So I picked up Mike Careys X-Men and...

[DrDoomX]

I picked up X-Men 197 and 198, and wow. You guys are absolutely right about this guy. He gets the character down pat. His Sabertooth is gleefully sadistic and evil. I like Lady Mastermind, though I have not read her earlier appearances in Xtreme X-Men. I loved Omega Sentinel in the Genosha Excalibur series, and it was good to see her around and not thrown into Limbo. I hate Iceman but Carey made me like him, and Cable was really well done.

I am adding this and X Factor to my pull lists by all means. Both Great books...

[Hi-Fi]

Dude, you should try to get Carey's run from the start (#188). The build-up to the current arc is amazing as well.

[Christopher O]

You should really get Carey's first story "Supernovas" because it's really much stronger than the current story. It's his best thus far.

[Omega Alpha]

Another converted, yeah!:)

[DrDoomX]

Heh Like I said I heard alot about him, and you guys are praising him. To be honest, I am enjoying all the x books right now. The only X Book I am not reading is New X-Men, but aside from tnat, I think it is a very good time to be an X Fan...

[Diablito]

Yes!! Another Carey fan! However, I kighly recommend you pick up New X-Men... it has gotten better than before (replace it with Uncanny :D )

[jarrod]

X-Men, New X-Men and X-Factor are the perfect trifecta. Avoid all else.

[Brian "Vash" Ashby]

Those are the only 3 i subscribe to.

[The Lucky One]

Swap New for Exiles and you've got my pull list.

-D

[rZi]

Dude, you should try to get Carey's run from the start (#188). The build-up to the current arc is amazing as well.

I couldn't agree more, supernovas was awesome and im LOVING this title. Wish he'd take over for spider after JMS..

[cable guy]

We told ya so.:D

Spread the word.

[Daithi]

It's friggen great isn't? I enjoyed his other work and was quite happy that he could do the same thing with the X-Men.

[Brett P]

Looks like I'm in the minority here 'cos for the last few months I've been hating X-Men more than anything Milligan did...it's so damn dull and full of techno/alien babble. I have absolutely zero interest in Cable, Mastermind or Omega Sentinel.

The #200 shake up can't come quick enough.

[The Lucky One]

I'm in somewhat of the same boat, Victor- I still love the book, but I have zero interest in Cable, his country, or the Mummadrai. But the prior arcs were solid and I have a feeling the Marauders story is going to blow us away.

-D

[Brett P]

I loved the first arc and have been liking it overall up until the whole Cable/Mummadrai stuff but I hafta admit to wanting a more "star studded" cast...Rogue and Bobby are the only 2 I really like and whilst I'm a fan of both Sam and Mystique, neither has done anything much under Carey to get me excited...(yet)

[jarrod]

I think we'll be seeing a more X-Men centric cast come about after the Marauders storyline (2 defections, 1 death, and Cable already confirmed leaving iirc). C'mon Husk!

[Pach!]

I think we'll be seeing a more X-Men centric cast come about after the Marauders storyline (2 defections, 1 death, and Cable already confirmed leaving iirc). C'mon Husk!

Husk +1
101

[jarrod]

Pagie and Sam on the same team *needs* to happen. I couldn't get Rachel & Nate or Rogue & Kurt & Mystique due to Brumaimer, but Husk is wide open for the pick up. C'mon Carey, do it to it!

[Brett P]

I've been wanting Paige and Sam on the same time forever too...really hope it happens!

[Hi-Fi]

Next arc will focus on Sam and Bobby. Paige is just a plan right now.

[40yearoldnovafan]

You should really get Carey's first story "Supernovas" because it's really much stronger than the current story. It's his best thus far.

The story may be fine, but I cannot get past the art. In my opinion, it is too confusing, I cannot tell what the heck is going on, and half the time I can't tell which character is which.

Jimmy

[Christopher O]

The story may be fine, but I cannot get past the art. In my opinion, it is too confusing, I cannot tell what the heck is going on, and half the time I can't tell which character is which.

Jimmy
I don't care for the art either. Bachalo and Ramos are two artists that I've never enjoyed, but Carey's first story more than makes up for it.

[jarrod]

My dream post Extinction Carey lineup...

Rogue (rough 'n tumble leader, *fab* where it really counts)
Nightcrawler (2nd in command, moral center/guide)
Mystique (tryin' to do good, doing Bobby)
Iceman (solid gold part 1, keeps things cool)
Cannonball (solid gold part 2, keeps things going)
Husk (youngest member, out to prove herself)
Warpath (along for the ride, wants to ride Ray)
Marvel Girl (resident psychic, but no more Grey goofball)
Cable (keeping an eye on things, drifts in and out)


...it'd make for a great lineup with tons of close inter-team ties and lots of room for thoroughly engaging character beats. Big fan of the familial team members stuff too, could be interesting to potential see things split along those lines (ie: Sam being overprotective of Paige, Ray siding with Cable over Rogue, etc) and I deeply want to see Rogue and Kurt interacting as siblings and sharing leadership responsibilities. Plus, outside Raven and Nate, everyone in this team is pretty young (everyone's early to mid 20s by this point) which could make thing a bit more dynamically fluid and charged.

[rwsmith]

Jarrod, nice line-up! I'd probably lose Marvel Girl, as I'm not really a fan of the character personally, and I also think 9 team members is a bit much. But otherwise I think it rocks.

[jarrod]

Jarrod, nice line-up! I'd probably lose Marvel Girl, as I'm not really a fan of the character personally, and I also think 9 team members is a bit much. But otherwise I think it rocks.
Well, in a pinch Ray could be swapped for Betsy just as easily. You wouldn't get the engaging Cable interaction (which was one of the many highlights of Weinberg's all too breif Cable run) but Betsy presents her own good interaction possibilities too (flirtation with Sam, backing up Kurt, etc).

I thought 9 members was a bit heavy too, but Carey's already juggling 7 (with copius cameos and guest spots) remarkably well, and Cable going in and out would lessen the burden of giving everyone face time. I've always liked the larger X-Men teams myself though (From the Ashes lineup, Outback lineup, Twelve lineup, etc).

[rwsmith]

Well, since Cable will allegedly only have telekinesis as of the end of issue #199, I think Betsy ought to go back to being just a telepath. Then she would round out this team perfectly.

[Christopher O]

Well, since Cable will allegedly only have telekinesis as of the end of issue #199, I think Betsy ought to go back to being just a telepath. Then she would round out this team perfectly.
I'd be OK with that if she lost those lame psychic blades. So stupid...

[jarrod]

I kind of like Betsy's mind being "closed" actually, makes her something a bit different from every other telepath/telekinetic and could be considered a valuable "power" in itself. Not really digging the teke as is though... maybe they should modify it to tactile teke (which would make more sense with her "action junkie" routine)? I wouldn't want her to regain telepathy either, but maybe they could bring back her precog flashes instead? That'd make her differentiated enough from Cable... though the team would still lack a capable telepath then. :/

[Christopher O]

I actually like when Rogue is on a team without a telepath. It makes her more useful. I love seeing her suck information right out of people.

[jarrod]

I like that too actually... maybe using Cable's tech for distance communication would work better then, versus backtracking with Betsy.

I've always like Rogue's natural resistance to telepathy too though, even if there were a telepath on the team, I could see how that might present some interesting scenarios. I think that's why I like Betsy's resistance too.... telepaths in the MU are almost overpowered, characters like Rogue and Betsy bring things back a degree of balance. I could see them being the last ones standing against some sort of psychic threat...

[Dan K]

Bachalo's art may be confusing but he has at least given Rogue her first good costume EVER.

I would go with:

Rogue
Mystique
Cannonball
Iceman
Juggernaut

and maybe Jubilee as a mascot.

[jarrod]

Bachalo's art may be confusing but he has at least given Rogue her first good costume EVER.
Blashephy! Smith and Silvestri's outfits were top notch too imo. It's really only the icky Lee 90s design she got saddled with that I've hated (though JRJR's rags were sort of "eh" too).

[DrDoomX]

Well I was able to find a copy of the annual, which I will be purchasing today with my pull list. I heard Sinister is in it. How is the Annual!?

[Dan K]

Blashephy! Smith and Silvestri's outfits were top notch too imo. It's really only the icky Lee 90s design she got saddled with that I've hated (though JRJR's rags were sort of "eh" too).

Well you wouldn't normally here me say anything bad about Paul Smith but that costume was nothing special.

And while we're on the subject, would it be to much to ask to give poor Jubilee a new outfit? She's been wearing the same trenchcoat and cut-offs for nearly twenty years. I mean what is she, the Lisa Simpson of comics?

[Omega Alpha]

Well I was able to find a copy of the annual, which I will be purchasing today with my pull list. I heard Sinister is in it. How is the Annual!?

Very good.

[jarrod]

Well you wouldn't normally here me say anything bad about Paul Smith but that costume was nothing special.
Mommy, it hurts! :(


And while we're on the subject, would it be to much to ask to give poor Jubilee a new outfit? She's been wearing the same trenchcoat and cut-offs for nearly twenty years. I mean what is she, the Lisa Simpson of comics?
Woah, totally agreed there. Her scene in The Day After was almost embarrassing. :/

[Alex A Sanchez]

Looks like I'm in the minority here 'cos for the last few months I've been hating X-Men more than anything Milligan did...it's so damn dull and full of techno/alien babble. I have absolutely zero interest in Cable, Mastermind or Omega Sentinel.

The #200 shake up can't come quick enough.

By no means have I hated the past story arc, but I certainly is not as strong as Supernovas. Still, the character interaction has been interesting enough to keep me looking forward to the next issue- that and I'm excited about #200.

[ProfeZZor X]

In all honesty, I didn't like Milligain, so I seldomly picked up this book the way that I do now. I started jumping on this forum right around the time Carey was coming aboard, so I came in a a really good time. Before that, I was about to go back into hibernation and leave this title alone... Who knows what the future may hold though. If things get worse for my favorite characters, which it doesn't seem to be going with Mike so far, I might do just that... again.

[40yearoldnovafan]

I don't care for the art either. Bachalo and Ramos are two artists that I've never enjoyed, but Carey's first story more than makes up for it.

I don't think I mentioned Ramos, but I think it's funny you did. Because I too put them in the same boat. I don't care for either of their work.

Jimmy

[claimtosubclaim]

In all honesty, I didn't like Milligain, so I seldomly picked up this book the way that I do now. I started jumping on this forum right around the time Carey was coming aboard, so I came in a a really good time. Before that, I was about to go back into hibernation and leave this title alone... Who knows what the future may hold though. If things get worse for my favorite characters, which it doesn't seem to be going with Mike so far, I might do just that... again.

If that happened, Robert Drake would be disappointed to hear that you stopped supporting his cause.

[DasPoppen]

I don't think I mentioned Ramos, but I think it's funny you did. Because I too put them in the same boat. I don't care for either of their work.

Jimmy

I hated Bachalo's art in the beginning but he won me over. He has an impeccable sense of style and design. Sometimes it gets difficult to follow, true. But he has become much clearer recently. I absolutely adore Bachalo's art now.

Ramos... not so much.

[UniqueFrequency]

Looks like I'm in the minority here 'cos for the last few months I've been hating X-Men more than anything Milligan did...it's so damn dull and full of techno/alien babble. I have absolutely zero interest in Cable, Mastermind or Omega Sentinel.

The #200 shake up can't come quick enough.

i've not been hating, but i've been fairly unimpressed so far with Carey's run. i mean i like his stuff in general, but somehow his X-Men just isn't clicking with me. maybe i need to read it at one sitting.

[ProfeZZor X]

If that happened, Robert Drake would be disappointed to hear that you stopped supporting his cause.

I love him like a brother, but if someone else did him wrong... then I'd disown him in a heartbeat... Until someone else came along and changed all that.

[Christopher O]

i've not been hating, but i've been fairly unimpressed so far with Carey's run. i mean i like his stuff in general, but somehow his X-Men just isn't clicking with me. maybe i need to read it at one sitting.
I loved his first story, but everything after has been incredibly unimpressive.

[Brett P]

I'd be OK with that if she lost those lame psychic blades. So stupid...

I always liked the fact that Betts had something that made her different to other telepaths...especially with how common the power became among mutants. Likewise the TK Katanas are my fave aspect of her telekentic powers. I think they're fun!

Well I was able to find a copy of the annual, which I will be purchasing today with my pull list. I heard Sinister is in it. How is the Annual!?

Y'know I found the art in the annual ATROCIOUS...Brooks has done some awesome covers but I just don't like his interiors. The fact that there were two colorists who made Mystique an entirely different shade of blue for half the comic, and Exodus' skin virtually red for the same half...it was truly offensive to my eyes!

[Dan K]

I loved his first story, but everything after has been incredibly unimpressive.

Its all been a bit hectic so far. I hpe that after 200 he slows it down a little a takes stock.

[claimtosubclaim]

I've actually enjoyed 197-198 more than SuperNovas, but that's because there's been a lot of good character beats, and I'd be content with a whole series of X-Men just hanging around talking. The only issue I haven't liked so far is 194. Thought it was boring, and Ramos' art literally made my eyes ache.

[Super Ice Saiyan]

I absolutely enjoy what MC has done with X-men! He has put together the perfect combination of heroes that represent the X-Men’s core group. Rogue, Iceman and Cannonball are all my favorite characters. I would have never thought I would get to see them together on one team. It’s just a shame that things have to change so soon with issue #200 approaching. Both Rouge and Iceman have been heroic, comical, aggressive, and showing other signs of character progression. It is refreshing to see them act this way instead of whiny, depressed, and insecure as they have been for a while. Mike’s cast is very interesting, because as we look at Sabertooth, Mystique, Karima, and L. Mastermind each are on the team for their own reasons or through uncontrollable circumstances and it was not to dramatic about how they were brought together. It is awesome to see all put forth their effort to survive as one cohesive unit despite their differences. MC put that together very nicely.

I am so ready for X-Men #200 to come out. MC has laid some interesting concepts like stain 88 and how Rouge will overcome it? This whole Iceman and Mystique relationship is weird, but with a character like Bobby that doesn’t have much development it seem odd that he can be put into a position like this that will finally exuberate his personality. It’s about time he got some spotlight. Even though he been in the background, I hope Sam will also receive some attention from MC too. As for Mystique, I am sure she will be causing some type of conflict. I read some of the posters acknowledged that she is interested in Destiny’s Dairies. I would like to know have their been any mention of them in MC storyline? There is much to be explained and I just hope MC keeps up his awesome work.