Thoughts

Paul Smith begins his all-too-brief but incredibly influential run on the Xmen mid-story. But what a story! Claremont is building an intriguing and inventive sci-fi tale here, while never losing sight of the fact that the X-men seem doomed.

The writing here is especially strong for Storm. She gets a tale where the events are driven by her ideology. By her reaction to a dilemma. A reaction that feed nicely into a Big High Concept Sci-Fi Idea. While at no time ever feeling po-faced or as if we are being lectured by the narrative.

I do wonder whether the film Solaris was the inspiration behind Storm’s attempts to manifest to the crew. It’s a great sequence though, where the mystery of it all drives another beautifully paced issue.

Away from the focus on Storm, we get to see all the X-men face what might be there death. As ever, Claremont uses this to build bonds between characters and we get more of the friendship between Wolverine and Nightcrawler. Some comic writers make their characters friends by having them dwell on what they have in common, but I think this friendship is so affecting because thats not the route Claremont goes down here.

It all builds to a great cliffhanger, setting us up for the finale in a special Double Sized issue.

Fun Panel

Paul Smith’s art impresses from the off with his simple, colourful designwork. If there’s a minor criticism it is that a few of the panels where characters interact feel strangely static. Not this one though – a beautifully energetic yet dark moment captured perfectly.

None More Claremont

Claremont returns to the teen romance of Kitty and Collossus here, as we see them face the prospect of Death together. This issue goes straight to the heart of their relationship and what feels awkward to read about it. Facing death, Kitty effectively propositions Colossus. If they are going to die, why not? Colossus says No, due to the age difference.

To have a character who is still, in the comics, thirteen years old talk in this way feels like new ground – but new ground that it feels troubling that the comic is breaking into. It’s not an easy moment to read and yet, character-wise it feels utterly genuine. There is nothing unrealistic here, and it feels like it gives us an insight into both characters that could not have been illustrated any other way.

This isn’t treating the matter coyly – or even trying to nudge nudge wink wink to the audience something that would not have aged well at all. Just a genuine scene of human emotions.