X-MEN UNLIMITED #41 REVIEW

[Dave Harris]

<a href="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/covers/xmunl-41.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/covers/xmunl-41t.jpg" align=left alt="X-Men Unlimited #41"></a>Reviewer: David Harris, HeroComplex00@hotmail.com
Quick Rating: Good

Cover Art: Chris Bachalo
Letterer: Randy Gentile
Assistant Editor: Stephanie Moore
Editor: C.B. Cebulski
Managing Editor: David Bogart
Editor In Chief: Joe Quesada
President: Bill Jemas

Story Title: Dark and Scary Things

Blink and Nocturne of the Exiles must seek the help of Wolverine to bring an end to the pain of the Parker home!

Writer: Chuck Austen
Penciller: Skottie Young
Inker: Joe Seung
Colors: Studio F’s Oscar Carreno

Blink and Nocturne’s featured story leaves something to be desired, though it has good elements to it. It seems to be an assembly of various different Marvel ideas, but they don’t fit together into an extremely cohesive story.

Before the announcement of Origin, there were distracting rumors of a tale in which Peter Parker was abused as a child by Uncle Ben. Nothing ever came of those rumblings in normal continuity, and only here does that idea reach fruition. However, back then the idea seemed to be for little beyond shock value, whereas Austen has taken it to a truly disturbing level. Unfortunately, it involves an otherwise unnecessary tweaking of the general time scheme, and the inclusion of a Spider-God really just ends up being a remarkable and unnecessary coincidence considering that Peter Parker is also known to pose as a certain heroic arachnid. And then, of course, the comment on alliteration---a nice zing at the Golden Age.

Another unnecessary plot device, I find, is Wolverine’s appearance in the story. My first thought on the Tallus’s need for Logan was that Marvel’s alleged prime directive, to feature Wolverine in every X-title, has finally been noticed by the characters. There is special mention made of Wolverine, in that he is prominent in each of the alternate universes visited by Blink and her team---I honestly cannot tell if Chuck Austen is editorializing through Blink’s narration, but I hope so. And just as that playful jab at the home office could imply, Wolverine’s really only in this issue because he is Wolverine. A creepy story, albeit one with flaws, becomes a hack-and-slash piece which loses the normal appeal of the “dimensional spacklers.”

Chuck Austen will soon be writing Exiles on a much more permanent basis, and so I think this is supposed to be a test-run. A bit rough, but it shows promise: he’s able to take a risk, even if only for Peter Parker’s limited shock value. I hope that his future stories, however, flow better than this one and feel more natural.

STORY:
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ART:
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Story Title: Hard Day’s Fight

A light-hearted romp with the X-Statix as they bask in the wonder of celebrity.

Writers: Nick Derington and Mike Allred
Illustrator: Nick Derington
Colors: Laura Allred

I recognize the play on words in this story’s title, as it isn’t exactly hidden. However, I have never seen A Hard Day’s Night, and so I imagine a fair amount of the story is somewhat under-appreciated on my behalf. But I believe I can still see where it is going, guessing the movie connections as I go.

Maybe it is because the story is tailored to draw parallels to Hard Day’s Night, but the characters don’t feel like the X-Statix. As Milligan wrote them, the characters were often bickering, but barring that eventually splintered off into small groups. I understand the sense of whimsical celebrity being aimed at here, but the odd playfulness doesn’t quite jive with their previously shown characters. They act like children, which I suppose is part of the point of the story, but it doesn’t work for me. And that’s not even touching the oddity of Tike’s grandfather being included, let alone his disturbing use of the word “squirreling.” I know what the his message to Myles is, but I’m not quite sure that his words actually carry that.

The issue feels like a throwaway. Nothing happens, status quo is maintained (anathema for X-Statix), everyone leaves as happy as they were when they came, with the possible exception of Venus and Dead Girl, who seemed extremely happy after their bout of shopping. Of course, a throwaway story can still have its own value, but I don’t want X-Men Unlimited to become the holding pen for throwaways. I’d like a story of at least a tad more import to define the anthology, and the parallels to Hard Day’s Night don’t have to overrun the characters.

STORY:
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ART:
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Story Title: Something in the Air

Milo, a normal-kid-turned-mutant, makes himself into every teen’s dream, but learns that being feared and hated might not be so bad…

Writer: Jamie Delano
Illustrator: Neil Googe
Colors: Len O’Grady

This story edges out Hard Day’s Fight for the pick of the litter; whereas the X-Force story touched upon some big themes that weren’t quite quantified, Something in the Air had a very appreciable simplicity to it. The ending becomes predictable reasonably early on, but that is because Delano intentionally sets it up that way; the message and moral are easy to find.

The multiple references to the X-Force team add just that perfect level of tie-in to the rest of continuity, but also provide the story with right feel. Really, this is what X-Force is all about: mutants who become celebrities instead of outcasts, who are viewed as special. In fact, I think that Milo exemplifies the X-Force attitude much more than the prior story’s depiction of the actual X-Statix team members.

The book isn’t at a loss for humor, with a fun narrative voice guiding the reader through Milo’s journey. That voice has a certain dry wit which gives Milo a character despite having no spoken lines of his own. Only through his sarcastic retelling of events can we learn who he is as a character, and though he may be unbelievably oblivious, he is still a likable person from everything we can tell. He isn’t a superhero in the slightest, but just a guy with some odd powers, and his use of them is probably much more in line with what the normal person’s would be: no spandex and no codenames. He just makes himself famous, and though he’s taking advantage of his audiences, I find it hard to be indignant---he’s the teenage everyman, even if he bear a resemblance to Toad. The use of a questionable aspect of American culture notwithstanding, this is one of the more realistic mutant stories I’ve seen.

The ending wasn’t a shock, but it was fulfilling. The natural conclusion that can be seen coming, and really must come to satisfy, and even though it can be foreseen it’s still hard to lose Milo. For such a short story, it can really draw the reader in.

STORY:
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ART:
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OVERALL:
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Buy this issue online now from X-World Comics (http://x-worldcomics.com/yourvirtualstore/shopdisplayproducts.asp?id=223&cat=X%2DMEN+UNLIMITED) and save!

[Cloud]

I never feel an urge to pick up Unlimited, 'cos it doesn't have anything to do with continuity. It's just ANOTHER story.

(yay first post btw)

But since Austen & Young were working on this, I was tempted, but just not enough ;)

[manikz]

great review david but im slightly confused so if sum1 wudn't mind answering my qu id be chuffed, r these the same blink and nocturne from the exiles? if so where r the other exiles? thanks a lot

[Matt Lazorwitz]

Yup, these are the same Blink and Nocturne from Exiles. The rest of the team is on a separate mission on the same world, according to the story.

Good review, Dave.

[Alex Guillen]

Great review Dave, Well I felt the same about Chuck's story, maybe if it had have to happen in Peter's past and haven't featured Wolverine it would have been better.

[russbrett77]

Spot on review Dave. I only disagree that Unlimited should be where throwaway stories go. The alternative would only complicate things.

If the stories in Unlimited were meant to be part of continuity (important continuity), then depending on the writer, the story would need to be approved by M&M, the x-editors, and by the actual writer of the characters being used (and whoah be he who try to use multiple characters from multiple books). This of course would not apply to a writer writing his own characters (like Claremont's Storm piece), but there would still need that x-editor stamp of approval. Otherwise things could get messy, which is precisely what Marvel wants to avoid.

I also think non-X-canon titles should not have stories in Unlimited (this would include just about anything but the 3 core books). X-Statix, though an excellent book, really isn't an X book (yes, I realize it has an X in the title). Same applies to Exiles, Agent-X, Weapon-X, and Soldier-X. Marvel has drawn a very clear line in the sand as to what books relate to what other books. Unlimited, acting as a mouthpiece for any book with an X in the title, could get very convoluted, very quickly.

I am a little disappointed with CB. When he first took over the book he promised better stories that were relevant to the X-canon. We have seen neither (though there have been some good stories, they have mostly been written by those currently writing one of the ongoings). I would like to see Unlimited used as an outlet for new writers to test their mettle. A story can be a "throwaway" but still have relevance to the canon.

[Dave Harris]

I certainly agree with you that X-Men Unlimited shouldn't host world-altering stories; those should be left for the core book of the particular character or team. But that doesn't mean that things have to be frivolous, either.

Milo's story certainly doesn't change any X-canon, but I still enjoy it and think it has some significance or greater meaning. Of course, not every story can feature original characters, or else this would merely be a new beginning for the Muties series, for good or ill.

But something like this X-Statix story---I don't know why exactly, but it feels especially purposeless. Beyond the parallels drawn to Hard Day's Night, I don't know why the story shows up in the book. I just see it as a placeholder. Maybe that is the only story that X-Men Unlimited can bear, but if so then I'm not sure how well I can justify reading it.

[Bamfette]

well guess i am on the other side of the line. i don't give a damn if it affects the bigger picture in the slightest. it can be complete fluff but if i enjoy it, it's all good. I thought this was a great issue for all teams concerned.

[darkelf63]

I think the fact that I enjoyed Milo's story the most says something to me. It was not X-canon but it was by far the best for me. I don't think that the stories in Ulimited should be cross the board impactful, but I do tink they should be more than Fluff.

The Mystique/Sabertooth story last month, One of the Storm stories the month before..The X-statix "Hard Days Night" parody...they just didn't really doanything and for me seem like major let downs because they don't go anywhere

Milo's story worked better as a story. The Blink story was okay simply for the shock value but nothing else. (Although the Spider-God angle was kinda creepy)

I enjoyed the art in the Blink story though. :yes: :) and the "Unkie Logan" refefnce was soo cute :p

[Radius]

all I have to say is that the cover was misleading but delightful

[Dr. Hank McCoy]

X-Men Unlimited really is a worthwhile book to purchase these days. And it fills in some gaps that would otherwise never be filled (e.g. Storm's Haircut in #39).

[DavisJes]

The story was okay but I thought the artwork was totally awesome!!