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