Exiles #79

[Tony Bedard]

Didn't anyone read this issue?! :confused:

Confession: Paul Pelletier and I usually cruise through the CBR boards to get the reaction on our latest issue, but no one's posted on the first part of the Future Imperfect arc, even though we both feel it's one of our strongest issues so far.

So tell us what you think!


Confesssion 2: if I had it to do over again, I'd probably shorten the World Tour arc. On the other hand, seeing Pelletier draw not one, but two Hulks is priceless!

Tony B.

[milhouse123321]

Hey
I've got the issue coming in the mail
Sounds like a good read, more Morph = GOOD

[Beast]

Oops, I thought someone started a thread about this already, or I would have.

It was a good issue, but I'm already not really liking Power Princess. Yes, she's got good ideas and is taking charge, but I really don't think we needed yet another grating personality on the team. Especially since Sabretooth should be the one who's a bit grating and gung ho. And I miss Morph being a bit annoying and funny as well, he hasn't really showed that side of himself very much lately. Yeah, I guess you can explain that away as being because of the more serious nature of the Exiles being in charge of both the Crystal Palace as well as having to clean up the mess Proteus is making. Honestly, that's probably why I don't really like seeing them totally in control of the situation. It was funner when there was a bit of a random feel to things, like Quantum Leap and Sliders, where the team didn't know where they were headed next. Lemme give the issue a re-read really quick, and I can probably offer a bit more thoughts.

[The Lucky One]

Hi, Tony. I read it (and liked it), guess I just figured someone else would start the thread. Which, of course, is probably what everyone else thought too. D'oh.

Liked the issue, especially Power Princess getting bossy (though it did seem a bit incongruous with her behavior last issue... that time of the month, maybe?), and Morph's fake-out was fun. Nice job on combining Longshot's spikes with PP's strength to penetrate Hulk skin. I'll be honest, I was stoked when you brought Longshot in and was hoping that after the World Tour finishes, there'd be some time devoted to exploring where he's at right now and how he got that way. With the way things have worked out, is there any chance of that happening now, or is it a lost cause?

-D

[Beast]

I don't really think there's much to reveal there, TLO. After all, it's not like Longshot hasn't been memory wiped and basically rebooted before. It's an unnecessary tale, though I wouldn't mind a bit of focus on Longshot's growing 'humanity', now that he's been rebooted and is learning from those around him.

[Steven F.]

I thought it was a very good issue...and I couldn't care less about Future Imperfect...so that is saying something. :)

About your second confession, I like that World Tour is so long, but since you are leaving the title, I understand why you would want to focus on some other stuff before you leave. If I am not mistaken, while filling in for Chris you are going to take care of some of that, so that is great. :)

[scouse mouse]

I liked this issue Tony though I was a little bit confused at the end. How could Proteus possess the Maestro when one of Longshots metal blades was stuck in him? Also, why was the blade in him when Power Princess stabbed the 2099 Hulk with it?

Still enjoyed the issue though and will be sorry to see you leave, but please dont kill off Heather Hudson next, she's my fave!

[The Lucky One]

I liked this issue Tony though I was a little bit confused at the end. How could Proteus possess the Maestro when one of Longshots metal blades was stuck in him?

I might have misread it, but I don't think Proteus did possess him... my impression is that Maestro is still Maestro, it's just that because he's insane and all, he's really, really pissed about having blades stuck in him and is ready to beat down the Exiles for it. I could be wrong about that, though.

-D

[Tony Bedard]

You got it right, Lucky One. Proteus is still in Hulk 2099. Power Princess hit the Maestro by mistake. And now the Maestro is angry and all bets are off.

Tony B

[malephoenix]

Hey, Tony. Just wanted to say thanks again for the time you're giving to us fans, here.

As for the issue - I'm no Hulk fan, so I was underwhelmed by the aspect of this story. But I gotta admit, I was surprised by how much I liked the issue. The difficult part for me is that it seems too choppy for Maestro to get so angry from the little bitty knife. It clearly wasn't meant to hurt him; it wouldn't have done either Hulk much damage if not for the fact that Proteus can't handle metal. So going from the last page of this issue and the preview pages of the next, it just didn't transition well to me. I'm still with the Exiles till the end of your run at least, anyway. Just something I had trouble with.

[Badger Boy]

The coolest part of the story for me is when Power Princess takes of her helmet, and Spider-Man 2099 and Longshot get those 'I'm in love' looks on their faces. Now let's have the 2 of them fight over her Tony :) .

[The Lucky One]

Now let's have the 2 of them fight over her Tony :) .

Pffft... Longshot doesn't fight over women. Women fight over him.
;)

-D

[LoneWolf21]

Wait, the issue came out? I swear I have it on my pull list, but I didn't get it.

Weird....

[The Dark Knight]

Double posted (internet problem), sorry

[The Dark Knight]

Honestly, I thought the issue was really good until the last 3 frames. They show Hulk 2099 standing in between two rocks, they show a knife in the shoulder next to rocks, they hear a "ARGHHHH!"...and then randomly its Maestro?
Very confusing with a lame "shocker".
Ok, so now they have to fight Maestro, which brings up another problem with the book: the team is so weak. They have no firepower anymore without sasquatch, mimic, and The Namor Princess, its no fun.

[Michael P]

Ok, so now they have to fight Maestro, which brings up another problem with the book: the team is so weak. They have no firepower anymore without sasquatch, mimic, and The Namor Princess, its no fun.
So, you don't consider stories where the heroes defeat enemies far more powerful than they by using strategy and cunning to be fun?

[fishtaco]

I liked it. Good work, Mr. Bedard.

Is Maestro a PAD creation?

[Beast]

I liked it. Good work, Mr. Bedard.

Is Maestro a PAD creation?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maestro_%28comics%29

[The Dark Knight]

So, you don't consider stories where the heroes defeat enemies far more powerful than they by using strategy and cunning to be fun?

I would, if it ever was that...its always some kind of Deus Ex Machina that saves the day...nothing fun or cool. Do something with Morph! He gets owned by everyone! And recruit some new characters from the Ice, need some oomph. The Proteus thing is just getting oolllddd...

[UniqueFrequency]

hey i didn't see this thread!!

i loved this issue. I was getting a little bored with World Tour (sorry Mr Bedard), but somehow this issue was much more spiced up for me. I loved how all the characters were interacting and everything. Great stuff

[tangentman]

Good issue, Tony! I loved the addition of 616 (sorta) Power Princess to the team. Her bossiness seemed in character to me, in light of the way she pushed through the "Utopia" plan in Gruenwald's Squadron Supreme LS. I appreciated the nod to PAD's "Future Imperfect" Hulk story and consider TWO Hulks exactly the sort of menace worthy of the Exiles. The twist at the ending was funny and definitely a worthy "Oh Shit" moment!

I loved Paul's art and always smile when he shows up on art duties for a series!

[UniqueFrequency]

Good issue, Tony! I loved the addition of 616 (sorta) Power Princess to the team. Her bossiness seemed in character to me, in light of the way she pushed through the "Utopia" plan in Gruenwald's Squadron Supreme LS. I appreciated the nod to PAD's "Future Imperfect" Hulk story and consider TWO Hulks exactly the sort of menace worthy of the Exiles. The twist at the ending was funny and definitely a worthy "Oh Shit" moment!

I loved Paul's art and always smile when he shows up on art duties for a series!

yeah i really liked Power Princess's addition as well. And I agree with tangentman, Exiles is so much more alive when Paul is on pencils! i've loved this creative team since Negation (one of the best series i've read in my life!)

[Hulk_Is]

Very entertaining issue and for me the Future Imperfect story featured here was more exciting than the original story... and that's a classic.

I guess it was the alternate timeline/universe/weirdness that makes it entertaining. Hulk 2099 meeting Rick Jones and getting the 'Forge' gun to destroy the Maestro only to be met by the Exiles and twists galore their at the end... coolness!

The World Tour is rather good and with Power Princess with the team, it provides some heavy muscle.

I give #79 an A-.

[Syzygy]

Didn't anyone read this issue?! :confused:

Confession: Paul Pelletier and I usually cruise through the CBR boards to get the reaction on our latest issue, but no one's posted on the first part of the Future Imperfect arc, even though we both feel it's one of our strongest issues so far.

So tell us what you think!

Tony B.

Thanks for inviting comments. Here they are.

1) I had a small problem with the way the Maestro looked. We saw the Maestro looking like he essentially does in the Future Imperfect graphic novel, that is to say, grey hair, bald on top, age warts all over. The problem, if I understand this correctly, is that this Exiles mission takes place eighty years before the events of the graphic novel. Ergo, this is a much younger Maestro, and should look a bit different: green hair, not bald on top, no age warts. Essentially, he required a separate look from both the Hulk, and the aged Maestro of eighty years hence. Unfortunately, the artist (and his editors) missed this detail.

I suppose some "explanation" could be derived explaining away the lack of difference, but such "explanations" are usually smashingly unconvincing. The Hulk/Maestro may have a longer lifespan than a human, but he's not an Eternal. The art should have reflected that.

Also, I thought Power Princess came off as a real harpy. It seems to me she could have taken charge a little less forcefully. She's supposed to have a stable personality, after all, and that didn't come across.

Generally, though, I liked the story, and will continue to buy Exiles. So you win on that account.

2) Now, I have a request. I'd like the Blink of Exiles to encounter the Blink of Generation X, the one that supposedly "died" fighting Harvester of the Phalanx. Her body was never found, and it seems to me she could be "frozen" at her same age in some dimensional/temporal void. If they could return her home, I'd surely like to see her in one of the Earth 616 X-books.

3) Finally, a question. If the insect-chrononauts didn't build the crystal palace, who did? And wouldn't characters like Kang, Dr. Doom, Immortus, and the Temporal Varience Authority want to shut down the Crystal Palace and get ahold of it themselves? What's the attitude of Roma, the Omniversal Guardian, in regard to all this? Which entity (Roma, the Living Tribunal, whoever) generally polices and supervises cross-time travel? There have been different takes on time/cross-time travel in the Marvel multiverse, and the next direction you take, IMO, should explore this.

The exiles have really gotten themselves into something huge, and it can only get bigger and bigger. I'd guess that they're in over their heads, too. Thanos, the In-Betweener, the Magus, an evil Reed Richards (aka The Brute)--any of these characters learning of the Crystal Palace would be devastating--for the Exiles.

Peace,
Syzygy

[Matt K]

Thanks for inviting comments. Here they are.

3) Finally, a question. If the insect-chrononauts didn't build the crystal palace, who did? And wouldn't characters like Kang, Dr. Doom, Immortus, and the Temporal Varience Authority want to shut down the Crystal Palace and get ahold of it themselves? What's the attitude of Roma, the Omniversal Guardian, in regard to all this? Which entity (Roma, the Living Tribunal, whoever) generally polices and supervises cross-time travel? There have been different takes on time/cross-time travel in the Marvel multiverse, and the next direction you take, IMO, should explore this.

The exiles have really gotten themselves into something huge, and it can only get bigger and bigger. I'd guess that they're in over their heads, too. Thanos, the In-Betweener, the Magus, an evil Reed Richards (aka The Brute)--any of these characters learning of the Crystal Palace would be devastating--for the Exiles.

Peace,
Syzygy

My understanding is the Crystal Palace is inside of the M'Cron (sp?) Crystal hence why the armband registers the same power signiture as the crystal. So it may be likely that no one built it but perhaps it created the palace to intereact with the bugs. Or perhaps the crystal's guardian built it.

I just got the issue (I order by mail) and enjoyed the issue. My only complaint is that Bedard is leaving so soon. He revitilized the book in my opinion and made a nice change to the structure while still keeping it interesting. I hope to see his writing again soon.