Monthly Archives: December 2012

[One Man’s Worth] X-man #1

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The X-universe has three major time travelers among their ranks, or at least they did as of the 90s. Rachel Summers was the first, and it was eventually revealed that she existed only within her particular timeline. There are no alternate Rachels. Bishop is another of the three, and as we know he’s now even further displaced, living in this timeline since Xavier was murdered. The third major character displaced from time was Cable, and he’s got a lot of special circumstances regarding his birth. He’s the child of Scott and Jean’s clone Madelyne Pryor. He was implanted with a virus and raised in yet another alternate future. So we’re not going to see an exact duplicate of Cable in the Age of Apocalypse, but since Cable had a solo book at this time they had to replace it, and that’s how we got this title.

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The issue starts with a Terminator reference. The young man referred to as Nate is revisiting his memories, most of which don’t make any sense to him. He also ends up psionically visiting Magneto very briefly, before being awoken by Forge, his friend and leader in a band of travelers.

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They’re all mutants, and they travel around in the guise of actors putting on plays to entertain the few remaining humans in America. Forge warns Nate not to use his powers too often, because it turns out he may be just as powerful as Apocalypse himself.

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Even the Shadow King (who seems to live inside a lava lamp in Apocalypse’s lair) thinks so. Apocalypse tasks Domino to find Nate and either get him to join their side, or kill him.

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This picture is here because I love her costume design.

Forge, Soaron, Brute, Toad and Mastermind all work together to try to save some humans that have been boarded on a train to be moved by Apocalypse’s orders. Nate isn’t supposed to get involved, but his desire to be a hero means he can’t just sit back and do nothing.

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Siryn is among the humans, but she suddenly realizes she is not in fact a human anymore. Nate insists they take her along with them. The travelers are stopped on the road by another man, and while he doesn’t look a thing like him, the diamond on his forehead and his name, Essex, tell us exactly who he is: Mr. Sinister.

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While certainly related to the plot going on throughout the other series, I like that this one can sort of stand on it’s own. The lack of bulging muscles and giant gun make Nate automatically more appealing to me than Cable is too. I also found it fun to see a mutated and more ugly Toad here long before the X-men movie made the change.

And with this, we have finally finished all the number one issues! Can you believe it?! I look forward to leaving the realm of introductions and actually getting into some real story.

[One Man’s Worth] Factor X #1

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A group of mutants named Artemiz, Phantazia, Newt, Dominic, and Pyro are trying to escape Apocalypse’s prison camps, but are stopped by Cyclops, Havok, Northstar and Aurora.

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This version of Pyro does not have the special equipment he has in the main universe, and every time he uses his powers, he badly burns himself. While Cyclops tries to capture the escapees peacefully, the others are more than happy to kill them.

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We cut to Sinister alone with his thoughts, thinking about how he was so close to engineering a newer better race of mutants, but then Apocalypse started this war with the humans. He’s going to have to escape the citadel and put into actions his plans to takeover.

We find out that two more mutants are directly under Sinister’s guard, Elizabeth and Sam Guthrie. They’re in charge of keeping the mutants held inside the pens from escaping. After scolding them for letting the few escape, Scott moves on to go to see Sinister while Alex goes to check up with Beast.

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Sinister narrates to us that it was he and McCoy who designed the Infinites, the soldiers we’ve seen fighting for Apocalypse all through out these issues so far. Somehow, this version of Beast still has his delightful enthusiasm and charm while also being deliciously evil. Alex meanwhile, wishes to take his brother’s place as Sinister’s favorite.

We’re introduced to the Bedlam Brothers, another of Sinister’s group. They bicker amongst each other but seem to truly care about each other, which is something we can’t say about the Summers brothers. The Bedlam Brothers head to Heaven to party, and Alex also shows up but he’s here to see the singer, Scarlett McKenzie. She’s a human, so he’s really not supposed to be seeing her, but the heart wants what it wants.

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When the three of them return home, they find Cyclops waiting outside Sinister’s door wishing to be let in. One of the Bedlam brothers picks the psychic lock for him, and when they open the door they find the place empty and all the equipment trashed. Cyclops claims leadership, but Havok plans to change that.

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Once again, we get an issue that is more introduction than anything else. Since we’ve already seen hints at Sinister, Cyclops, Havok, and Beast before now a lot of it feels particularly tedious. But of course there’s no guarantee you’re buying those other issues, so they have to do it. But personally I’m really, really glad I’ve only got on more first issue left.