Weeks of 9/7/2016 and 9/14/2016:
In which Psylocke gets her groove back; there’s more to plot than superhero fights; and sound effects become temporarily obsolete.
REVIEWED:
- Uncanny X-Men #12 (02:00)
- *All-New X-Men #13 (06:19)
- Old Man Logan #11 (12:39)
*Pick of the Fortnight (16:03)
Filmed at Books With Pictures in Portland, OR.
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UXM was OK. But man, Land’s art drags down the book so much. In a talking heads issue like this, it’s vital to have art that conveys subtle emotions, and Land is incapable of that. I do hope the Hellfire Brats never return because I cannot even begin to express my utter loathing for them as a concept.
ANXM is very good. A nice bit of exploration of Bobby learning how to talk to guys with the intention of possible romantic futures. I do hope we get plenty more focus on Bobby’s sexuality. And Bagley art always makes me happy.
Old Man Logan slips in the writing, I feel, but the art is stunning. So gorgeous.
My goodness, your shades are fantastic this week.
Thank you! I got them from a street vendor last time I was in New York! (And now they are Anna’s, because I love them to death, but they are waaaaaay too big for my face.)
I can see you seeing yourself in your sunglasses!
Hang on, Monet St. Crois has mouths on her hands? When did that happen? Did she end up getting related to D (as in from Vampire Hunter D*) during the big vampire storyline? This feels like a cold open in the making.
*Or at least getting symbionts that are related the symbiote that D has in his left hand?
Happened during the Apocalypse Wars arc of UXM. Her brother, Emplate, merged with her. So now she has mouths in her hands.
All-New X-Men #13 was so adorable. Relatedly, I always appreciate that both of you comment on the character development aspects of stories, because that’s often my favorite part.
I like the fact that you guys point out that Psylocke is in character here: she is a relatively expressionless, poised character (quite internal?). I think that’s why it’s sometimes hard to get a read on her, especially for new readers (she’s not bombastic like say a Jubilee type personality). It’s probably why other characters describe her as chilly at times. But I like having characters like that on the team, it’s a good contrast! (Come to think, I miss her being paired up with and playing off Jubilee for exactly that reason). I think Psylocke’s definitely had a bit of a renaissance of late, especially with recent writers like Remender, Gillen and Spurrier using her very well. It’s surprising that she is de facto the most prominent X-Man carrying books, on occasion.
Looking forward to you guys untangling the whole body swap thing… I always liked her as she was the British character. AND a ninja. The dubious racial politics of it has only been pointed out to me much much later… And I always wished as a character she confronted it more (how weird to swap bodies!). But then as a telepath, I always wonder if/how it’s just a “vessel” to her, in the way the Shadow King might jump around bodies. Hmm.