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c o l o r . m e . i m p r e s s e d - Comic reviews
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Timeline Immediately following Astonishing X-Men #5 The Sitch After the events of Astonishing X-Men #5, a short interlude is in order. Events drift back in time as Ord makes the offer of the cure to Dr. Rao. After briefly trying to steer Ord to Hank McCoy, Dr. Rao makes her deal under the condition that no mutant will be hurt. Ord tells her to the contrary that they have revived a mutant thought dead was revived by them and asks a until now-hidden Agent Brand from SHIELD to give them the file on Tildie Soames. Flash forward to the present with Agent Brand, Nick Fury and SHIELD agents stand down the X-Men over Ord’s life. Wolverine is front and center, objecting the loudest. Fury backs up Agent Brand against Wolverine’s wishes by asking the X-Men for answers, especially for the presence of Colossus. After giving terse evidence, including Emma’s mindscan, Hank’s DNA match and Logan/Hank’s smelling him, Fury threatens to let the X-Men have Ord unless Brand can explain why Peter was left to torture. Agent Brand explains that she is the head of SWORD, the Sentient Worlds Observation and Response Department and that she is trying to prevent a war over a mutant-led genocide of the Breakworld. Before the X-Men can confront Brand and Fury further, the mutants outside Benetech break through the walls, tired of waiting for the cure. Hank comes face-to-face with every concern he’s had about the cure when a mutant without a body is begging for one. In the ensuing chaos, Ord escapes and goes for Tildie. The X-Men demand further explanation from Agent Brand. She finally reveals that Ord showed up on Earth with a declaration of war. The Breakworld’s technology includes timeshadows, which allow them to see the future, including the genocidal Earth-based mutant. SHIELD’s precognitives confirmed Ord’s story and SWORD began to do everything possible to stop the war. SWORD’s everything included Colossus’ torture. Before Hank can finish his questions about Dr. Rao’s knowledge, she comes into the room to tell them that Ord has Tildie. Even as they process this new situation, Agent Brand tells them to clear the complex, which is actually Ord’s spaceship. The X-Men and SHIELD just clear the site before takeoff, civilians in hand. SHIELD and the X-Men watch as Ord takes off with Tildie and the cure. All except Colossus. And Wolverine. The next page turned back the clock by years as Colossus hurls Wolverine through the air. The significance of the moment will be explained later, but it’s awesome and says a lot about how Joss writes for fans. As Ord begins to monologue to Tildie about his destruction of mutantkind, he is cut short by Wolverine breaking through his windshield. In his usual effective manner, Wolverine stops the monologue by shutting Ord’s mouth – literally. Ord has the choice to either land the ship or have Wolverine pop his claws, now embedded with his fist and half of his arm in Ord’s mouth. Back on the ground with a subdued Ord, Nick tells the X-Men that everyone is going to simply and quietly walk away as if nothing has happened and that they should count their blessings. The war is averted for now. Dr. Rao’s work on the cure was mysteriously destroyed as Wolverine escorted the ship back to the ground. The X-Men are forced to comply. Back at the mansion, Scott and Hank take Fury’s advice and count their blessings, foremost of them having Peter back. Joss has Hank point out something that I never really gave much thought to over the years, but was as plain as day. Peter is a Rasputin and you don’t kill those too easily (see the story of Anastasia). Scott also confronts Hank about his use of the cure. After seeing the reaction of the crowds, he has decided that it’s not time to use it. Logan was right. Peter and Kitty are standing on the campus, contemplating his return. Peter notes that the world is still in turmoil and little has changed except the costumes. He remarks, half-heartedly, that it is funny that Kitty was the one that found him. Kitty, surprisingly, tells him that she believes it’s the reason that she’s back with the X-Men. Standing above all the scene is Emma Frost…and a mystery person. They too are discussing the return of Colossus. Emma notes that it changes the equation. The mystery voice says that “she” is still the issue and that when the time comes, she will be the first to be dealt with. End of arc one and issue six. Thoughts You know what I love about Joss writing this book? He’s a fan, too and I think that he’s celebrating that fandom with us. I’m not talking about the “got-the-t-shirt” kind of fandom, either. I’m talking full-on, have the variant, limited special edition action figure that you drove to the next city to get kind of fandom. The kind of fandom that makes you go to a con and wait in line for hours just to meet a few of the people who helped put that world together. That’s the kind of fan I am sometimes. And it’s pretty cool when someone who is putting those worlds together gets it. That wink. That nod in the middle of the show to people acknowledging those who are in the know. I think it’s probably the thing that frustrates and delights people the most about Joss’s work. I’ve had to beg friends to sit through his shows for a while. Once they get it, it’s got them. It’s the reason that people who have only seen “Once More with Feeling” look at me like I’m crazy when I tell them it’s the best thing ever done on television. The more you watch, the more you get it. It’s that moment of recognition in “Chosen” when Giles says “The Earth is definitely doomed.” When Mal says “Waiting to see if I’m going to pass out” after he’s kissed. When Wolverine turns to Colossus and asks Colossus if he’s feeling rested. When Colossus tells him he’s strong, and Wolverine says he’s got just two words for him. I felt 13 years old again with just two words. The next panel is the jaw-dropping two-page spread with Colossus hurling Wolverine into the lower atmosphere. Those two words are never said and if you’ve been reading X-Men for a while, you don’t need them to be said. I first read this issue standing in my local comic shop. As I was discussing the issue with the store owner (yes, I talk about comics on Friday nights at the shop; see earlier reference to fanboy), the owner told me that he really liked how Whedon rewarded long-time readers from time to time. I couldn’t have said it better. Oh, if you’ve not been a reader, I won’t spoil those two words for you. If you’re interested, e-mail me, and I will let you know what’s up with the reference. A couple of other plot points. First, who is the “she” that Emma is referring to? I’ve been suckered into thinking that the obvious answer – Kitty – is the actual one. I don’t buy it this time. And I want to know who the mystery voice was. This also ends the first arc of Joss’s run on Astonishing X-Men, and it’s been a doozy. I can’t wait for the next six (which at the time of this writing is now 18 since Joss re-upped for another year!) Cover Art Again, another brilliant cover. In fact, it was so brilliant that in an online poll by Marvel.com, this was Marvel’s #1 cover of 2004! It features Kitty being held by Colossus. It begs the question – what are we seeing? A reflection of the past? Or a look at the future? Regardless, it reflects the ultimate tie between these characters. What's My Line? Diplomatic #%$@*&%!!@#$@%&&@&!! Immunity? I read his mind. I matched his DNA. I smelled him. I also did that.
You people are in a world of trouble.
Jean Grey is dead, Agent. You bite. I’ll heal. I pop. You won’t.
Rating: Main Credits (as listed in the issue)
Writer - Joss Whedon Published October, 2004
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