tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7266470995513648978.post3821030438958138264..comments2024-03-28T10:18:00.370-05:00Comments on Gentlemen of Leisure: X-amining X-Men Annual #12Austin Gortonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14281239771248780430noreply@blogger.comBlogger14125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7266470995513648978.post-64136103942163264892014-05-24T19:37:26.918-05:002014-05-24T19:37:26.918-05:00"Teebore, you make notice about why the X-Men..."Teebore, you make notice about why the X-Men bundle up for the Savage Land. Unless I was mistaken, Terminus damaged the environment to such extent that its tropical climate had been removed, causing Antarctica's cold climate to engulf the place. The X-Men knew about this and were being prepared. The panel you showed displays Dazzler's breath-in-cold-temperature."<br />The problem is that Claremont's dialogue makes it sound like the X-Men are surprised that the Savage Land's tropical climate is gone, while the art shows them dressed for winter.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7266470995513648978.post-47129251851247404692014-05-24T18:20:50.333-05:002014-05-24T18:20:50.333-05:00I too was big on this Annual when it came out. It ...I too was big on this Annual when it came out. It was my first intro to the Oz-Team, and new costumes.<br /><br />Ah, Terminus. John Byrne's replacement for Galactus as the Big, Bad, Alien Giant Earth Destroyer (after having Galactus resign from that part).<br /><br />Teebore, you make notice about why the X-Men bundle up for the Savage Land. Unless I was mistaken, Terminus damaged the environment to such extent that its tropical climate had been removed, causing Antarctica's cold climate to engulf the place. The X-Men knew about this and were being prepared. The panel you showed displays Dazzler's breath-in-cold-temperature.angmc43@hotmail.comhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15379700547226493861noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7266470995513648978.post-12895586575297638522014-05-24T06:14:53.369-05:002014-05-24T06:14:53.369-05:00While not required reading, this is a good annual ...While not required reading, this is a good annual in a dumb, fun kind of way. And yes the art is gorgeous and elevates the story, but it's still kind of enjoyable.<br /><br />"Colossus had a threesome years ago and one of the girls involved just happened to get pregnant? And she loved this Russian stranger who she barely knew so much that she named the child for him?"<br /><br />Maybe Peter is just THAT good in bed? ;) It's interesting that Longshot knows about his son, though...<br /><br />"Why would a priestess in the Savage Land wear a supervillainess costume complete with a big letter "Z" on her chest?"<br /><br />Why not? Maybe all those super-heroes traipsing through the Savage Land inspired her.<br /><br />Teebore, will you be reviewing Excaliber: Mojo Mayhem? It does continue the X-babies sotryline...and does feature Art Adams as well, plus a sort-of Excaliber team-up...wwk5dnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7266470995513648978.post-82030317664785061892014-05-24T02:59:42.366-05:002014-05-24T02:59:42.366-05:00One of my first X-Men comics. Ten-year-old me rea...One of my first X-Men comics. Ten-year-old me read this one over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over and over.<br /><br />The main story is such classic superheroics. Great writing, great art.<br /><br />The secondary story seemed odd to me as a kid. Later I realized that the satire is pretty darn forward-looking ... and now that I've read the Longshot mini, the whole Mojo milieu makes more sense. As a kid, it just seemed weird and strange but I was still fascinated.<br /><br />Top marks for this comic-book. One of my faves. (Turns out it's one of Claremont's as well.)Jasonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13298753675007196538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7266470995513648978.post-62311903857571272082014-05-23T21:26:28.720-05:002014-05-23T21:26:28.720-05:00I know that Glynis has sweepingly used flat color ...<br>I know that Glynis has sweepingly used flat color before, to bring parts of a panel into focus or for other artistic purposes, but the rather meticulously drawn bird's-eye shot of the X-Men's new homestead done in a broad swath of pale blue at the top of Pg. 2 and similar monochromatic renderings on subsequent pages are surely her way of saying, "Really? Three more regular issues <i>plus</i> an annual drawn by <i>Art freakin' Adams</i> this summer?!?"<br /><br />Gosh, I don't think I've seen Terminus anywhere since Byrne introduced him.<br /><br />I love the Adams/Wiacek art, particularly how the X-Men really look like superheroes again — even though the Savage Land is pretty much the last place any of the characters need their costumes for iconic and/or identity-hiding/defining effect.<br /><br>Blamhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07342343767763035991noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7266470995513648978.post-26173160229388386642014-05-23T21:13:29.935-05:002014-05-23T21:13:29.935-05:00I enjoyed this issue alot. Some great banter betwe...I enjoyed this issue alot. Some great banter between Betsy and Havok. You could tell that if they had continued on in Australia, they might have hooked up, IF she wasn't already hooking up with Peter. She did pose for him in the buff several times. <br />Logan wasn't offensive, and was quite ineffective throughout. So it was cool. I do love that Longshot is the damsel here. Made the issue good. Taziraihttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14009288045314604699noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7266470995513648978.post-45512319169955293782014-05-23T16:00:40.474-05:002014-05-23T16:00:40.474-05:00I like it all, as I said above. From Mesmero to M...I like it all, as I said above. From Mesmero to Magneto to the Savage Land to Japan to Canada, I love that run of issues <b>a lot</b>. Now that I think about it, for me the weakest part is the Xavier/Shadow King flashback issue, which I think breaks up the flow of the journey.Matthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14580725636327122073noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7266470995513648978.post-76676119802005882262014-05-23T13:19:11.900-05:002014-05-23T13:19:11.900-05:00That's what I felt, Jeff, but didn't dare ...That's what I felt, Jeff, but didn't dare to speak out because today's popular X-portrayal of "THE Wolverine and some interchangeable supporting characters" weights down the space-time continuum so that the Logan-specific revelations and developments in the Moses Magnum storyline just might make it the most essential part of the Claremont/Byrne era.<br /><br />I'll wait for people reading the original DoFT and complaining about how they ruined it by having some Chicago chick there instead of The Wolverine. Such a terrible letdown after the awesome Wendigo Saga.Teemunoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7266470995513648978.post-34520645046685063782014-05-23T12:20:31.147-05:002014-05-23T12:20:31.147-05:00Honestly, I think the Moses Magnum stuff in Japan ...Honestly, I think the Moses Magnum stuff in Japan is way less fun than the Savage Land leg of the journey. They almost seem like a fill-in storyline to me. The Magneto issues are the best part, of course.Jeffhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14447265712189987074noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7266470995513648978.post-32604878441930125412014-05-23T01:58:21.598-05:002014-05-23T01:58:21.598-05:00Matt: Colossus had a threesome years ago and one o...Matt: <i>Colossus had a threesome years ago and one of the girls involved just happened to get pregnant? And she loved this Russian stranger who she barely knew so much that she named the child for him? Contrived and silly.</i><br /><br />I think that is exactly how things would go down in an isolated community that knows nothing of the western sexuality morals. New genetic inflow is a matter of dire importance. Wouldn't be surprised if some village elder called the two unspokenfor girls of right age for a chat and put them to it.<br /><br />I mean, in the real life the Faroe Islands were towards being a pretty inbred place when the British forces occupied them during WWII in their, ha, "Operation Valentine". As a consequence, the people there were <i>very</i> welcoming.<br /><br />Except for the "love" part. Maybe she just wanted the kid to have some connection to his father?<br /><br /><i>Oh, also, Teebore -- I must take issue with your believing the Savage Land to be the "least-exciting" leg of the World Tour. To each their own, but I love that storyline.</i><br /><br />"Least-exciting" raised a flag for me too. The single panel where Storm and Nightcrawler (?) react to Wolverine snikting an unwaiting guard alone elevates the story.<br /><br />Reese T: <i>I always read Mojo with a Gilbert Gottfried accent, for some reason.</i><br /><br />Whoa man. You just found a way to ruin a character consisting of a cybernetic spine and endless amount of blubber for me.Teemunoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7266470995513648978.post-21534611384980253702014-05-22T21:11:38.449-05:002014-05-22T21:11:38.449-05:00I like how we pretty much start the story with Lon...I like how we pretty much start the story with Longshot giving Allison the ol' hollow bone...classy. I also like how they made Longshot the "damsel in distress", instead of the obvious choice of Dazzler.<br /><br />I feel like the scientific community in the 616 should have mind control capabilities by this point. I mean, apparently every other villain with a helmet has some type of "psychic shielding" to prevent mind probes or whatever (see Terminus, Maggy, etc.). Seems only plausible that the brains of the world would've already figured out how to manipulate/read minds by now...idk<br /><br />I love the art throughout the comic & the dialogue for the Mojo story...those X-Babies are just chocked full of awesomeness!<br /><br />I always read Mojo with a Gilbert Gottfried accent, for some reason.<br /><br />The all female cast of X-Men seemed like it had the most potential :PAnonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04944426155574998463noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7266470995513648978.post-20888182695396909212014-05-22T17:00:50.905-05:002014-05-22T17:00:50.905-05:00Oh, also, Teebore -- I must take issue with your b...Oh, also, Teebore -- I must take issue with your believing the Savage Land to be the "least-exciting" leg of the World Tour. To each their own, but I love that storyline. It's probably my favorite Savage Land tale. In fact, I'd be hard-pressed to declare any part of the World Tour as weaker than another. I think the whole thing holds together very well and is probably my favorite extended X-Men saga of all time.<br /><br />Now, when they get home and Claremont and Byrne begin navigating painfully awkward hoops to keep people believing the X-Men are dead, that's where I start to have issues.Matthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14580725636327122073noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7266470995513648978.post-40297540660333859322014-05-22T16:43:30.928-05:002014-05-22T16:43:30.928-05:00I'm the opposite here, in that I find the firs...I'm the opposite here, in that I find the first story a rather enjoyable adventure in the Savage Land that revisited some ideas from the past Byrne stories.<br /><br />I have no real positive feelings towards the vapid Mojo thingJeremyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/12219137212221355997noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7266470995513648978.post-38066248277565501802014-05-22T16:37:44.086-05:002014-05-22T16:37:44.086-05:00I had never read this annual until just a few year...I had never read this annual until just a few years ago. Upon finally getting to it, I found it... not good. It's not awful, and the restoration of the Savage Land is appreciated (and I agree that the continuity of keeping it barren at the time was impressive), but my issues with it are mainly due to the awkward baggage Claremont dredges up over the course of the story, namely:<br /><br />1. Colossus had a threesome years ago and one of the girls involved just happened to get pregnant? And she loved this Russian stranger who she barely knew so much that she named the child for him? Contrived and silly.<br /><br />2. Storm went to another universe during the X-Men's brief stay in the Savage Land? A needless complication to what was a simple, enjoyable story. That CLASSIC back-up should've been disavowed as soon as it saw print (though I feel that way about a lot of the back-ups which insert themselves into existing stories rather than weaving around them).<br /><br />3. Garokk is still alive <b>again</b>? He was a lame villain the first two time. Just leave him dead!<br /><br />Also, I can't stand the silly costume Adams has given to Zaladane. Why would a priestess in the Savage Land wear a supervillainess costume complete with a big letter "Z" on her chest? I much prefer her original red outfit, which was pretty much perfect, but I'll also take the green Jim Lee costume from a few years later. Either is preferable to this monstrosity.Matthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14580725636327122073noreply@blogger.com