Having re-read NXM134, Persephone was right about the attack on Jumbo. And I agree about the Buffy comparison and Beast being the Giles of the Institute.
Now to move on and develop some of the themes raised in this thread...
"Firstly, STRUCTURE:
1. Male authority is thrown into chaos by women."
Let's not forget that it was Emma and Martha who toppled the Third Species regime.
"2. The similarities between each arc."
Following the theme of opposites, I think it's interesting that Quentin has lost his love, Sophie, just as Magneto lost Magda. However, while Magneto shared a beautiful relationship with Magda, Quentin's love was unrequited. Instead of aggressors killing Sophie, as they did Magda, it was Quentin and Sophie's actions that led to her death. Will Quentin then follow the opposite path as Magneto and become a chief spokesperson for Xavier Corp.?
"Thirdly, XAVIER'S DREAM - philosophy or brand:
In NXM, the X-Men are obsessed by their media profile - Jean holding a press conference, she and Xavier giving lectures and doing promotional tours around the world; Hank and Charles on the cover of magazines. They also have new uniforms and have opened franchises around the world."
And that is why this is huge. The X-Men are trying to further a cause, gain public opinion in their favor. That is the point to everything. Other writers have tried to do the "X-Men look bad on camera" thing. It happens and then there are no consequences. But there will be here. The image of Herman as the suicide bomber is probably the WORST image humans can see in today's world. No amount of spin can save the team. I hope that Xavier donning Cerebra in #138 is his attempt to rewrite history and skew the mediasphere to spread the X-Men as heroes meme. This, more than anything in the run thus far, will be the ultimate abuse of telepathy. I don't think something like that will sit well with Jean.
Remember, Quentin has succeeded in making Xavier question the assumptions his dream is based on. Xavier will have to think this new world order out more because his faith in mutantkind has just been shat on. Xavier will delve further into his "ends-justify-means" mentality. Without Jean there, and I'm sure Emma will have no problems with it, Xavier is free to "misdirect" the world with the "illusion" that Open Day was a success.
Xavier is becoming more and more like the antagonists of the run: he is eradicating binary thought and becoming more like Cassandra, he has the virtual presence of John Subliime through his brand, the X-Corporation is viral like Weapon XII, and now, he may practice the misdirection and illusion of Fantomex.
"To me, Xavier's dream is less of a philosophy and more of a brand - his utopian vision of mutants and humans living in harmony as superficial as as Benneton or Diesel advert; it's a lifestyle aspiration."
Which is why Xavier will pull a telepathic "recall" of his product. |
