tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7266470995513648978.post5568606284932157614..comments2024-03-28T10:18:00.370-05:00Comments on Gentlemen of Leisure: X-amining Uncanny X-Men #216Austin Gortonhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14281239771248780430noreply@blogger.comBlogger10125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7266470995513648978.post-54146673024246046902014-01-06T18:07:09.141-06:002014-01-06T18:07:09.141-06:00Comment from Blam: I meant to add that if the merc...<b>Comment from Blam</b>: I meant to add that if the mercenary WWII retcon trio end up in Freedom Force, Storm actually should have taken them out. Given that she's only met them this once and they do turn themselves over to the authorities, it's not exactly a "let the damn cops shoot Joker already 'cause he's only gonna break out of Arkham to kill again" situation, and her mercy is entirely appropriate, but it sounds like it's going to bite her in the butt.Austin Gortonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14281239771248780430noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7266470995513648978.post-30558922690627884762014-01-06T18:06:56.013-06:002014-01-06T18:06:56.013-06:00Comment from Blam: The art's nothing special, ...<b>Comment from Blam</b>: The art's nothing special, to say the least. Either despite or because of that, however, Claremont's scripting rises to — or past — the occasion. Some of the dialogue is still clunky, of course, but the captions during the opening sequence with Storm in the woods are Claremontian in the best sense; also, her interior monologue and her dialogue with Wolverine actually tie what had been a major detour from the main plot back into the X-Men's new status quo in a serious way. Jason backed me up on this years before I even said it over in his post. 8^)Austin Gortonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14281239771248780430noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7266470995513648978.post-20203349466787176142013-12-12T13:03:05.434-06:002013-12-12T13:03:05.434-06:00@Jason: So ... if he eventually says as much, then...@Jason: <i>So ... if he eventually says as much, then it IS made explicit. :)</i><br /><br />Touche. :) <br /><br />I think what I was trying to say was that Wolverine didn't make it explicit *in this issue*, even it does become explicit later. But that could have been written better. <br /><br />@wwk5d: <i> It seems like another plot contrivance to keep the teams apart, and to keep the X-men from learning about Jean's resurrection.</i><br /><br />Oh, definitely. And I wouldn't mind the two groups of characters being kept apart if they weren't constantly teasing them coming together, the end result being really bizarre character actions that read like nothing more than the obvious teases they are. <br /><br />Basically, have the teams run into each other or don't, but don't try to do both at once. Austin Gortonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14281239771248780430noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7266470995513648978.post-72815247761549087012013-12-07T07:44:58.895-06:002013-12-07T07:44:58.895-06:00The thing is, the first time Wolverine catches Jea...The thing is, the first time Wolverine catches Jean's scent is during Mutant Massacre...which was before the incident with Malice where everyone begins doubting themselves. It seems like another plot contrivance to keep the teams apart, and to keep the X-men from learning about Jean's resurrection. Kind of like Magneto not telling the X-men he saw a redhead he assumed was Maddie hanging out with X-factor in Uncanny #210...wwk5dnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7266470995513648978.post-35276749811117380772013-12-06T23:47:59.176-06:002013-12-06T23:47:59.176-06:00"I don't know that it's ever made exp..."I don't know that it's ever made explicit, but it is pretty heavily implied that Wolverine is keeping his "I smelled Jean" stuff a secret intentionally, because he thinks he's going crazy/can't trust himself (I even think he eventually says as much when Storm finds out he knows about Jean being alive and didn't tell anyone). "<br /><br />So ... if he eventually says as much, then it IS made explicit. :)Jasonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13298753675007196538noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7266470995513648978.post-73286090359500110302013-12-05T12:14:34.365-06:002013-12-05T12:14:34.365-06:00Teebore -- "All that said, I still think it&#...Teebore -- "<b>All that said, I still think it's a little silly that he's not telling her, or at least that Storm isn't more insistent in her questioning of why Wolverine went crazy and knocked her out in the process.</b>"<br /><br />Oh yes, I agree -- this is one of my biggest pet peeves in any fiction, where a character doesn't ask an obvious question that any normal person would bring up, simply for the case of artificial suspense.<br /><br />But in this case, I was just noting that Wolverine is actively withholding information. Storm not asking about it is on her, if he wasn't planning to volunteer the reasons for what happened.Matthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14580725636327122073noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7266470995513648978.post-11599780476908640292013-12-04T17:46:52.211-06:002013-12-04T17:46:52.211-06:00@Matt: I believe he actually does meet his end by...@Matt: <i> I believe he actually does meet his end by that same method years later, in Fabian Nicieza's "Freedom Force goes to Kuwait" annual backup serial.</i><br /><br />I know he dies in that story, but I didn't remember that he died in a manner similar to Storm's trap. <br /><br />Like you, that little detail has always stuck with me - another example of Claremont logically thinking through the ramifications of these super powers. <br /><br /><i> And we have one more Guice fill-in next month before the new regular penciler arrives!</i><br /><br />And even then it's questionable if Silvestri's run starts with #218, or if that's just another fill-in before starting regularly in #220, since #219 features another fill-in artist. <br /><br />Either way, yeah, it's odd. The BWS and Davis stuff you can make a case for being big enough name artists that you fit them in where you can, but it definitely seems like JRjr's departure threw everyone for a loop, even though I'd be surprised if his leaving when he did was all that much of a surprise (since he left to work on Shooter's much-ballyhooed New Universe). <br /><br /><i>isn't Wolverine explicitly hiding the fact that he smelled Jean? He thinks he's losing it (even if he has regained his humanity for now), and doesn't want Storm to know yet. Or am I misremembering?</i><br /><br />I don't know that it's ever made explicit, but it is pretty heavily implied that Wolverine is keeping his "I smelled Jean" stuff a secret intentionally, because he thinks he's going crazy/can't trust himself (I even think he eventually says as much when Storm finds out he knows about Jean being alive and didn't tell anyone). <br /><br />All that said, I still think it's a little silly that he's not telling her, or at least that Storm isn't more insistent in her questioning of why Wolverine went crazy and knocked her out in the process. Austin Gortonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14281239771248780430noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7266470995513648978.post-11624660537447452412013-12-04T16:55:44.034-06:002013-12-04T16:55:44.034-06:00Like you, I also enjoy this two-parter for some re...Like you, I also enjoy this two-parter for some reason. I agree the art in this installment doesn't live up to the standard set by Alan Davis previously, but the splash page of Wolverine, looking all feral on the highway, has always stuck with me.<br /><br />Storm's trap for Super Sabre is the other main item that I remember vividly. I believe he actually does meet his end by that same method years later, in Fabian Nicieza's "Freedom Force goes to Kuwait" annual backup serial.<br /><br />"<b>Super Sabre is believed to have died in the course of this issue, but he will eventually turn up alive and well and join his compatriots in Freedom Force.</b>"<br /><br />Isn't it in the exact same issue? They've just joined Freedom Force and he shows up and they're like, "you're alive!" and he he's like "yup," and that's that. Very odd.<br /><br />"<b>Jackson Guice fills in on pencils, making this the sixth issue in a row to feature a different artist than the previous issue.</b>"<br /><br />I realize scheduling and whatnot plays a lot into this, but it astounds me that here, near the absolute height of their popularity, the X-Men had trouble finding a regular penciler for so long. And we have one more Guice fill-in next month before the new regular penciler arrives!<br /><br />"<b>The back cover features an ad for the Marvel role playing game.</b>"<br /><br />Yessss!! So much enjoyment came from that box. Years of it, in fact. I played regularly with my friends from roughly 1992 to 1997 or so. Then we moved on to the next edition, also from TSR, for another few years after that. Basically played Marvel RPGs all the way through middle school, high school, and college.<br /><br />Teebore & wwk5d -- I'm not sure it's stated, but isn't Wolverine explicitly hiding the fact that he smelled Jean? He thinks he's losing it (even if he has regained his humanity for now), and doesn't want Storm to know yet. Or am I misremembering?Matthttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14580725636327122073noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7266470995513648978.post-56843352043617495632013-12-04T14:50:57.247-06:002013-12-04T14:50:57.247-06:00@wwk5d: Though you'd think Storm and Wolverine...@wwk5d: <i>Though you'd think Storm and Wolverine's chat in the car at the end would have been a great time for him to mention that this is the second time he's caught Jean's scent...</i><br /><br />You'd think so. Like, "by the way, what caused you to go berserk?" <br /><br />"Oh, nothing." <br /><br />"Nothing? You knocked me out and left me at the mercy of three geriatric whackos. What the hell happened?!?"<br /><br /><i>I think that cover is the last time we see BWS involved with the X-men for a while, no?</i><br /><br />I believe so. He's done with <i>New Mutants</i> covers at this point, and doesn't have any more <i>Uncanny</i> gigs ahead. This would be his last X-work until, what, "Weapon X" in <i>Marvel Comics Present</i>?Austin Gortonhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14281239771248780430noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7266470995513648978.post-51308243838784488952013-12-04T13:34:26.513-06:002013-12-04T13:34:26.513-06:00Nothing against Jackson Guice, he's a good art...Nothing against Jackson Guice, he's a good artist, and while this is a decent looking issue, this is far from his best work. Had Alan Davis been involved, this would have been a much better regarded 2-parter. as it is, it does have good character work. Though you'd think Storm and Wolverine's chat in the car at the end would have been a great time for him to mention that this is the second time he's caught Jean's scent...<br /><br />I think that cover is the last time we see BWS involved with the X-men for a while, no?wwk5dnoreply@blogger.com