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View Full Version : UNCANNY X-MEN #405 REVIEW


Anthony Zisa
Apr 7, 2002, 07:10 am
<a href="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/covers/uxmen405.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/covers/uxmen405t.jpg" align=left alt="Uncanny X-Men #405"></a>Reviewer: Anthony Zisa, PopinFrsh@aol.com
Quick Rating: Excellent!
Story Title: Ballroom Blitzkrieg

All Hell breaks loose as rogue X-Corps members launch blitzkrieg on Paris, the Bastard Squad silences opposition back at headquarters, X-Men are put in the line of fire, and the mastermind behind the plot against Banshee is revealed! Plus a shock beyond belief – Stacy cuts discounts!

Written by: Joe Casey
Art by: Sean Phillips
Lettered by: RS Comicraft's Saida!
Colored by: Hi-Fi Design
Assistant Editor: Pete Franco
Editor: Mark Powers
Editor-in-Chief: Joe Quesada
President: Bill Jemas

I don’t want to like this arc. I really, really don’t. The X-Corps arc, for all its methodical build-up and blistering climax and denouement, lacks the Casey social-commentary-in-form-of-X-Men-stories touch. Thematically, this is a step backwards for the book. Mindless action, especially well-written action, is very fun as entertainment. However, Casey’s previous two arcs balanced some action with commentary on the world, and a willingness to push the conventions of X-Men stories around, and analyze them through utilization. To some fans, it was off-putting and strange. Joe Casey’s ways were confusing. This was an X-Men book, right?

The X-Corps, however, has little in the way of deeper thematic profundities. The arc is essentially Claremontian action opera as filtered through the mind of a man who implied the writer of the source material has not done any useful work lately. And sadly, the filter is not radical, and the finished product is not atypical in any way. Ironically, the arc that has caused many of Casey’s staunchest critics to join the ranks of those who will miss him once he is gone is the one on which he under performs from that atypical superhero story he does rather well.

The problem with the X-Corps arc is that for Casey’s entire adherence to certain conventions, he just keeps writing within those boundaries terribly, terribly well. Casey captures the frenetic pacing as the unraveling of Banshee’s dream continues, and draws the reader into the story by paralleling the blitzkrieg attack underway in Paris with a blitzkrieg pace of events back in the X-Corps headquarters. A lot happens in the space of one issue (some would argue more than has happened in the entirety of the X-Corps arc up until this issue).

The issue starts off with a terrific page of Banshee staring at an empty hanger, saying, “Where are all our gunships...?” The X-Corps gunships have gone missing, presumably by the same group of rebels the readers know staged a hostile takeover last issue. Realizing he cannot keep the X-Men in the dark any longer, Banshee shows them how he has been keeping his Bastard Squad in line – by using Mastermind II’s telepathic powers. Banshee’s reasons were admirable in his mind, as he firmly believed without the statement of villains working with heroes, his dream could never properly culminate in the full and total policing of mutants by mutants. After demonstrating Mastermind II’s capabilities on Iceman, Sean drops an anvil to the obviously surprised X-Men – the villains have gone evil.

The story cuts then to three hours prior, as Stacy gives Radius a little “one-on-one” attention. As Radius is unable to be touched, Stacy is preparing to use her pheromone manipulation ability to release a little of his tension. In a shocking revelation, she even cuts discounts to friends of the X-Men. Meanwhile, Gambit flips through his Rolodex to find the Institute’s number for his own consultation. Hopefully, Stacy got her money upfront, because the session is interrupted by a gigantic chasm opening up in the ground and swallowing Radius alive as it closes, crushing the poor Canadian. The perpetrator: Avalanche, flanked by Blob, who insists on having dibs on Stacy. He throws her, slamming her into the ground, before the two take off with the Madri.

Back in the present, Banshee’s Angels find the former Sunpyre’s body, with Abyss still in containment, but completely lost within himself. Archangel, realizing the situation is spiraling out of control, takes charge of cleaning up Banshee’s mess. A communiqué from Fever Pitch alerts the X-Men as to the rogues’ whereabouts – Paris, where the Bastard Squad is causing widespread property damage and inflicting heavy casualties on the city. Banshee decides to disable Mastermind II in order to regain control over the Madri, at the cost of the ability to control the Bastard Squad.

In the bowels of the X-Corps headquarters, Nightcrawler searches for Chamber, finally tracking him down in the hanger, inside the Blackbird. An LCD crawls down behind Chamber, and as realizing dawns on Nightcrawler, the plane explodes. Archangel realizes that there’s no way Chamber or Nightcrawler could have been caught in the explosion, and orders Madrox to show him where the munitions depot resides. Arming himself, he prepares for war, as does Stacy back outside the headquarters, as she wakes up from her nap in the ground.

Banshee prepares to unplug Mastermind II, and as he pontificates on the folly of his way, a shadow in the background slowly shifts from Madrox’s form to that of a woman – a woman brandishing a knife. She jams it into Banshee’s throat, and the final splash page reveals what Casey has been hinting at all along: Mystique has come back to finish the job she started with Banshee’s true love.

Casey’s pacing is well-timed, and by the end the breathtaking pace is only interrupted by the time until the next installment. As a trade paperback, this arc will kick on all cylinders, but Casey is currently hampered by the single issue format. However, at the same time, he uses that format to perfection. The shocking conclusion, with Banshee stabbed through the throat, dying on the floor with Mystique on the edge of victory, was something unexpected. If Casey is able to go through with killing Banshee, it will be a meaningful death, as well as the perfect cap to the tragedy that is the X-Corps, with Banshee lain low from his hubris, his presumption that he could bend the free will of others to his own.

Similarly, Casey paces each page well, with well-timed beats forcing the reader to quickly see what happens next. Each end panel propels the narrative forward, often with action movie worthy one-liners. From the aforementioned “Where are all our gunships…?” to a half-page spread of Archangel holding a mammoth, Schwartzenneger-sized gun, to a vivid two page spread of Paris under assault, Casey shows a mastery of the form.

No lesser effort than perfect is handed in by Sean Phillips this issue, and he takes Casey’s perfect pacing and does him one better, illustrating each of Casey’s ideas beautifully. His renditions of the X-Men and Banshee are spot-on, and his revelation of Mystique is appropriately hideous and twisted from her own increasing insanity and hatred. Phillips’ expressions are top-notch, and his actions scenes explode across the page. Casey and Phillips seem to be playing a game of “top this” with each other, as Phillips rises to Casey’s challenge each page, and Casey hands Phillips a more plum panel accordingly. They play off each other in a way that makes me rueful as I imagine the potential for Uncanny X-Men had the two been the original creative team. They would have easily topped all the creative teams involved in last May’s revamp, and they would have done it with style. Casey and Phillips make the X-Men hip, and it’s a shame that like all good things, it has to end.

Kudos to the two, that despite the trappings of convention, they’ve brought a thoroughly entertaining popcorn-action flick to life within the confines of a comic book. A well-tread job well-done.

ART:
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STORY:
http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xhalf.jpg

OVERALL:
http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xhalf.jpg

Buy this issue online now from X-World Comics (http://www.x-worldcomics.com/x/bstore/newbooksmain.html) and save!

Andy James
Apr 7, 2002, 08:14 am
good review. i cant beleive for the past 5 issues now ive actually enjoyed Uncanny X men. i wish phillips had been the artist from the get go as his art is beautiful.
plus we have aaron loprestir next month!
cool

Brian Wilkinson
Apr 7, 2002, 04:47 pm
Personally, I'm having trouble with this arc as I'm not sure if my appreciation for it is linked to the return of so many of my old favorites. While I see what you're saying in your discussion of cultural impact, the fact is that this group of X-Men is almost inactive in what it does. There was little to NO action in Poptopia, and the entire time they have been visiting the X-Corps (and it must be into several days by the time this issue hits) it has repeatedly been one member of the team or another asking banshee 'what are you doing?'

This team just seems very stoic. Not much is really going on, and while the interactions are well done and the idea of x-corps is certainly appealing, I just feel that the past two issues could have fit into one. The silent issue, for example, though well done, was almost unnecessary as it could have been blended into the first two or three pages of the next issue.

I do enjoy the art in this book, and I think it suits the mood well. It's not my FAVORITE look, but I know good art when I see it and I think Phillips puts in a lot of effort.

My problem with this series is similar to my problem with the others... they just aren't locking into my imagination. I don't pick up these books for a second read very often, and though New X-Men has many interesting developments and strong writing, I don't feel the need to pick that book up again, either. Maybe it's just me.

It's ironic as I was opposed to new books like Ultimate X-Men, and Exiles as they have turned out to be two of my favorites. I thought for sure they would not find a fan base (and certainly not a fan in me) but these books are fantastic. They just have the magic, and I find myself thinking about the characters and events long after I've put the book aside.

Maybe I'm just having trouble adjusting to the evolved X-Men... or maybe, JUST maybe, it's just not as good as it used to be.

Andy James
Apr 7, 2002, 06:41 pm
hurray you changed the covver scan from issue 404 to 405!!
i know what ur saying brian about the x men not doing very much.
it seems that they havnt actually doen anything other than sit around and talk a lot but this arc is very enjoyable regardless. i think the fact that so many cool characters are in it mean you kind of forget about the lack of any x men in action

Plagioclase
Apr 7, 2002, 06:49 pm
Originally posted by Brian E. Wilkinson
It has repeatedly been one member of the team or another asking banshee 'what are you doing?'

Yes, it comes across to me that way, too.

Maybe I'm just having trouble adjusting to the evolved X-Men... or maybe, JUST maybe, it's just not as good as it used to be.

I think that that's a very real possibility, at least insofar as Uncanny X-Men is concerned. I enjoy New X-Men most of all. But Casey has yet to make me feel for any of his characters, and that, I think, is why I don't enjoy any of his arcs. The slow pacing doesn't help, either. This issue was better than the last in that regard, but the book is still lacking.

shibia
Apr 7, 2002, 07:33 pm
[QUOTE]Originally posted by Anthony Zisa

Banshee prepares to unplug Mastermind II, and as he pontificates on the folly of his way, a shadow in the background slowly shifts from Madrox’s form to that of a woman – a woman brandishing a knife. She jams it into Banshee’s throat, and the final splash page reveals what Casey has been hinting at all along: Mystique has come back to finish the job she started with Banshee’s true love.

Casey’s pacing is well-timed, and by the end the breathtaking pace is only interrupted by the time until the next installment. As a trade paperback, this arc will kick on all cylinders, but Casey is currently hampered by the single issue format. However, at the same time, he uses that format to perfection. The shocking conclusion, with Banshee stabbed through the throat, dying on the floor with Mystique on the edge of victory, was something unexpected. If Casey is able to go through with killing Banshee, it will be a meaningful death, as well as the perfect cap to the tragedy that is the X-Corps, with Banshee lain low from his hubris, his presumption that he could bend the free will of others to his own.
[QUOTE]

One more ??? Are Marvel's guy re-launching another Mutant (or more likely X-celebrities) Massacre ?
After : Moira, Kelly, Pyro, Colussus, and Psylocke, now it's Banshee turn ?? What's going on guys ? Are you crazy or what ?
In the same time you create new and quite lame characters (The new Angel, Lifegaurd and her brother for example), you kill some of the greatest old ones (except maybe Moira). And in poor Sean case, after throwing away the essence of his soul. The poor men was a cop and a free-will defender before being an X-men or a mutant, how could he have turn in the mutant facist despicted in this last story arc ? If you want to renew X-men to attire new readers, go ahead ! But do it well. Killing a main character is a shock yes. For one or two issues (1- the killing itself, 2- the mourning), but after ? Without good characters, there's no story. Stop killing the good old ones you have, and start creating good new ones !

oScIlLaTiNg MaN
Apr 8, 2002, 12:29 am
I would agree that haphazard killing of old characters can be bad, but in a lot of ways, i feel that it is desperatly needed. Magneto, Moira MacTaggart, Senator Kelly, Colossus, Pyro, and Banshee have all been the subject of many storylines focusing on them. I feel, at least in the case of Magneto, Kelly, and Colossus, that the stories that define then have already been told. They have been pushed to the limit as characters, and can be killed off. Major players don't die often in the MU. I think it is ridiculous to see the kind of damage that heroes and villains do to each other, and not expect the occasional hero or villain to fall. I remember the good story arcs that these players were a part of fondly, but I feel that we can let them go now.
Amen.

Wolverine
Apr 8, 2002, 12:48 am
Damn this was good. I was pretty much on par with the rest of the storyline and the art was quite good.

strangerx
Apr 8, 2002, 01:15 am
Excellent review, I really agree with you on most of the points, including the some what dissapointing aspect of Casey leaving out any real social commentary.

But to try and clear up some things, as I see them anyway, the whole reason that the X-Men haven't really been taking action in this arc until now, is simply because there was little reason to. Up until recently, the X-Corps had been working. The only reason they were there is because they disagreed with Banshee on his ways, his use of former villains and his way of dealing with situations, and were simply trying to make him see how dangerous this could be before anything bad happened. Also they were just worried about how he was acting, after all, he is their team mate and friend. Unfortunatly, Sean didn't listen to them and from that many people have died, possibly including himself.

UndeadX
Apr 8, 2002, 02:58 am
I hope this arc is put into trade paperback form. I would love to have it all together. The X-Corps arc is one of my favs.

shibia
Apr 8, 2002, 06:19 am
Originally posted by oScIlLaTiNg MaN
I would agree that haphazard killing of old characters can be bad, but in a lot of ways, i feel that it is desperatly needed. Magneto, Moira MacTaggart, Senator Kelly, Colossus, Pyro, and Banshee have all been the subject of many storylines focusing on them. I feel, at least in the case of Magneto, Kelly, and Colossus, that the stories that define then have already been told. They have been pushed to the limit as characters, and can be killed off. Major players don't die often in the MU. I think it is ridiculous to see the kind of damage that heroes and villains do to each other, and not expect the occasional hero or villain to fall. I remember the good story arcs that these players were a part of fondly, but I feel that we can let them go now.
Amen.
I'm not complaining about killing major characters, I'm just upset some of them have been killed for no reason (Psylocke for example) other than advertising. With the life despicted in X-men, sure they're must be death most of the time. But at least, the first rule of good story is when you kill a major character is too insert its death in the story development. Most of the major killing in the MU lately came out of the blue. In Magneto's case, I'll say he's dead when I'll see his corpse. The men has almost more life than Phoenix.
Back on topic, I'm glad to see that Stacy has more development. To this stage, she could be a great character or something rather lame, but we can't judge her yet, she showned too little of her personality.

stormwatch
Apr 8, 2002, 06:23 am
good review, but I disagree :D
okay, what has Casey looked at in the X-Corps.
he has looked at mindcontrol, brainwashing.
Military policing.
Giving criminals a second chance.
Showing the hardships of command.
and the indecsion to make action with friends.
but those are just some things that I think of.

Now with bringing in more characters, I like them, although, I prefer Philips art over Lopresti's for this title.

And Brian, I actually have sat down and read through every issue of the arc, whenever a new issue comes out. But thats just me.

And I personally don't mind the X-men standing around, when I see action, I want it to be good, and worth the wait. And this arc is suspenseful. To add to the wait. But I prefer suspense and intrigue personally than to action, although, action is good, I am content to wait.

Although, in comparing it to New, it needs some more characterization, not that much, but enough. Although Casey's villain characterization is the best of the three for me. If not Villain than Adversarial, concerning elements of this arc.

As for all the death, and the possibility of more to come, well, one, at least casey wasn't using a mdarox as a cop out. and two, well, something like this, there are bound to be casualties. With spies in an organization that are trying to take it over. Which the organization itself is well developed, and could be problematic for them i the future. And many other reasons, I do not mind it. The deaths are written well.

I feel this arc reminds me of the snowball efect, slowly gaining momentum and size then boom. And if this was its last growth spurt, then what will next issue be like when the snowball goes kur-spalt.

And I have a feeling that this arc, will be one of the more recent, highly sought after ones, when it is finished. Especially in trade format.

oh, and a little note, the cover was amazing, Banshee with an X over his mouth. Kind of Forshadowing in a sense. Philips did good.

So in final, I disagree with part of the review, but I understand it, and agree with it also, sort of, and think the score is perfect. If not then it should be perfect. But then again, that is just me. tehe.

Stormie

ZeronHuggens
Apr 8, 2002, 06:27 am
Forgot about sabatoge.

stormwatch
Apr 8, 2002, 06:47 am
Originally posted by ZeronHuggens
Forgot about sabatoge.

So I did, oops, but they can not sabotage too much, otherwise well, they are trying to take over the place, and sabotage wouldn't be too good there. But they did Sabotage the X-Jet.

And maybe some of the weapons in the cache too. But that would be it, since there members, other than Mystique, don't use guns, and don't need weapons. So it could be logical that Hawkman, I mean Archangel, has a booby trapped weapon.

Although, that is one thing I don't like, no guns for Archangel, if he has guns, my respect for that guy vanishes. Thats just me, a Canadian. Although, I wouldn't mind if he had some bombs or stun grenades. But other than that, no, he shouldn't have weapons unless they are more like a Black Panther style. Innovative. IMHO. And that is just me. Although he looked good with the gun, I really don't like weaponry like that.

Stormie

ShaggyDiz
Apr 8, 2002, 05:16 pm
I'm mixed with the good and the bad. Though right now all this is coming to is "Bad guys who are good go bad again" and "X-Men say same thing for 4 issues straight". Which was pretty much the most predictable way to go with this kind of story.

The cliffhanger ending is probably the most intruging part of the book since we see that maybe a new Brotherhood is being started (why?). That's my opinion though.

Mystique, Blob, Avalanche (3 previous members) and whoever else they can scrounge up.

So far though this has been the best arc Casey has done. I'll be around next month (like I am every month) to see the ending.

Dexember
Apr 9, 2002, 03:29 am
Thanks for the good review.

I totally agree with your statement about critics to fans. I was one. I hated the first arc. It wasn't good in the way it made the real team look weak and Wolverine the best, again. I didn't like Sugar Kane. I just don't like her. She seemed so "dumb" to me. Like she fully never got that he was a mutant till something bad happened, she just felt ditsy and I never felt for her as a character. Every time she complained, I just felt annoyed.

I liked the next arc a little better although minor things made me upset, Why does everything have to have X, X-Ranch, Stacy_X, etc..

But he did grow on me. And then I loved the idea of X-Corps. The story was well done although not perfect.

I saw the plot twists a mile away. I think we all did. But it was still good.

Twilight
Apr 10, 2002, 11:21 pm
The only reason I liked the Poptopia arc was Ian Churchill's art. Period. The next arc didnt thrill me. Its all been said. Xmen standing around...watching helplessly as members of the XCorps get murdered viciously. I sincerely hope that Banshee survives, if anything but just to deal with the error of his ways. We've seen enough Xmen murdered. Yeah sure, its amazing that through all their battles they survive, but thats better than character death. A few years ago, I was one of those readers that bailed on MArvel and followed all those artists that went out West to start Image. They were amazing artists, but they screwed up bigtime. They created all these great characters, and then subsequently KILLED all of them. I stopped caring. So I imagine did alot of other readers, as we all watched Image spin down the toilet bowl. I dont want to see that happen with the X titles murdering some of our favorite heroes for the sake of selling their twisted story arcs. Remember--these guys used to be readers too once upon a time ago, and probably imagined all the battles they could create in their heads to kill off whatever heroes they didnt approve of. SO MARVEL....STOP THE KILLING!!!

Foxnsox5
Apr 11, 2002, 12:07 am
Poptopia provided the platform for getting Chamber's one eyed wonder worm to the eye doctor. An idea with vast comedic potential. (Sadly that potential never reached maximum fruition.) I'm all for the very long overdue attention to the personal lives of the various X-lings but I don't think this attention should become primary story arc fodder. I'd even like Sugar Kane to rear her head once or twice a decade or so instead of simply vanishing the way minor characters tend to do with Marvel. NOT as a central plot device though. Please. :)
The X-corps thing has been interesting and disturbing. Banshee getting flaky and a tad grey after losing his surrogate children and then Moira. Sure, why not?
I miss the character interaction earlier books had. These people still act as though they barely know each other. Even the Generation X kids are muted towards each other. Where's the love? *snorts*
I am sick to death of Mystique. I can't take Banshee's little accident seriously because no one in Marvel ever dies or ever loses their powers for very long. (There have been very few exceptions to this and even with the Illyannas and the Captain Marvels the little word 'yet' looms ugly.) Martinique is truly creepy and interesting. Keep her around. If Banshee is dead or mute KEEP HIM THAT WAY. I'm sick of the writer’s wussing out.

Love, Lulu.

Icemanfan21
Apr 11, 2002, 12:24 am
If they wanted to take care of the Madroxes, why didn't they just knock Jamie out? In the past he's been shown to re-absorb (or dissapate or whatever they do) the madroxes when he's knocked out. Sean could do it easy with the right frequencies to his inner ear. Oh well. That's my only complaint with the story. Otherwise, it's quite good. And of course there's some social commentary. Hello, dictatorships are bad? No good can come from one person having total control over everybody? There's always a revolution?

Later

Icemanfan21
Apr 11, 2002, 12:27 am
Originally posted by Dexember
Thanks for the good review.

I totally agree with your statement about critics to fans. I was one. I hated the first arc. It wasn't good in the way it made the real team look weak and Wolverine the best, again. I didn't like Sugar Kane. I just don't like her. She seemed so "dumb" to me. Like she fully never got that he was a mutant till something bad happened, she just felt ditsy and I never felt for her as a character. Every time she complained, I just felt annoyed.

I liked the next arc a little better although minor things made me upset, Why does everything have to have X, X-Ranch, Stacy_X, etc..

But he did grow on me. And then I loved the idea of X-Corps. The story was well done although not perfect.

I saw the plot twists a mile away. I think we all did. But it was still good.


Can you say Britney Spears? And I think the X thing is because what else are you going to do with a character like Stacy? Stacy Girl? Pheromone Phreak? Marvel Girl? Stacy X at least is short and reflects on who and what she is.

Benjamin Ong
Apr 11, 2002, 12:38 am
I didn't want to like this arc too, but I'm reading it after being let down by Poptopia.

However, I feel that Sean Phillips should've been the artist for this entire storyline, rather than three different artists. Sean and Casey work very well together, and his style is perfect for this arc, IMO.

russbrett77
Apr 11, 2002, 12:55 pm
Good review, but I think Casey is lacking in one department... characterization. Sure we know the surface reasons why the characters joined the X-corps, and the reasons the X-Men are opposed to the concept, but that's it. There is no underlying motive for anybody. The readers are completely in the dark about why these particular characters were chosen for the X-Corps. Of course we can draw our own logical conclusions (with Madrox and the Angel's at least), but what about Avalanche, and Radius? What is the current motive for the villains? I know many people like that Casey does not use captions or thought bubbles, but this is where the best characterization comes from. The internal conflict of the character.

I'm still really enjoying this arc though. Can't wait to see what happens next.

Xirotius
Apr 20, 2002, 06:02 pm
Five X's for art? The pain.................

spinarakboi
Apr 20, 2002, 06:11 pm
Well, I dont think Casey's arc is lasting too long at all. I mean look at New... now that is a long lasting arc with no real point to it. Here there is mystery involved and some character development. I think this arc has turned out to be a very good one... second best with all three arcs that are going on right now in the core titles.

CPunkDude
Apr 20, 2002, 10:54 pm
#405 is easily the best of the X-corps issues so far. The action in this issue is absolutely dynamite. Everything that has been set up for the last four issues is finally exploding. Not only do we see that BLob and Avalanche weren't really changed at all, but under Martinique's control, thousands of people are killed in Paris, Nightcrawler and Chamber are in a dire situation, and Mystique may or may not have killed Banshee. It's enough to leave you breathless. Plus, Phillips' gritty art made it even better (I really dig Mystique's new look. She's total bi***.

Tommy Boy
Apr 20, 2002, 11:25 pm
Definatly good, i'm enjoying this arc, yeah we do need to get rid of Stacy X, she's just too out of place for the team, especially with her outfit.. yuk...

i just wish that we got Chamber in the spotlight,properly i mean, he's a great character with a massive amount of potential and one line to a couple of paragraphs is just not enough such a tragic waste...

there was definatly something about Mystique's new look that made her look both sexy and ugly at the same time wierd....

Anthony Zisa
Apr 20, 2002, 11:59 pm
Originally posted by Xirotius
Five X's for art? The pain.................

Want to actually elaborate on that, or are you just going to take swipes at artists who actually read these boards?

--acz

Stapler
Apr 21, 2002, 01:12 am
Originally posted by oScIlLaTiNg MaN
I would agree that haphazard killing of old characters can be bad, but in a lot of ways, i feel that it is desperatly needed. Magneto, Moira MacTaggart, Senator Kelly, Colossus, Pyro, and Banshee have all been the subject of many storylines focusing on them. I feel, at least in the case of Magneto, Kelly, and Colossus, that the stories that define then have already been told. They have been pushed to the limit as characters, and can be killed off. Major players don't die often in the MU. I think it is ridiculous to see the kind of damage that heroes and villains do to each other, and not expect the occasional hero or villain to fall. I remember the good story arcs that these players were a part of fondly, but I feel that we can let them go now.
Amen.

I have to totally agree with this. Great points there. Nothing to add really.

I doubt Banshee's gonna get the last goodbye just yet anyway...


but what about Avalanche, and Radius? What is the current motive for the villains?

Did you uh...totally not read half of each issue? They were under control by Lady Mastermind, who Banshee was using for the same purpose. Too bad Mystique and LMm decided to turn the tables...

tyran80
Apr 21, 2002, 05:12 am
I thought this issue was great. Casey is really developing well this story arc, and while it is solely an action arc, that doesn't rid itself of the merits this issue has. Action packed, continuity friendly, suspenseful, great character interactions, this arc gets better with each issue. As for Phillips' art, wow. His art did improve noticeably from last issue, and i have to say that here his pencils were just stunning. The emotion, the mooding, the kinetics, were all just great. I find myself counting the days for 406 to come out!