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X-Statix #8

Matthew Fluxington

12:49 / 07.03.03

Well, it seems that thus far no one has wanted to write about X-Statix #8, though I can't say I blame anyone. I think this is probably the weakest issue of the series so far aside from the "silent issue." After all that's gone before, I sort of expect more from the comic than a bad formulaic superhero story which acknowledges that it's a bad formulaic superhero story with little else going on. The issue is definitely worthwhile just for the usual witty/ironic dialogue, but the story was so uncompelling and messy that I wonder if Milligan is beginning to tread water on this series.

At least it made up for a weaker-than-usual story with the most attractive cover of the series thus far (X-Force included).

What did you all think of it?

Regrettable Juvenilia

13:10 / 07.03.03

I agree that the issue itself isn't very exciting, but I think it's classic set-up stuff - everybody's pretty much happy, and Milligan is going to subject them to terrible, terrible pain and loss pretty soon. Dead Girl's creepy feeling when watching Guy and Tike hug is clearly an actual premonition - of impending death for one of them, or something just as bad if not worse.

The Strobe

13:46 / 07.03.03

Bit bland and uninspiring, yes. Didn't really have much to say. One thing of note - the "special suit" for Venus has a pinkish skin tone... and yet it's clear, from what Dead Girl says and her family - that Venus is actually black. Racial normalisation, or just me being picky? It's certainly a sligthly artifical skin-tone, but it just glared at me this time.

Please let the next issue be better.

sleazenation

13:51 / 07.03.03

I kind of thought there hadn’t been a thread on this book because there wasn’t much to discuss. We don’t need to have a thread on *every* issue of a series.

Having said which...

Yeah this issue went pretty much as I guessed it would -Bad guy being the alien/family member crossbreed and stuff. All the good stuff happening to guy and venus did strike me as slightly jarring - as flyboy says there is probably going to be another fall coming for Guy soon.

on the venus thing - Flyboy actually picked up on Venus' ethnicity in issue one (the family photo we see) I thought it was kind of interesting how it was being underplayed.

yawn - thing's buddy

14:21 / 07.03.03

Honest guv, I luvved thisish.

It was just so daft.

That last page: 'thought I'd died and gone to heaven', 'me too'

pure class. spose I just love me pop comics and can see that's exactly all and everything X-statix is.

Just thought of the title. Static = not moving. X-Statix - something which previously didn't move, but is now moving.

nice.

this was a dark, strange funny tale which tapped into the unnameable weirdness of American super-comics.

I don't talk about the Statix much these days cos there isn't so much to talk about in the typical investigative manner common to Barbelith.

That's one way of looking at the title. I always just think of it as a pun on "ecstatic".

FinderWolf

19:44 / 07.03.03

NOOO!!! They better not hurt the super-sexy Sharon Ginsberg!!!!!!

uncle retrospective

07:44 / 08.03.03

So Doop is giving the thumbs up now? Who is that ugly little spud? What is he? Milligan's Fiction Suit in Xstatix? Would he pull that stunt again?

I though this was another good issue, not a great issue.
I'm looking forward to the Doop/Wolvie crossover.

The Falcon

23:55 / 08.03.03

Man, they'll help Sharon Ginsberg. They're superheroes.

yawn - thing's buddy

17:19 / 09.03.03

flux; your interpretation of this comic's name is indeed the most apt.

yawn - thing's buddy

17:22 / 09.03.03

and mon oncle: doop-suit is miiligan cock comment is smooooooth baby.

or it could be stan and jack's lovechild and secret heir to the storybox at Marvel HQ.

The Natural Way

11:22 / 10.03.03

Pfah! "racial normalisation", my arse. How many white people do you know who come in that shade of pink.

Pink - sex and romance. Engorged bits.

I hope you got really angry with Milligan - that racist fuck.

ONLY NICE THINGS

12:06 / 10.03.03

I think it's certainly interesting that the first time we see the "special suit" it appears to be simulating a leather-clad white woman. I think the suggestion is probably that Professor X is pretty weird about sex.

Where would you locate the racism, Runce?

yawn - thing's buddy

13:33 / 10.03.03

warning: please heed:

popsploitation zone only.

Hick warning: 'Clear off with them thar quizzes bout culler n creed boy.'

Incidentally: I look forward to this title becoming unbearably bad in the best tradition of soap.

only way to go.

Matthew Fluxington

13:37 / 10.03.03

I really hope that Grant Morrison takes a cue from Peter Milligan and starts hinting at Charles Xavier's creepy sexuality over in New X-Men.

The Natural Way

13:45 / 10.03.03

I WOULDN'T locate the racism. That was my point. Now, I've only read the ish once - and I can't find my copy now that I bloody well want it - but isn't the sex-suit a funny pink colour? Am I confused? Where's the leather thing from?

The Natural Way

13:47 / 10.03.03

Regardless, I love Xavier's creeping sexuality. All that kindness...he only wants to help....so caring....

I think it might be a it out of context for Morrison to pull that kind of shit in NXM.

The Falcon

13:59 / 10.03.03

It's been done before.

Haus is referring to the suit's appearance when Charles touches it, in a kind of creepy way, when showing it to Venus.

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