Hickman's X-Men

Originally posted by StyleTime
Possibly. Maybe that's the difference though: Mystique can be made to cooperate. She does legitimately care for Destiny. Sabretooth has no such attachments.

Magneto highlighted Sabes inability to follow basic mission instructions when he voted against him. Apoc agreed lol. Mystique, for all her flaws, does her job, although not "handling" the Nimrod situation was deceitful AF. I feel like Mystique is more selfish than psycho. Still bad, but can be contained at least.

Sabretooth is shit right in front of you.

Mystique is the same shit, but covered in expensive wrapping.

That's the only difference between them, Style.

As for her bond with Destiny? I don't believe it would withstand the real tests. Mystique never faces challenges, she runs from them.

The Empyre issue of X-Men(#11) was surprisingly well done. Humorous exchange with Magneto and the Cuckoos too.
https://postimg.cc/SncPm4w9

The actual Empyre: X-Men tie-in mini was neat too. The Explodey Boy thing was gold. I've never gotten attached to a zombie before but well done lol. I was sad at the end scene.

Originally posted by StiltmanFTW
Sabretooth is shit right in front of you.

Mystique is the same shit, but covered in expensive wrapping.

That's the only difference between them, Style.

As for her bond with Destiny? I don't believe it would withstand the real tests. Mystique never faces challenges, she runs from them.

Krakoa was the new start. Everyone got a chance to unite under Xavier's unified mutant banner, provided they fall in line. So far, everyone has...except Sabretooth. He's the one who decided to risk an important mission and disobey orders. Not Toad. Not Mystique. They did their jobs as asked, and continue doing so.

Once he blew his chance, they tossed him. I don't really see it the same at all tbh.

My issue was moreso the ****ed up they treat her personally, especially considering the folks they happily chill out with now. As far as redeeming traits, she got as much as any of the "bad" mutants. She does love Destiny, and can commit to the team if needed: she was put on death's door saving Forge's life, for example.

I just can't imagine Raven living anything close to a normal life... especially with her history of homicidal tendencies, mental ilness and that weird addiction to betraying anyone around her, even when it doesn't really fit her goals.

Originally posted by StiltmanFTW
I just can't imagine Raven living anything close to a normal life... especially with her history of homicidal tendencies, mental ilness and that weird addiction to betraying anyone around her, even when it doesn't really fit her goals.

😂 😂 😂

So, thoughts on X of Swords?

I didn't think it was the worst event ever, but I didn't really hit the mark. I don't think these crossovers running through multiple titles with multiple writers often work very well. Right off the bat, we get tonal inconsistencies that take me out of the story. Not to mention quality shifts. I think it would be better if there was one main title, written by Hickman. Have the other titles be about those teams' actions during the event, but minus their missing member(s). Only 10 folks were actually chosen, so it would be fine if they disappeared for a while into a Hickman written maxi-series.

As for the actual story, I feel like we got two potentially good plotlines crammed into one so-so event. I actually liked Saturnyne's petty and utterly arbitrary contests just reform the Captain Britain Corps. And watching her throw a b1tch fit because she wants to bang Brian but Betsy is her only option was hilarious. I just wonder if it would work better as a dedicated, almost absurdist mind**** of a story where she trolls everyone with her ridiculous games until figure out some way through it all. When it happens alongside the Apocalypse story, it just made the whole Krakoa/Arakko war so hard to take seriously. I found myself not giving AF during the battle, and it was the climax of the event.

I do like that Apocalypse's personal arc finally move forward though. He was preparing them for a coming war, and the war occurred. He finally moved on from the one-note villain he was all those years. Good stuff there at least. I still think Remender Archangel made a better Apocalypse, but En Sabah Nur grew a lot here. 👆

Oh, and of course, I loved the character moment from Cyclops. This is probably the best example of how you make Cyclops the "third" option against Magneto or Xavier, which Marvel spent the last decade trying to do.

https://postimg.cc/wtH39SZc
https://postimg.cc/LY8X1jHJ
https://postimg.cc/zLjvvx1m

Mags and Xavier can keep their little abstractions and ideological battles. Cyclops is here to be a ****ing hero. 👆

Oh, and while I'm rambling, I might as well mention something I noticed with the former teen mutants. It was really prominent in this event, but is noticeable throughout all the series. Magik, Doug, Rahne, etc---

--Are their ages changing back and forth? One issue, they feel like mid-twenty somethings, but they change to 13 year olds who go "teehee" at the idea of kissing someone in the next. I can't totally get a handle on it. Maybe it's just me though.

Please stop bribing X-writers.

I blame you for the

Spoiler:
Gurl Powah vs. Sebastian Shaw

Too late. I've already arranged for Storm to destroy Knull alone. She was just too afraid of hurting everyone to cut loose last issue.

So, Hickman is handing X-Men over to Gerry Duggan. Tini Howard will be on X-Corp. Simon Spurrier and Leah Williams on new titles.

I genuinely dislike this. Hickman's X-Men was just getting going, and most of the other titles aren't good. I definitely didn't want to see Tini on X-Corp, and Spurrier, Leah, and Gerry.... just goddamnit. I don't want to be so negative about it, but holy **** I was kinda hoping we'd get other writers. None of their X-books have been good, other than Hickman.

He's still gonna write one title, right? Looking at that pic.

Hickman is NOT someone who can execute his "grand plans" right to the end.

Yeah, he'll be on whatever that new title is.

I assume it will pick up from Cyclops/Jean separating from the Quiet Council, and starting the official X-Men team.

Maybe this will be the new Uncanny? I just REALLY hope we get to continue what Hickman's plans are, with Hickman actually being the one to do them. I was enjoying it and there's 8 million threads we need to see play out. I really don't get why he'd be off the flagship title, unless they're planning to make the new title the "main" book.

Either way, let's hope it's not being left to Tini and Duggan and such... ermm

Originally posted by StyleTime
I just REALLY hope we get to continue what Hickman's plans are, with Hickman actually being the one to do them.

I see what you're saying, but we both know it's hard to execute such plans in the mainstream continuity.

Even if Marvel's editorial staff agrees, sooner or later there will be a new creative team... often forgetting/ignoring/retconning the work of previous writers.

In my opinion, you were putting way too much faith in Hickman. He is overrated and half-measure.

But.

It's not over yet, so hopefully he will get a chance to prove me wrong.

Well, we disagree on Hickman, but maybe I'm overreacting. He is still at the reigns to my understanding, so this shouldn't go too far of course. Let's just hope it doesn't turn out like Warren Ellis Wildstorm reboot. Started out great, then the whole reboot gets put on hiatus and still hasn't come out 5 years later.

As for the current run,

I'm especially liking the recent turns of events, now that the Children of the Vault arc moved forward. It seems like sending Darwin worked against them, as the third generation Children wouldn't have been enough to kill the mutants since they're all banded together on Krakoa. The Vault captured Darwin and used his powers to make a 4th generation possible. The mutants basically just doomed themselves by even bothering to investigate.

X-23 got a great healing feat though.
https://postimg.cc/2bVqswb5
https://postimg.cc/LgPJX8VK
https://postimg.cc/ftp3D9mf
https://postimg.cc/kDR6wTP1

And the Krakoan revival protocols have resulted in some folks getting a power boost, as Synch can now copy anyone's powers. Not just mutants. Nice to see him getting used.

Interesting story too, since X-23, Synch, and Darwin were trapped in there for over a century. I'm glad that didn't get glossed over. Time moves differently in the Vault.

Darwin was atomized and reconfigured 10,278 times after being captured. 🙁

Laura's skeleton boobs are even bigger 👆

It is kinda funny, huh?

Walking around despite literally being skeleton. Her clothing still has boob imprints. Mask completely undamaged.

It reminds me of the scan srank posted, where Wolverine climbed out of a vault of acid as a complete skeleton.

Originally posted by StyleTime
Oh, and of course, I loved the character moment from Cyclops. This is probably the best example of how you make Cyclops the "third" option against Magneto or Xavier, which Marvel spent the last decade trying to do.

https://postimg.cc/wtH39SZc
https://postimg.cc/LY8X1jHJ
https://postimg.cc/zLjvvx1m

Mags and Xavier can keep their little abstractions and ideological battles. Cyclops is here to be a ****ing hero. 👆

i'm loving Hickman's X-Men except for these 2 things:

- how is Scott okay with Logan and Jean? this is stupid... we've had a soft reboot and instead of keeping Logan away from Scott and Jean, Hickman even made them a throuple, for f*ck's sake

- we've seen disgusting moments of Jean and Logan but we've never seen Scott and Emma yet, this is my saving grace

I prefer the open relationship to the old love triangle to be honest. Maybe they've just developed beyond their old notions of what their relationship should look like. There's no reason they have to be monogamous, if it doesn't suit them.

That said, I just think Scott and Jean should have stayed separated. Morrison did a really good job showing them grow apart romantically, and I don't like that being discarded. Jean and Wolverine feel much more organic as a couple too. While X-Force isn't the greatest series, their conversations feel more authentic and both characters are themselves around each other. Neither really becomes background noise to the other.

Jean with Scott just feels almost...performative at this point, like "wife" and "husband" are just positions they play on a sports team. Honestly, I'd rather Emma be with Scott as they just work better.

I wouldn't mind Jean just being single either.