tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7266470995513648978.post5045372901905885921..comments2024-03-22T04:20:11.870-05:00Comments on Gentlemen of Leisure: X-amining X-Factor #28Austin Gortonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14281239771248780430noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7266470995513648978.post-23686603273987471032014-04-16T21:34:20.145-05:002014-04-16T21:34:20.145-05:00@Teebore: // So when you've got someone who po...<br>@Teebore: <i>// So when you've got someone who possesses the ability of not just super-strength but the ability to increase his strength, and you specifically don't want him to do so, then maybe trying to stop him via a means that ... would force him to increase his strength to get free isn't the brightest idea. //</i><br /><br />No kidding. <br /><br />For some reason I got the impression that if Hank exerted himself to the point that his strength increased he'd get dumber for a while, the more so the more strength he summoned, but when he stopped the physical activity his intelligence would begin reverting back to normal. Thanks for clearing that up. I feel like we don't have much further to go, then, before he gets really, really, <i>really</i> strong and is left almost completely witless, although by the same token like I said regarding the "ice boots" I also feel like he's about as strong as he'll need to get.<br /><br>Blamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07342343767763035991noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7266470995513648978.post-8687675031213425202014-04-16T21:32:44.758-05:002014-04-16T21:32:44.758-05:00@Teemu: // Walt Simonson quite didn't manage t...<br>@Teemu: <i>// Walt Simonson quite didn't manage to wow people with his work on </i>X-Factor<i>, but should that be largely put on the fact that with his </i>Thor<i> he just set the bar too damn high? //</i><br /><br />Maybe. I wonder if he just wasn't stretched too thin — and/or a little burnt out, as he'd stopped drawing <i>Thor</i> at this point, so I think <i>X-Factor</i> was his only regular art gig. <i>Thor</i> #337 and thereafter was a game-changer worthy of that logo-busting cover, but Walt had already turned in career-making stuff with the <i>Manhunter</i> back-up feature in <i>Detective Comics</i> at DC and similarly original (if relatively brief) work on the <i>Alien</i> graphic novel and DC's <i>Metal Men</i>, <i>Hercules Unbound</i>, and <i>Doctor Fate</i>. Given not only that and <i>Thor</i> but his stint on <i>Fantastic Four</i> and, especially, <i>Orion</i>, my own assessment is that, be it lack of time or lack or enthusiasm or whatever, Simonson's <i>X-Factor</i> just doesn't quite hold up in terms of his potential in general.<br /><br />Walt's <i>Star Slammers</i>, first seen (not counting its original incarnation as his art-school thesis) in a Marvel graphic novel shortly before his <i>Thor</i> run started, just began a serialized "remastered" release from IDW, by the way, also home to his upcoming project <i>Ragnarok</i>. If you have access to current American comics, I think both are worth picking up.<br /><br>Blamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07342343767763035991noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7266470995513648978.post-22889833848063745692014-04-15T13:21:41.458-05:002014-04-15T13:21:41.458-05:00@Teemu: It's tricky business really to make ki...@Teemu: <i>It's tricky business really to make kids work well in comics, the kids' media about primary colored superpowered grown-ups.</i><br /><br />It is. I think Simonson manages to both do it well and poorly in the course of her run. <br /><br />@Matt: <i>Which should be old hat to them, since they grew up doing it every day at Xavier's.</i><br /><br />Indeed. And for the most part, I think this issue does a decent job of not suggesting this is a much of a challenge for them, especially once Beast and Cyclops join in and it's not just Marvel Girl and Iceman. <br /><br />@Anonymous: <i>I think the most logical explanation is that Freedom Force was called back to Washington and then some bureaucrat decided to send them back to Dallas to help with the aftermath.</i><br /><br />That does seem like the easiest, most logical answer. <br /><br />@Blam: <i>So is Hank not regaining any of his intelligence over time? He just uses more strength and gets dumber, period? No going back?</i><br /><br />Correct. Strength goes up, intelligence goes down, and everything stays at those levels, until the next time he uses his strength and the whole transition happens again. <br /><br />So yeah, he should definitely be able to break out the ice boots without a problem. And he does. So I'm not sure what Iceman's endgame was. I mean, even if he *really* iced him up, he had to know that Beast was going to try to get free and help his friends, *especially* because he's too dumb to know better. <br /><br />So when you've got someone who possesses the ability of not just super-strength but the ability to increase his strength, and you specifically don't want him to do so, then maybe trying to stop him via a means that either wouldn't stop him or would force him to increase his strength to get free isn't the brightest idea. Now who's the dummy, Iceman? Austin Gortonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14281239771248780430noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7266470995513648978.post-974310399101812692014-04-12T22:24:49.391-05:002014-04-12T22:24:49.391-05:00So is Hank not regaining any of his intelligence o...<br>So is Hank not regaining any of his intelligence over time? He just uses more strength and gets dumber, period? No going back? 'Cause if that's the case then he should definitely be strong enough to break out of the ice-boots already without jumping up a level. Or maybe I'm not interpreting this right. <br /><br>Blamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07342343767763035991noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7266470995513648978.post-21969481258412631312014-04-11T22:15:14.061-05:002014-04-11T22:15:14.061-05:00I think the most logical explanation is that Freed...I think the most logical explanation is that Freedom Force was called back to Washington and then some bureaucrat decided to send them back to Dallas to help with the aftermath. It makes more sense then Freedom Force being snowed in, since a blizzard wouldn't stop Spiral from teleporting.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7266470995513648978.post-1062991028850748692014-04-11T18:47:19.286-05:002014-04-11T18:47:19.286-05:00... and that answer is enough, Matt.
I have to w...... and that answer is enough, Matt. <br /><br />I have to wonder... Walt Simonson quite didn't manage to wow people with his work on <i>X-Factor</i>, but should that be largely put on the fact that with his <i>Thor</i> he just set the bar too damn high? Teemunoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7266470995513648978.post-28447033536866947232014-04-11T18:34:26.254-05:002014-04-11T18:34:26.254-05:00"...the end result is an issue where X-Factor..."...<b>the end result is an issue where X-Factor fights a lot of nondescript booby traps and sci-fi guns and whatnot...</b>"<br /><br />Which should be old hat to them, since they grew up doing it every day at Xavier's.<br /><br />Teemu -- "<b>(The second awesomest bridge scene in that run.)</b>"<br /><br />I'm sure I'm not alone, but the line "He stood alone at Gjallerbru" gives me chills anytime, anywhere. I don't even need to see the pictures that go with it (partly because I have them memorized, I guess).Matthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14580725636327122073noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7266470995513648978.post-24762891277176997302014-04-11T14:10:36.128-05:002014-04-11T14:10:36.128-05:00The kids are mostly used well here again, though, ...<i>The kids are mostly used well here again, though, getting captured at first but easily escaping under their own power and then helping unlock Ship's consciousness. It's nice to have them function as something more than just hostages, and to contribute to X-Factor's success without outright saving the day.</i><br /><br />I dare anyone who didn't like the similar bit in W. Simonson's <i>Thor</i> where Hildy takes down the troll that's blocking the bridge and threatening Frigga and the kids of Asgård to own up.<br /><br />(The second awesomest bridge scene in that run.)<br /><br />It's tricky business really to make kids work well in comics, the kids' media about primary colored superpowered grown-ups.Teemunoreply@blogger.com