck Austen and wonder if people are just afraid of somebody challenging the status quo. I prefer to look at his run as a bold experiment, but I am just not sure that I can give him a pass after reading this run. 

Exodus forms a new Brotherhood of Mutants (Avalanche, Black Tom Cassidy, Mammomax, Nocture, and Sabretooth), but this new t eam realizes that the X-Men are always one step ahead of them. Their ingenious plan is to attack the X-Men at their home and decide to rely on their secret weapon (and spy inside) -- the Juggernaut. The assault is the final straw for Annie who leaves Havok and the Institute to keep her son, Carter, safe.

Motivations (and even character names) seem much more fluid than normal and not so grounded on the stable characterizations that we've come to expect from X-Men books. The story is incredibly thin. It utilizes common tropes with no real imagination (another Brotherhood inspired by a dead Magneto decides to assault the X-Men at home?).

The Juggernaut subplot was an interesting bright spot. He must face the consequences of his actions even if those actions are for the better good. The conclusion of his arc with Squidboy is completely heartbreaking. It is an unflinching reminder that we are always being watched. 

[4-Stars] X-Men (1991) #161

[5-Stars] X-Men (1991) #162

[4-Stars] X-Men (1991) #163

[4-Stars] X-Men (1991) #164

[4-Stars] X-Men (1991) #165

Collected in X-Men: Day of the Atom

Era #11, Part 06: Mr. M (District X)

Grade: A-

While District X appears to star the X-Man Bishop, this is really an on-the-streets drama focused on a regular cop Izzy Ortega. With the recent boom in the mutant population, New York City finds itself with a new and dangerous neighborhood called District X. Incredible powers and no opportunities due to rampant discrimination make Mutant Town a dangerous percent to patrol for normal humans. A gang war over the production and distribution of a new street drug escalates the violence and forces the FBI to ask Bishop for help. 

I love that this story is completely told from the perspective of the normal cop who must deal with his bigoted colleagues, a resentful and marginalized community, and a wife who is also a mutant. He is dealing with a lot while at the same time assisting the FBI (Bishop) in trying to get to the bottom of a mutant drug war that is killing normal humans. 

Marvel Knights was an imprint that concentrated on stand-alone (and often grittier) stories of underselling yet iconic characters (Black Panther, Punisher, Daredevil, and the Inhumans). The brainchild of future Editor-in-Chief Joe Quesada and Jimmy Palmiotti, Marvel Knights grew to include other titles such as Bishop's District X. The creative team of  David Hine (writer) and David Yardin (penciler) captured the feel of the police procedurals with a mutant flare. Both crime bosses are mutants with relatively minor powers but maintain a strong grip on a territory filled with outcasts. I particularly like the many examples of their casual exploration of fellow mutants and the subtle nod that raw power alone is not enough to escape poverty.

 

[7-stars] District X (2004) #1

[7-stars] District X (2004) #2

[7-stars] District X (2004) #3

[7-stars] District X (2004) #4

[7-stars] District X (2004) #5

[7-stars] District X (2004) #6

Collected in District X (Vol. 1): Mr. M

Era #11, Part 05: X-Men Unlimited (Part 2)

Grade: B-

Anthology series can be hard to place within a timeline. I put them here to finish the series in two posts, so there will be one or two tales that take place later in this era (particularly Decimation). Short stories (usually) focus on a small, single moment in a character's life, and while on occasion this may be in reaction to a recent core event, most of these tales simply provide a little deeper insight into their lives. Sometimes, they can even add a touch of humanity. 

• [#8] Angel opens a new charity (6-stars)
• [#8] Beast and Shadowcat foil a robbery while trying to attend the opera (5-stars)
• [#9] Wolverine remembers a friend (5-stars)
• [#9] Iceman contemplates leaving the X-Men (5-stars)
• [#10] Beast becomes the schools substitute guidance counselor (6-stars)
• [#10] Beast returns home to recuperate (5-stars)
• [#11] Rachel confides in Havok (6-stars)
• [#11] Sunspot asks someone to a party (5-stars)
• [#12] Wolverine tries to deal with the pain while he heals (5-stars)
• [#12] Wolverine talks Puck down from another bar fight (5-stars)
• [#13] Memero loses his power on M-Day (7-stars): Part of Decimation
• [#13] A retired hero loses his wife and more (7-stars)
• [#14] Colossus and Magik must come to terms with death (6-stars)
• [#14] Colossus looks for his artistic muse (6-stars)

[6-stars] X-Men Unlimited (2004) #8

[5-stars] X-Men Unlimited (2004) #9

[6-stars] X-Men Unlimited (2004) #10

[6-stars] X-Men Unlimited (2004) #11

[5-stars] X-Men Unlimited (2004) #12

[7-stars] X-Men Unlimited (2004) #13

[6-stars] X-Men Unlimited (2004) #14

Era #11, Part 04: X-Men Unlimited (Part 1)

Grade: C+

X-Men Unlimited is an anthology series of small, character-driven stories. I am not a huge fan, mostly because they are an additional cost for tales that don't add to the core plots or have any real impact on the characters. There are several stories in which a mutant is misunderstood/attacked by its community or a young mutant must learn to control their powers or suffer dire consequences. On the positive side, however, they highlight different writers and artists that sometimes turn in some hidden gems. 

• [#1] Sage on a mission (6-Stars)
• [#1] A young mutant on Halloween (5-stars)
• [#2] Bishop on patrol (6-Stars): Setting up the District X series.  
• [#2] Jubilee going back to the mall (5-stars)
• [#3] Gambit on a caper (6-stars)
• [#3] Cannonball and Icarus bonding as brothers (6-stars)
• [#4] Juggernaut prepares to teach children (6-stars)
• [#4] Emma Frost attends a wedding of an old rival (6-stars)
• [#5] Wolverine leads a Danger Room exercise (5-stars)
• [#5] Wolverine confronts trouble at a bar (5-stars)
• [#6] Shadowcat, Emma Frost, Sage, and Storm share stories (4-stars)
• [#6] Rachel and Rogue try to help a hospitalized mutant (5-stars)
• [#7] Nightcrawler meets a new friend (5-stars)
• [#7] Shadowcat tries to save a mutant from disappearing (5-stars) 

[6-stars] X-Men Unlimited (2004) #1

[6-stars] X-Men Unlimited (2004) #2

[6-stars] X-Men Unlimited (2004) #3

[6-stars] X-Men Unlimited (2004) #4

[5-stars] X-Men Unlimited (2004) #5

[5-stars] X-Men Unlimited (2004) #6

[5-stars] X-Men Unlimited (2004) #7