EXILES #28 REVIEW

[Jim Lemoine]

<a href="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/covers/exiles28.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/covers/exiles28t.jpg" align=left alt="Exiles #28"></a>Reviewer: Jim Lemoine, darkkelf@earthlink.net
Quick Rating: Good
Story Title: Unnatural Instincts - Part One

The Exiles journey to Earth 616 for a run-in with the Uncanny X-Men!

Written by: Chuck Austen
Pencilled by: Clayton Henry
Inked by: Mark Morales
Colored by: Transparency Digital
Lettered by: Dave Sharpe
Cover by: Dale Keown
Assistant Editor: Annie Thornton
Edited by: Mike Raicht
Editor-in-Chief: Joe Quesada
President: Bill Jemas

Despite the overly gratuitous Wolverine pinup gracing its cover (which might make you think this is yet another low-quality attempt to cash in on Logan's popularity), Exiles #28 is an enjoyable issue of the adventures of our time-leapers. What’s more interesting about the cover is the prominence of the Uncanny X-Men logo: make that logo about 3 times the current size, and then the cover will accurately reflect the contents of the book.

Which is to say, if you read Exiles but not Uncanny X-Men, you might be a bit disappointed in this issue. And if you read Uncanny but not Exiles, then this one is a "can't miss" for you. Writer Chuck Austen originally planned the "Unnatural Instincts" arc as a true crossover between the two mutant teams... meaning that each team would guest-star in the other's book, sharing space. Sure, you’d get less Exiles in Exiles, but that's okay, since you'd also get them in Uncanny. However, even though the Exiles will not be appearing in Uncanny, we're seeing tons of Juggernaut, Havok, and company in Exiles... at the expense of the Exiles themselves.

Did you follow that? I think I've confused myself.

To make a long story short, Exiles #28 doesn't feel like an adventure of the Exiles; it's a story about Havok, Juggernaut, and the X-Men... one that just happens to guest-star Mimic's team. This story is an important part of Uncanny continuity, but at least so far, it's a throwaway, a fill-in type of thing, for the Exiles themselves. While you will see some great character development and plot revelations for the Uncanny crew in this issue of Exiles, you won't see anything of the sort for your normal cast of characters.

So if you like Uncanny, and consider this book an extension of Uncanny, you're going to love this issue. But if you're looking for more strong development of the Exiles themselves, as Austen and Henry gave us in the last two issues, you're setting yourself up for a major disappointment. If you don’t even read Uncanny, you’ll probably feel short-changed by Exiles #28. Based on this issue alone, it's hard to justify this book as being part of the Exiles series.

But enough of that. Once you get past the expectations factor, the story itself is fascinating. Austen placates a lot of fanboys this issue by wrapping up several long-standing plot points (even if they aren't really Exiles plot-points!). Want to know what happened to the Havok from Mutant X? It's here. Wondering what exactly was going on when Carter brought Alex out of his coma in Uncanny? Read this issue to learn the truth. Wondering why exactly Havok didn't simply die in that explosion way back in X-Factor #149? You'll know after you read this. Wondering why Nurse Annie is constantly drawn with bright blue hair? Ummm... well, me too. But that point aside, this issue is a huge blessing for Uncanny readers.

Austen's characterization of both teams continues to improve, perhaps since they're in such a familiar setting. Morph, in particular, feels like he's finally coming out of his shell, through both script and art. Artist Clayton Henry also seems to finally be getting the hang of his personality (the scene between Morph and the Timebroker, in particular, is priceless, and the credit for that should go to Henry). Mimic's struggles with his new role in the team continue nicely, Sasquatch gets more facetime than we ever saw under Winick's pen, and Magik remains nicely unpredictable. Nocturne is barely seen in this issue, but I assume Austen justifies that with an extended appearance later in the arc, most likely involving her father.

It's always a high point of an issue of Exiles whenever the Timebroker appears, and this issue is no exception. However, one has to be a bit disappointed that the team doesn't press him with more of their questions and doubts, especially regarding ex-leader Blink. It seems a bit unrealistic that the team would just take seats (nice choice of seats, Mr. Henry!) and listen quietly to the being who's turned their lives upside-down.

A few minor complaints arise from Mr. Austen's script this issue: first, although the premise makes a great deal of sense, why is this the first we've ever heard about Havok being a multidimensional nexus? And second, how in heaven did Havok possibly survive a hit in the face by Mimic in Colossus form? Havok has no special protection powers... all he does is fire extremely powerful plasma blasts. There's no way he could even remain conscious, much less survive, after two hits from the amazingly strong Mimic and another from the powerhouse Sasquatch! This, unfortunately, is a prime example of a comic writer's tendency to unrealistically power up the villain-of-the-day in any given instance to escalate the perceived threat.

On the artistic side, it's obvious that like Austen, Henry is proceeding to become more comfortable with the members of the team. Also like Austen, the most noticeable example of this is with Morph... somehow, for the first time since Henry took over this book, Morph just seems... right. His renderings of the other characters also improve (although it's disturbing just how much his Magik and his Husk look alike), but nowhere is it more visible than with Morph. The visual storytelling aspect of the art is also vastly improved from last issue, with clear transitions and imaginative use of panel design to perfectly convey the passage of time or a changing of scene. The only exception to this is one panel near the end of the book where evil Havok is pictured with a blue, cloudy sky as his background, when the story makes clear that he is inside at the time.

Which brings up my only real complaint with Henry's art, a repeat from the last two issues: lackluster, undetailed backgrounds. Background sets are sparse throughout almost all panels in the issue; indeed, in many cases, there is no background at all. Most panels only have a few lines to indicate walls, or an overlay of cloud photos. After seeing the extremely detailed sets of former series artists like McKone and Calafiore, these simple panels make the story seem relatively unreal.

Exiles #28 is a fun issue that clears up a lot of long-standing questions surrounding Havok and the "away" team of X-Men. The plot and script are both great, with strong characterizations and a compelling story. The artwork is well-done and evokes all the right emotions in the reader, from surprise to empathy to laughter. On the other hand, this issue probably shouldn't be an issue of Exiles. It feels more like an issue of Uncanny that guest-stars our team, and it probably would have worked much better in that context. Check this issue out for a fantastic Havok/Juggernaut story, but don't expect to see a whole lot of any Exiles.

ART:
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STORY:
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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=52&cat=EXILES) and save!

[spinarakboi]

Cool, i dont read Exiles but I read Uncanny, it looks like i better pick this up.

[DeadmanWade]

This gives me a bit of hope considering how bad a review this issue has gotten on other sites.

[Black mamba]

i found this issue alright. some things seemed a little off for me like the fact that warren sees to women who he once thought were dead for yrs and dismisses them almost immediately because apparently the love of his life*laughs out loud* is being attacked....again. i mean how many times will we see paige get slapped around she was portrayed smart and skillful in gen-x i just don't like now makes paige come off as this helpless love sick teen. i too had a problem with alex taking hit from both mimic and sasquatch and still not getting knocked out. i loved the art this issue i think the characters looked much better even there costumes seemed better under claytons pencil u could acctually tell the difference bettween paige and illyana in both there poses and facial expressions. i'm a little curious why annie a woman who hates mutants has blue hair but i guess i could ignore that. i cant wait for nocturne to meet her dad but its taking WAYYYYYY to long. i also loved magiks line at the end of the issue right there u can tell this womans vicious.

[Arachne]

In Austen's defense, anyone who read the entire Mutant X series knows that Alex is a multidimensional nexus. It was revealed at the end of the series, when most people had given up on it.

[Alex Guillen]

I think it's also been stated before in the 616 by having Alex and the Monoloth share the same DNA (reember the Monolith was the core of the Twelve).
Not really the Exiles at their best (they barely did show up) But I loved Magik's interaction with her teammates. I think Chuck's comics are ,meant to be read as an entire arc to really appreciate it's depth and message but this issue was pretty good.
Clayton Henry's art, wow I love it, he's only getting better after each issue.

[gambitX]

I LOVED this issue...
Loved the ARt... man.. Clayton improves by the issue...

I do miss NORTHSTAR!!!!!!!!!!! Wher eis he? I am very curious to see him drawn by Clayton... and Havok's costume looks awesome here.

Im happy to know this is a 3 issue arch... I would love to see them interact more.

And I think the way I differentiate Husk and Magyk is in the face... Magyk is out to kill... has TOUGH eyes, while Husk is "nicer".

[Jason Grasso]

Warren turns to in and says in shock "Illyana?"

But quickly dismissed the appearance of her because of something to do with "the woman he loves"? You disregard a character that has been dead in the mainstream universe for a long time for the woman you've loved....for what? 3 issues...?

It just felt too chaotic and that particular scene was really bad.

[SmashedPumpkin]

I wish he had done it as a true crossover. It's been awhile since we've had one. Even though it looks like Ultimate Spiderman and Ultimate X-men might be an "unofficial" crossover for the next few months. I miss the epic 12 part crossovers that involved every X-title, even though I know no one else does.

[Patrick James]

My question is:

How did Warren know who Yuriko was? He wasn't around when Jean first recruited her for Eve of Destruction, and I don't think they ever crossed paths during the original X-Corps story either.

Sorry, that just bothered me. The Illyana comment someone made...um yeah, totally agree.

Clayton's pencils are gret, but his backgrounds are a little lack-luster. I also thought that his version of Paige was just plain strange...just something wasn't quite right.

Good to see the Dominant Species wasn't really over...it did seem to end kind of randomly. Besides, none of them, the bad guys, ever got any characterizations other than "big scary wolf-thing." Kind of run-of-the-mill if you ask me.

Oh, and why did THIS incident push Havok over the edge when nothing before did?

Does this take place before or after Sacred Vows?

[Dave Harris]

I'll tell you, I expected much harsher criticism. I had huge complaint with the nexus aspect of Havok's explanation, but hearing that it was originated early in continuity moderates my shock; I read Mutant X until the end, but must have let that one slip by me. But even so, I thought that almost all of the Timebroker's speech was lacking. The Timebroker's self-references implied some sort of group dynamic among...himself? I could only picture the villains from Avengers Forever in response to some of his comments, really.

And as you said, Jim, the reactions from the Exiles to most of his revelations were...less than amazing. When the shocking news about Havok is delivered, most of them have the same blank glare, including Sunfire who is the only member to respond. Morph's raised eyebrow is amusing, but not exactly proportional, especially as none of them express any anger or indignation at their repetitive predicament.

Taking into account other aspects of that scene, it really doesn't work as an effective set-up. "Subspatially" has apparently become the Exiles buzzword for anything resembling psuedo-science; it's pretty lackluster as far as explanations go, and sometimes the attempts to define psuedo-science properly are the funnest part of these types of stories. But no longer. Add in the comment about Havok's headdress...I think Austen was trying to make a few too many fun little connections, because that just annoyingly complicates things as far as I can see, and throws in new-age-resembling words for pure effect.

Moving past the opening, the plot is based around a lot of cliches and holes. The entire conflict is based around the simplest of evil twin stories, disappointingly. It's not exactly an original concept, and it's really just a cheap way out to establish conflicted emotions regarding the need to carry out missions weighed against the need to be good guys. Instead of creating an actual villain, a hero suffers an inexplicable turn towards evil. And the very psuedo science involved is just left hanging in the air, because it doesn't have any meaning or sense to it. Buried consciousnesses? Ok. But when the shared body dies with one of them in control, the body dies. It does not magically heal itself so that a different Sybill can come out to play.

Everyone else pointed out the Illyana flub, and I totally agree. Warren acknowledges that the dead kid sister of one of his long-standing teammates is standing in front of him as an adult wielding a sword, calling her by name. But doesn't care. "Whatever you're here for will have to wait." It's not even that he's caught up in the fervor of the moment needing to save Paige---he just wants them to wait in line while he calmly leaves. Ow, my head.

The return of Maximus Lobo...well, the wolves look a lot more like Disney characters and a lot less like frightening steps in the evolutionary ladder, first of all. The visuals were the reason I could conceive of them as scary in the Dominant Species arc, so now I'm at a loss. And the connection between the wolves and random character #2 (heretofore known as Nicholas) will surely be explained in the coming issues, but for now remains unexplained and therefore sits as a big unlikely oddity that doesn't really fit in. An elephant in the comic, if you will.

Toss in smaller glitches that show up around the issue, and overall I couldn't justify reading it. Scars which at one point vanish, and later appear to be made of floating blood. Wolverine who recognizes a kid before asking who he is. Lobo's utterly supervillainish deathbrag. Juggernaut's uncharacteristic lack of punching early on and Havok's uncharacteristic unbreakable face.

My favorite, though? Warren finding the perfectly unharmed and exactly on-point sheet of normal paper which he didn't know that he was looking for, but which divulges exactly the one thing that he needs to know to make the overall plot come to light. That really stretches the bounds of suspending disbelief. You have to make small leaps in likelihood, making the reader follow the story and want to believe it. That didn't happen here.

The premise of a crossover with mainstream continuity had appeal, in that there would be some fun character interaction and discovery. But there was also a healthy amount of worry as to how the two books would mesh, one being utterly carefree and the other ladening itself further and further with plot and depth and continuity. I can't see the verdict as good, I'm sorry. This issue by itself wasn't up to snuff, and with the unbelievability permeating the issue, I don't foresee the lasting consequences of the crossover being enjoyable either.

[DiamondPaladinX]

INteresting...for being the filler-writer for Exiles, he's already addressed two major new topics to the Exile-storyline, as well as for Earth 616: the Timebroker being a coliberation of the Exiles' sub-consciouous (my sincerist apologies of the bad spelling), and the fact that Havok is an interdimensional nexxus, causing a rift in the whole cosmos...that's a Summers for ye.

Overall, this issue was very decent indeed. The development was apparent for both sides of the coin, and the illustration was done well for characters, but lacks in the background...namely with that little sky-scene popping out of nowhere.

[spinarakboi]

Not that it isn't a problem but this is the X-Men.... Warren has come across more shocking and strange things than someone thought to be dead turning out alive. But yeah...

[clancynut]

I had high hopes for the eXiles first visit to the 616 but the only thing this issue did was anger me what are we really getting let's see for those of us who read uncanny we now know without a doubt the outcome of the lorna-alex-annie triangle the return of the big bad wolf and an evil havoc who will probably be turned back into good havoc before the end of the arc and so little eXiles that they really shoulc reverse the tiltels on the cover

don't get me wrong I really enjoy the uncanny X-men but that is why I read their book I so can't wait for the return of winick

also Arkangel4Psy the character ur talking about was sunpyre she was leyu yoshida, the exiles sunfire is mariko yoshida worlverine's former bride (in the 616) they are cousins so its not that big a leap for the mutation to go

I do agree morph was better in this one but the chicken thing has already been done if morph keeps this up with the repetitive jokes no wonder he thinks his name is not now

[TurdFerguson]

Actually, neither of those topics are new.

Havok became the nexus of all realities when he destroyed the nexus in Mutant X in the '99 Annual (it was clarified later in the series the ramifications of this action).

The timebroker first established that he was a result of the collective subconsciousness in Exiles #1:
"I don't exist in the conventional sense. I'm kind of like a living verb, the same with the desert here. It's not a literal place. It and I are constructs created from the collective consciousness of each of you."

Don't mean to nitpick, but now you know. And knowing is half the battle.

[TheIronYuppie]

I read both Uncanny and Exiles, this sounds to be right up my alley. I should be getting my issue tomarrow. Alex Summers being the Nexus of all Realities and destroying the Multiverse? Who needs Thanos or any Cosmic Villian when you have the Summerses to destroy all of reality! :p

[Sabretooth]

I thought this issue was pure sweetness. Really, it was great. I read both issues and don't think either team was short-changed. It was maybe a slight bit more Uncanny, but it was equally shared with Exiles in my opinion. I'd have given this book a "GREAT" rating. I really enjoyed it, it was probably one of my favs this week next to Ultimate Spidey and New X-Men...and I really like this new artist's work.

[Douglas Cuckler]

I really enjoyed this issue, and Illyana just gets better.

The kid Nicolas Gleason was from the Chmber mini #1, so he wasn't totally out of nowhere.

[UMichWolverine]

I thouroughly enjoyed this issue. After bashing Chuck last week for the whole Catholic thing in Uncanny, I came away from both Exiles and Uncanny satisfied and wanting to welcome Austen back from wherever he was when he wrote the Holy War arc.

I have only three minor quibbles:

First, the Illyana/Warren thing has been beaten to death already.

Second, as someone else said, if you read both this and Uncanny prepare to have a major plot of Uncanny spoiled. I am going to assume this takes place after the Sacred Vows arc of Uncanny, otherwise there are some major plot holes.

Lastly, is Annie a tad slow? How could you look at T.J., knowing Kurt, and not realize there is some connection? Annie has been like this from day one, like things just don't sink in with her.

The good stuff about this issue is too numerous to list but here is what stuck out for me:

We finally get some explanation into what was going on in Alex's mind with Carter.

Juggernaut and Mimic were great, each willing to go the distance to do what they thought was right.

Morph is becoming a great character both in the way he is written and drawn, although the chicken is becoming an old bit.

Lastly, leave it to a Summers to screw everything up and be the potential downfall of everything. :D

[themimic]

Originally posted by TurdFerguson
Actually, neither of those topics are new.

The timebroker first established that he was a result of the collective subconsciousness in Exiles #1:
&quot;I don't exist in the conventional sense. I'm kind of like a living verb, the same with the desert here. It's not a literal place. It and I are constructs created from the collective consciousness of each of you.&quot;

Don't mean to nitpick, but now you know. And knowing is half the battle.

Yes, which is a problem when he decides to kill all of the Havoks. He doesn't exist.

The issue was unbelievably substandard, for all the reasons stated before.

[ugaryan526]

from Arkangel4Psy
.How did Warren know who Yuriko was? He wasn't around when Jean first recruited her for Eve of Destruction, and I don't think they ever crossed paths during the original X-Corps story either.



The Exiles Sunfire is not Sunpyre from EoD or X-Corps (who isn't Yuriko anyways, that is Lady Deathstrike...her name is Leyu Yoshida). This Sunfire is Mariko Yashida, the now deceased ex-fiance of Wolverine from waaay back when. So that's how he knew her (forgive the sentence fragment). Easy mistake though, names and powers are very similar

[Vasilios]

Hey, Ive never read Exiles..... but I was wondering was Jubilee in the issue? She's part of the Uncanny team now right? I thought there should have been a Jubilee/Illiyana moment..... I guess not.. :rolleyes:

[TurdFerguson]

I'm not 100% sure that Jubilee would recognize Illyana since Jubes only got to know the "younger" version of Peter's sister.

[Zachary J. Morrison]

I just finished reading the ish. It was a great beginning for the story arc. I can't wait to get the next ish when it comes out soon. I liked how artist Clayton Henry drew Wolverine. It was pretty good illustration of what he looks like.

[Chris Wilson]

It seems as though lately, a lot of bad reviews are coming in for Austen's stories. Surprisingly, you find that the people who write these almost scathing critiques have usually misinterpreted the story or are just ignorant of past plots/developments that would explain their worries. For instance, in this issue, I'm sure people have problems understanding the nexus of realities thing. Yet, apparently this wasn't set up in this issue itself by Austen, but rather was introduced years ago. And people say Austen doesn't do his research...

So, it's like this, if you don't like a story merely because you don't understand a plot point, make sure you have the appropriate information available before thrashing the issue as a whole. Some people just don't understand Austen's writing, expecting every plot point to be spelled out in bold capital letters by preceeding stories. It doesn't work like that. Austen's introducing his own ideas while fleshing out ideas from the past. If he just stuck to having the X-Men, or in this case, Exiles, doing the same thing they were doing before (so that fans understand it better), it would become a very tiresome comic ideed.

That said, I want to commend Chuck and Clayton on another great issue of Exiles. I am excited to see where the Havok story is going, and what kind of interference the dominant species is going play here. Maybe Wolverine gets payback? Seems as though there will be a fight between Magik, and Iceman and Archangel, with Sunfire being ambivalent about her role. I can't wait for the next ish!

Of course, there will always be minor complaints, mostly having to do with the art. The green hair thing in the past Uncanny and the misplaced sky background here worry me. Wouldn't errors like this be pretty easy to catch? I thought Marvel had worked out these types of glitches.

Also, doesn't it seem as though Wolverine just comes out of nowhere? I understand that he is on the school grounds just like the rest of the X-Men. It might have been a bit more smooth if he had appeared in previous panel then said something in the following panel, instead of appearing and talking seemingly out of the blue.

Anyway, great issue. Go out and get it if you haven't. Too bad the spotlight is bit skewed toward the Uncanny team instead of the Exiles though. We'll see what happens next issue! :D

-Chris

[Jim Lemoine]

Originally posted by Sneakydub
It seems as though lately, a lot of bad reviews are coming in for Austen's stories. Surprisingly, you find that the people who write these almost scathing critiques have usually misinterpreted the story or are just ignorant of past plots/developments that would explain their worries. For instance, in this issue, I'm sure people have problems understanding the nexus of realities thing. Yet, apparently this wasn't set up in this issue itself by Austen, but rather was introduced years ago. And people say Austen doesn't do his research...

So, it's like this, if you don't like a story merely because you don't understand a plot point, make sure you have the appropriate information available before thrashing the issue as a whole. Some people just don't understand Austen's writing, expecting every plot point to be spelled out in bold capital letters by preceeding stories. It doesn't work like that. Austen's introducing his own ideas while fleshing out ideas from the past. If he just stuck to having the X-Men, or in this case, Exiles, doing the same thing they were doing before (so that fans understand it better), it would become a very tiresome comic ideed.


I'm sure you were referring to reviews on other websites here, and that you weren't referring to this one since (a) this wasn't a bad review (note the GOOD rating), (b) the review wasn't based on just the one plot point you mentioned, and (c) that one plot point had very little to do with the end rating of the review, and in fact only took up one sentence of the review.

[netenyahoo]

My biggest complaint was how no one was surprised to see Magik alive. That was just very odd. I don't read Exiles normally, but I like this issue because I read Uncanny and did read Mutant X. Maybe this is a ploy to get people who read Uncanny to get hooked on Exiles. I'm starting to like the characters.

[Chris Wilson]

Originally posted by Jim Lemoine
I'm sure you were referring to reviews on other websites here, and that you weren't referring to this one since (a) this wasn't a bad review (note the GOOD rating), (b) the review wasn't based on just the one plot point you mentioned, and (c) that one plot point had very little to do with the end rating of the review, and in fact only took up one sentence of the review.

Of course it wasn't about this review. I apologize for not clarifying that. :shame:

I'm just tired of hearing the same crap from people who don't like Austen's stuff because they haven't thought beyond the paper bag their head is in...

[themimic]

Originally posted by Sneakydub


Of course it wasn't about this review. I apologize for not clarifying that. :shame:

I'm just tired of hearing the same crap from people who don't like Austen's stuff because they haven't thought beyond the paper bag their head is in...

And those of us who don't like Austen's stuff for other reasons?

I was grossly disappointed in this issue - and as I said, NOT because that Havok was the nexus of all realities, or whatever you said. I articulated my grievances with the issue already, and won't rehash them, but your generalization of all those who disliked this issue as having our heads in paper bags is rude, and uncalled for.

[Dave Harris]

Originally posted by Sneakydub
I'm just tired of hearing the same crap from people who don't like Austen's stuff because they haven't thought beyond the paper bag their head is in... I'm touched you feel so kindly about my opinion.

I acknowledged that I had forgotten some of what was established my Mutant X. I read reiterations of those facts before posting my clearly very negative opinion. Lacking knowledge of continuity, let me assure you, is not the reason that I had such a strong dislike for it. You'll notice that the second sentence of my own unofficial critique mentions disliking Havok-as-nexus, but that otherwise it is not mentioned. I have a tendency to make my posts extremely overlong, and very little of this one had anything to do with your reproach.

[Chris Wilson]

Originally posted by themimic
...but your generalization of all those who disliked this issue as having our heads in paper bags is rude, and uncalled for.

Originally posted by Dave Harris
I'm touched you feel so kindly about my opinion.


Wow, funny how people can take things so personally. Of course you've mistaken the syntax of the statement, and have purposely taken offense. How masochistic. Do you have your head in a paper bag? No? If I was referring to you, then I was doing so, but as I made no particular references, then you don't know whom I was commenting on.

If you want to take my comments personally, when you yourself have given adequate justification as to why thsoe comments don't apply to you, then, in all dellusional self-centeredness, do so.

Anyway, I have my complaints about Austen too. However, they're not as close minded as those from the people who pushed him away from X-fan. I think it's healthy to hear all opinions, as long as they are within the realm of intelligent and applied criticism. Then again, there are probably a lot of pre-adolescents posting here, so maybe I'm expecting too much?

[GuyX]

Alright I read most of Mutant X, recent Chuck Uncanny, and every isse of Exiles so I understood most of the Havok nexus thing Austen was trying to get across...

but it was still just not good. Especially since this is my fave X title by far. But this wasn't an issue of Exiles, for every intent and purpose it should have been labled Uncanny X-men. and its a pretty lousey issue even with that. Plot lines that make no logical sense. weak characterzation of one of the best charactetized teams in comics (with the exception of heather and new illeyna who im sure Judd has big plans for). And the fact that this thing reeks of a story that doesnt flow like a narrative one where this is just part of the Exiles bigger story...reading this you could just hear the big marvel guns saying some months ago, "hey! we need an uncanny/exiles crossover!"

sorry themimic...a few months ago i bashed you for bashing chuck before the issue even came out, but now its out and I guess your fears were well founded.

Hopefully Judd's scripts will get back and ignore the mess Chuck has made on this title even with his limited time on it.

Oh and Henry is improving rapidly, I just still don't like his morph though. He just seems a little bit...off. Hard to explain.

[Airhead]

I haven't gotten this issue yet but it sounds good!:D

[Dragon]

I like this issue, the artwork is great and it's nice to see Exile and Uncanny together. I am a bit confused how Warren know it was Mariko and Illyana, but hopefully that will be explained. I don't know about Juggy wearing the X-men colors but thats cool. I do hope TJ runs into her dad thatwill be intresting.

[Hellion]

I enjoyed the issue and the art. My only complaints were like many others here Warren's reaction, or lack there of, to Illyana. And that it did have some spoilage to what is happening or yet to happen in Uncanny next issue, which isn't Chucks fault but the editors. I can't wait for the next issue to see Kurt and TJ meet!

[MrHymes01]

I was actually on OKAY story RIGHT up until the time those DAMN MUTANT PUPPIES showed up!!! Why is AUSTEN torturing us by making us relive that horrible DOMINANT CRAP storyline again?!?! :mad: :mad: I mean come on, he’s single-handedly DESTROYING Uncanny for me. I’m on the verge of dropping the title for the first time in16 years!!! Now he has to bring that crap to EXILES too? I can’t wait until the Winick storylines come back, because Austen leaves a bad and distasteful mark on every title he touches. The last storyline was pretty decent, he just couldn’t leave well enough alone.:mad: :mad:

[Alan Lynch]

I pretty much share most people's opinion on the issue. Granted, it's not as good as Judd's take, but it was my first Austen issue, and I was impressed. Morph is still funny, and it gave me a happy to see him interacting with 616 characters. Magik seems more suited to the Weapon X team of reality-jumpers, but I live in hope that Judd will explain it at some point when he comes back. I liked it, but unfortunately there were silly, niggly things that held it back:
-The Warren/Illyana thing has been touched on already
-Since when was Havok super-strong? He should have been KO'd almost immediately.
-I think it was Dave Harris that said it, and I agree; shared conciousness or no, when Havok died, that's it. No body, no danger.
-It sucked a lot of interest out of next month's Uncanny for me, since we pretty much know how it ends up. Bad editing from Marvel.

[Suiciety]

The issue was alright at best. I agree with others who stated Havok should have been squashed like a bug when Mimic (in Colossus form) and Sasquatch punched him. Warren's response to Illyana was also ridiculous. Austen must have been stupified when he wrote this issue. Sorry to be so overtly criticle of the writer--but I think he dropped the ball.

The art was so-so. At times it looked really good and then really off (especially when Havok was gutted--I had no sense of terror/shock from the panels--seemed very cartoonish).

I miss Judd. Bring back the Weapon X arc of a couple of months ago!

[Alphabet Pet]

I've got a possible explanation for why Havok was able to stand up against Mimic and Sasquach.

While I didn't read the end of X-Factor or the beginning of Mutant X (actually Exiles 28 is the first comic I've bought since the Fatal Attractions storyline) :O wasn't 616's Havok blown up in a helicopter and Mutant X's Havok blasted by a Sentenel? But both bodies did survive. And here again he suffered mortal wounds and was up again in no time. Maybe whenever there's a body switch some sort of super healing power kicks in that hadn't worn off for the fight with the Exiles.

[thewrite1]

Originally posted by UMichWolverine
Lastly, is Annie a tad slow? How could you look at T.J., knowing Kurt, and not realize there is some connection? Annie has been like this from day one, like things just don't sink in with her.

Annie is not particulary fond of mutants and I guess living in Xaviers she sees so many strange-looking people that she won't immediately see the conection between one to another. Of course she is distraught about her son and too many things are going on for her to notice much of the newcomers.

This issue was fun but unfair to Exiles readers because it was really just another issue of Uncanny. Dave Harris gave valid points about the issue but I was able to enjoy reading despite the issue's faults. The dialogue is a little weak and overly-theatrical, 'the love of my life in danger' is so boring and cliched, but the characterisation is fun. Illyana is becoming the best Exiles' character because she is so dangerous. The question was raised last issue whether or not the Timebroker was making the Exiles become another Weapon X, and the additon of Illyana certainly supports that idea. Long live Illyana!

[UMichWolverine]

Originally posted by thewrite1


The question was raised last issue whether or not the Timebroker was making the Exiles become another Weapon X, and the additon of Illyana certainly supports that idea. Long live Illyana!

[QUOTE]Originally posted by thewrite1
[B]

Well, lets assume that this is true. And lets continue to assume that the Timebroker really is a collection of the Exiles Subconscious. Wouldn't this mean that they themselves want to become another Weapon X. They secretly wanted an Illyana character to help them finish missions rapidly at any cost.

It would certainly fit as over the last few arcs we have seen glimpses that they are getting tired:

Morph and TJ at the end of So Lame

Calvin and Blink at the end of Legacy

Illyana at the beginning and Sunfire at the end of Hard Choices.

This is a battered, broken, and tired team who wants nothing more than to get back to where they came from.

Just a thought.

[Hellion]

Originally posted by thewrite1


Annie is not particulary fond of mutants and I guess living in Xaviers she sees so many strange-looking people that she won't immediately see the conection between one to another. Of course she is distraught about her son and too many things are going on for her to notice much of the newcomers.

But TJ is a dead ringer for Kurt, minus the boobs and long hair. It just didn't make sense. Maybe Annie is slightly slow.

[Chris Wilson]

Originally posted by MrHymes01
...Why is AUSTEN torturing us by making us relive that horrible DOMINANT CRAP storyline again?!?! :mad: :mad: ...

THIS is what I'm talking about. Have all the negative opinions you want, just be tactful about them, huh. Maybe there's a good reason why the dominant species are here; there's two more issues to go in this arc.

Originally posted by Alphabet Pet
While I didn't read the end of X-Factor or the beginning of Mutant X (actually Exiles 28 is the first comic I've bought since the Fatal Attractions storyline) :O

Wow. And, you know, that was probably the last good X-over. Smart move ;)

Originally posted by Alphabet Pet
Maybe whenever there's a body switch some sort of super healing power kicks in that hadn't worn off for the fight with the Exiles.

You know, that actually makes a lot of sense. But wouldn't that only imply when he's been killed? So, he'd have switched once more when Mimic hit him, then again when Sasquatch hit him... Talk about identity crisis :p

-Chris

[xmanson2.0]

Did TJ get her tail back?

[Black mamba]

Originally posted by xmanson2.0
Did TJ get her tail back?

nope its still gone. and am i the only one tired of seeing paige turn to metal would it kill her to try adamantium or titanium?

[Alex Groff]

Sneakydub, I'm afraid I take issue with your comment that poor critiques of Uncanny and Exiles are based on the critics' ignorance. The vast majority of negative critiques that I've read (including The Fourth Rail's critique of Exiles #28) both show a knowledge of continuity and list many complaints beyond that.

The aforementioned review explains in detail why Austen's contuity is contradictory and nonsensical. A number of Holy War reviews pointed this out with the Church of Humanity's Pope plot. It fit continuity, but that didn't make it a good idea.

Many Austen reviews (including the Fourth Rail's review) explain that the main flaw is not the plot but rather the storytelling: the eschewing of characterization for melodrama, what the Greeks disdainfully called bathos. Truth? Austen pops out one or two good one-liners an issue. However, the villians are stupifyingly one-dimensional, be they Maximus 'I'm the next evolutionary step so I can eat you' Lobo, the scientist who tried to kill Guardian to win over his wife, or a "very, very bad" Havok. The heroes, while slightly more developed, act as if they're fulfilling plot points, not doing things because that's what they would do. If comics are a theatre, then this is bunraku: puppet shows with the puppeteer visible onstage. The majority of Austen's critics I've seen focus on these flaws.

The argument itself aside, I found the tone of your criticism of critics-- as well as your statements to offended posters-- offbase, insulting, and of the same breed of childishness as that which you credit to your critics. Having an opinion does not require insulting every other opinion.

To other potential readers: some comics are "very, very good" comics, and some are "very, very bad" comics. Pick up New X-Men #142 for the former. As for Exiles. . . I don't know about you, but I for one am tired of marionettes and melodramas. It will be a beautiful day when Judd returns.

[Chris Wilson]

Sigh, some people just don't read, do they...

I can be offensive if you want to take it there, as I'm not going to be villified by everyone who has taken personal issue with comments that have extremely little to do with them. I'm the one being attacked simply because my comment was misunderstood and consequently didn't make you feel all warm and fuzzy inside. Be an arbiter of truth and justice, but pass your judgement on someone who actually deserves it.

This is me practicing restraint....

It's over, it's done, enjoy the issue (or don't). Next topic... PLEASE.

[TurdFerguson]

Originally posted by AirDent554


nope its still gone. and am i the only one tired of seeing paige turn to metal would it kill her to try adamantium or titanium?

Umm, not to nitpick or anything, but titanium and adamantium are metals.

[steve2275]

3 ART BY BUTT
4 EASILY

[thewrite1]

Originally posted by UMichWolverine

Well, lets assume that this is true. And lets continue to assume that the Timebroker really is a collection of the Exiles Subconscious. Wouldn't this mean that they themselves want to become another Weapon X. They secretly wanted an Illyana character to help them finish missions rapidly at any cost.


It makes sense but if you assume the Timebroker is a collection of the team's subconsious (which it is) and that the team are really making their own choices about missions and teammates then that would lead to the idea that the team decided subconsciously to become Exiles in the first place.
Or something like that.

I can accept that the Timebroker isn't real but I need to believe that there is someone behind all these reality-hopping missions and there is a big dude in charge of it all. Otherwise it gets all confusing trying to figure out how the Exiles got where they are in the first place.

[Hellion]

Originally posted by AirDent554


Am I the only one tired of seeing Paige turn to metal would it kill her to try adamantium or titanium?

The use of her powers sucks since she has become an X-Man. Funny how she had a broader use of her powers in Gen X.

[Fusion]

Originally posted by Hellion


The use of her powers sucks since she has become an X-Man. Funny how she had a broader use of her powers in Gen X.

Thats because she had 75 issues to show it. Austen has just started with her, and her potential according to him is unlimited. So chill, have patence, I don't think he will disappoint. Look how many character he has to give attention to.

[Hellion]

Originally posted by Fusion


Thats because she had 75 issues to show it. Austen has just started with her, and her potential according to him is unlimited. So chill, have patence, I don't think he will disappoint. Look how many character he has to give attention to.

I am quite chill, thanks. My point is that rubber and metal is all she has turned in to for the most part of her tenure as an X-Men. She could have used something else at one point to mix it up a bit. It's just a bit odd to have her be so limited in her power thus far, is all I am saying. I'm sure Chuck will get around to it eventually. I'm not bashing him in any way.

[Fusion]

Originally posted by Hellion


I am quite chill, thanks. My point is that rubber and metal is all she has turned in to for the most part of her tenure as an X-Men. She could have used something else at one point to mix it up a bit. It's just a bit odd to have her be so limited in her power thus far, is all I am saying. I'm sure Chuck will get around to it eventually. I'm not bashing him in any way.

I know, alot of presure writting one of the preimer titles in comics. I'm sure it will be worth the wait when paige finally cuts loose.

[Black mamba]

Originally posted by TurdFerguson


Umm, not to nitpick or anything, but titanium and adamantium are metals.


really? and here i am thinking adamantium and titanium are plastics:rolleyes:lol so far husk has husked into regular scrap metal that was torn up by some hungry wolves u would think she would have enough sense to turn into adamantium but instead turns back to her scrap metal form against the wolvesl. chucks buisy schedule doesn't seem like a good enough excuse to have paige husk into metal and rubber over and over again, would it kill him to make her turn into different kinds of metal or even rock?

[Patrick Star]

Originally posted by Hellion


The use of her powers sucks since she has become an X-Man. Funny how she had a broader use of her powers in Gen X.

True true true!!!! Lets hope she gets out of this "i'm in love with an older guy just to make u jealous Jono" phase. She seriously needs to be Gen X girl she was, maybe Jubes can shove her the info in her face. Wake up! Yeah Jubes suing her the "System of a doom" song !

[TheIronYuppie]

Originally posted by AirDent554



really? and here i am thinking adamantium and titanium are plastics:rolleyes:lol so far husk has husked into regular scrap metal that was torn up by some hungry wolves u would think she would have enough sense to turn into adamantium but instead turns back to her scrap metal form against the wolvesl. chucks buisy schedule doesn't seem like a good enough excuse to have paige husk into metal and rubber over and over again, would it kill him to make her turn into different kinds of metal or even rock?

She has stated before the fight with the wolves that Steel is the densest metal she can do. And Titanium is an even weaker metal than that. So Austen did cover his bases, if you didn't read it, it is not his problem.

[Patrick Star]

Originally posted by Fusion


Thats because she had 75 issues to show it. Austen has just started with her, and her potential according to him is unlimited. So chill, have patence, I don't think he will disappoint. Look how many character he has to give attention to.

But see thats the problem, i do love having all these X-people running around in the Mansion but we hardly get to see them at all, Northstar is missing maybe took a vacation with Jono, Juggy appears once in a while (hint hint drop Logan, UXM already has a powerhouse) and the others kinda have small roles wayyyy to small roles. I do love Austen's writting its just that he needs to trim down the members, either choose some to be in this arc and send the others on a mission or loose a few characters. Its happenning again, the 90's are comming back, we're gonna have a blue UXM team and a gold UXM team.
Paige- Ok so they had 75 ish and a few annuals and crossovers and blah blah blah, but this new Paige has got to go, she's not a fraction of who she was, she was smart, the teacher's pet and very valuable in battle, now she's just a sick puupy in love. I mean people change and women do it a lot when they r around the guy they like but Paige is just a shadow of who she was. I have faith in Austen, he has made miracles with Juggy and Northstar(the little time they've been aboard the tittle) so maybe this yucky version of Paige will "morph" into a new one, a more likeable.
-Is it me or does Annie has a mutant hair? i mean her hair was Blue, maybe she's washing her hair with Nightcrawler's shampoo or been around mutants has developed her "dormant genes"!!!!

[Hellion]

Well she said she went out on a date the night before, maybe Bobby dyed it when they got back from dinner?

[thewrite1]

Originally posted by Patrick Star
Is it me or does Annie has a mutant hair? i mean her hair was Blue, maybe she's washing her hair with Nightcrawler's shampoo

Nightcrawler has black hair actually. ;)

I don't know if the colourist who did this issue also does Uncanny but there have been a lot of bloopers lately in Uncanny. Hopefully Austen can addlib over the mistake.

[Suzene]

First of all, I would like to offer my sincere gratitude to the reviewer and to the posters who've rendered their opinions on this issue. I know better than to pick this comic up now. I kinda feel that you guys gave me the warning shout that helped me dodge a bullet. It makes me sad...I was happy enough with the latest issue of Uncanny to think that a double-dose this month might not be such a bad thing (OK yes, *fine* I was just hoping for more panel-time for Northstar, but still, it would have been another $2.50 from my pocket to Marvel's).

A moment of silence, please, for the death of hope...


...and now, the hissy fit:

NO NO NO NO NO FRELLING NO! I thought we'd left the inextricable intertwining of the various X-storylines back in the gloom of ten years ago, along with the ridiculous numbers of variant foil covers and the "...things will never be the same!" tagline that always meant that things were going to stay exactly the bloody same, thank you very much!

Could someone *please* throw me a reference to another entertainment medium that does this to its audience? Am I going to have to go see "Harry Potter: The Prisoner of Azkaban" to find out how "The Matrix" trilogy wraps up? Must I shell out the money for No Doubt's "Return to Saturn" in order to fully enjoy "Rock Steady"? There must be some precedent -- aside from comic books themselves -- out there that justifies the half-assed format. I hate it. I despise it. It makes me want to puke. Frankly, it smacks of holding the story hostage: "Pick up this book that you've normally got no interest in, or you'll never know what *really* happened in the title you're actually bothering to stick with month after month." I don't like the feeling of being short-changed. If I'm only going to be told part of the story in the book I'm following, I'm going to judge the writing as it's presented.

Poor Austen; it seems like he's one man running around, single-handedly writing every single friggin' book in the Marvel universe right now. Thing is, for all the teeth-grinding I've been doing on certain aspects of Uncanny, from the reviews I've seen, Austen seems to have a knack for turning out really good stories on lesser-known projects, while winging hastily-cobbled scripts at the readers on higher-profile and even top-selling titles. Even aside from my low opinion of the past couple of artists on UXM, the story-telling has been of uneven quality at best over the past year. I know the higher-profile titles likely have more in the way of editorial interference, which practically always brings down the quality of a story, but it's still just *bad*, not to mention that the sheer volume of work Austen's taking on has to have a negative impact on quality as well. Is it just me, or does Marvel seem to have a rather careless attitude about its readers, namely that we'll buy anything with an 'X' stamped on it, regardless of quality, so why should they bother trying to deliver a superior product?

*waves sweetly at JQ and Jemas*

Down to one regular title a month, guys, and apt to bail as soon as ya'll bleach Jean-Paul's hair again.

I hope I'm over-reacting, I really do. In fact, I probably am. As I said, I've not read the issue in question, so I could just be blowing my top over the perceived similarity to a time that strangled all the enjoyment out of Marvel's comics for me. It became less fun to cruise the racks each month and more a dutiful culling of stories that I could no longer afford to keep up with, until the last books I cared about were allowed to die a wretched, lingering death and dismantled, at which point there was no point in staying on. I don't want to see finally come out of my Vertigo/indy bunker and see that nothing's really changed, that's all. Of course, I guess I could also just plug my ears up and hum really loudly or pretend that the rest of the Marvel-verse doesn't exist, but where's the fun in that?

OK, senseless rant over. Sorry about that.

Suzene

[thewrite1]

I totally agree. Exiles is a wonderful book with terrific characters but if you only read Uncanny (and for financial restraints do not pick up Exiles) then you are going to miss out on the whole Havoc storyline that fans have been eager to read for months in Uncanny. I assumed Austen would give us a good Exiles story with a mission involving the Uncanny X-Men but not using a plot that by all means should be concluded in Uncanny. This means that both Exiles fans and Uncanny fans lose out. I'm hoping that the Havoc storyline is eventually dealt with in Uncanny in the future. Mind you, Exiles is a great read and if you can, I'd recommend picking up the back issues.

[Fusion]

Originally posted by thewrite1
I'm hoping that the Havoc storyline is eventually dealt with in Uncanny in the future.

It will. Along with many other things in this Crossover.

[TurdFerguson]

My biggest problem with this issue is that it wasn't an Exiles story. It was an issue of Uncanny that the exiles stumbled into. Next thing you know, there's going to be a love triangle b/w Sasquatch, Nocture and Sunfire.

[Black mamba]

Originally posted by TheIronYuppie


She has stated before the fight with the wolves that Steel is the densest metal she can do. And Titanium is an even weaker metal than that. So Austen did cover his bases, if you didn't read it, it is not his problem.



sorry but no, steel is not the densest form she can turn to its a horrible mistake chuck has made that should be cleared up, paige has turned to diamond before which proves austen did NOT cover his bases so yes this is his problem and i'm not the one at fault here if chuck just went along with how paiges powers were previously defined instead of ruining them us piage fans wouldn't be so furious about it.

[Jesse Baer]

Well, I just picked up the issue, and being an Uncanny fan who has never read Exiles, I agree with the initial review. I did love this episode, and especially loved the fact that it has implications to the X-men universe. So many crossovers are simply done as a way to get the teams together, this crossover changes and explains characters. I liked the story, liked the art, and liked meeting new characters.

[Fusion]

Originally posted by TurdFerguson
My biggest problem with this issue is that it wasn't an Exiles story. It was an issue of Uncanny that the exiles stumbled into. Next thing you know, there's going to be a love triangle b/w Sasquatch, Nocture and Sunfire.

:sigh:

[John Q.T. Nguyen]

Originally posted by thewrite1


Nightcrawler has black hair actually. ;)



Blue Fur. (;

[Black mamba]

i thought he just had blue skin.

[Outcast]

Originally posted by AirDent554
i thought he just had blue skin.

In the movies, you're right, in the comics, however, it's been described as a short velvet-like layer of fur...

[heeeve]

all right issue, admittedly I had higher hopes, but still a good issue. Its nice to see its picking up a lot of loose ends left over from earlier issues being picked up

[Black mamba]

Originally posted by Outcast


In the movies, you're right, in the comics, however, it's been described as a short velvet-like layer of fur...

so is it all over his face or on parts of it?

[Suzene]

Originally posted by AirDent554


so is it all over his face or on parts of it?

The fur covered his body entirely. I remember in Excalibur, it seemed like every female who met the team wanted to pet Kurt to see what it felt like, and he didn't mind the attention at all. This was way back before the troll-doll/Vash the Stampede hair.

Suzene

[Black mamba]

hmmmm intresting:D

[Mutant Popsicle]

I never read Exiles before, and picked it up pretty much just because of the X-Men being involved. I wasn't interested in picking up another new book with a buncha new characters, but, now I'm getting to know the Exiles via the X-Men, so I might continue with the book even after this arc.