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