Jim Lemoine
Jan 31, 2002, 01:07 am
{Originally posted at X-Fan v3.0 on December 17, 2001}
<a href="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/covers/exiles07.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/covers/exiles07t.jpg" align=left alt="Exiles #7"></a>Reviewer: Jim Lemoine, darkkelf@earthlink.net
Quick Rating: Good
Story Title: A Chance to Dream...
The Exiles dream away a quiet moment, and Nocturne gets some... kinda... we think.
Written by: Judd Winick
Pencilled by: Mike McKone
Inked by: Mark McKenna
Lettered by: Sharpefont's Paul Tutrone
Colored by: Transparency Digital
Assistant Editor: Mike Raicht
Editor: Mike Marts
Editor-in-Chief: Joe Quesada
President: Bill Jemas
'Nuff Said month is here - Marvel's challenge to the illustrators of their comic books to tell a complete story... without words. So far, the silent experiment has been a mixed bag, with some stories being very hard-to-follow (such as the silent X-Treme X-Men issue) and others being well-told masterpieces (I got chills reading Thor). I'd been looking forward to the silent Exiles issue for a variety of reasons, including the return of regular artists McKone and McKenna, the writing of Winick, and the premise of a dreamtime issue to show us more about these characters who, with the exception of Blink, we really know very little about.
So the question of the month is, did Marvel's silent experiment work for Exiles? The answer is, it's a mixed bag. Part of the problem is that one of the things that makes Exiles so great is Winick's unique dialog. Of course, that's not possible to convey in an issue without words. Another thing that really sets Exiles apart is their quest through alternate worlds. Since this issue is a character-focused sequence of dreams, we aren't treated to more of Winick and McKone's creative interpretations. Regardless of this, most of this issue really is great. Most.
It's impossible to review this issue without breaking it up into segments, because the quality vastly differs from dream to dream. For instance, the opening few pages, where the team gets hotel rooms, is a perfect example of what visual storytelling should be. If you actually take the time to look at the panels, pick up the visual cues, and interpret what's happening within, you find yourself witnessing an easy-to-follow story. Morph, disguised as a beautiful redhead (note to self: what is it with mutants and redheads?), gets hotel rooms for the Exiles at the Marvel Inn, where they prepare for bed. Great storytelling, but I couldn't help wondering if they're still in the alternate Canada from last issue, or if they've already warped to a new dimension and have some time to kill? Unfortunately, there wasn't any way to let us know.
Then there's Thunderbird's dream. It's beautiful. It makes so much sense. The tormented monster that he's become just wants to be human again. He dreams of swimming, and shopping for groceries, and tasting ice cream. To feel as whole and at peace with the world as he once did. The simple things we take for granted are what John wants more than anything. Kudos to Winick for realizing that this is what the gentle monster would dream of, and to McKone for capturing it so vividly. The panel with human-John jumping off the cliff: that's what a 'Nuff Said issue should be. Brilliant.
Next we jump to Sunfire's dream. I could easily repeat everything I'd just said about Thunderbird's dream. Who hasn't wondered why in so many alternate universes Mariko Yashida is something of a wild child, while in our own she was (frankly) conservative and boring? Now we know that it was her parents who drove her to her lifestyle, and in some universes she rebelled. The facial expressions, in particular, are priceless throughout this sequence. I also noticed from the sheets on Mariko's bed that she's been tossing and turning a lot, which would make sense based on her dream. It's the little things like that that can make a silent issue magic.
Mimic's dream is next, and it's a fun one. McKone uses a simpler, almost cartoony art-style to portray Calvin's All-American-wife-and-kids dream. Since Cal is sort of the Captain America figure of his home dimension, this one makes sense for him as well. Again, it's the little things that stand out here, like the art style, the goofy grins, the hearts, the purple decors, and the kids taking turns popping Wolvie claws at each other.
I challenged myself before this issue was released to guess what Morph's dream would be, and I'm happy to say I was very close. Morph dreams he's a celebrity, entertaining the masses, beloved by all... but then, suddenly, it comes crashing to a halt. How do you interpret that ending? Morph is afraid of his fate as a vial of goo in the Beast's laboratory? Or perhaps the man who can change into any other man is afraid of losing his own identity, or maybe not even having one in the first place? After all, what does it say about a person's sense of self-worth when he or she chooses not to have a face? Regardless, this sequence was (again!) very well-done.
Now, unfortunately, we get to the point where your friendly reviewer starts complaining: Nocturne. I read this. And I got confused. So I read it again. And I still didn't get it. So I tried a third time. And again. And again. And I couldn't figure out what the heck was going on. Did some guy sneak into Nocturne's room and wake her up? Was it John? Did they... ummm... you know? Did she dream it? What's going on?
Knowing I'd have to review this issue, I went over and over this scene. While the art is beautiful, I was never able to figure out what the heck was going on, and eventually I resorted to reading the original plot on Marvel.com. Oh... so that's... John's brother? Who keeps changing into John during the dream? Ummm... right. Sorry, guys, I can't say that was conveyed at all. Maybe putting James in the old Warpath costume, as Winick suggested in the original plot, would have helped. But I had no idea what was going on here, and I'd be willing to bet a lot of other readers didn't, either.
And finally, Blink's dream. Beautiful art, good storytelling, but a bit too predictable for my tastes. I was saying to myself as soon as I saw this issue, "I hope they don't just have Blink dreaming about Sinister and the pens." And that's what happened. But in Winick's defense, based on her traumatic experiences there, it makes sense that Blink would have regular nightmares about it. It just would have been nice to learn something new about Blink, the way we have been about all of the others. But at least the book ends on a high note, with a touching scene between Clarice and Calvin.
All in all, one of the better silent issues yet, but it's no Thor. McKone rose to the challenge, and with the exception of the Nocturne sequence, did a great job. Winick's storytelling continues to be top-notch. And who could forget Paul Tutrone's lettering this issue? ;) Just kidding Paul, you do a great job!
Oh, great cover, too.
'Nuff said!
ART:
http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpg http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpg http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpg http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpg http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xnone.jpg
STORY:
http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpg http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpg http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpg http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xhalf.jpg http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xnone.jpg
OVERALL:
http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpg http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpg http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpg http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xhalf.jpg http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xnone.jpg
Buy this issue online now from X-World Comics (http://www.x-worldcomics.com/x/bstore/newbooksmain.html) and save!
<a href="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/covers/exiles07.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/covers/exiles07t.jpg" align=left alt="Exiles #7"></a>Reviewer: Jim Lemoine, darkkelf@earthlink.net
Quick Rating: Good
Story Title: A Chance to Dream...
The Exiles dream away a quiet moment, and Nocturne gets some... kinda... we think.
Written by: Judd Winick
Pencilled by: Mike McKone
Inked by: Mark McKenna
Lettered by: Sharpefont's Paul Tutrone
Colored by: Transparency Digital
Assistant Editor: Mike Raicht
Editor: Mike Marts
Editor-in-Chief: Joe Quesada
President: Bill Jemas
'Nuff Said month is here - Marvel's challenge to the illustrators of their comic books to tell a complete story... without words. So far, the silent experiment has been a mixed bag, with some stories being very hard-to-follow (such as the silent X-Treme X-Men issue) and others being well-told masterpieces (I got chills reading Thor). I'd been looking forward to the silent Exiles issue for a variety of reasons, including the return of regular artists McKone and McKenna, the writing of Winick, and the premise of a dreamtime issue to show us more about these characters who, with the exception of Blink, we really know very little about.
So the question of the month is, did Marvel's silent experiment work for Exiles? The answer is, it's a mixed bag. Part of the problem is that one of the things that makes Exiles so great is Winick's unique dialog. Of course, that's not possible to convey in an issue without words. Another thing that really sets Exiles apart is their quest through alternate worlds. Since this issue is a character-focused sequence of dreams, we aren't treated to more of Winick and McKone's creative interpretations. Regardless of this, most of this issue really is great. Most.
It's impossible to review this issue without breaking it up into segments, because the quality vastly differs from dream to dream. For instance, the opening few pages, where the team gets hotel rooms, is a perfect example of what visual storytelling should be. If you actually take the time to look at the panels, pick up the visual cues, and interpret what's happening within, you find yourself witnessing an easy-to-follow story. Morph, disguised as a beautiful redhead (note to self: what is it with mutants and redheads?), gets hotel rooms for the Exiles at the Marvel Inn, where they prepare for bed. Great storytelling, but I couldn't help wondering if they're still in the alternate Canada from last issue, or if they've already warped to a new dimension and have some time to kill? Unfortunately, there wasn't any way to let us know.
Then there's Thunderbird's dream. It's beautiful. It makes so much sense. The tormented monster that he's become just wants to be human again. He dreams of swimming, and shopping for groceries, and tasting ice cream. To feel as whole and at peace with the world as he once did. The simple things we take for granted are what John wants more than anything. Kudos to Winick for realizing that this is what the gentle monster would dream of, and to McKone for capturing it so vividly. The panel with human-John jumping off the cliff: that's what a 'Nuff Said issue should be. Brilliant.
Next we jump to Sunfire's dream. I could easily repeat everything I'd just said about Thunderbird's dream. Who hasn't wondered why in so many alternate universes Mariko Yashida is something of a wild child, while in our own she was (frankly) conservative and boring? Now we know that it was her parents who drove her to her lifestyle, and in some universes she rebelled. The facial expressions, in particular, are priceless throughout this sequence. I also noticed from the sheets on Mariko's bed that she's been tossing and turning a lot, which would make sense based on her dream. It's the little things like that that can make a silent issue magic.
Mimic's dream is next, and it's a fun one. McKone uses a simpler, almost cartoony art-style to portray Calvin's All-American-wife-and-kids dream. Since Cal is sort of the Captain America figure of his home dimension, this one makes sense for him as well. Again, it's the little things that stand out here, like the art style, the goofy grins, the hearts, the purple decors, and the kids taking turns popping Wolvie claws at each other.
I challenged myself before this issue was released to guess what Morph's dream would be, and I'm happy to say I was very close. Morph dreams he's a celebrity, entertaining the masses, beloved by all... but then, suddenly, it comes crashing to a halt. How do you interpret that ending? Morph is afraid of his fate as a vial of goo in the Beast's laboratory? Or perhaps the man who can change into any other man is afraid of losing his own identity, or maybe not even having one in the first place? After all, what does it say about a person's sense of self-worth when he or she chooses not to have a face? Regardless, this sequence was (again!) very well-done.
Now, unfortunately, we get to the point where your friendly reviewer starts complaining: Nocturne. I read this. And I got confused. So I read it again. And I still didn't get it. So I tried a third time. And again. And again. And I couldn't figure out what the heck was going on. Did some guy sneak into Nocturne's room and wake her up? Was it John? Did they... ummm... you know? Did she dream it? What's going on?
Knowing I'd have to review this issue, I went over and over this scene. While the art is beautiful, I was never able to figure out what the heck was going on, and eventually I resorted to reading the original plot on Marvel.com. Oh... so that's... John's brother? Who keeps changing into John during the dream? Ummm... right. Sorry, guys, I can't say that was conveyed at all. Maybe putting James in the old Warpath costume, as Winick suggested in the original plot, would have helped. But I had no idea what was going on here, and I'd be willing to bet a lot of other readers didn't, either.
And finally, Blink's dream. Beautiful art, good storytelling, but a bit too predictable for my tastes. I was saying to myself as soon as I saw this issue, "I hope they don't just have Blink dreaming about Sinister and the pens." And that's what happened. But in Winick's defense, based on her traumatic experiences there, it makes sense that Blink would have regular nightmares about it. It just would have been nice to learn something new about Blink, the way we have been about all of the others. But at least the book ends on a high note, with a touching scene between Clarice and Calvin.
All in all, one of the better silent issues yet, but it's no Thor. McKone rose to the challenge, and with the exception of the Nocturne sequence, did a great job. Winick's storytelling continues to be top-notch. And who could forget Paul Tutrone's lettering this issue? ;) Just kidding Paul, you do a great job!
Oh, great cover, too.
'Nuff said!
ART:
http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpg http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpg http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpg http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpg http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xnone.jpg
STORY:
http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpg http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpg http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpg http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xhalf.jpg http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xnone.jpg
OVERALL:
http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpg http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpg http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpg http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xhalf.jpg http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xnone.jpg
Buy this issue online now from X-World Comics (http://www.x-worldcomics.com/x/bstore/newbooksmain.html) and save!