X-TREME X-MEN #24 REVIEW

[Brian Wilkinson]

<a href="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/covers/xtxmen24.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/covers/xtxmen24t.jpg" align=left alt="X-Treme X-Men #24"></a>Reviewer: Brian E. Wilkinson, bewilkinson@xfan.cjb.net
Quick Rating: Good
Story Title: Prodigal

It's time for the next generation to step up to the plate as Cannonball joins the X-Treme team!

Written by: Chris Claremont
Art by: Salvador Larroca
Colors by: Liquid!
Letters by: Tom Orzechowski
Editor: Mike Raicht
Supervising Editor: Mike Marts
Editor In Chief: Joe Quesada
President: Bill Jemas

Let me say from the start that while this issue has a 'good' rating this month, it's JUST shy of 'great' for reasons that I hope to make apparent during this review.

I'm thrilled to have Cannonball back in the hands of Chris Claremont, and in the pages of one of my favorite comic books. Too long has he been out of the spotlight, and seeing as how he's one of my favorite characters, he has been sorely missed. But he's back, so Claremont automatically gets a gold star for that.

The things that bogged down this issue, in my opinion, lie in the pacing. Being brought back in time to events in New X-Men featuring Weapon XIII, we see Sam staying behind to help clear out those trapped in a tunnel. Claremont finds some nice parallels between the events going on here, and the situation that triggered his mutation in the first place: the mine in Kentucky.

So, we have a nice bridge here, and Sam is confident in his decision to leave no man, dead or alive, behind. Professor Xavier makes a distant attempt to get him to leave, but it is Sam's determination to stay that really leaves an impression. All too often, Xavier and other groups of X-Men just pick up and leave, showing no accountability. Here, Sam's decision is not only to help, but to challenge that way of doing things. This is a theme that has popped up several times lately in Claremont's work and is clearly an attempt to keep his group of characters away from the other core titles.

And I'm not saying there's anything wrong with this. In this issue, however, it keeps us focused on Sam's events in the tunnel for too long. Talking with the other workers, finding survivors, and bonding with these people are all well and good, but Claremont seems to be hitting his readers over the head with this point of 'normal looking mutants' making human friends. It happened with Rogue and Gambit in X-Treme X-Men: X-Pose, then again to smaller degrees with Bishop and Sage in the past few issues. It IS important to show why these people are banding together, but it could have been done a bit quicker.

The reason I want it quicker is that Claremont slyly slips Lila Cheney back into the mix. An inter-stellar rock star and old flame, Lila provides Sam with more depth and more reasons to seek out Storm. I would have liked to have seen a steady progression from the tunnel, to his meeting with Storm and his decision to join up. Instead, it all happens rather quickly, and Sam's reasons seem to be lost or left up to the reader to puzzle out.

So that's the main reason for the 'good' review. It has all of Claremont's great writing, a great addition to the book, and a nice slow spotlight examination of the character, but his execution feels uneven.

Salvador Larroca has made his final contribution to the art for this book. Well, that's not EXACTLY true as he's commented that he plans to continue providing covers, but the inside is no longer his demain. I, for one, am quite saddened to see him go as it is his art and partnership with Claremont that have made this book such a success in my eyes and heart. When I heard Igor Kordey was going to take over, I was less than pleased.

That being said, I've now seen the preview pages for 'God Loves, Man Kills 2' and I take back every reservation. Kordey looks WONDERFUL and I'm sure he'll do his best to fill Larroca's shoes. So, on that note, good luck Sal over on Namor and welcome, Igor.

Hope you survive the experience!

Next month begins a lot of X-Men madness with the movie, relaunches, and comics galore. Personally, nothing excites me more than Claremont's next arc, 'God Loves, Man Kills 2' and it starts next month. Make sure you don't miss out!


ART:
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STORY:
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OVERALL:
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Buy this issue online now from X-World Comics and save! (http://x-worldcomics.com/yourvirtualstore/shopdisplayproducts.asp?id=51&cat=X%2DSTATIX+%28X%2DFORCE%29)

[Hellion]

While never being a huge fan of Sam's, I like him it's just there are other NM's I would have loved to have seen come on board first, I must say I like where Chris is going with him. The best part for me was having Lila back. I hope she sticks around for a while. The only problem I had with this issue was Storm wearing the New X-Men uniform, and going by the previews of the next issue she will continue to wear it in some degree. Why break from Xavier like they did last issue, only to have the team dress just like them? We no longer have the same beliefs as you do, but hey you've got a great fashion sense! Come on. Other than that I found it quite enjoyable. Sal you will be greatly missed.

[Alex Guillen]

I tought CC didn't explain Sam's decision to leave the X-corporation thoroughly but I hope he touches that along the way and it was also great to see Lilah make an appearance. Salvador Larroca provided the best pencils in any x-book and he continued that trend until this, his last issue in XXM (at least for awhile). We'll miss you Sal.:(
Great review, Brian.

[Airhead]

Noooooooooooo
Sal's gone!:(
Loved his art!

[Cyclopian Visions]

I want to see Chris's take on Sunspot. It's been too long since we've last seen him and I know he's being brought back for one of the upcoming arcs but I'd like an extended take on him. After seeing what Reignfire did with Roberto's powers it seems to me that he's the NM version of the X-Men's Iceman. Just that he's never tapped the potential, maybe partially because the first time he used his powers it resulted in the death of his beloved Julianna.

[Zachary J. Morrison]

Good review, Brian. Although I didn't get this ish, because I couldn't buy all the issues I listed on the STUFF THIS WEEK - ON SALE WEDNESDAY, APRIL 23, 2003 (http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?s=&threadid=17503) thread, I did look through this issue. The art was great, except sometimes Sam looked ok, but not excellent. And I agree, Brian. I am also saddened to see Sal leave X-Treme X-Men, but I am happy that he'll stay on as cover artist. Until the next arc for ish #25, I think I will also enjoy Igor's all-new style to the book. I'll probably love Igor's work for the upcoming issues, but he can't replace the work Sal has done, right? ;)

[Kevin Sutton]

I found this issue to be surprisingly enjoyable. Surprisingly, since I had no real interest in Cannonball and was considering just skipping it. Fortunately, I found this to be surprisingly interesting. The initial scenes with the workers were good, but it seemed to run on a little long. ortunately, while the flow of the story wasn't to my liking, I did find the content to be nice. The appearance by Lila Cheney seemed to make things more enetertaining, as did Storm's brief appearance. I don't know exactly why though..but it did. The art was thoroughly enjoyable, but I didn't feel it was as good as Sal has done in the past.

[Jackraow21]

Man, I thought this issue was pretty bad. I've really been liking Claremont's stuff recently too, but this issue had way too much of his patented cheesy dialogue for me to even remotely enjoy it. The scenes w/ the rescue workers literally made me want to ralph. "Shake that mutant booty!?" WTF!!! I filed this one in my "issues that I'd like to forget having read" drawer.

I do have really high expectations for GLMK II, however, so I hope that we get a little more story and less sappy, unbelievable dialogue.

Plus I never did care for Lila Cheney very much. Silly character w/ an unbelievable power IMO.

[obstreperous]

i wish new x men kept Igor rather than getting Carlos P. his art is gross, ruined ultimate war.

[skankinwolvie]

Originally posted by obstreperous
i wish new x men kept Igor rather than getting Carlos P. his art is gross, ruined ultimate war.

I think you mean Chris Bachalo, and I happen to like his art. But hey, different strokes for different folks.

[spinarakboi]

Originally posted by Hellion
While never being a huge fan of Sam's, I like him it's just there are other NM's I would have loved to have seen come on board first, I must say I like where Chris is going with him. The best part for me was having Lila back. I hope she sticks around for a while. The only problem I had with this issue was Storm wearing the New X-Men uniform, and going by the previews of the next issue she will continue to wear it in some degree. Why break from Xavier like they did last issue, only to have the team dress just like them? We no longer have the same beliefs as you do, but hey you've got a great fashion sense! Come on. Other than that I found it quite enjoyable. Sal you will be greatly missed.

My take on the dress... she's breaking away from the other x-men because she doesn't exactly agree but she still wants the same goal that the X-Men were suppose to have stood for. Thus she is not leaving the X behind, that would be like giving up, she's just trying to change the X-Men's ways, or rather get something accomplished as far as the mutant/human gap while not loosing site of the situation as a whole.

The issue was good so yeah I completely agree with the review, just an issue go bring Sam into the mix. Although God Loves Man Kills 2 is certainly going to be up there with the invasion arc (which I completely loved btw)... so I guess this is like the calm before the Storm.

[russbrett77]

Originally posted by Brian E. Wilkinson
X-Treme X-Men: X-Pose, then again to smaller degrees with Bishop and Sage in the past few issues. It IS important to show why these people are banding together, but it could have been done a bit quicker.

The reason I want it quicker is that Claremont slyly slips Lila Cheney back into the mix. An inter-stellar rock star and old flame, Lila provides Sam with more depth and more reasons to seek out Storm. I would have liked to have seen a steady progression from the tunnel, to his meeting with Storm and his decision to join up. Instead, it all happens rather quickly, and Sam's reasons seem to be lost or left up to the reader to puzzle out.[/B]


Excellent review Brian (as always), but I'm going to disagree with you on the pacing. In my mind, the reason we stay with the humans for so long is because that's the purpose of X-Treme. Humans and mutants working together towards a better future. Chris is giving the reader everything they need to know for Sam's reason to leave X-Corp. Sam leaving X-Corp in this issue is analogous to the X-Treme team's split from Xavier. That is why we spend so much time with that plot in this issue; it's the heart of the series.

As for Sam's quick decision to rejoin the ranks of the X-Men (although the X-Treme X-Men), it is only quick in terms of pages. It spans many months, and I think it is easy for readers to understand Sam's rationale. He is off galavanting across the univers with Lila, meanwhile mutant/human relations are getting worse, the X-Men are splitting into hardened factions, Xavier's is no longer a safe haven, and there have been more deaths. It is clear that the world is moving on without him (and in a dangerous direction) and he feel that he has a sense of duty to try and make the world a better place (as he did in the opening of the issue). He decides on Storm's team because their beliefs most coincide with his.

Personally, I found this issue to be excellent. Keep up the great reviews.

[Michael Fisch]

I liked this issue a lot as well. I'll really miss Sal's pencils but I'm kinda looking forward to a new take on the team. So best of luck Slava, and welcome aboard Igor!

Hope you survive the experience, indeed ! (lol Brian :LOL: )

My one wish for the series: If Chris really wants to break his team away from Xavier and the mansion, he should step out of Grant Morrison's shadow and stop using his plotlines as a foundation for the Xtreme stories. Now, I loved the last few issues, but I read Xtreme, in part, to get a different storyline than the one found in New X-Men. All the references to Grant's book are well and good, and provides a great feel of cohesion lacking in the other books, and indeed may have been necessary for the last few issues, but I feel Chris should start going in his own direction. Hopefully it will start with GLMK2.

Oh, and I'd like to see Rogue and Gambit and Thunderbird and Slipstream come back. But as long as Chris keeps the great stories coming, I'll be along for the ride and enjoying every minute of it.

[Hellion]

Originally posted by Jackraow21
Plus I never did care for Lila Cheney very much. Silly character w/ an unbelievable power IMO.

Like controlling the weather, absorbing energy and being a living computer is more believable? ;)

Spinarakboi I get your point on why Ororo wore the mini.

[Drackdallion]

I can´t wait to see Sam interact with Ororo, Tessa and Lucas in XXM. It will be great, I just hope Mister Kordey can live up to the new-found break you guys are giving him. I sincerily do!!! This book is one of my big favorites so I want it to be good. I have faith!!.
I also would like to see some other characters join, like Sunspot, Rictor, Syrin and Jubilee. just to see Claremont writing them.
I just reread Gambit and the X-ternals from AOA and Lila Cheney was great as a team member, I´d like her to join too, maybe with Guido closely behind.

Peace!!

[Northstarfan]

I thought this was an excellent issue. I love these slow-paced character driven stories by Chris, and I wasn't even that interested in Cannonball before this issue. The slow, sometimes dreamy pace of this issue felt right, and I especially enjoyed the scene of Sam and Lila sitting across from Notre Dame. Maybe 'cause I spent a lovely evening in the same spot!

Sam's new friendship with the other rescue workers was beautiful, and represents a major theme of Chris's work--respecting and accepting people no matter their race, religion, or creed. After all, we're all a lot more alike than we are different. I also like the optimism in this book. Sam doesn't give in to despair or cynicism, despite the awful direction the world seems to be going in. He believes he can make a difference, and do his part to make the world a better place. While I do enoy New X-Men, to a certain extent, I don't care for the often ugly tone of the book. X-treme to me is a breath of fresh air. To me Claremont's books inspire me to be a better person. How corny am I?

Gorgeous art, as always from Larroca. You will be missed. Thanks for two wonderful years. What a great run! Was the guy in charge of the rescue workers supposed to be Chris Claremont?

And lest I forget, it was nice, as always to see Lila Cheney. I love how she pops up when you least expect her.

Can't wait for Rogue's return. Is she back for the next story arc?

[jonny]

I enjoyed the issue. This is the return of the Cannonball I knew and loved from the New Mutants. Not sure who that middle-aged goateed Sam was at the end of X-Force's run.

I suspect some of these complaints about Claremont following Morrison's storylines ought to be directed at the editorial staff.

I'm thinking Storm's New X-Men costume is similarly an editorial decision.

I've really enjoyed Larocca's artwork. Here's hoping a boycott on Namor will bring him back to X-Treme.

[Deus Ex Chris]

This issue was okay. The dialogue was the worst part, esp. Sam's whole "when ah use mah powers ah'm invulnerable." I mean, that is what the intro. page is for. I also wasn't too fond of the over-the-top accents of Sam's friends. I understand that people do speak like that, but it just doesn't translate well for me on paper. A few--keyword here--words to indicate their nationalities/dialects would be fine. Anyway, other than the dialogue, which has been my main hang-up with this book, I enjoyed this issue. I liked the pacing and the inclusion of Lila, without Guido.

[Tan K.]

I thought this was a great issue. I loved the pacing. I thought the tone and feel were exactly the things CC was trying to get across. The sequences with Lila were excellent. Instead of having panels that would have held empty scenes of Sam and Lila exploring their relationship, each scene relayed where they were emotionally while at the same time showing Sam taking notice of the XXM. It was dragged out, and it made perfect sense. CC using over half a year for sam to shake the "ickiness" out of his system was perfect while at the same time not making the reader have to listen to him transform. You could tell he was changing (thank God for the haircut), but did not have to sit through tons of dialogue to see it.

I thought as a complete package it was the best issue since #20.

[Roguefan]

I haven't gottent the issue yet - but I must admit I'm a little apprehensive over the inclusion of Cannonball in XXM. To tell you the truth, I never really liked Sam (however, I'm slowly warming to Paige over in Uncanny), and I would have preferred the inclusion of, in my opinion, better characters. However, I'm not going to pass judgement until I read the issue. That would just be mean.

[xstormfan]

i liked this issue a lot better than last issue,although i do feel the last few pages went too fast compared to the mining part.:)

[Rogue1969]

While I understand many of the comments about the pacing of the book, and that they preferred it to be faster, I believe that would have cheapened the overall effect. There was a bigger (yet more subtle) issue going on (IMO).

Chris, showed Sam maturing before our eyes. Sam wasn't rash in his decision to join Storms group, nor rash in dumping the X-Corps or in deciding not to go back to the school. We saw a lot of time passing. We saw two big events that made Sam re-evaluate what he wanted to do in his life and the responsibility he wanted to assume - The Tunnel/Xavier wanting to move on. and Dark Star's funeral.

Sam wisely took a step back from everything to reassess his life. He re-hooked up with Lila and got back in touch with his inner self.

The time spent with the rescue workers is a very important aspect as it showed so many things. That even with the diversity within the group they still had their prejudices. That people can accept and overcome prejudices with simple actions such as talking, and accepting people based on their actions not race, color or DNA. That was just the tip of the iceberg with the events that unfolded in the tunnel in my opinion but I don't want to jump on my soapbox and start disecting the scenes bit by bit. I would suggest that those who maybe didn't like the pacing to perhaps go back and just re-read the tunnel portion and the funeral scene. Think about what would be going through Sam's head at that time. His feelings about the rest of the X-Corps pulling out and Xavier's involvement. Take the discussions of the other rescue workers - the careless/thoughtless jokes they first make, the underlying prejudice/fear in their comments and what the outcome was.

Flip to the funeral for Darkstar - now I don't know if it was intentional or not and as I don't have my book with me while I write this I'm running from memory - look at the background - how many X-corp teammates were at the funeral? Any X-Men?
You might have a different opinion after re-reading those scenes.

The end was also very telling in its own way with what Storm said to Sam - "You called, I came. What can I do for you?"
Again I don't know if it was intentional or not but to me Chris was again showing how Xavier and the others are becoming a business - a huge company that is losing the family touch, whereas Storm was very much in the manner of the family run store who welcomes you and remembers your name and what you like etc. In a way it's like visiting family. Which is something the X-Men always used to be.

When Sam told Lila that he had decided to join Storm - that was the payoff of the whole story, and to me truly opened a new chapter in Sam's life - leaving everything very bright and hopeful for Sam. Very poignant.

If you couldn't tell, I absolutely enjoyed the layers to this story and I truly believe I would have felt betrayed had the tunnel portion been shorter as I wouldn't have felt the impact of why Sam made the decisions he did. He would have come across as fickle in my mind and wishy washy as it wouldn't have had the weight behind why he did what he did and what had been motivating the changes in the first place.

Could the whole thing have been told in retrospect broken up over the next issue or over the next couple of issues, with mini flashbacks and highlights of single points - probably but would it have had the impact of how much of himself he put into that rescue mission and what it meant to him? I don't think so.

About the only thing I would have liked to see maybe shown a bit more in depth is a bit of an explanation from Lila saying she always likes to keep tabs on the X-Men as she considers them friends as opposed to just pulling things up on the computer with little conversation snippets. Or, when Lila says she still emails Sam's mom, why couldn't there have been a comment like "Your mom emails me...oh and I heard from Kitty recently - she's enjoying college, and Storm just emailed and said she's finally walking again after that whole invasion thing. "
Sam's response could have been as bland as "Hey that's great." and then commenting on the split between Storm's group and the school and ask if Lila knows what happened. Now either Lila could have explained 'on screen' giving some details or filler which could have been great - or if because of the GLMKII issues coming in and Chris hasn't told the deeper story of why the break exists between the groups - Lila could still say something like "Sammy it's a long story." and the details are told 'off screen' with Sam ending the conversation with "I knew they had broken away from Xaver but I didn't know it involved all that". That would have allowed the story to unfold after GLMKII without any spoilers or details revealed.

This was still a wonderful character driven story that laid down a solid base for Sam's involvement with the X-Treme Team and I'm glad Chris told this story. Loved it.

[matrix]

i like this issue, it a break from the fast pace stories as of late. welcome back sam, he made a hard choice but like most of cable ex x-force member one he knows he'll pay for one day. how does Sal not get artist of the month is beyond me.

[ZephyrStorm]

I loved this issue too. The pacing felt about right since as said by Rogue1969 it touched on so many layers. I also agree with the comment about Xavier's being more and more like a business.
I had to grab the issue and look at Darkstar's funeral. Looks to me like too few are there.
Sad.
In the old days, the funeral would have been packed with tear-streaked faces.
The only problem I had was the "Shake that Mutant-bootie" comment, it felt a little forced.
All in all, a great work.
I'm so going to miss Salva

[NicholasRogue]

Personally I loved this issue!

[ArchangelX]

I for one am glad Cannonball is back. But I'm a little scared of how he will be portrayed. When Sam is around the people his age (New Mutants/ X-Force) We see the strong, determined leader. But whenever he is brought into the mix with the big leagers (X-Men), he resorts to this unsure, doubtful farm-boy. Remeber, this is the guy that was trained by Xavier, Magneto, Cable, Wisdom... All different walks of life. Even with wisdom was the most extreme (No pun intended) Sam I've seen. I really hope that even though Sam is now with Storm, that he isn't portrayed as the underdog, instead as a fellow, equal member who can be a big asset to the team not just for his powers.

[NicholasRogue]

I was a little surprised we got to see Sam and Lila get a little action going on ! Go Sam!:D and I'm glad Storm didn't have a huge part like some of us thought she would after CC said she'd make an appearance

[Allison Wright]

I don't have strong feelings about Cannonball one way or the other, but I liked this issue. Because it actually explained what happened when a character went in limbo and then came back again. Usually, it's something like, "I went here, now I'm back" and that's it. We got to know why he left, where he went and why he came back again.

I think Storm should ditch the mini skirt. Not for any philosophical reasons, just because it is funny looking and very impractical for flying.:rolleyes:

[Threespot]

Oh Cannonball you hopeless romantic, its no wonder you joined Storms group. A romantic idea will attract romantic people as I always say, no matter how unrealistic the idea.

Another thing I would like to get off my chest is the whole "Xtreme X Men is a breath of fresh air from New X Mens darkness" and "Xavier's X Men are like a big business while Storms are still like a family store" thing.

I ask you when, when are characters suppose to reach the point where they realize, "Hey, wait a dog gone minute! All this running around fighting for both humans and mutants isn't working! A couple million of us just got slaughtered, maybe we should get our act together."

I think that Xavier and his bunch have faced up to the reality that mutant kind needs to be protected, and that the dream of human mutant peace will take some respect for mutants on humankinds part. Storm and her group are living a dream, one that may come crashing down on thier heads.

[cajunpirate]

I can live with Cannonball on the team, but I really need Gambit and Rogue back in the line-up. I'm losing interest fast, and losing the guy who did such an incredible job with the pencils for the series isn't going to help.

Kind of funny seeing Gambit & Rogue on the cover of New X-Men (along with every other X-character). I'll pick up that issue, just becasue I like the cover, but I jumped ship on that series a loonngg time ago.

My ideal X-treme team:


:rogue: :storm: :colossus: :betsy: :bishop:
& Gambit (could someone please make a Gambit smilie?!)

[W.Worthington 3]

Hello people,

Good issue I think ! But... can someone fill me in on where Sam and Lila first became lovers ?

RC