“MERRY CHRISTMAS X-MEN”

Thoughts

A great thing about reading from the start is noticing elements that emerge in Claremont’s writing that were key to getting you hooked on the book. The opening of this issue has a great few pages of the characters in downtime. Their interactions are relaxed, and natural. Each panel, each caption just giving you fun details about the character.

Of course, it can’t last and three pages in The Sentinels arrive, heralding a slugfest that Cockrum executes perfectly. And after that the pace is relentless. As giant mutant-killing robots, the Sentinels are pure b-movie sci-fi threats, led by a cackling b-movie Bad Guy. This issue illustrates why both those concepts have so much mileage.

Fun Panel

I’m a big fan of costumes that can only real work in comics. Storm’s outfit definitely falls into this category. It looks absurd, impractical and just a tad male-gazey. But you also great simple panels such as this

That Don’t Make A Lick of Sense

It feels a bit mean putting this here, because its not really bad writing. But its a definite WTF (WTX?) moment when it happens. In reality it was meant to be setting up a fascinating storyline where Wolverine was revealed not to be a human mutant with an animaloid mutation – but a mutant wolverine with a humanoid mutation. I love this idea, even though I can understand why it was dropped. (I think it emerges later on in the Hellions as the character of Catseye, but that’s never been confirmed.)

Any Googling

I guess I should google the Sentinals backstory in all the earlier issues. But to be honest everything that seems important about them is established in this and the previous issue. So don’t really feel the need.

None More Claremont

Claremont’s commitment to Banshee’s Oirish accent is an ongoing source of amusement – but definite points in this issue for “An’ on that note, me boyos, Moira ‘n’ I’ll be movin’ on ourselves… we’re t’be showin’ each other the sights o’ New York“