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Underground > Comic Books >

New X-Men #126

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Murray Hamhandler

01:10 / 15.05.02

I've probably already shown my lack of taste by admitting that I like Jill Thompson and Igor Kordey's art, but...am I the only one who really isn't that big a fan of Phil Jiminez? Or, by extention, Ethan Van Sciver? Don't get me wrong. I think they both have talent, but I don't really see a lot of personality in their art. Like there isn't as much of them in it as there are elements of what they've been taught. I don't know. I tend, in all things artistic, to favor personality over skill (although I acknowledge that a little of both is important). Does that make sense?
Arthur Sudnam, II

02:46 / 15.05.02

Yep, makes sense to me, Arthur. Through my teens, I loved the George Perez school of art. But now, I prefer more personality/stylization too. Having said that, though, I admit that Kordey is NOT one of my faves, either here or on Cable (there is, after all, such a thing as a bad personality). As for Jill Thompson, I like her style more than Kordey's, but I'd still rather see Ethan and Phil on X-Men than her. So there we go, I've totally contradicted myself.

On the other hand, I'd love to see Peter Bagge, Dan Clowes, Jaime Hernandez, Gilbert Hernandez, or any number of impossible choices give X-Men a shot. And Cameron Stewart too (who actually wants the job, so maybe he's not all that improbable).

02:48 / 15.05.02

Oh yeah, just in case it hasn't been mentioned before, Frank rocks.

Murray Hamhandler

03:40 / 15.05.02

Kordey isn't one of my favorite artists, either, but I thought that (w/the possible exception of his last couple of NXM issues, which were pretty obviously rush jobs) his stuff is fairly solid and interesting, if not always pretty to look at. Jill Thompson is pretty high on my list, as is Good Ol' Frank Quitely. And I've made no bones about the fact that Cam's art on The Invisibles was about my favorite of the whole series. I'd love to see any of the people you mentioned take a shot at more mainstream work, but I don't see it happening. I don't know that the alternative press names you mentioned would really work well on New X-Men anyway, though (with the possible exception of Jaime Hernandez). All Frank Quitely w/Cameron Stewart fill-ins, though... Now that would rock.
Arthur Sudnam, II

08:04 / 15.05.02

I'm going to feel really stupid here, and I know I could just wait until I get home and check my back issues, but... which bits of the Invisibles did Cameron draw? It was in "The Invisible Kingdom", right? Was it the scene with the angular style where they're having Indonesian food on the eve of the big ritual in Westminster Abbey? That stuff wuz kool.
Grant can't spell Nasi Goreng

Yotsuba & Benjamin!

11:26 / 15.05.02

Hey Zoom, sick right?

Honestly.

I have one book sitting on my mantle, bagged and boarded, and that is NXM #114. It's, personally, just a perfect encapsulation of how comics can seriously just rock ass in a way no other medium can.

As of today, it shall be joined by #126.

Some of the best work by both parties ever and it's all about characterization and wonderful wonderful teensey moments.

I cannot wait to sit down and read the entire first season this week.
Benjamin.

The Natural Way

13:04 / 15.05.02

Sounds good. Yay.

Now, Cameron....

The George Harper/Lord Fanny/John-a-Dreams bit w/ the exploding computer screens and the test tubes full of magic/anti mirror and the end, w/ Reynard and Jack @ the school.

13:11 / 15.05.02

Mwah ha ha ha ha haaaaaaaaaaa!

S

P

O

I

L

E

R

S

R

I

G

H

T

H

E

R

E

Grant is Prof. X in a wheelchair?
Hmmmmmmm.....

Zoom.

13:12 / 15.05.02

I hate to be nitpicky, Runce, but I think the end bit was Cameron inking over Grants own pencils. I think.

Zoom.

The Natural Way

13:25 / 15.05.02

Yeah, I think you might be right. Can't remember the exact details of that page now.

Our Lady of The Two Towers

14:36 / 15.05.02

Yes, that WAS Cameron inking Grant. The bit with Jack and the exploding computers was all Cameron's.

With regards to Jiminez, haven't seen Wonder Woman so can't comment on that, but his work on the Authority/Planetary sort-of crossover was full of creamy goodness.

Matthew Fluxington

16:10 / 15.05.02

Wow. The issue is fabulous - I just read it through quickly in the park, and I'll read it again on my train ride home - I absolutely refuse to say anything about it til later on tonight.

It's wonderful.

My favorite line won't spoil anything, though:

"Scott, you're my favorite superhero..."

Yotsuba & Benjamin!

17:36 / 15.05.02

Fluxie....

That was gonna be MY quote!

My only spoiler...?

ONE INKER AND ONE ALONE!!!
Benjamin.

22:01 / 15.05.02

It is absolutely astonishing to me how much of a difference Frank Quitely makes. The book is actually *exciting* when he draws it, and all the cool lines snap, crackle and pop, instead of landing with a leaden thud when anybody else illustrates it.

Go Frank!

07:25 / 16.05.02

Thanks Runce. I haven't read any further than your post because of spoiler fear, which I don't usually get, but... this is special.
I think my favourite of the Cameron's bits is the last page of #2, particularly the expression on Jacks face as he says "are you telling me you don't know what this is?"

The Natural Way

10:35 / 16.05.02

Yes, that was fun and they found a way to heal Cassandra, afterall. She's still an infant, but what will she look like next time we see her? She may yet prove to be a real asset. I loved the Black hole/whirlpool face on Stuff - she's a void, an open mind ready to evolve.....nice. Maybe we'll get to watch her grow, or maybe the Shi'ar will take her away w/ them anf that'll be it......

That classroom. Xavier's is a school.

And "why does nothing stay buried?" I just knew he'd work that one into a story.

And, yeah, "You're my favourite superhero." is just brilliant.

Matthew Fluxington

11:17 / 16.05.02

SPOILERS

That scene at the end with Cassandra in the school room with Charles and Jean has got to be one of my favorite in all of the visual fiction I've seen.

I also really love when Wolverine tries to psyche Cassie out, then Henry tries to join in, but it's so silly and WRRRRAAAUNG!!!

I love when Xorn enters the room and leaps onto Cassandra screaming "I can HEAL you!". I love how Xorn is always saying "I am Xorn". I like how all of his dialogue is stilted and just a little weird. I wonder what his voice sounds like, is it mechanical? Does he have a Chinese accent? Why is he so incredible noble? Shouldn't he be less comfortable around people, having been locked up for 50 years?

I love when Jean confronts Cassandra, and basically tells her that she's nothing more than a vulnerable, angry little girl, and Cassandra reacts like an angry child. "SHUT UP!"

I love how beautiful Frank's pencils are. They get better with every issue - it's a shame we won't have another Quitely issue til 8 issues from now.

12:35 / 16.05.02

>>it's a shame we won't have another Quitely issue til 8 issues from now.<<<

Awww, Flux, you had to go and spoil my morning.

12:51 / 16.05.02

Anybody know about the person who's drawing the next issue? The 'xorn solo issue'?

#126 was fun to read. I liked the vagueness of the whole story, actually. And I feel bad saying this, but I think I like Xavier better in his wheelchair...

Matthew Fluxington

13:37 / 16.05.02

the schedule, as much as I can figure out:

June

127 - John Paul Leon
128 - Igor Kordey

July

129 - Igor Kordey

August

130 - Igor Kordey

September

131 - Phil Jiminez

October

132 - Ethan Van Sciver?

November

133 - Ethan Van Sciver?

December

134 - Ethan Van Sciver?

January

135 - Frank Quitely

February

136 - Frank Quitely

March

137 - Frank Quitely

April

138 - Frank Quitely

The Ethan issues aren't officially announced, but they are implied.

Regrettable Juvenilia

13:55 / 16.05.02

"She's gone weird!"

That's going to have to be my favourite line since Flux beat me to "I am Xorn. I can HEAL you!"

17:16 / 16.05.02

"Hank! To me!"

Here boy...

18:00 / 16.05.02

Of course, we've seen Charlie out of his chair in the Claremont days too, when he was cloned a new body or somesuch.

But this time is particularly effective, I think. He's mentally free of his original sin, so he's physically free as well. Kinda psychosomatic. It's no longer holding him down.

On the other hand, his physical disability always did serve to emphasize the powers of his mind. And I'm not up enough on the X-continuity to know whether or not he was supposed to have supposed to have a specifically identifiable disability, like spina bifida or something.

Matthew Fluxington

18:35 / 16.05.02

Well, Charles originally broke his back in his 20s, but was healed by the Shi'Ar. He ended up being crippled again just before the end of Chris Claremont's original run, just before the re-launch of the X-Men franchise with (New)X-Men #1.

I think it makes sense that he'd have his disability reversed, if just for going back to the Shi'Ar while Cassandra took over his body, and for the fact that Xorn is in the group now, and he can heal people. Remember when Xorn jumped on Cassie/Charles proclaiming that "I can HEAL you!"? That could've done it.

Of course, the logic of "hey, we've got this miracle working Chinese guy around" applied across the board would be silly and dull. It would mean Scott wouldn't need his visor/contacts anymore, for example. Anyone who's ever seen that one episode of the Simpsons knows that "Biclops" isn't a name befitting a superhero.

20:18 / 16.05.02

Yes, yes, Prof X handicap has been confusing over time. The last time I checked the Shadow king crushed a lot of bones in his body causing him to return to the chair. I'm all for Grant walking around in the Prof X fiction suite.
What is Wolverine evoloving into...is his new mutant ability the power to obfuscate his enemies?

20:30 / 16.05.02

"... and May I remind you emma is still loose out there . . ."

there's Soooo much good stuff...

I figure a guy with a Sun for a Brian will tend to had a certain "enlightenment" about him... he reads like he's got a Chinese Accent... Especially that comment about "then Henry, the Srongest.

Wolverine was Great...

Scott, So sure they would all survive, And arriveing at just the right time... it figures the Sha'r transit stream would move them through Time as well as space, so of course that's where/when they would appear!!!

ahhh... must read it for a third time!!!

Matthew Fluxington

21:03 / 16.05.02

I thought it was cute that Cassandra addressed Wolverine as "James", which is a nice little nod to that Origin miniseries.

(His name is James Logan, apparently.)

21:50 / 16.05.02

Yep, flux, I quite liked that myself. Maintaining the super-consistency rather than the continuity, like the man said.

I am thoroughly interested to see how Charles is going to deal with the fall-out of Cassandra's TV mutant confession. From the way they're portraying it, as part of Cassie's plan, it was not on Charles' agenda. Perhaps it will move things a little closer to the way Millar has portrayed it in Ult X, w/Prof. X going on talk shows and making personal appearances.

Looking forward to the Xorn story, though I hope it's not a solo adventure without any of the rest of the team. I think the best way to get into his character will be through interaction with the others. Perhaps it's just me, but I don't feel he's a developed enough character to carry his own story quite yet.

But then, it's Grant, and I'm sure he'll prove me completely wrong.

Zoom.

01:56 / 17.05.02

I can't believe nobody's quoted "The possibilities are endlessly lewd".
Scott's face just after Jean says "..and can I just remind evrybody that Emma is still on the loose?". A small thing, but.. magic.
Also, call me stupid, but, what was the point of the syringes Henry stuck into Charles's body?

02:47 / 17.05.02

Loved the birth subtext throughout the issue too. Jean "carries" Prof. X inside her and is going weird and throwing up. Check out the panels where Beast's supporting Jean; looks like he's supporting a pregnant woman. Then, in the end, Charlie's too much, so the whole damn world's mutants have to give birth to him. And that final panel is so perfect. A naked Charles coming out of an...um...opening with some umbilical cord wiring strewn about. And he's already learned to walk! Bloody brilliant!

02:48 / 17.05.02

No idea about the syringes, though.

05:53 / 17.05.02

I loved everything but I found it a bit odd that Beast so quickly jumped to blame Emma of switching sides when everyone else was cool with it. I thought he was supposed to be the smart one?

Matthew Fluxington

05:56 / 17.05.02

I think it is part of Grant's characterization of Henry for him to be the most histrionic of the characters, having him flipping out and panicking rang very true to me. Henry is obviously very brilliant, but sometimes he can't suss out the obvious.

12:10 / 17.05.02

Syringes were an attempt to sedate Cassandra, possibly?

Our Lady of The Two Towers

12:39 / 17.05.02

Haven't read it yet so don't know the context of the syringes, but wasn't Henry trying to reprogram the nano-sentinals to rebuild Cassandra's Alzheimers/senile/Parkinson's ruined body?

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