tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7266470995513648978.post4197120000073126006..comments2024-03-28T10:18:00.370-05:00Comments on Gentlemen of Leisure: X-amining Uncanny X-Men #250Austin Gortonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14281239771248780430noreply@blogger.comBlogger15125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7266470995513648978.post-52243073911327033972014-12-05T16:30:40.982-06:002014-12-05T16:30:40.982-06:00Yeah this storyline was weak. It felt like filler...Yeah this storyline was weak. It felt like filler to fufill the biwekly shipping schedule requirements. And while I'm not fond of gratuitous gimicks for anniversary issues, this is an especially egrarious use of a 250th issue, focusing on a character that's not even one of the main cast, leaving little time to reflect on the changing team dynamics (keep in mind that most of the longer-serving X-men are gone at this point. It wasn't that long since most of the remaining team were the "newbies"). <br /><br />Lorna's inexplicable power change also just seem too underwhelmingly bizarre! First of all, her "new" powers make her WAY too similar to a certain <i>other</i> green-haired amazon. Secondly, Claremont apparently had some kind of weird fetish for (unnecesary) female body modification as within the course of only <i>ten issues</i> we get to see it with many other X-Woman like Storm and Psylocke.<br /><br />The "Polaris and Zaladane are sisters" subplot is equally disatisfying. First it over-complicates an tangled family history that has already re-retconned over and over again to incomprehension. And even ignoring later revelations about Lorna, one suspects Claremont forgot that it's been established that the people who raised Lorna were her <i>adoptive</i> parents. And of course it's been revealed that her BIRTH father really...wasn't. Oops! (even though it seems like Claremont is implying Zaladane is a half-sister on the "father's" side). Neverles this famiial revelation still could have worked. The problem is that Claremont complicates matters in #253 by having a scientist saying the link is genetic. Which of course doesn't make sense! ARGH! Stuff like this is part of the reason many people stay away from the X-books.Jon Dubyahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11783906806644566810noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7266470995513648978.post-68237540767598148662014-12-04T19:56:45.783-06:002014-12-04T19:56:45.783-06:00I guess it's just Silvestri's thing to hav...<br>I guess it's just Silvestri's thing to have Psylocke strip and swim, making Claremont scramble to dress up the situation appropriately (so to speak). The frequent dissonance between the words and pictures in this run is now officially a trend, whatever the cause. Maybe it's poor communication between Claremont and Silvestri, maybe it's an outright struggle for control of the narrative, maybe it's simple time-crunch sloppiness brought upon by someone's or everyone's (including editorial's) biting off more than could properly be chewed with the accelerated summer shipping schedules and spinoffs.<br /><br>Blamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07342343767763035991noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7266470995513648978.post-85083041919453319722014-12-04T14:09:15.121-06:002014-12-04T14:09:15.121-06:00Matt, I don't forget but actively allow my lov...Matt, I don't forget but actively allow my love for JRjr to prevent me acknowledging the horridness of his costume designs and instead love them for the camp value.<br /><br />It's Mags' hero costume, and the thing you have on your chest (or on your forehead) when you're a big damn hero is the initial of your name. For a while Mags indeed was the torch carrier for the line of heroes who have taken it upon themselves to dispose lots of America's current enemies, the first ones Nazies and the Cold War era Mags Russians... collecting chronologically: S-A-M. You know what we say about alleged coincidences...<br /><br />It was probably only because of a half-deaf tailor or something that Mags' hero costume wasn't of primary colors but, hah, magenta.Teemunoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7266470995513648978.post-13460273511370475442014-12-04T13:09:28.910-06:002014-12-04T13:09:28.910-06:00Teemu -- "On that notion, who can complain ab...Teemu -- "<b>On that notion, who can complain about Zaladane's massive 'Z' on her uniform, when the temporarily goody Master of Magnetism has until recently pranced around with his massive 'M' on his uniform.</b>"<br /><br />Ahh, but you forget -- the giant "M" on Magento's costum was also unbelievably dopey. If Adams made Zaladane's costume as a tribute to that, then fine -- but that doesn't stop both costume from being horrendous crimes against the characters wearing them.Matthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14580725636327122073noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7266470995513648978.post-59648155538492831922014-12-04T07:18:44.979-06:002014-12-04T07:18:44.979-06:00"That should be obvious really from Betsy'..."That should be obvious really from Betsy's notion that "it isn't Peter's mind that's being controlled... it's his body!" There's a villain with magnetic powers aloof, haven't we done this like million times."<br />Also, Zaladane says Worm's "influence is limited to the flesh but I've other means to control Colossus". That clearly is Zaladane saying- Worm can't control Colossus, I was doing it earlier.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7266470995513648978.post-92060884679336484412014-12-04T06:46:21.775-06:002014-12-04T06:46:21.775-06:00What I'm trying to say is I kind of like this ...What I'm trying to say is I kind of like this story with its faults and all. It's all over the place, yes, but, not that one should be aware of it now, it's mostly only a part one for the Mags in Savage Land story that will start properly only when we'll next see Rogue. The pre-Siege Perilous X-Men are, likely intentionally, totally wrecked here and it's nice touch that it's post-Siege Perilous Rogue that'll have to clean up their mess here. The story sort of clicks in in hindsight then.<br /><br />Mind you, the Silvestri's portrayal of the Mutates here will become overwhelmingly cartoony when compared to that of Jim Lee's later on.Teemunoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7266470995513648978.post-17464736917057077092014-12-04T03:48:12.626-06:002014-12-04T03:48:12.626-06:00Should've started my quote one step earlier......Should've started my quote one step earlier... <br /><br />Teebore: <i>I've read some summaries of this issue that suggest it was Zaladane controlling Colossus remotely (via her magnetism) when he was trying to drown Psylocke</i><br /><br />That should be obvious really from Betsy's notion that "it isn't Peter's mind that's being controlled... it's his body!" There's a villain with magnetic powers aloof, haven't we done this like million times.<br /><br />On that notion, who can complain about Zaladane's massive 'Z' on her uniform, when the temporarily goody Master of Magnetism has until recently pranced around with his massive 'M' on his uniform. Especially as her magnetic powers are really the genetic legacy of Lorna's from Magneto and very especially when we remember what was his final act in his turn for to be again the antagonist in adjectiveless #1.<br /><br />It'll be harsh when he will realize he's no Charles Xavier, in the next 25th no less. Jason Powell has noted on his Remarkable piece on #275 that "in the same gesture with which he renounces heroism, he also slaughters the character that was set up from the start as an avatar of his original terrorist incarnation. Magneto is now neither a superhero nor a supervillain." What he graciously has left for us others to note is that Zaladane does her avataring in an uniform with elements strongly reminding of Magneto's "hero" uniform. The big Z so needs to be there. If A. Adams just pulled it from his ass for the annual, he's an unknowing genius.<br /><br />Curious coincidence that it's yet again the Russian people who have to take the blunt of a mistress of magnetism stretching out, also foreshadowing for issue #275 and probably needed too to bring the Russian troops for the showdown, and alongside them colonel Vazhin who was last seen on Uncanny in the build-up for hero Magneto joining the gang.Teemunoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7266470995513648978.post-8781402952838187572014-12-03T23:46:53.101-06:002014-12-03T23:46:53.101-06:00"I also wonder if the twice-a-month shipping ..."I also wonder if the twice-a-month shipping schedule could have contributed to it as well."<br /><br />I think that being on a twice-a-month schedule just really threw Silvestri off, for whatever reason, this time. Even on a regular monthly schedule, he's needed a fill-in artist occasionally, so God only knows how things were for this issue. Especially since he has someone finishing off his work, instead of just inking him. Was this issue double sized?wwk5dnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7266470995513648978.post-25366426983876821022014-12-03T22:42:14.361-06:002014-12-03T22:42:14.361-06:00Teebore: Of course, that isn't made clear AT A...Teebore: <i>Of course, that isn't made clear AT ALL via either the art or the story, and it still doesn't offer up a very good explanation for why Psylocke goes swimming in the first place (beyond the stated "she's so horrified...she needs to swim...???")</i><br /><br />She.does react unusually strongly to what's happening off-panel to the Russian scientist woman. "Compulsively needs a shower" badly. The whole Worm creature seem to go straight to the darkest end of the mind control thingy, especially so when in the next Savage Land story he transfers control for Shanna and Nereel to Brainchild who keeps calling them his "babes" or something.<br /><br />Between that and the Mutates planning to do something to Lorna while Alex is watching and unable to help, there's an overall pretty uncomfortable subtext going on. Got me wondering if the raw naturalism of the "Savage Land" has always had this intentional sexual element in it, with Colossus having threesomes there, Sauron giving up to his "urges" and whatnot. Bringing in a slimy mind-controllling Worm to it is a questionable call.Teemunoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7266470995513648978.post-49693458478476783502014-12-03T17:07:03.994-06:002014-12-03T17:07:03.994-06:00Worm didn't take control of Dazzler until afte...<i>Worm didn't take control of Dazzler until after he secreted his goo on her</i><br /><br />This issue definitely felt like it hit all of Claremont's....interests?Jeffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14447265712189987074noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7266470995513648978.post-35477108272379909302014-12-03T16:56:26.803-06:002014-12-03T16:56:26.803-06:00@Jeff: Worm seems to be able to control the X-Men ...@Jeff: <i>Worm seems to be able to control the X-Men without touching them</i><br /><br />I've read some summaries of this issue that suggest it was Zaladane controlling Colossus remotely (via her magnetism) when he was trying to drown Psylocke, and Worm didn't take control of Dazzler until after he secreted his goo on her as we see on panel. <br /><br />Of course, that isn't made clear AT ALL via either the art or the story, and it still doesn't offer up a very good explanation for why Psylocke goes swimming in the first place (beyond the stated "she's so horrified...she needs to swim...???")<br /><br /><i> Kazar claims Zaladane is making him talk for her but Colossus clearly is in control of his mental faculties even as he's about to kill his son.</i><br /><br /><i>I do wonder if there was behind the scenes confusion that caused this to be so messed up.</i><br /><br />I also wonder if the twice-a-month shipping schedule could have contributed to it as well. We're still early in that batch of issues (so I don't think it's a case of the creative team just being overworked), but maybe with three extra issues looming, Claremont had to change things up last minute or something, and things started slipping through the cracks. Austin Gortonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14281239771248780430noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7266470995513648978.post-23036851434370224452014-12-03T16:37:56.636-06:002014-12-03T16:37:56.636-06:00I just read this for the first time on Comixology ...I just read this for the first time on Comixology and, man, this is one <i>sloppy</i> issue. <br /><br />Worm seems to be able to control the X-Men without touching them, even though earlier it says he needs the "mucus membrane" to control them. I assume there was a lettering error that caused Colossus to speak Zaladane's lines. Kazar claims Zaladane is making him talk for her but Colossus clearly is in control of his mental faculties even as he's about to kill his son. The split art doesn't look great. Ka-zar is defeated and captured off-panel with no real set up. <br /><br />This was pretty bad. I do wonder if there was behind the scenes confusion that caused this to be so messed up. The previews for the storylines in interviews definitely don't match up any more.Jeffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14447265712189987074noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7266470995513648978.post-23359462182743747342014-12-03T16:27:00.533-06:002014-12-03T16:27:00.533-06:00@wwk5d: he needs to stack the deck in favor of the...@wwk5d: <i>he needs to stack the deck in favor of the Reavers in their upcoming assault on Muir Island</i><br /><br />Yeah, having someone with magnetic powers on the island when they attack would tip the scales against the Reavers pretty heavily. <br /><br /><i>A nice callback to her pre-cog abilities from her days during the Captain Britain series?</i><br /><br />I didn't realize she had precog abilities back then too, but knowing that, yeah, it makes sense that she'd be the one to have the vision. <br /><br /><i>Not like CC to make a mistake like that...</i><br /><br />If anything, the mistake was last issue, with the odd exposition about Gateway's power that didn't fit anything that had come before or, after. <br /><br /><i>I'm a little more warm to issue that Teebore is...the nostalgia goggles must be much stronger for me lol</i><br /><br />Ha! Could be. My nostalgia for this particular era isn't quite as strong for some of the stuff before and after it. But I also freely admit that a lot of my hangup with this issue is totally on me. <br /><br />The plot is rushed (to the point of nonsense at times) and the art is pretty meh, but everything else is just my own personal hangup. Austin Gortonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14281239771248780430noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7266470995513648978.post-36173680614250084132014-12-03T14:01:17.761-06:002014-12-03T14:01:17.761-06:00"Polaris' magnetic powers are transferred..."Polaris' magnetic powers are transferred to Zaladane this issue"<br /><br />I always wondered what CC's original plans with the power switch were. Then again, as we've seen, CC does like to randomly change character's powers and even ethnicities for no apparent reason, so...whatever. <br /><br />Of course, another reason I have suspected he needed a power change for Lorna (at least temporarily, at any rate) is that he needs to stack the deck in favor of the Reavers in their upcoming assault on Muir Island...but we'll get to that later.<br /><br />"Psylocke experiences a vision of the X-Men dying in their town"<br /><br />A nice callback to her pre-cog abilities from her days during the Captain Britain series?<br /><br />"which contradicts the idea suggested last issue that Gateway can only teleport them back from the location to which he initially deposited them"<br /><br />Not like CC to make a mistake like that...<br /><br />"Psylocke is compelled to strip off her armor and go for a swim at one point"<br /><br />Soon, she won't need to strip off her armor, she'll be parading around in her underwear all the time!<br /><br />I'm a little more warm to issue that Teebore is...the nostalgia goggles must be much stronger for me lol<br /><br />I also don't think the art is that bad. I kind of like the Silvestri/Leihola art together. It's not as polished as what you usually get, but it works for me.<br /><br />As for the story...yeah, it could've been better.wwk5dnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7266470995513648978.post-69676236416475161732014-12-03T13:45:52.611-06:002014-12-03T13:45:52.611-06:00I agree with you on Silverstri/Leialoha. Two grea...I agree with you on Silverstri/Leialoha. Two great tastes that do <b>not</b> taste great together.<br /><br />Otherwise, I have no opinion on this issue. As I've said before, all the stuff from post-"Inferno" up to here is really just the uninteresting prologue to Wolverine nailed to that big "X". <b>That's</b> when I start to enjoy the series again.Matthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14580725636327122073noreply@blogger.com