Thoughts

The slightly odd New Mutants / Xmen crossover run continues with another of Claremont’s ‘downtime’ issues.

There isn’t really much of a plot here. The X-men talk among themselves and reach interesting character moments before things actually happen in the last few panels.

But we’ve been here before with downtime issues – and this one again demonstrates why they’re a highlight of the Claremont’s era. The focus on the X-men as characters in this issue, advancing their own personal stories, is genuinely engaging. His gift for melodrama sits incredibly well with his handle of all their personalities.

The main character story here is probably Storm and Kitty. Claremont seeks to resolve Kitty’s anger at Storm’s reinvention by having the characters share a dramatic heart to heart. In theory this sounds like a plot backtrack, Claremont only introduced the Kitty Angry At Storm angle in the last few issues. And ends it with a conversation. But it never feels like that when you read it. It feels to me like a very natural resolution of a temporary shock to a friendship.

Another developing storyline is the Colossus/Kitty romance storyline. This genuinely reads to me like Claremont is moving to end the relationship, that the reality of the situation is beginning to hit home. Kitty and Doug feels like a more natural couple, and Colossus realises that.

Although i have to admit that Wolverine’s comments in the scene maybe undercut my favourable interpretation. Wolverine, who speaks here as some sort of wise old Romantic, suggests Colossus’ attitude is the problem here. Rather than more obviously stating “OF COURSE YOU SHOULD BREAK UP. FFS PETER SHE’S JUST A KID”

This all heads towards the double headed cliffhanger. One leading into the Secret Wars. The other into Kitty’s continuing adventures over in New Mutants. The reveal of the White Queen is a wonderful cinematic moment and one of my favourite cliffhangers. The Secret Wars one just sort of happens.

Fun Panel

Another strength of Claremont’s X-men era is that it embraces change for the characters and the changes seem real and affecting. Maybe i’m just more cynical now, but it feels any character shake up in comics will eventually tend towards the reset. Xavier now walks! But this doesn’t feel like a quirk. A three part what if were Xavier has a brief moment of walking before having to sacrifice itself to return the IP to the default.

This vitality is captured in the opening full page panel. Romita Jr does a beautiful job here.

It was a Product of its Time

I remember the time the comic is set. Computer games didn’t look this good! But the game in essence captures the gaming basics we all thought were so impressive.