tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7266470995513648978.post3662484449331609559..comments2024-03-16T14:43:09.430-05:00Comments on Gentlemen of Leisure: X-amining X-Terminators #1-4Austin Gortonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14281239771248780430noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7266470995513648978.post-27211800361695397952017-08-14T00:48:37.879-05:002017-08-14T00:48:37.879-05:00...
Now what about the art?
In issue 2, page 20-......<br /><br />Now what about the art?<br /><br />In issue 2, page 20-21, Rusty tries to make a phone call. Look at those pages again; you can tell *exactly what is going on without looking at the words.<br /><br />It took me years to realize this, but artist Jon Bogdanove really only has two flaws: he is so good at body language and gesture, that he tends to exaggerate to the point of absurdity, and when his work is rushed, it tends to look grotesque. <br /><br />In the case of X-terminators #1, we can see Bog's art at it's best: carefully pencilled, and paired with excellent inks (in this case, by Al Williamson). I will go on the record as saying that Bogdanov is one of the best draftsman the comics industry has ever produced. Yes, he's that good. <br /><br />In any case, I enjoyed reading this for the first time. There were instances where my attention was lost, or the portrayal of the demons tested even my patience for superhero absurdity (the demons' misunderstanding about Whiz Kids ability to 'check spells' comes to mind -- though that did make me chuckle).<br /><br />What I'm trying to account for is why the work of Simonson and Claremont was *so popular* in the 80s but is so divisive to readers today. There must be something below the surface that made this stories stick with us; that made them withstand multiple revisitations by a much larger base of readers than we have today. <br /><br />Maybe the issue with today's readers is they're not able to see the appeal *because* they are used to today's more technically accomplished cash grabs -- there is something below the surface here, but modern readers don't realize that *surface* is not all there is.Mike-ELhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02840254150021796923noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7266470995513648978.post-58402894381557259092017-08-14T00:48:18.134-05:002017-08-14T00:48:18.134-05:00I don't know what to think of this -- or of an...I don't know what to think of this -- or of any comic written by Louise Simonson. I grew up on X-factor (my first mutant comic), and to a lesser extent, New Mutants. I like these characters, they have a sense of camaraderie, the story contains some genuine laughs, and Simonsson shows a passion for her material (something alien to today's more 'serious' writers that write superheroes at an ironic distance). <br /><br />First, it's clear that Louise Simonson's comics are intended for a younger audience. Or at least, one less literal minded than today's superhero readers. I was going to say 'more sophisticated', but I don't think (for example) that admiring yourself for figuring out that magic tricks aren't actually magic, or that WWE matches are fixed, is a sign of sophistication -- and neither is mocking traditional superheroes because they’re not 'unrealistic'.<br /><br />The superheroes in Louise Simonson's comics (like most of her 1980s contemporaries ) operate in a cartoonish world that is not restrained by our real-world rules of logic and plausibility. This is the world *all* superheroes used to live in, until Alan Moore and Frank Miller thrust them into ours.<br /><br />It took me years to realize that it wasn't just the hard work of people like Grant Morrison and Mark Waid that brought back superheroes' lost innocence; it was also the influence of the cult favourite TV show Buffy The Vampire Slayer. Joss Whedon's vampires quite obviously were evil and were proud of it. Buffy's mother calls her a superhero, her friends talk about her secret identity, and *no one is ashamed of it*.<br /><br />Reading X-Terminators, I realized that this cast of mutants and the demons of Limbo (S'ym, N'astirh and the rest) could easily be swapped with the characters from Buffy. This is a comic written for teenagers that also happens to *star* teenagers. <br /><br />While I don't think the work of Simonson (or Chris Claremont) is without it's share of flaws, there is a reason that these stories hold such a place in so many of our hearts, and why today's more 'realistic' superheroes read like cash grabs by talented writers who clearly want to be doing other things: these creators loved what they were doing -- and it shows. <br /><br />Simonson knows these characters: she knows their voices and she knows their thoughts.<br /><br />In issue 1, page 16, Leech sneaks into bed with Artie. What 2017 would take the time to spend on this moment?! I’ll take this mute and this other near-mute over any speech-making, back-story explaining, sentence-not-finishing Bendis scene any day.<br /><br />Now for the weaknesses. First there's the habit of having characters explain to each other things they must already know. Rusty says to Skids: <br />"Basically we're just people. We have the same rights -- and duties as everybody else. But now there's this law -- the Mutant Registration Act -- that tries to force mutants to register with the government..."<br />Um, yes. I believe she knows this. Next, you should explain to her that there exists a team of superhero mutants called X-factor. And that bread comes in loaves.<br /><br />Another odd characteristic: once Simonson's plots get going, the characters seem to 'fall' through them. It's hard to describe (or provide references), but there don't seem to be scenes that end with the character's making decisions that spin the story into unpredictable directions. The plots just seem to 'happen'. I'm going to test that hypothesis once I re-read her New Mutants run, but that's what I come away with after reading this story.<br /><br />Mike-ELhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02840254150021796923noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7266470995513648978.post-4326107298862289522014-08-05T10:19:18.467-05:002014-08-05T10:19:18.467-05:00Man, I just had a flashback. I saw Taki and instan...Man, I just had a flashback. I saw Taki and instantly remembered him from an episode of X-Men: TAS where Cyclops goes back to his old orphanage to find closure after Jean's death. I just checked out some clips of the episode, and sure enough there are 4 mutant kids in the orphanage: Taki, Rusty, Skids, and Boom-Boom. I loved it when cartoons based on comics would through in really obscure references to past issues or storylines. I mean, aside from this post do you think anyone is actively going out of their way to talk about the X-Terminators? So it was a cool nod to see these 4 characters together in the cartoon.Ian Millerhttp://ianjmiller.deviantart.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7266470995513648978.post-7071535344055571552014-07-17T20:54:29.194-05:002014-07-17T20:54:29.194-05:00Here's the ad I was talkin' about, the sec...Here's the ad I was talkin' about, the second one on the page. "For Inferno to begin, thirteen children must die ..."<br /><br />http://marvel1980s.blogspot.com/2013/03/1988-x-men-inferno-house-ads.html<br /><br />Creeped me right out as a kid. Jasonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13298753675007196538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7266470995513648978.post-44076619817976679362014-07-17T20:52:51.894-05:002014-07-17T20:52:51.894-05:00"I didn't - I've been reading the Wol..."I didn't - I've been reading the Wolverine issues via Marvel Unlimited so there aren't any ads (though, now that you mention it, I thought Wolverine was ad free, at least at first, like Excalibur? Or maybe just the Direct Editions were ad free, and the newsstand copies had ads?). "<br /><br />No ... both Wolverine and Excalibur always had ads in them. They just didn't have ads on the back cover at first.<br /><br />If they didn't have ads, there'd be 32 pages of story in each issue, but they're always 22 or 23 pages.Jasonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13298753675007196538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7266470995513648978.post-62604241123601641142014-07-12T12:25:31.020-05:002014-07-12T12:25:31.020-05:00Discomfiting realization of the day? Rusty has the...<br>Discomfiting realization of the day? Rusty has the flame powers. Skids has an impenetrable force field around her. As I read #1 it suddenly hit me that their relationship can easily be read/rewritten as icky Johnny and Sue Storm fan fiction.<br /><br />One thing I hate, or at least don't get, is Crotus saying "mawthtur". It completely reads in my head like the stereotypical "mad scientists' assistant" / "Monster Mash" deal, and that would be funny <i>if the rest of his speech indicated that accent in any way</i>.<br /><br />I definitely hate the name X-Terminators, although dubious homage to X-Factor's other identity aside it's admittedly the kind of thing that kids might come up with as a cool team name, especially now that we're dangerously close to the age of <i>kewl</i>.<br /><br />The colors are pretty garish throughout, but that was par for the course (and went on for way too long) in this era of upgrades to better paper that absorbed inks differently and frustrated colorists used to making guides based on the old newsprint.<br /><br />My biggest problem storywise, besides what feels like an ill-defined sense of the relationship / hierarchy between S'ym and N'astirh, is that N'astirh's underling demons have to be told what a human baby is, perpetually screwing that up, yet they bring in bags of the proper groceries no problem.<br /><br />I missed the familiar "#1 in a Four-Part Limited Series" banner on the covers. Did Marvel stop doing that between <i>Fallen Angels</i> and <i>X-Terminators</i>?<br /><br>Blamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07342343767763035991noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7266470995513648978.post-71030930862321147552014-07-12T12:21:57.035-05:002014-07-12T12:21:57.035-05:00I liked the art overall. You're right, Teebore...<br>I liked the art overall. You're right, Teebore, that the cartoony feel mostly juxtaposes surprisingly well with the horror of the demon hordes. We've talked before about Jon Bogdanove's stuff turning a little too loose or exaggerated by the time he's into his stint on Superman, but the layouts, body language, and detail in this mini are among his best work. Al Milgrom's inks over Bogdanove's pencils prove that he's capable of turning in solid stuff, too. <br /><br />That double-page spread in #4 is lots of fun, as is having Al Williamson ink the start of #1 in homage to his old EC work under Bill Gaines. Since Williamson mostly worked on science-fiction material there, not horror, and he memorably drew <i>Flash Gordon</i> as well, I wonder if Bodganove meant for that would-be bandage on Rusty to echo the kind of <a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Ln-sPPm5Nog/UsuzA03Nt_I/AAAAAAAADOc/FJfkAXAMlgk/s1600/Flash+Gordon+by+Al+Williamson+-+water+color.jpg" rel="nofollow">headgear</a> you used to see on SF adventurers back in the day, expecting Williamson to ink the entire miniseries. Rusty in costume doesn't exactly <i>not</i> resemble Flash Gordon with the skintight top, trousers, and boots.<br /><br />While it's questionable to have the girls running around in their undies — as far as in-story practicality, which yes they do at least mention and lament in conjunction with Rictor's state of bare-chested pajamitude, but even more in terms of taste or standards — I have to admit that Boom-Boom finally looks decent (the other kind) the way Bogdanove draws her before the new costumes, with a kind of '50s throwback style rather than her immediately dated '80s fashion. <br /><br />On the other hand, Rictor, sadly if not somewhat appropriately, gets dressed like Vibe.<br /><br />Speaking of the '80s: In addition to all the stuff you cite, there's a soda machine that takes quarters; also, there's a pay phone that takes quarters and, well, exists period.<br /><br>Blamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07342343767763035991noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7266470995513648978.post-329170861409368202014-07-11T23:58:28.820-05:002014-07-11T23:58:28.820-05:00// The Reference Section //
Nice!
I had no idea ...<br><i>// The Reference Section //</i><br /><br />Nice!<br /><br />I had no idea that this mini was part of <i>Inferno</i>, which given my established nigh-willful ignorance of X-Men stuff in this era isn't surprising. Honestly, I don't even think I knew that it starred the kids from X-Factor until you began covering that series, nor did I realize that they had such relative longevity.<br /><br />Damning with the faintest praise, <i>X-Terminators</i> is way better than <i>Fallen Angels</i>. I've held them and <i>Wolfpack</i>, sight unseen beyond the merest glance, as a sort of totemic triumvirate representing of the worst of the stuff that Marvel — and, to be fair, the industry in general — was churning out at the time, with Sturgeon's Law really lowballing the percentage of crap amidst the flood. We did get some material that was good or innovative or even both; there was also plenty of extraneous dreck, though. I would actually call <i>X-Terminators</i> a qualified success, especially given its relation to <i>Inferno</i> as a whole and how much better it is than most of <i>New Mutants</i> and the same characters' appearances in <i>X-Factor</i>, which script-wise of course makes almost no sense.<br /><br>Blamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07342343767763035991noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7266470995513648978.post-25037257840955313982014-07-10T20:43:57.259-05:002014-07-10T20:43:57.259-05:00"Admittedly, I havven't read a lot of sto..."Admittedly, I havven't read a lot of stories w/Madison Jeffries (mainly just his time with the X-Club in more recent stuff), but I thought his power worked more like something between Taki and Forge - he had some control over metal/technology, but still needed time to create, say, the Box armor, as opposed to Taki, who almost literally just waves his hands over "technology" and makes different "technology". "<br />The Box armor was invented by Roger Bochs but Jeffries can reshape it into any form he wants, just like Taki can his chair. In fact, Jeffries can reshape any machine into any form he wants.<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7266470995513648978.post-70484300115962584932014-07-10T13:52:49.653-05:002014-07-10T13:52:49.653-05:00@Anonymous: I don't see what's wrong with ...@Anonymous: <i>I don't see what's wrong with Taki's powers- he's basically got the same powers as Madison Jeffries.</i><br /><br />Admittedly, I havven't read a lot of stories w/Madison Jeffries (mainly just his time with the X-Club in more recent stuff), but I thought his power worked more like something between Taki and Forge - he had some control over metal/technology, but still needed time to create, say, the Box armor, as opposed to Taki, who almost literally just waves his hands over "technology" and makes different "technology". <br /><br />I think it's the use of the word technology that bgs me - it's so vague. Like, the story clearly means computers and guns and airplanes and junk, but what, like, a steam engine? Or a stone wheel and a wooden axle? Those aren't examples of <i>current</i> technology but they're still technology. Could he turn a sling-and-stone into, I dunno, a gun or something? <br /><br />@Jason: <i>I can't remember, did you mention the "X-Terminators" ad that ran in Wolverine? </i><br /><br />I didn't - I've been reading the Wolverine issues via Marvel Unlimited so there aren't any ads (though, now that you mention it, I thought <i>Wolverine</i> was ad free, at least at first, like <i>Excalibur</i>? Or maybe just the Direct Editions were ad free, and the newsstand copies had ads?). <br /><br /><i>I'm surprised your review is so positive ... I'll have to dig these up and finally give them a chance. I have "Inferno" nostalgia too after all, if not specifically for this part of it. :)</i><br /><br />I do have a less-low - I don't feel like "higher" is really the right word :) - opinion of the X-Factor kids than you do, so that probably aids in my appreciation of this story. But there is some fairly big "Inferno" stuff that happens, and the more I think about it, the more I genuinely like the juxtaposition between Bogdanove's goofy art and the darker tone. It somehow makes it all creepier, like an evil clown. Or something. <br /><br />@angmc43: <i>I'm surprised this limited series was absent from the paperback collections (if not the Omnibus). Several major plot points occur</i><br /><br />That is pretty crazy. I mean, you get bits and pieces of some of this stuff in issues of other series (especially <i>New Mutants</i>), but this kind of presents a pretty straight-forward view of the build-up to a fairly big event in the crossover, the creation of the Limbo/Earth portal. <br /><br />Austin Gortonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14281239771248780430noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7266470995513648978.post-70046961261582363642014-07-10T04:56:54.035-05:002014-07-10T04:56:54.035-05:00I suppose the beginning happened before the events...I suppose the beginning happened before the events in X-F32 and PP40, and N'astirh is just covering his tracks about his location.<br /><br />Ah, N'astirh. When I read the crossover to my sister, my way of voicing the demon was to put my tongue to the palaet of my mouth and speak.<br /><br />I'm surprised this limited series was absent from the paperback collections (if not the Omnibus). Several major plot points occur: the baby-pentagram, N'astirh's techno-organic transformation, etc.<br /><br />S'ym's comment about humans being hard to control is an interesting character point. Yes, he thinks humans are ants, food, victims, etc., but he does respect their will power.angmc43@hotmail.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15379700547226493861noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7266470995513648978.post-47949741066467397872014-07-09T16:44:00.718-05:002014-07-09T16:44:00.718-05:00I can't remember, did you mention the "X-...I can't remember, did you mention the "X-Terminators" ad that ran in Wolverine? I know it was in one of the early issues.<br /><br />Anyway, that ad was all I knew of "X-Terminators" when I was a kid, and the ad is so creepy, back then I thought it was a horror series. The ad actually creeped me out sufficiently that I had no desire for years to ever track down the mini.<br /><br />At some point it filtered through, I guess once I read the footnotes in "New Mutants," that the series was not some frightening creepy tale about demons but actually a really cartoonish-looking series about Rusty (ugh) and Boom Boom (ugh), I felt very silly for fearing it. (But really, that ad in Wolverine is *incredibly* deceptive about the tone, if not the plot, of X-Terminators).<br /><br />I know I have all four of these issues, thanks to seeing them in quarter bins and thinking "What the heck," but I still have never read them.<br /><br />I'm surprised your review is so positive ... I'll have to dig these up and finally give them a chance. I have "Inferno" nostalgia too after all, if not specifically for this part of it. :)Jasonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13298753675007196538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7266470995513648978.post-55797030581058610322014-07-08T20:55:22.413-05:002014-07-08T20:55:22.413-05:00The beginning of this series is weird- S'ym ac...The beginning of this series is weird- S'ym acts like this is the first time he's telling N'astirh about the mutant babies but X-Factor 32 and Power Pack 40, which take place before N'astirh leaves Limbo, have N'astirh already looking for the babies. And all of those issues were written by Louise Simonson.<br />I don't see what's wrong with Taki's powers- he's basically got the same powers as Madison Jeffries.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com