Okay, last three books from the preview pile:
- Hard Times: Season Two #3
- Maybe it’s because I haven’t been reading this (despite some pretty good reviews and opinions), but my brain just shut off during whatever power set the main character has. Something about Asian or Indian mysticism or.. something that allow him a Funky Blue Ghost Body like Obi-Wan. Ennh. Not my bag, baby, probably just a me thing. Otherwise, after Underworld #1, it’s nice to see a really evil guy in prison. You know, no ‘heart of gold’, no ‘bad rap’, no ‘just doing it because of the system’, no just good ol’ fashioned EVIL and this ‘Slasher’ guy seems to be just that. His plot seems interesting as he takes in a couple desperate inmates for something nefarious and skin-crawling, so I might pick up the next one to see where it goes. Oh, yeah, the kid’s ghostly bits seem to act to Slasher’s chi or something because he’s evil. The wise old man inmate said so. (EDIT: the name ‘Slasher’ was badly remembered by me. My apologies. )
- Y - The Last Man #42
- MONKEY STORY! It tells you how good a book this is when the life and times of a monkey are some interesting reading. Watch Ampersand’s early career as a test monkey turned accidental helper monkey! Listen to Yorick quip with the monkey! See a really strange Monkey Dream! And… ninja boobies. A nice little side story that still serves the plot and makes you want to see what’s next, as well as a fine example why I like to read this book in trade instead of issues.
- Exterminators #2
- I really tried, guys. I just can’t do it. It’s gross. Indiana Jones doesn’t review books about snakes, I don’t do ones on bugs. Especially when they really delight in the details of the ‘eww’, like a fourth grade boy on the playground. Sure, it’s probably great for some out there but it makes me actually sick. Good for them, though for being able to illicit a reaction like that.
- Uncanny X-Men #469
- Get comfortable.“Man, are we feared and hated these days.”
“Yep. Sure are.”
“Well, I’m going to go cook to center my spirit.”
“You go do that, time-displaced supercop from a semi-dystopian future.”Something happened to me while reading this issue. A button was pressed, a switch was flipped and God, I hate the X-Men.After the brutal murder of her mother’s family because of the Phoenix Force that she now carries, Rachel Grey hangs out. Mind you, she spends most of the issue trying to convince all those that are worrying about her that she’s ‘just fine’ and not up to something then jumps over the fence at the last bit in the story to show that she is, but in the end, it’s a ‘day-in-the-life of the persecuted’, X-Men style. Holographic Storm chit-chats with Iron Chef Bishop, Doc Samson shows up to tell people that Rachel might be up to something and no one listens, Scott even catches Rachel having snuck out before by her ‘tee hee’ collection of video rentals (all with stars from the X-Men movies! How coy!) and reacts by sort of ruffling her hair a bit (’Oh, you scamp!’). It’s like he’s trying so hard to humanize these mutants that they’ve lost any credibility as superheroes. Bishop invites Sentinel program head Val Cooper to dinner and seems to just want to chit chat more, ‘build a bridge’. The government is clearly shown to be complete scum while they watch Rachel Grey in the shower and they get a warning from the guys in charge equaling a ‘Cut that out or I’m telling!’
What in the HELL happened? When did the X-Men get so apathetic to their own plight?The last bit of hope I have for anything with the X-Men is the Guthries, who are shown to be the only people not rolling over to the status quo. Sure, everyone else could be sneakily going along with things until they reveal their Big Sneaky Plan but… come on!! Paige’s personal effects are ransacked by the government and Sam tries to protect her only to be told to STAND DOWN by Bishop! I understand a certain allegiance to authority from his character but this is just silly. The reason they ransack her stuff is because they think she’s part of/behind some pirate broadcasting with essentially complains about the Robot Marshal Law imposed and the X-Men’s inactivity. She laments to her brother about how terribly south everything ahs gone and both of them are the only ones shown who are ready to rebel against the constrictions imposed after Decimation.
Like a lot of people, I started on X-Men. These were the books I cut my superhero comic teeth on so I have a dear fondness for a lot of the characters and base concepts and stories they represent. I don’t want to pin my hopes on a new writer or creative team or any of that anymore. I just want my X-Men to be good again. I want my heroes back.
