The X Marathon

89. Marvel Graphic Novel 5: God Loves, Man Kills

Sep 28th, 2023

Thoughts

If you watch a lot of classic Hollywood you invariably come across the type of film that you can appreciate was groundbreaking, admire for its virtuosity given production standards of the time and find the script brave given what was allowed. You can feel all those things while also accepting that the film hasn’t aged well.

This Graphic Novel reads like this to me. Yes, it’s groundbreaking but much of the ground it breaks in terms of defining mutant bigotry in terms recognisable with the violent bigotry of the real world has been done better since. Those that ran with the idea (including Claremont himself) did such a good job that it makes this story, with the benefit of hindsight, seem clunky and simplistic.

That said, I don’t want to go overboard with this criticism. I like watching old films and I still like this. It’s got a strong plot that works well with the extended page count. The antagonists are well-written, their plan to take out the X-men genuinely feels like a challenge to the team. And Magneto strutting into the action and driven to ally with the team still feels like an iconic development. If it’s clunky worthiness now feels to it’s detriment as it often does with old “issue movies” made by Hollywood. But get beyond that and, like the best of old Hollywood, it’s still worth your time.

Fun Panel

A cracking, dynamic full page.

Any Googling

The big question that Google struggles to answer here is where exactly this story fits into continuity. It doesn’t really seem an exact fit, which led to many places online suggesting it wasn’t meant to fit into conitnuity in the first place.

This point seems odd. Yes, its a standalone story designed for the format. But a few continuitgy tweaks aside, its so appropriate for the general direction that Claremont is taking the title that to remove it from the bigger story seems unnecessary.

This then seems the best place for it. Which is a crying shame in a way. I love the end ing of Issue 167 leaving to the incredible “Professor Xavier Is A Jerk” full page panel. I even tried to move the Vampire Annual to stop it breaking those two issues up but, despite my best efforts, I couldn’t find another place for this issue. And online searches for reading lists tended to agree with this.

None More Claremont

Claremont has a really good handle on the earnestness of Magneto in his post issue 150 incarnation.

It was a Product of its Time

Claremont drops the N-word in this, in an attempt to really emphasis the point regarding anti-mutant bigotry being equated with racism. The fact Kitty uses it to make a point ti Stevie Hunter is a moment that really reads different in 2023. Does the context justify Claremont using the term in this way? Personally I think it’s too clunky, too easy a way to make the point, using the word’s undeniable power without fully appreciating that it’s not a word a white writer can drop in to make a point. Especially when that point is ultimately reprimanding one of the titles few black characters.
88. Uncanny X-men 167

Sep 27th, 2023

Thoughts

The big Epic Brood saga definitely positivey really we-mean-it honest ends with this issue – which also sees the X-men return to Earth and meet the New Mutants. And take on seemingly the last of the Brood, inhabiting Professor Xavier himself.

The issue moves at a fantastic pace, and milks the Brood for a few final creepy moments. Not least the seemingly final transformation of Xavier. When he slumps in his chair, it seems like a terrible irreversible moment.

It turns out to be not only reversible bit the beginning of a reinvention of Xavier, taking him out the wheelchair. One of the mantras about comics – being an ongoing medium that has spanned decades is that the stories should give the “illusion of change”. But one of the fascinating features of the Claremont Run is that he makes change seem real. The characters are so well defined that any developments feel important. Xavier stands up (briefly) here and it feels big.

Alongside the defeat of the Brood, the issue is full of brilliantly written tiny moments that help define the characters of the X-men and the New Mutants. I could pick half a dozen, but I’ll just focus on this one that says so much with so little and some striking Paul Smith Pop Art.

Fun Panel

All Hail The Fantastic Paul Smith Point

None More Claremont

Another beautiful Paul Smith drawing, capturing some lovely Claremont moments. These aren’t the sort of grim/gritty heroes that were to become popular in the Eighties. Nor are they the earnest heroes of the golden age. These are just sweet characters you’d want as friends.
87. New Mutants 3

Sep 26th, 2023

Thoughts

Another issue, another story. And this time the new X-men Spin-off title is tying in with the story in Uncanny X-men. It’s New Mutants versus Brood. And, it seems, New Mutants rebelling against Professor Xavier.

Thanks to the crazy world of scheduling – by the time this issue came out – Uncanny X-men 167 had been released, where the X-men return, meet the New Mutants and defeat the Brood infected Xavier. To readers at the time, this must have felt a bit like a prequel.

But aside from just setting up the Brood finale, there’s a really nice plot here for Psyche (urgh! still hate that name – when, oh when it it becoming Mirage). She is tormented by a Demon that might not be real, she learns to be wary of Xavier, she ropes in the New Mutants in secret and they take on a Monster that suggests her power potential is much greater than she realises.

The fact that the New Mutants secretly rebel against Xavier is a nice dynamic in this issue – and sets up nicely how this title is going to work. It’s rarely going to be a tale of them learning to use their powers under kindly Professor Xavier. Instead its going to be their adventures as a team. Distrusting what they are told to do and striking out on their own. That is a set-up with a lot of potential.

Fun Panel

Despite its obvious Nightmarish qualities, McLeod doesn’t really amp up the Horror Comic nature of the opening sequence. Which does mean it ends with a moment of Pure Scooby Doo! The Nightmare phantom is unmasked! Its only the Caretake Bear who would have got away with it were it not for those meddling kids.
86. New Mutants 2

Sep 25th, 2023

Thoughts

It’s a new team of Mutants, and like all new teams they have to face the baptism of fire that is taking on the Sentinels.

After the deliberately low-key first issue, the scale of the storytelling becomes noticably bigger this issue. Whether its the scale of the world within the Danger Room that Dani Moonstar explores, or the rumble in the shopping mall, there’s a scale here thats impressive.

It especially good for McLeod to be able to show off his skills at drawing on this scale. He hasn’t been given the opportunity to cut loose like this so far, and its a reminder that he can do so much more than the more basic, restrained, low key peril and character interaction that has defined the title so far.

And it also reminded me that at this stage Dani Moonstar is not Mirage by Psyche. What a dreadful name. Indeed its only in this re-read that I’ve realised that the team don’t get the names until the text boses in issue one. Which is a shame – it really feels like a missed opportunity to have these kids, learning they could be heroes, create or embrace their code names. Or even a scene where they are assigned (and as teens inevitably kick against it). I have no recollection of what Psyche turns into Mirage. I guess a reason to keep reading.

Fun Panel

I had never come across the name Rahne when I started reading the comic. So my brain iervitably defaulted to think it was pronounced something like “Rani”.

And now it doesn’t matter how much I know that the name is meant to be pronounced “Rain” – I still immediately read it as “Rani”.

No matter how many times I tell myself otherwise.

Its RAIN.

RAIN RAIN RAIN RAIN RAIN RAIN RAIN RAIN RAIN RAIN RAIN RAIN RAIN.

*sees panel*

Oh look – it’s Rani.

One day I might get it right immediately, but I fear it might be too late for me. Too many years reading comics with “Rani” Sinclair in it has wired my brian to default to that name. Maybe this re-read will change things.
85. New Mutants 1

Sep 24th, 2023

Thoughts

It’s an all-new Issue 1, for an all-new X-title. And from the outset you can tell they are trying to downplay things. This is the lowest level Issue 1 of a superhero comic I can imagine.

It starts with the team gathering round to watch someone get a haircut. Before we get re-introduced to the Danger Room. And finally a hint of danger for one of the team as she secretly attempts to cross the Danger Room, and someone seems to be turning the safety protocols off.

The issue does do some low-level threat-building. We learn that Xavier has a son he doesn’t know about. And we learn that elements of the US government are keeping an eye on the Xavier mansion. But neither of these remotely suggest a big blowout is just around the corner.

Fun Panel

The super new holographic Danger Room gets revealed here – in what is probably the biggest conceptual moment of the issue. From now on the Danger Room isn’t some Work Out room dialled up to eleven – its a super sci-fi cliche of a holographic world creator that just might kill you.

Like the Holodec in Star Trek I always find these totally immersive holographic environments slightly dull, story-wise. It’s an easy way to drop in new environments but I miss the travelling to new environments and the “is it potentially going to kill you” schtick gets old pretty fast.

Still, I love the reveal in this fun panel.

None More Claremont

I’ve mentioned how low-level this issue is, but on one level that isn’t really true. This issue drops quite a bomb when it comes to one of the characters. She has a dark past – that involves rape and sexual abuse. Narrated as clearly as could be done under the Comics Code.

This is all stuff that is taken from her debut in Marvel Team-Up Annual 100. An issue where Spider-man and the Fantastic Four discover Karma and learn of her backstory. The darkness of it emphasised by Frank Miller’s inventive visuals.

This is serious ground for comics to tread, especially as it can be brought in as a lazy way to make things seem more grim/gritty and serious. The fact that this side of her story is so heavily emphasised in Issue 1 of a brand new title, in probaby the issues most dramatic moment really sets up the idea that for this comic this story will be incredibly important and its exploration at the heart of the comic.

It’s a shame then, that this really doesn’t become the case. Of all the New Mutants, Karma is really let down by Claremont in terms of character development and story-telling. As I go on reading the run of issues it seems that Claremont is far, far more interested in Magik as a character to explore the themes of post-trauma and abuse survival. And as a result, Mirage pretty much literally disappears. Which is a huge shame

But one we’ll get to as we keep reading…
84. Marvel Graphic Novel 4: The New Mutants

Sep 23rd, 2023

Thoughts

By 1982, the relaunched X-men comic was an unqualified success. So naturally Marvel wanted a spin-off. The idea of branding each title in the range with an “X” was not yet born, so instead the new comic stresses the fact that its effectively The Next Generation.

In doing so it feels like going back to basics for not only the original Lee/Kirby title but also the Giant Size relaunch. From the former, it takes the idea that these are kids, teenagers brought to the academy to learn how to use their powers. From the latter the title has another global feel. The new team are once again taken from around the planet.

This still feels like a global perspective as seen through the Big Book of Stereotypes. Wolfsbane doesn’t seem to come from Scotland in 1982, but the same eighteenth century timesink that Nightcrawler inhabited. But within the stereotyping, there are interesting decisions being made. Sunspot is Brazilian, so obviously loves football – but he’s also Black Brazilian, from a wealthy family. An intriguing outsider status that the comic doesn’t shy away from.

Visually the comic does a good job of illustrating all their powers. And also grounding all their powers as relatively low-level. These aren’t a team of big-hitters to rival the Avengers. (or even, lets be honest, the Defenders). They’re kids, with obvious weaknesses. Yet an interesting and diverse set of powers.

There is one thing that is striking though. I mentioned recently that Dave Cockrum’s visual creativity was a big deal in selling the all-new X-men of the relaunch. By contrast, this team have the standard X-uniform. Which just makes them look like awkward kids in a costume. Story-wise it makes perfect sense, but it does lack the visual grab of the successful relaunch that made this all possible.

Fun Panel

Welcome to the new team!
83. Uncanny X-men 166

Sep 22nd, 2023

Thoughts

Claremont wraps up his latest Space Saga, and arguably his longest yet, with a fine double issue. I think he sometimes gets unstuck on the longer format, and ends up writing episodically to fill the page count and that doesn’t quite gel together as a story. There is no such problem here. He takes all the numerous plot strands he’s been building – both cosmic and personal – and resolves them all. Not a single page feels like a meaningless side-quest, or box ticking the X-men through a list of challenges. It’s just one big epic story.

And just when you think its all done it delivers an epic cliffhanger. I remember this revelation being a bit of a shock when I was reading it first as back issues. Reading all the issues now, its crazy how many heavy hints Claremont dropped that things back on Earth weren’t as safe as you might think. With hindsight, they seem as subtle as a brick, but young me missed them!

Fun Panel

Carol Danvers/Binary getting distracted by Cosmic Ghost Storm is a lovely moment – captured with kinetic energy by Smith.

None More Claremont

One of the common criticisms of Claremont is the fact that he is frequently verbose, to the point of pretentious. I can see, it but have always been drawn to wordy, ambitious comics so it always seems a weak complaint. And there are many moments where his style of storytelling just sings. Cosmic Sci-fi is just such a place. And if you are playing in this genre, this type of telling works perfectly.
82. Uncanny X-men 165

Sep 21st, 2023

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.
81. Uncanny X-men 164

Sep 20th, 2023

Thoughts

So it’s farewell for a second time to Dave Cockrum. And it’s fitting that in his final issue we get elements of all his great qualities. Firstly there’s space. and spaceships.

And cool costume designs. This time being cool costume designs of SPACE stuff.

And just generally a showcase of his ability to draw really distinct individual takes on these heroes. Many of whom he created.

I really don’t think it’s understating things to consider Cockrum vital to the success of the Uncanny X-men relaunch. Much is made of the “international” nature of the new team but I think that’s not quite right.

What really sells the team is the look. They look interesting. Cockrum knows how to make a team look diverse and intriguing. You see them, you want to know more.

Storm, Colossus, Nightcrawler. These are all characters that leap out the page the first time you see them. Who are they? What can they do? What are they like? Claremont had this incredible base to build on when it came to giving them great personalities.

He pulls off the exact same trick with the Starjammers. He left the title to try and launch his own team book “The Futurians” that sadly never really took off. I’ve not read any but if i take one look at the team it makes me want to know who all these characters are.

We’ll come back to Cockrum one more time for a Nightcrawler miniseries, another title from a prolific artist who enjoyed a long career working for numerous different publishers. Sadly he died on November 26 2006, leaving behind a great creative legacy. Including all these issues I’ve been enjoying.

Fun Panel

It’s Cosmic, it’s trippy, it’s got an intriguing and unique character design at the heart of it. The perfect Cockrum panel!
80. Uncanny X-men 163

Sep 19th, 2023

Thoughts

The Brood Saga continues, with more Alien hijinks. And whereas last issue focused on Wolverine, this time we follow more of the X-men, Especially Kitty who gets to fully embrace her inner Ripley.

The action is racing along at a great pace. Claremont suitably hangs a cloud of darkness over proceedings by setting up the fact the X-men are infected. If necessary, Wolverine is willing to kill them to stop them sharing the fate of Fang in the last issue.

Yet despite the pace, it doesn’t feel like we’re close to an ending. It feels epic, like there is so much more story to go here. There’s been some abrupt endings to recent issues, sure, but this feels comfortable in its cosmic scale. Whatever resolution there is going to be here, its not going to be just a hasty explosion in the last few panels.

There’s also a fascinating “Meanwhile Back on Earth” diversion here as we watch the mansion being rebuilt. It’s a shame, though, as in previous issues it seemed like the mansion’s destruction and the team’s relocation to Magento’s Cthuloid Atlantic Island was heralding a new direction.

Of course, its in the letters pages of these issues that we’re learning that a new book is coming. A new class of X-men. I guess the need to find a home for the spin-off meant gravitating back to the X-mansion. The idea of mutants based on a strange other-worldly island home would have to wait for another day.

Fun Panel

Another fine Alien moment!