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X-statix #19 #20

Mr Tricks

21:57 / 24.03.04

it's been quite a while since we've chatted about X-statix. I thought this lasted story line deserved a thred.

Spoilers . . . (probably)

So Miles the Vivisector is quite happy with his fame but not quite happy with how he's attained it. Seeking (or sought out by) one of Professor X's lab assistants, Miles has his mutation removed. The following expulsion from the team and loss of fame are complicated by the Lab assisant's attempt to adopt the vivisector mutation for himself.

a new twist on the U-Men or just more lust for fame?

what did you think?

sleazenation

22:24 / 24.03.04

I'd be VERY suprized if this had anything to do with U-men - I'd say its more about fame and that other popular Milligan theme, identity.

I'd also venture to suggest that Miles is probably not long for this world after this current storyline - of course I could be wrong -tike and guy have both been around for a while now - its surely time one of them copped it - or will Milligan do the unthinkable (again) and off doop?

who knows, but it sure is a fun ride.

Matthew Fluxington

22:24 / 24.03.04

It's not about anything like the U-Men - it's all about sexuality and race. It's not that complicated; it's just about selling out who you are because you're tired of the troubles of being different, but then realizing that you're nothing when you deny who you are.

FinderWolf

12:23 / 25.03.04

I think this book got seriously de-railed with the whole gutted-Diana story and the 2 issues since then ("The Cure" storyline of which we speak) have been quite sub-par. I'm beginning to wonder if this book hasn't peaked already and is doomed to feel stale and old. Milligan's writing and pacing in the last two issues really feels off to me. And I know Allred has a different inker in the first part of the story (the second part is a fill-in artist who's not very good), but even Allred's layouts and visual pacing feel off to me.

Maybe the whole 'the group is vain and celebrity obsessed' thing is just getting old...I dunno. Or maybe they're still trying to get back on track after the Diana mess and regain some momentum. I'll try this again when it goes Marvel Knights, but I'm not excited about this book like I used to be...

Sax

12:28 / 25.03.04

when it goes Marvel Knights

What on earth does that mean, in real terms?

Matthew Fluxington

12:29 / 25.03.04

Nah. The Diana thing was only a setback for an issue or two - the majority of that last big arc was fantastic. I loved it. X-Statix is the most consistently entertaining monthly comic by a million miles. NXM was more engaging, but not nearly as great.

Matthew Fluxington

12:32 / 25.03.04

In "real terms" it means that X-Statix will be published by Marvel Knights, which is technically a different company. It's a really good thing - it means that some of the sales pressure is off, and that it is outside of the influence of the regular Marvel editors.

Murray Hamhandler

12:53 / 25.03.04

Is Marvel Knights still a seperate company? I thought I remembered reading a while back that it had been re-absorbed into Marvel proper.

FinderWolf

13:23 / 25.03.04

Not a separate company, more like a sub-imprint, like Marvel's MAX or DC's Vertigo. I think there's some technicality about how the paychecks are written, but that doesn't matter much.

I want X-STATIX to win me back over, but I'm not liking it at all these days.

sleazenation

08:16 / 27.03.04

Yep, I'm still loving this comic - true, this issue might not be as fun as some previous issues but its now the only marvel title i'm buying...

Gary Lactus

11:53 / 27.03.04

Yes. This is a consistantly entertaining comic but doesn't warrant much analysis. That's no bad thing, it's pretty much what I want from a comic. I don't always want to be mind-bent by or enlightened to the mysteries of the universe.

Haus of Mystery

16:02 / 27.03.04

I agree. I have Chuck Dixon comics for that.

Ben Danes

22:53 / 30.03.04

I'd agree that X-Statix is as good as it ever was. I really liked the Di story. It's amazing they still got a good story out of it after the editing. And it has the best recap page around.

The upcoming story with the Avengers should be gold. I'm really looking forward to Doop v Thor, especially after they were taking the piss out of Thor in the recap page for months.

Gary Lactus

07:30 / 31.03.04

Yeah, it's great the way the reader is addressed by x Statics and how aware it is of it's difference from the other Marvel titles. I love the cheap tricks like Doop's special alphabet that you need a decoder for (unless one is particularly linguistically gifted). It's all somehow still embracing the majesty of the mighty Marvel spirit.

God, I'm starting to sound like John Byrne.

The Strobe

10:51 / 31.03.04

I really need to pick up the second part of this storyline, because after Back From the Dead, this one's been a bit slow. Same old sheen - witty, slick, entertaining - but slightly potboilery. Obviously I can't wait to find out what happens... but I'm not as worked up as I was for previous issues.

Matthew Fluxington

11:53 / 31.03.04

The only time I've ever felt bored by X-Force/X-Statix was during that Moons Of Venus/Bad Guy storyline. Everything else has been on target for me, even in spite of the Fake Diana thing (which only really effected a portion of that storyline.) Moons Of Venus just felt a bit slow to me.

yawn - thing's buddy

22:23 / 31.03.04

yeah still good but certain milligan weaknesses have been exposed.

i'd like this comic to self distruct around issue no. 76.

wonder if we'll get any more of edie's diaries?

i so fancy lacuna.

and the anarchist is an awesome creation.

great comic.

ps. was very gay for nae-legs mex-stud. (cept only when he had legs. come to think of it, his debut issue is one of the finest pop-mics i've ever read. along with milligan's near mythical strange days no. 2 o'kors)

g'nicht.

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