NEW X-MEN #143 REVIEW

[Anthony Zisa]

<a href="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/covers/newmen143.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/covers/newxmen143t.jpg" align=left alt="New X-Men #143"></a>Reviewer: Anthony Zisa, aczisa@xfan.cjb.net
Story Title: The World
Quick Rating: Excellent!

Invisibles Morrison hijacks New X-Men for an issue, introducing one of the most interesting concepts yet in Morrison’s now-classic run.

Written by: Grant Morrison
Pencilled by: Chris Bachalo
Inked by: Tim Townsend
Colored by: Chris Chuckry
Lettered by: Virtual Calligraphy’s Rus Wooton
Assistant Editor: Warren Simons
Editor: Mike Marts
Editor-in-Chief: Joe Quesada
President: Bill Jemas

Now this is what I have been waiting for from Grant Morrison’s New X-Men. “The World” is a big idea comic, with plenty of the insane little touches that are Morrison’s stock and trade, that never skimps on crisp dialogue and great pacing. Morrison has crafted a perfect issue here; picture perfect craft, backed up with something of substance, storywise. This is a well-written book that is about something.

Lesser writers would have been too in love with the explosive concepts Morrison casually lobs at the reader, and the result might have been a mishmash of ideas that never quite connected. Yet, Morrison’s concepts fit within a nice framework of his story, with exposition never overwhelming the reader. That the considerable amount of exposition, pertaining to AIM, The World, Weapon Plus, and the last issue, is handled quite deftly. Rather than characters spewing facts, they seem to be conversing naturally. That all the exposition occurs in dialogue, with no clunky voice-overs or narration, is even more impressive. Such a manner of getting the important information out of the way is an effective, if subpar, methodology of imparting information, but Morrison does not fall into the trap of captions. This decision causes “The World” to seem a faster story than it actually is. A lot happens in a short amount of time no matter how the writer would have structured the story, but the rapid-fire dialogue makes the pacing seem almost breakneck, even though it is merely the first real issue of the assault.

The dialogue, as previously mentioned, is heavy on the ideas, and Morrison has some fun ones ready for the reader. Time as plastic and malleable, an engineered world where this plastic time is used with ruthless efficiency, man/machine fusion, reverse engineering living beings, and the resistance to such scientific horrors are all touched upon in a mere twenty-two pages; and while many of the themes are not entirely original to Morrison, his approach, amalgamation, and insertion into the X-Men mythos makes it seem entirely new and fresh. The pacing definitely helps. One hardly has time to think about where they have seen this all before prior to Morrison whacking them over the head with another new thought. In a way, the genetic engineering of the World is mirrored in Morrison’s memetic engineering of old, tired concepts, spun into something entirely Morrisonian.

If big themes and ideas are not one’s thing, however, there is little need to worry. One thing that can be stopped and savored without guilt is Morrison’s one-liners. “The World” is rife with them, from Cyclop’s recognition of his own fame to Fantomex’s eBay account. There are a few laugh out loud lines, a few Wilde-ian caliber witticisms, and just enough reality to keep everything level. It is once again a balancing act. Too much style, and the writing becomes evident. Part of what is great about Morrison’s dialogue, as an overall view, is the way he balances his cleverness with straightforwardness. In fact, the issue as a whole seems to serve in a ying/yang manner. Coupled with “Brimstone and Whiskey,” it is an interesting juxtaposition. Grounded reality, rooted in the real world versus absolute madness, rooted in nothing less than the next century’s theoretically mathematics.

The characterization is spot on, as well. Fantomex particularly gets a chance to shine, as he proves his mercenary roots have not left him without a sense of wit and whimsy. The AIM soldiers get an honorable mention, with their perfect blend of technobabble, ambition, and idiocy. They are the kind of organization Morrison writes wonderfully, though to a degree it seems like a retread of the points he made with the U-Men. Certainly, though, AIM’s inclusion rather than, say, the U-Men is a great nod towards the X-Men’s place in the shared Marvel Universe, accomplished in an unobtrusive manner. It is a textbook case of using continuity to enhance a story, rather than building a story around continuity.

“The World,” though, would not be nearly as fun without Chris Bachalo’s marvelous work. This Bachalo is definitely the Bachalo of Generation X, Shade, and Death, pure, clear storytelling coupled with those distinctly Bachalo-ian renderings. Each page layout is a dream, each madcap idea/theme illustrated to perfection. Morrison and Bachalo seem to have ceased their existence as dual entities, and have merged into Morrichalo, Deity of the Sixth Circle of Comic Heaven. Even the cover, with beautiful use of negative space and a wonderfully washed out color scheme, fits (as well as manages to be probably the most interesting, well-designed cover Marvel has released in a good long while). Much of Bachalo’s great art owes to Tim Townsends’s sharp inking and Chris Chuckry’s palette (this time done in hues of blue, rather than the red of last issue, another interesting juxtaposition that the more violent “The World” is tinged in serene blue, while the serene “Brimstone and Whiskey” is tinged in violent red). They are perfectly suited for Bachalo’s pencils, and after his New X-Men stint is over, I would personally love to see the art team reassembled for something else (or the entire team, if possible).

“The World” continues the best storyline since “E is for Extinction.” You would be remiss if you did not jump onboard for the first time or second time. There are few second chances to see a writer hit the ground running or hit his second wind, and if you missed out on the fun of “E is for Extinction,” “Assault on Weapon Plus” might be your last chance.

Though, hopefully not.

ART:
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STORY:
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OVERALL:
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Order this issue online now from X-World Comics and save! (http://x-worldcomics.com/yourvirtualstore/shopdisplaycategories.asp?id=44&cat=NEW+X%2DMEN)

[spinarakboi]

If it's confusing and uses big words it must be good right? ....

Sorry i'm just having an attitude actually I thought it was pretty good.... although I wouldn't have given it an excellent... i'd save that one for next one. I have to say though Cyclops is cool. I hated him so much before, he was so boring and so "I'm the serious leader guy" but he's getting some character development and it is being done the way character development *should* be done. The art on the other had I thought I made everything much more confusing. I couldnt understand what was going on, some panels just looks like scribbles to me. But ever since the Murder at the Mansion arc I think Morrison is getting back on track. His recent stories have the same feel as E is for Extention and the anual. I'll just pretend everything in between never happened and then it's all good.

[Hellion]

I couldn't agree more with this review. Loving NX. To have Chris Bachalo back drawing the X-Men is wonderful. I wish he would stay on indefinitely. Best part for me was the humor, the eBay thing made me laugh out loud.

[CmX]

I like fell asleep while reading this issue...:sleep:...

[Tyler85]

At first, I was pretty confused about what all was going on in this issue. So, I read it again, and finally started to understand. The story was great (it is Morrison, after all), but I found some of the artwork to be confusing in the story-telling department. I love Bachalo (he is my favorite artist), so don't get me wrong here. I hope next issues art is easier to follow, like the previous issues was. I look forward to the next NEW, and would love to see Bachalo stay on as regular artist (which is something this book really needs).

[aRcHaNgElOfLiFe]

Loved this issues. I've always been a big Cyke fan, and even with this, it's not like I'm mad about how this is happening. It's making him even more cooler. Showing his weaknesses. Heroes always aren't unbreakable. With showing more development with Cyclops(in New) and Iceman(in Uncanny), I couldn't be more happier. And wow, I'm actually thinking Wolverine isn't annoying for once. And Fantomex, wow. The guy is simply amazing.

[crozack]

Morrichalo?

:LOL:

Good to hear this issue was stunning. It has Bachalo so I'm bound to pick it up sometime. Border's seems to have a problem putting out comics on the bi-weekly schedule so I haven't been able to check it out yet.

Hopefully this isn't the last we see of Bachalo at Marvel.

[TheIronYuppie]

I loved this story!! This is definatly the best Morrison has put out since E is for Extinction. Can't say I like the art that much, but is isn't very important to me. And you can't help but love Fantomex in this one, great great stuff! Looking forward to the next NEW thing!

[DiamondPaladinX]

The review was right on the target. This issue was outstanding, yet comfortably straightforward. The concepts, the one-liners, the character developments (especially of Cyclops), just the whole issue was done to a perfect equilibrium of a comic book.

Looking very much forward to the next issue.

[Riliss]

i also had to read the issue twice - but really, it's because there was just so much here to take it. after i read it, i actually felt rewarded, you know? like, "damn, i get it, and damn if it ain't cool."

and strangely enough, i also never liked Cyclops until Morrison started writing him.

great issue.

[Wolverine]

I agree. The Morrison run is classic

[A.W. Pemberton]

Its satisfying to know you're reading a classic run by an excellent writer. We've had a lot of supposed "revolutionary" creators over the years, but this guy actually deserves the tag. He's really made the x-men his own (he puts what Claremont is doing currently in the shade IMO, which is no mean feat).

[Jordan T. Maxwell]

I have loved Morrison's entire run and while i'm anxious to once again see Phil Jiminez' work on this title, Chris Bachalo is a godsend...loved Brimstone and Whiskey with a passion and can't WAIT to pick this up.

[magiklover]

YEa this issue certainly made up for that stinker of a filler that was uncanny 427

[mic]

I very much enjoyed this issue also, once I saw the cover I was like "oh snap! thats ill as hell." From that I thought this is gonna be a good issue and it was. I can't wait for the next one. Although I'm not too fond of Bachalo's style I was pleasantly pleased with the art but a few panels were difficult to decipher.

[Jemm]

SWEET issue! Thumbs up :)

[Mightiest_mortal]

What the???

that review's scary. it kisses a lotta a$$ without actually saying anything about anything.

I didnt know Harry Knowles reviewed here???

Morrison is great :) Ive enjoyed his run so far...

but Bachelo on art?? 5 stars?? its hard enought to see what on earth is going on in any given panel.

[katryn]

This issue totally made up for the direness of Uncanny - Morrisson and Bachelo make a fanatstic team.

The dialogue at the start had me laughing out loud - whoever thought you'd see Big Brother in a marvel comic???

Fantomex is proving to be an enjoyable new personality and it's about time Cyclops moved on as a character - New X-Men is fast becoming my first read of the month when I collect my books.

[Kevin Woodside]

As cool as this story arch is, I think this one is a bit too wierd for me. I love Morrison's quarkiness and oddness that he brings into X-Men, but this one pushed it a bit too much.

But hey, that's just me. Other than that, I'm loving the Scott/Logan interaction.

~W~

[Patrick James]

While I personally hated E for Extinction and thought it was rushed and hard to follow with logic, I will agree that this story has been a high point in Morrison's run.

The dialogue was inspiringly fresh and real for the three focus characters, but the reporters and AIM men were harder than crap to make out. However, I think this was largely due to Bachalo's artwork. I did not find this issue to be as good, artwise, as the last amazing issue. One should be able to get everything in a first reading; a second reading should be for details, not a requirement to understand all of the events and facts thrown around.

Tim Townsend has got to be my favorite inker on the planet. He is underrated and absolutely amazing.

I hope when this is over, Cyclops and Jean leave New and the X-Mansion and Morrison brings in some other classic X-Men to freshen his line-up.

Fantomex sucked in his initial appearances, IMO, but these last two make up for it a hundred times over. Now he's hilariously cool. Like :deadpool:, in a way...

[Dragon]

The issue wasn't to bad, i personally still don't like the whole idea of the Weapon # stuff, i prefer Weapon X, it sounds better. I still also don't like the fact that in nearly every X title expecally New X-men that Wolverine is being taken out of the fight in one panel or less. Hopefully things will get better, overall the issue was fine i give it atleast a 4/5

[gambitX]

Originally posted by thew40
As cool as this story arch is, I think this one is a bit too wierd for me. I love Morrison's quarkiness and oddness that he brings into X-Men, but this one pushed it a bit too much.

~W~

Agree.


Originally posted by Arkangel4Psy
Fantomex sucked in his initial appearances, IMO, but these last two make up for it a hundred times over. Now he's hilariously cool. Like :deadpool:, in a way...

He sucked big time. But he is too much like deadpool now.

I am not into his "origin" either. Not fond of the whole Weapon X (you mean nobody ever said PLUS anywhere else?.. BEH!)

I would not have given this an excellent at all.
Above Average from me.

The art was awesome. I love Bachalo..

and I also agree regarding the review and its... "fondness" for this writer.

[Chris Wilson]

Great review! However, don't you think diefying Morrison and Bachalo as a single, intertwined entity may be pushing it? :cool:

-Chris

[NicholasRogue]

Jeeze anthony hyperventilating yet lol. I liked this story although it left me confused at times. I wouldn't say it was as good as E is for Extinction, but then again we haven't seen the entire story yet, I definitely liked the previous issue better, but the artwork was good and the story definitely intriguing.

[Anthony Zisa]

Originally posted by Mightiest_mortal
I didnt know Harry Knowles reviewed here???

Be honest. You did an IP cross-reference, didn't you?

--acz

[Kevin Sutton]

I thought this isssue was good, based solely on the strength of the dialogue. The addition of something wierd like the World was also a welcome addition, but the cluttered way the situation was described in the first few pages was really confusing.

Bachalo's art was acceptable with his cover and his spreads being his strong points. (Best cover in a very long time) His weak point being not the action, (as it usually is) but rather the movement between the panels was pretty confusing. Hell, when AIM ambushed the X-guys I didn't even know what the hell was happening. (If it hadn't been mentioned, I wouldn't have known the reporter was dead)

[supercalifragilistic]

just a note...the cover was signed only by tim townsend (the inker on the rest of the book), so its not bachelo's -- it's townsend's work. this leads me to believe that much of the credit for the great art in the issue is due to the inks. bachelo's still great, but it seems that the quality of his work in different books rests on the work of the inker. townsend definately needs his props for this one.

[Anthony Zisa]

Originally posted by supercalifragilistic
just a note...the cover was signed only by tim townsend (the inker on the rest of the book), so its not bachelo's -- it's townsend's work. this leads me to believe that much of the credit for the great art in the issue is due to the inks. bachelo's still great, but it seems that the quality of his work in different books rests on the work of the inker. townsend definately needs his props for this one.

The squiggle on the cover is Bachalo's signature. Thus, the squiggle plus Townsend's sig is the art team signing it.

--acz

[Alex Guillen]

I enjoyed the issue, not exactly the best X-men portrayal but Morisson just brings something new everytime and this was a great issue especially the humour about ebay, now that was so funny. :LOL:
Bachalo's art suffers a little in this issue, the cover looks awsome but I want Jimenez back, he's one of my favorite artists.
Great review, Anthony Z.

[Airhead]

This issue was.......interesting......
I loved the art but I would have given the writing a 4!
I thought it was a nice twist to the series!
(They have got to get away from the manson more;) )

[ultimateX]

i definitely agree with the review.

first of all, the cover is worth framing. probably the best for quite a while.

same with other individuals here, i have to re- read the book twice (even thrice) to understand the book. everything happens so fast that you'd be left clueless once distracted.

and of course, i love the art. long live chris bachalo! i hope he would be the regular penciller of the book. if not, put him in xtreme xmen and junk igor kordey.

[baltiroo]

I enjoyed the issue adn thought it brought up some interesting points. I am looking forward to the rest of the arc. Here's to hoping that Morrison gets Cyke and Jean together for one night of make-up relations and then decide to separate for a while adn Jean discovers she's pregnant! I just hink the X-mansion needs some younguns around(besides the new students). It would make a nice twist for the Phoenix story. Maybe Morrison will also add Siryn to the team, add a nice mix to the team.

[Jordan T. Maxwell]

Originally posted by Sneakydub
Great review! However, don't you think diefying Morrison and Bachalo as a single, intertwined entity may be pushing it? :cool:

-Chris

Hold on, let me finish lighting these votive candles and praying before my shrine of...then i'll get back to you...;)


Originally posted by Anthony Zisa


Be honest. You did an IP cross-reference, didn't you?

--acz

I KNEW IT!!!!

[Anthony Lucynski]

Cant....enjoy...this..issue (is this Steampunk, vol.2?? Just curious..)

I'm sorry, I thought we would leave the whole Weapon Plus/Weapon 10-instead-of-weaponX crap alone.

The whole Fantomex thing is the only bad story in Grant's run, IMO. I knew we would be getting back to it, and last issue was nice, relaxed and funny..but when I saw Fantomex at the end of last issue, I was thrown back into Morrison's reality and I almost cried.

"Noooooo, not this AGAIN!!!!"

Sigh. At least Chris's art is so stunning it makes me want to cry in a GOOD way.

Anthony L

[thewrite1]

Wow. Chris Bachalo's art is definitely an acquired taste - I just haven't acquired it yet.
I can't stand hard to read comics. Grrr.

[gambitX]

Originally posted by Anthony Lucynski
Cant....enjoy...this..issue (is this Steampunk, vol.2?? Just curious..)

I'm sorry, I thought we would leave the whole Weapon Plus/Weapon 10-instead-of-weaponX crap alone.

The whole Fantomex thing is the only bad story in Grant's run, IMO. I knew we would be getting back to it, and last issue was nice, relaxed and funny..but when I saw Fantomex at the end of last issue, I was thrown back into Morrison's reality and I almost cried.

&quot;Noooooo, not this AGAIN!!!!&quot;

Sigh. At least Chris's art is so stunning it makes me want to cry in a GOOD way.

Anthony L

Totally agree...

I dont knw... but to me this story doesn't say X-Men at all...
it says.... Morrison.
which again, you could put THE INVISIBLES on the cover, or something like it, and it wouldn't change a thing.

I simply can't get around that.

I do love some of the things he has done... like the Cuckoos (well.. .that is the only thing... and whatever happens to Jean of course. I will have to wait and see).

[Rogue1969]

Hmmmm, it wasn't horrible. But Morrison fails to draw me in or win me over with this issue either.
There was some nice dialogue banter between the characters that worked well and made you 'believe' these characters, but other than being a quick grin I was still left indifferent. I do believe that it mainly ties in with the art, which to me is too 'cartoony' to convey any sense of threat or foreboding or mystery. The art works great for those one liners and 'over-the-top' moments but it leaves me cold everywhere else.

The other thing thatbothered me about this set up is Logan's connection to Fantomex. Did I miss something? I thought Fantomex didn't share info unless he was paid? Plus Logan was far to buddy buddy with this guy who he's never met before.

I don't like how this whole story arc is taking place either, as we don't see any lead-in on Logan's part to go looking for his past.
Are we to assume that Logan has been wrapped in that vision Quentin brought forward/manifested during the 'Riot'? If so, ho did Logan make that jump to Fantomex? After all the X-Men have been wrapped up in the 'murder of Emma Frost' and I don't see where Jean or the Prof. would have taken the time to talk to Logan right then and there to talk to Fantomex about his past...not to mention how they would have known where to find/contact him in the first place. To me these points just seem all too convenient and in some ways this whole arc feels more about getting Cyclops 'back on track' than truly being driven by Logan wanting to settle his past.

Also, in a similar fashion to Chuck over on Uncanny, Morrison seems a little distracted with involving lots of 'non core x-men team charcters' than with the team itself. The book could be titled 'Fantomex' "guest-starring Cyclops and Wolverine of the X-men." or even a generic 'Marvel Tales - guest starring Wolverine and Cylcops' book.

Honestly though? When was the last time the Uncanny team - as a wholefocused on more than two characters at the same time? What happened to these guys being a team? This is more like a group of people who live together - but doing their own things as they please.

Oh well, many people seemed to have liked it and I'm glad for them...but for myself this title is still very ho-hum, yeah whatever, material. Sadly, even at this point in Morrison's run, I can't pick out exactly what it is with Morrison's style that rubs me the wrong way but I know I'm not happy with it. Ah well., such is life.

cheers

[NicholasRogue]

Originally posted by gambitX


Totally agree...

I dont knw... but to me this story doesn't say X-Men at all...
it says.... Morrison.
which again, you could put THE INVISIBLES on the cover, or something like it, and it wouldn't change a thing.

I simply can't get around that.

I do love some of the things he has done... like the Cuckoos (well.. .that is the only thing... and whatever happens to Jean of course. I will have to wait and see).


My thoughts exacty.

[ChaosPhoenix]

Wolverine met Fantomex in New X-Men 133. Fantomex is the one that found Dust and let Wolverine take her. From Wolverine's comments you could gather that Xavier or Phoenix had told him about Fantomex. Fantomex hinted then that he knew about Wolverine's past.

Anyways I loved this issue for the awesome sci-fi concepts. I'm liking the story and the interaction/characterization with Scott and Logan.

[Jordan T. Maxwell]

Originally posted by gambitX


Totally agree...

I dont knw... but to me this story doesn't say X-Men at all...
it says.... Morrison.
which again, you could put THE INVISIBLES on the cover, or something like it, and it wouldn't change a thing.

I simply can't get around that.

I do love some of the things he has done... like the Cuckoos (well.. .that is the only thing... and whatever happens to Jean of course. I will have to wait and see).


Heaven forbid the guy should bring his own unique voice to the book :rolleyes: Yeah, let's go back to the bland flavorless X-Men of the 90s when, to paraphrase the Mountain Goats, everyone was doing a bad impression of an impression of chris claremont. That's really pathetic. ;)

And you think you could slap The Invisibles on this and it'd be the same? Please...half the people in here's head would explode if they tried to pick up The Invisibles with their current attitudes and biases...this is exactly what X-Men should be, in my opinion. "family" drama, superhero action and totally off the wall sci-fi (after all, we were talking about clones and nano technology long before the rest of the world was...:D)

[gambitX]

beh...

Nobody is saying that he shouldn't bring his own unique voice... but he should also adjust his voice to the context of the X-Men and to the personal relations of the characters, instead of doing a complete RE-FORMAT of the book.

and here is another generalization that I don't like... which I somewhat infer from your last paragraph (if I am wrong, sorry).
I am sure I would like the Invisibles, because it is THE INVISIBLES, created to be what they are based on Morrison's idea. I would not have a problem with that.

[RaggedRobin]

NXM isn't the Invisibles - it's a lot simpler and more coherent. Morrison might be introducing a few Invisiblesque ideas but he's following a pretty standard narrative structure, which you rarely found in the Invisibles.

That said this seemed like another set up issue, which makes me think 142 should really have been a stand alone rather than part of this arc. I suspect it will kick off next issue. That said the characterisation was great and the dialogue amusing and snappy.

I was surprised by the excellent rating for this issue though - there's no way it was better than the first part of the Murder at Xavier's arc, or bits of Riot, for example. Jiminez and Quitely are also far superior artists to Bacchalo (- although he used to be much better). Some of the artwork in this issue was very confusing on the first read.

[DeadmanWade]

i thought the issue was pretty good but it wasnt as good as last which was really good. the art really carried this issue.

[Topper Harley]

If Wolvie discovers the secret to his past in this arc, I'll eat my hat. This arc is a Cyclops-centric one. His personal problems, and the way he relates to Logan, so long an antagonist, but now when the chips are down, Logan has faith in Scott, when even Scott is questioning himself, this is the stufff this arc is about. It also allows Morrison to throw in a few interesting ideas, and develop Fantomex.

Fantomex is up to something, and I imagine he's just using Wolvie and Cyke as muscle to get to something or someone. This guy doesnt do stuff out of the goodness of his heart. Seeing as Wolvie doesnt know the bloke very well, and Cyke doesnt know him from Adam, they should be on their guard.

Regards the art, I quite like Bachalo, and I feel that next issue, where he can show off some crazy designs in The World will be suited to him. That said, I have been astounded at the quality Jimenez has produced in his 4 issues on the book, and would love to see him again.

it's the not X-Men I grew up reading. Thank heavens.

Praise be to the Grantalo or the Chrisison, or The Morrisonachalo..or whatever we call this deity...

[Erwin Rafael]

Originally posted by gambitX
beh...

Nobody is saying that he shouldn't bring his own unique voice... but he should also adjust his voice to the context of the X-Men and to the personal relations of the characters, instead of doing a complete RE-FORMAT of the book.


yeah. like what Claremont did to the book when he came in. only Claremont has that right.

but wait a minute...

I am sure I would like the Invisibles, because it is THE INVISIBLES, created to be what they are based on Morrison's idea. I would not have a problem with that.

you haven't read THE INVISIBLES? but how could you say this?

I dont knw... but to me this story doesn't say X-Men at all...
it says.... Morrison.
which again, you could put THE INVISIBLES on the cover, or something like it, and it wouldn't change a thing.

i tell you, gambitX, this is NOT the INVISIBLES. Morrison's New X-Men is as much different from The Invisibles as it is different from Claremont's X-Men.

again, i am quite saddened that fans are so limiting when it comes to allowing creators to actually...create. Claremont and Miller dared to recreate X-Men and Daredevil according to how they see it. so much so that their works made these charafcters different from who they used to be. that's just exactly the same thing Morrison is doing now.

[TurdFerguson]

I personally don't understand what was so hard to understand about this issue, it seemed 100% straightforward to me.

[Jordan T. Maxwell]

Originally posted by gambitX
beh...

Nobody is saying that he shouldn't bring his own unique voice... but he should also adjust his voice to the context of the X-Men and to the personal relations of the characters, instead of doing a complete RE-FORMAT of the book.

and here is another generalization that I don't like... which I somewhat infer from your last paragraph (if I am wrong, sorry).
I am sure I would like the Invisibles, because it is THE INVISIBLES, created to be what they are based on Morrison's idea. I would not have a problem with that.



Erwin hit it spot on the money about this, comparing it to Frank Miller coming on to Daredevil. Before that, DD really wasn't incredibly interesting. He was a poor man's Spidey...Miller came in and saw the potential to bring in elements of crime and noir, make the book so gritty and cynical...darkly romantic. And the book and character soared! I think that's what Morrison's doing...while it's still a superhero book, he's injecting a lot more. Playing up the school as being as much a character as setting, subverting the tropes of the genre, shaking up the messed up pseudo-family dynamics that have formed over the years and weird off the wall science fiction ideas combined with an overarching sense of mysticism. I understand if it's not some people's thing, but i have to take issue with people who say he's turning X-Men into The Invisibles or Doom Patrol or The Filth. Not at all...they're still the X-Men. Heck, to me they're more the X-Men than they have been in years. The characters and concepts are iconic and it's true they've developed their own voice. But the writer has also become pretty damn iconic and has a voice that is his. It's how these voices blend and harmonize together that produces the book. Claremont's style resonates with these characters very differently than Stan Lee or Scott Lobdell or (shudder) Alan Davis...so does Morrison's. And personally, i'm loving what i hear. :)

And my point about saying a lot of people one these boards might have a problem with The Invisibles is because a lot of them are very concerned with continuity and linear storytelling, whereas The Invisibles requires the reader to look at the story abstractly, from multiple interpretations...each one valid. The "truth" of the story is incredibly fluid. Something you thought was true for twenty issues has to be accepted as untrue almost immediately...and you have to be prepared to accept it as true again a couple of panels later. It's filled with crazy ideas, characters who might be someone else entirely, fluid ideals of good and evil, unheroic protagonists, sympathetic villains...and a few in between characters who you're not entirely sure of one way or the other. It's a fractal. It can be interpreted in several different ways, most of them contradictory, all of them valid. In short, a lot of X-Fans require a strict adherence to continuity. The Invisibles asks that you set that aside. Of course, i think if people open up their minds enough, it's incredibly enjoyable. The best part is, once you can figure out some of the different concepts and stories in The Invisibles (translation: what the frell is going on), things like the Phoenix and alternate timelines that shouldn't exist suddenly start to make SENSE. :cool:

And, just to sate my own curiousity..."beh"?

[Erwin Rafael]

it's when Morrison starts to write what seemingly is nonsense that things start to actually make sense. LOL! that's pretty much how reading The Invisibles feels like. his New X-Men work? imaginative, BUT straightforward.

and Zisa, your review would have been perfect had you not misspelled the word dEIty. :p

[Cable2x]

Like I said last issue: This seems to be turning into the best story arc I have read in a long time. The characterization, the art, the plot, humor, all like nothing I have ever seen in a comic. My two favorite X-Men (1. Cyke, 2. Logan) just being written like magic, and I am totally digging Fantomex now. He's shaping out to be a great character. I have to say it again, Bachalo RULES!!!!

I truly wish this arc continues and ends as magnificently as the last two issues have been.

[Vasilios]

I didnt get this issue, I actually wanted my money back....

Hey maybe it was because the story would start all over again every 6 pages..... i guess it was a print error?

[gambitX]

Originally posted by Erwin Rafael
yeah. like what Claremont did to the book when he came in. only Claremont has that right.

Oh give me a break. What Claremont did actually followed some of the basic X-Men premises, while Morrison just throws in EXTREMELY weird stuff just for the point of being weird.

you haven't read THE INVISIBLES? but how could you say this?
I say this because I think I am able to appreciate a book for what it is, based on what the author intended the book to be. I say this because I'm sure that (even though some people say the Invisibles are xxxxxx times more complicated than this) I would be able to appreciate that book for what it is. To me...reading the invisibles (and I use the invisible because I believe that is a book he created, and in which "weird" stories seem to have taken place. If I am wrong, then sorry... but this has been what has been explained to me) could probably help me understand his style... but I dont want to have to read another book to be able to appreciate his writing, even though I dont think it matches the x-cannon.

i tell you, gambitX, this is NOT the INVISIBLES. Morrison's New X-Men is as much different from The Invisibles as it is different from Claremont's X-Men. Please see above.


And, just to sate my own curiousity..."beh"?

"beh" is just an expression... like saying UGH.

[Inferno256]

i love the cover!!!! the story was a bit confusing in parts, but i like ones that make you think.:p

[Jordan T. Maxwell]

Originally posted by gambitX


Oh give me a break. What Claremont did actually followed some of the basic X-Men premises, while Morrison just throws in EXTREMELY weird stuff just for the point of being weird.



That's your opinion. I think the weirdness serves the X-mythos very well. Let's take a look at a few aspects of Claremont's run...you had a European noble launching a Doomsday device from one of the most heavily fortified military complexes in the world with the help of a cadre of half-animal/half-humans (it was like watching evil Disney), a face off in an Irish castle where the X-Men won the day through the assistance of leprechauns, a character dying only to ressurect herself as a cosmic force that had to then heal a lattice work of energy surrounding a neutron star that existed inside a giant crystal that was in fact the nexus point of all realities...a child who's mother kept him locked up in a clinic, only to escape and jump from one decaying body to the next as he leeched off their vital systems and, oh yeah, he could manipulate the laws of reality at will...a dystopic future ruled by gigantic robots, a world who's only hope is for a woman to psychically time travel and switch bodies with her younger self in order to prevent a presidential assassination (on a side note, psychic time travel would later be used quite often in, you guessed it, THE INVISIBLES)...and heck, that just covers a few areas of his runs with Cockrum and Byrne. And need i even mention Colossus' alter ego, Captain Proletariat (or whatever it was...)? Wild mysticism and science fiction weirdness...hmm, seems to me like those ARE some pretty "basic X-Men premises."

I mean, it's not like they've ever been called the strangest superheroes of all or anything...;)

[Jared Oberholtzer]

Originally posted by CmX
I like fell asleep while reading this issue...:sleep:...
Same.. I thought last issue was 100 times worse though. It did pick up towards the end, but I wish it would have sooner. :( Oh well. I'm hoping next issue will be better.

[ugaryan526]

I'm just not going to judge this issue until I read all 4 together without a month gap between issues. That's usually how things make sense and flow better.

[crozack]

Originally posted by Cable2x
Like I said last issue: This seems to be turning into the best story arc I have read in a long time. The characterization, the art, the plot, humor, all like nothing I have ever seen in a comic. My two favorite X-Men (1. Cyke, 2. Logan) just being written like magic, and I am totally digging Fantomex now. He's shaping out to be a great character. I have to say it again, Bachalo RULES!!!!

I truly wish this arc continues and ends as magnificently as the last two issues have been.

My god, I couldn't agree more. Well said, my friend!!

Achem...though it would be better if Banshee was involved but, hey, that's just me marking out.

[Booyah9]

I liked the last two issues. Bachalo's style is great, even if it worked better for the previous issue than the latest one. I don't really see what's wrong with Morrison, or "Moronson" as I've seen him called on these boards.

[Mightiest_mortal]

Originally posted by The_Reverend


That's your opinion. I think the weirdness serves the X-mythos very well. Let's take a look at a few aspects of Claremont's run...you had a European noble launching a Doomsday device from one of the most heavily fortified military complexes in the world with the help of a cadre of half-animal/half-humans (it was like watching evil Disney), a face off in an Irish castle where the X-Men won the day through the assistance of leprechauns, a character dying only to ressurect herself as a cosmic force that had to then heal a lattice work of energy surrounding a neutron star that existed inside a giant crystal that was in fact the nexus point of all realities...a child who's mother kept him locked up in a clinic, only to escape and jump from one decaying body to the next as he leeched off their vital systems and, oh yeah, he could manipulate the laws of reality at will...a dystopic future ruled by gigantic robots, a world who's only hope is for a woman to psychically time travel and switch bodies with her younger self in order to prevent a presidential assassination (on a side note, psychic time travel would later be used quite often in, you guessed it, THE INVISIBLES)...and heck, that just covers a few areas of his runs with Cockrum and Byrne. And need i even mention Colossus' alter ego, Captain Proletariat (or whatever it was...)? Wild mysticism and science fiction weirdness...hmm, seems to me like those ARE some pretty &quot;basic X-Men premises.&quot;

I mean, it's not like they've ever been called the strangest superheroes of all or anything...;)

HAHAHAHA
thats a great summary.
I always seem to get the impression that im the only one that was never THAT keen on Claremont. Sure some of his stories were good but some missed the whole point of X-Men + some were REALLY stupid.. IE The Leprechauns.
I dont really think hes the god of X-Men that people make him out to be.

Look at the whole phoenix thing.. good story.. but if that had just been a progression of her own power + not some cosmic thing + they had to kill her because oif it.. it would have been so much better.

[thewrite1]

I think Chris Claremont is loved because of his spot-on characterisations. He gave a voice and a history to so many of what became our favourite characters - Logan, Kitty, Ororo, Kurt, Sean Cassidy, and the mulitude of supporting characters. Even if his stories were a little weird (which I loved) he knew these characters well and he deserves our eternal gratitude for that.

RE New X-Men: I can see that Fantomex is using Wolverine and to a lesser extent Cyclops, but what isn't explained is why Logan is taken in by it. He rarely trusts strangers and it doesn't seem right for Logan to be so friendly with Fantomex, as others have mentioned.

[PurityBrown]

Well, diving in here in the midst of a heated debate...

I've liked pretty much everything Morrison and his co-creators have done with NXM -- and I'm coming from the position of one who started reading X-books this May, after seeing X2 five times in the cinema and wanting more; I started with the first NXM collections and went on from there. Some of the stories and concepts Morrison came up with really blew my mind -- I cherish my Vol 1 hardcover and re-read it probably more often than is good for me. But I didn't like this issue.

I liked Fantomex when he first appeared, because it seemed he was meant as a parody of the mysteriously uber-competent characters with Shadowy Pasts that the MU is so plagued with. On that level, he really worked: what were his powers? What lay in his past? Who cares? He looks cool in a white trenchcoat! Watch him kick ass and make wisecracks!

Trouble is, now Morrison's asking us to take him seriously as a character... and there's nothing *there* for me to take seriously. Everything he says or has said in the past is suspect, since he's such an outrageous liar, and I have no idea what his motivations are. As far as I can tell, his personality is all surface... which, as I said, is fine if he's just a parody, but ask me to care about him or believe in him on the same level as I believe in Scott and Logan, and you're asking for the impossible.

In addition, "the World" does not thrill me as a concept: what is it, The Terminator meets The Truman Show? So what? To be honest, it reminded me of an episode of a weird late-night Irish TV show called A Scare At Bedtime, which is probably a large part of why it didn't particularly impress me. (Well, that and A Scare At Bedtime made the concept very sinister and scary and Morrison... didn't. To be fair, I don't think that's what he was aiming for.)

But probably the worst aspect of the book was the enormous chunks of expository dialogue towards the beginning. Blech. My eyes glazed over halfway through each lengthy, dull speech by the folks running "the World". It wasn't quite "as you know, Bob", but it came close.

And even with all the buildup, I'm not sure I quite believe in Scott being that ineffectual amidst the hail of bullets, emotional crisis or no emotional crisis.

[Zachary J. Morrison]

Excellent review, Anthony. I enjoyed reading this issue, and seeing how Fantomex teams up with Cyke and Wolverine to find pieces of Logan's past. I can't wait to pick up the next ish of this arc. It looks interesting.

[Anthony Lucynski]

I so do despise the notion that most New X-Men readers couldnt handle or wouldnt be able to handle a "smart story" like the Invisibles. Its an untrue notion at best, and an elitist attitude. Just because something confuses the hell out of somebody, doesnt make it good, smart, or "above the average reader".

That said, I still didnt like this issue. Want to lump me in with the layman and say I cant handle it's intelligence? Fine. So be it. I've been reading a wide variety of literature since I was shortly out of diapers. Your opinion of my ability to handle such concepts matters not to my enjoyment of the issue. But please, looking down on "the masses" simply because they dont get what you get, or derive the same pleasure.

Just my two cents (because I now feel that since I dont enjoy it, i'm looked down upon by certain parties.)

Anthony L

[Jordan T. Maxwell]

Originally posted by Anthony Lucynski
I so do despise the notion that most New X-Men readers couldnt handle or wouldnt be able to handle a &quot;smart story&quot; like the Invisibles. Its an untrue notion at best, and an elitist attitude. Just because something confuses the hell out of somebody, doesnt make it good, smart, or &quot;above the average reader&quot;.

That said, I still didnt like this issue. Want to lump me in with the layman and say I cant handle it's intelligence? Fine. So be it. I've been reading a wide variety of literature since I was shortly out of diapers. Your opinion of my ability to handle such concepts matters not to my enjoyment of the issue. But please, looking down on &quot;the masses&quot; simply because they dont get what you get, or derive the same pleasure.

Just my two cents (because I now feel that since I dont enjoy it, i'm looked down upon by certain parties.)

Anthony L

Give me a second before i respond, i have to take out some of these words you just put in my mouth...Ah, much better...they were way too bitter anyway.

Did i ever say ANYTHING about "the masses" or their "intelligence"? No, what i said is that The Invisibles is a different type of story that requires a wholly different approach to reading it than the X-Men, and therefore than a lot of X-Men fans are used to. It was like a joke i had with other Morrison fans when it was first announced he was coming aboard...that the guy who's (arguably) most famous work defied any normal sense of continuity was coming on to the most continuity heavy book in the world. So it would require at least some adjustment period to reading a story in a different way. It's like if you watched a lot of romantic comedies and science fiction films your whole life...and then somebody sat you down and made you watch Donnie Darko or Requiem for a Dream. The reason these movies (and The Invisibles) are good is not because they try to outthink you or confuse you...but because they challenge you. They're well written, well produced, solid stories that just happen to challenge the audience while still giving them a romping good time. And while not to that degree, Morrison has brought some of that approach to this book and some people haven't enjoyed it or haven't understood it...therefore, if they have trouble enjoying or understanding this, how much more so with the Invisibles? I consider myself a pretty intelligent fellow, and that book confused the hell out of me the first couple of times i read it. But I still loved every second of it because even in the abstraction, the weird concepts, the use of elements i had no knowledge of at the time (Lovecraftian mythos, memes, transvestite shamanism...which IS a real thing, by the way) there were amazing stories with engaging characters. It has nothing to do with intelligence (like i said, if you know about some of the stuff he's talking about, it's easier to understand, not to enjoy)...it's about open mindedness. You call me an elitist, but i'd say that those who can only enjoy one type of story to the exclusion of all others might be a TAD more deserving. So drop this "champion of the people" act, Anthony...it's a little tiresome.

No one's looking down at you, Anthony...well, maybe for that Liefeld thing, but that's neither here nor there. ;) This is art and entertainment. It's entirely subjective and if you don't like it, fantastic! Thank you for sharing with us (no sarcasm there, by the way). My point is that if you don't like Morrison's work on X-Men because of its approach or its weird ideas or its unique style, then you probably wouldn't much enjoy The Invisibles, which is all of that to a greater degree. Which has nothing to do with intelligence and has everything to do with personal tastes in storytelling.

[Storm_1118]

This issue was quite bad I felt. I was so into everything happeneing in #141 with Bishop and the search for where Cyclops was and who killed Emma, etc. And then #142 and this issue happened....blah. I wish I could return the issue and get my money back.

[Jemm]

I really loved this issue and feel that this could be another E for Extinction type arc. Grade A stuff.

[silenceenvy]

First off, I thought the issue was good, not as good as the previous issue, but it keeps the story moving and offers some interesting points (even if Morrison's done this idea before). I've always liked Bachalo's art, it can get a little chaotic where a reader might have trouble following it, but here it's coherent and crisp for all intents and purposes. And the cover is absolutely fantastic.
I've also heard people state that Morrison's run is classic. While I agree to it being very well written and entertaining, one can only imagine what it would've been like with one artist (or an artist per arc). In fact, I would've been content, even overjoyed, if they had a rotating art team or Quitely, Jiminez, and Bachalo. Of course this is a problem I think plagues a lot of would be classic comics now a days. Basically, it's just a personal problem of mine.

[harlekein]

This story is absolutely stunning. I haven't been exposed to much of GM's work because I dropped it quickly. This seemed to be a nice jumping back on point and love the Wolverine/Cycke dynamic and together with last issue this is great. I'm definitely picking up this arc and from there we will see...

[magiklover]

Originally posted by The_Reverend




No one's looking down at you, Anthony...well, maybe for that Liefeld thing, but that's neither here nor there. ;)

HEY! Leave Liefeld outta this!