 |
X-Treme X-Men # 033
"Manifest Destiny"
Intifada, Part 3 of 5 |
Rating:
 |
|
Writer:
Chris Claremont
|
|
Penciller:
Igor Kordey
|
|
Key Events
- Marie's trial begins and Sunspot is determined to get a guilty verdict.
- Rogue is plagued by nightmares and suspects Mystique did something to her.
Questions Raised
- Just what the heck's up with Rogue?
- How long before Sunspot gets his ass kicked?
- What exactly is Storm proposing to Val?
- Is that really Bogan, and will we finally find out what his deal is?
|
Inker:
Scott Hanna
| Colours:
Liquid |
Letterer:
Randy Gentile
| Editor:
Mike Marts |
EIC:
Joe Quesada
| Date:
December 2003 |
| Featuring:
Rogue, Cannonball, Sage, Bishop, Storm, Gambit, Lila Cheny |
| Versus:
Revenant, X-Corp L.A., and that mischievous mutant gang |
Quick Synopsis:
Marie's trial begins with X-Corp pulling the strings behind the scenes, meanwhile Rogue is plagued by disturbing nightmares and Storm wants to make a deal with Val.
Full Synopsis:
In the wake of Marie's terrorist attack, the town of Valle Soleda has been transformed into a hotbed of mutant hatred, the feelings heightened by her upcoming trial. Snug in X-Corp headquarters, Sunspot flexes his political muscle with the governor to ensure a guilty verdict for Marie's hate crime.
Rogue enjoys a nice pleasant day at home. Until she finds herself morphing into Mystique for no particularly good reason. She turns on her teammates, easily taking out Bishop and Sage, shooting Storm, and breaking Gambit's neck. At that moment, Lila and Sam teleport back from wherever Lila spirited them last issue and hear Rogue screaming in her sleep. Later, she sits at her table and shakily tells the others (sans Storm and Gambit) about her nightmares. She's concerned that Mystique maybe did something to her way back when, and since Sage can't get a full reading on Rogue these days, she doesn't take her scan's results as much comfort. Sage reflects on what Marie told them about her nightmares trying to force the girl to sell her home. Sure enough, on cue, a lawyer shows up at the door and tries to convince Rogue -- and Sam, who poses as her boyfriend -- to sell the house and move away. Now with a new mission, Sage tails the lawyer and Bishop has Lila teleport him to New York, leaving Sam and Rogue alone. She's still pretty shaken by the nightmare, but Sam reminds her of tougher times back when she first joined the X-Men. Flashback to a much younger Cannonball and a two-striped Rogue bonding in their southerness and mutual mistrust from their teammates.
Cut to Texas where Storm relates her view mutant positions in today's world to Val Cooper and the other officials who tracked her and Gambit. She states the need for a sanctioned mutant force to help keep the peace beteween mutants and humans. Val asks how they can trust Storm's group, and Ororo responds that they don't really have a choice at this point.
Rogue and Sam, meanwhile, track the group of mutants who attacked Marie's family to a nearby beach. Cannonball attacks and admirably holds his own for a while, but eventually they gang up on him when Rogue enters the fight. But she's powerless at this point, and it looks like the gang will easily take her out. Then Rogue surprises them all by pretty much kicking their ass. Now they have everyone's attention, Rogue and Sam show the gang pictures of Marie's family and tell them about the damage they've done. The mutant gang, however, don't much care. Their attitudes pretty much piss Rogue off, and she starts to scare Sam. He calls Sage, but she's a bit too wrapped up to help him at the moment, and a pair of big, evil eyes watch Sage closely.
| Review:
This is a decent enough issue, but does seem to suffer somewhat from the incessant need these days to make every storyline the perfect trade size. Things happen, which is good, but it feels that they're happening at an odd pace, which becomes somewhat distracting. By and large, though, this is a decent issue, and I'm still wallowing in the return of Rogue, who I'm happy to say, Claremont is using most extensively.
And interesting. I have no idea what's up with our resident southern belle. I'm pleased to see that she's doing well without powers, and even more pleased to discover that I'm still okay with her not having them. Probably due in no small part to the former, really, but it just goes to show that you can trust Claremont to do justice to his characters. Rogue is more than her powers, as are all of the X-Men, really. Only Claremont seems to understand that sometimes. But as for what's really going on with her, I haven't the foggiest. I'd venture to say that she's shopping for a home on Crazy Girl Street again; I don't think I've seen her quite this overtly unbalanced since the whole Carol Danvers/Michael Rossi thing way the heck back in Uncanny #182. She wears her insanity well, but at least back then she had, you know, invulnerability and super strength to back her up. I'm a little worried for her, but in a good way (meaning, it's interesting).
The highlight of the issue, though, was easily the flashback between Rogue and Cannonball. I'm an unabashed fangirl for any sort of nugget of the past, though, and given that Claremont was utterly in control back then, it's not even really a retcon. I'm very much looking forward to further development of Rogue and Sam's friendship; I think it will do them both some good.
As a side note, I really love that Cannonball has been added to the X-Treme roster. Just wanted to toss that out right quick.
Other developments on the book include what appears to be foreshadowing of Bogan (about time), and it looks like Storm is perhaps driving along what will, when all is said and done, become the crux of the team's new focus. At the moment, it largely looks like she's asking for her team to become the X-Factor of this brave Nu Marvel world, which leaves me wondering what exactly will be new and different about the X-Treme team (because I suspect there should be something new and different about it). But I have faith. Claremont's gettin' in a groove, as is Kordey, Rogue's back, and I love the team's line-up. Precious little to complain about over here.
| Quotes:
- Cannonball: We Southerners should stick t'gether.
- Rogue: Children, y'all got no idea about hardcore. But ah'm just the one t' teach you.
| |
|
|
