SECOND GENESIS

Thoughts

Of course, any attempt to tackle the Claremont Run ironically starts with an issue he didn’t write. Len Wein was charged with relaunching the X-comic, with a view to turning it into an “international” team of super heroes.

This he does with incredible efficiency. The early pages sees Charles Xavier travel around the world, assembling his new team of mutants. Then the new kids get sent on a mission, to rescue the previous X-men. Which they swiftly and efficiently do.

This comic could be taught as a way to relaunch a title. You get enough of all the characters to want to stick around and learn more. And they all seem so different at this stage. The cliché of “I’m putting a disparate team together” is a staple in adventure fiction is a staple, and for good reason. It nearly always works. And here it works brilliantly.

Fun Panel

When in doubt, just rehash the awesome cover on the front page. (and get the Beast right)

That Don’t Make A Lick of Sense

Honestly, I still am none the wiser on how Krakoa gets defeated. Something about combining powers and the Earth’s core and something something. Best not to think about it.

Any Googling

None at all. Just carried along by the pace of a great issue.

None More Claremont

As he didn’t write this, nothing to see here!

It was a Product of its Time

Assembling the team does mean Xavier takes in quite a collection of stereotypes. The German village of “Winzeldorf” is straight out of a period horror film rather than anything recognisably German of 1975. Storm’s introduction as a Goddess seems to take place in an Africa of Imperial pulp fiction. I guess at least we can be relieved that Sunfire isn’t in the middle of a Kung Fu fight.