Talking about comic books, TV shows, movies, sports, and the numerous other pastimes that make us Gentlemen of Leisure.

Tuesday, May 10, 2022

X-amining Classic X-Men #16 - Patreon First

"Dearest Friend"
December 1987

In a Nutshell
Sean Cassidy meets Maeve Rourke, and begins to vie with this cousin Tom for her affections. 

Writer: Chris Claremont
Artist: John Bolton
Pencils: Kieron Dwyer (additional pages)
Inks: Terry Austin (additional pages)
Letters: Tom Orzechowski, Ken Lopez (additional pages)
Colors: Glynis Oliver, Petra Scotese (additional pages)
Editor: Ann Nocenti
Editor-in-Chief: Jim Shooter

Plot
Being chased by the Northern Irish police, Sean Cassidy is rescued by a mysterious biker wearing a helmet. When the police run them off the road, Sean uses his power to save them both in turn. He flies the biker to his home, where she is revealed to be a woman named Maeve Rourke, enraged at the loss of her bike. Sean invites her inside, where she meets his rakish cousin, Tom. Over the ensuing weeks, she becomes friends with the two men, and finds herself genuinely torn between which one she cares for more. She agrees to accompany Sean to a spring dance, but when he's run off the road by the police sergeant he escaped earlier, he asks Tom to take his place. Tom stays silent about the reason for Sean's absence at first, confident he can win over Maeve, but eventually tells her the truth to spare her sorrow over Sean's absence.  

Want to read the rest before everyone else? Become a patron via Patreon! 

Wednesday, May 4, 2022

X-amining Excalibur #106

"A Portrait of the Artist"
February 1997

In a Nutshell
The Acolytes make Colossus an offer he easily refuses!

Writer: Ben Raab
Pencilers: Randy Green, Casey Jones, Rob Haynes, and Aaron Lopresti
Inkers: Martin, Rob Haynes, Ketcham, Pinnock, Simmons, Aaron Lopresti, Casey Jones
Letterer: Richard Starkings
Colorist: Ariane Lenshoek 
Editor: Matt Idelson
Editor-in-Chief: Bob Harras

Plot
After finishing a painting Meggan intends to give to Brian as a wedding present, Colossus is contacted by Frenzy, one of Magneto's Acolytes. Having regrouped under Exodus' leadership following the fall of Avalon, the Acolytes want Colossus back in the fold. Learning the Acolytes are operating out of the X-Men's old base in the Outback, Colossus, Shadowcat, Wisdom, Nightcrawler and Wolfsbane travel there. Reaching the base, they find that only Colossus is able to enter. Inside, the Acolytes, including Frenzy, Unuscione and Scanner, urge him to rejoin the group and help bring about Exodus' vision for mutantkind's future. Colossus tells them he is done following the visions of others, and urges a wavering Scanner to leave with him. But the girl ultimately refuses, and Colossus is expelled from the base, with Unuscione warning him this was his only chance; when next they meet, the Acolytes won't be so cordial. Later on Muir Island, Colossus laments his failure to reach Scanner, in whom he sees a lot of himself. Wisdom points out that if someone as stubborn as Colossus can admit and learn from his mistakes, there's hope for anyone. 

Tuesday, May 3, 2022

X-amining X-Men: The Animated Series 3x16 - Patreon First

"Cold Comfort"

Original Airdate
February 4, 1995

Writer
Len Uhley

Plot
When Professor X is alerted to a break-in at a government facility committed by Iceman, a former member of the X-Men, he joins the team in the field to apprehend him. At the government facility, the X-Men manage to capture Iceman and bring him back to the mansion. He tells Beast about how after he and girlfriend Polaris left the team following Polaris' injury, they tried to live normal lives, but as things got worse for mutants, Polaris wanted to do more to help . One day, Iceman came home and found their apartment ransacked and Polaris gone; he's been looking for her ever since. Overhearing this, Jubilee decides to free Iceman and together they return to the facility where the X-Men caught Iceman. The two are knocked out by X-Factor, and after they awaken and are joined by the rest of the X-Men, a confrontation breaks out between the X-Men and X-Factor. After the X-Men gain the upper hand by switching up their opponents, Forge and Polaris put an end to the fight. Forge explains that X-Factor is a recently formed government backed mutant team, and he'd hoped a little scuffle with the X-Men would be good training. Polaris explains to Iceman that she was recruited by Forge to join the group, and has since fallen in love with its leader, Havok. Having found Polaris, Professor X offers Iceman a place with the X-Men once more, but he declines, much to Jubilee's dismay. 

Want to read the rest before everyone else? Become a patron via Patreon!