Thoughts

Mystique, Nightcrawler, Arcade Oh my! This is how you get me to like an issue. There is so much great stuff in this, especially when it comes to developing the characters of Mystique and Nightcrawler.

The opening sequence is great – a thrilling action sequence that you know can’t quite be real but even the curtain being thrown back on what is really happening is a delicious moment.

John Romita Jr continues his new stint on art duties. But it all seems somewhat different this time. Simpler, clear lines that suit a Sixties pop art colour. A quick look at the credits suggests the reason why – John Romita Sr is on inking duties this issue. For someone like me without a background in art, this maybe gives an indication of quite how important inking is. A different name on inking duties can radically change the impression the art gives.

Fun Panel

That Don’t Make A Lick of Sense

Pyro returns with all the usual suspects in the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants. Except this Pyro is changed somewhat. Rather than the arrogant posh stereotype of his previous appearance – he’s suddenly become noticably Australian.

This being Claremont’s global outlook, his Australian nature is illustrated by a healthy lexicon of Australian vernacular like ‘cobber’. He’s unambiguosly changed, and at no point is that explained.

Looking into the characters origins provides some clues. Pyro original look came from Byrne, who in a regrettable dated stereotypical way decided to draw him as a homosexual. Reading something different in this loo, Claremont decided to make him British. Not only that but feeding into another stereotype – that of a louche, posh degenerate.

Maybe its that awkward origin that meant that it was decided to revamp the character. It’s harder, though, to find the story of who decided on the change. The first mention of Pyro’s Australian nature predates this issue – appearing in his profile in the Official Handbook Of The Marvel Universe.

Was this a mistake? Did the person who drafted the article misread the venacular of the character’s first few appearances, and decide they were the sort of person who came from Sydney? Or had editorial decreed by this point that the change should be made?

Or did Claremont just decide he wanted to have an Australian mutant in his globally-minded title? And in those days before reprints, the internet and ready access to all back issues, did he decide that this change didn’t require any explanation.

Whatever was the reason, its an interesting, inexplicable change.