X-men #171 Discussion: Review and Spoilers

[Ryan K]

Synopsis:

This issue begins with a young female mutant named Foxx running in the woods from men with guns. Through luck or design (as Emma puts it) she ends up at the Institute.

While quite wild, Emma decides that the girl cannot be turned away and assigns her to Gambit's squad (Havok wants her assigned to Iceman's). When introduced to Gambit and his squad, Foxx makes it quite obvious she is attracted in Remy. Something neither Gambit or his students seem to like.

Later by the lake, Gambit and Rogue decide that they haven't fully explored touching one another since their powers were returned to them, and decide to test it out. As she kisses Gambit, Rogue sees glimpses of their first meeting. Upon opening her eyes she discovers she's nearly killed Gambit, sucking him dry to the point he looks almost like a skelton.

Laer, in the cafeteria, Polaris and Iceman are acting very much in love in line. This greatly annoys Rogue now that her man is in the Institutes' medical facilities. It also bug Havok a great deal who tries to talk to Lorna about the Golgotha incident only to be hounded by Iceman. Eventually Lorna seperates the two and Alex leaves.

Simultaneously, another member of Gambit's squad, Onyxx tries his hand at flirting with Foxx. Foxx insults him and threatens bodily harm.

Emma has telepathically induced Gambit into a coma to help a speedy recovery. After he awakens she offers her services to try and help he and Rogue's relationship. Gambit runs off though, insistent he has a class to teach.

In the what used to be the Dabger Room (nice bit of continuity there), Gambit and his squad practice. Gambit admitedly takes out his frustrations on his students. Foxx performs admirably. Later in the cafeteria Wolverine and Rogue discuss Gambit and Foxx.

Gambit soon hits the showers and is greeted there by Foxx. She makes it very clear she is interested in no strings attached sex with Gambit. Gambit turns her down, but it is obvious he is tempted.

The End.

Review:

Decent issue. I found the character of Foxx to be extremely interesting and I hope she sticks around. Nice to seeGambit's squad (I wonder why two of his students have codenames that end in xx, coincidence?). I also liked the bits with Polaris and Iceman.

That said I have to say I found it extremely disturbing that characters like Havok and Wolverine openly talked about the sex appeal of Foxx with other teachers. She is after all a student now. Did they talk about Mirage or Husk this way when they were students. That seemed a bit out of character and unnecessary. Especially because at that point I didn't think there was anything especially sexy shown about Foxx.

Also, it was absolutely wonderful to see Jubilee in this issue, even if it was just a flashback from X-Men (vol. 2) #4.

Thoughts?

[Flight]

I've not read the issue yet but I'll hazard a guess that Foxx is Mystique

[Ant-Man]

Ryan, what powers does Onyxx have?

[Ryan K]

I've not read the issue yet but I'll hazard a guess that Foxx is Mystique

That's my guess too. Which would be a shame because I rather like Foxx and would like a original Milligan creation in the book.

[Ryan K]

Ryan, what powers does Onyxx have?

His body (what we see anyway) is made up entirely of stone. He wears some sort of contraption over his head that covers his face. Though there appears to be some sort of glowing red thing under it. He's shown to be super strong.

There are also other members of Gambit's squaed shown, but not named.

-Another super strong character with interesting designs over his body/armor/costume. Looks kind of like Fuji from Stormwatch or the Silver Samurai in the recent AoA mini.

-Some sort of electrical-looking character

-A character who appears to made of stone or something similar.

[Sheldon]

Does Gambit's squad have nifty name like Gambit's Goon's or Gambit's Goobers?

[fishtaco]

delete post

[shadow of a madman]

Good issue.Anyone notice how funny Foxx looked in the first clear image of her?Her torso looks too small and she's got this bulge above her crotch like she's pregnant,only it's too low down.

[fishtaco]

delete post

[shadow of a madman]

I noticed that, too. Since when was Liefeld drawing this? I thought it was Larroca. :D

Zing!
Take a bow!

[Chewbaccacabra]

Good issue.Anyone notice how funny Foxx looked in the first clear image of her?Her torso looks too small and she's got this bulge above her crotch like she's pregnant,only it's too low down.

Yep, looked way off to me. i suppose it was perspective, but the lighting made it look odd.

I guess this didn't help with everyone talking about how hot she is. :rolleyes:

[Ryan K]

Does Gambit's squad have nifty name like Gambit's Goon's or Gambit's Goobers?

His squad wasn't given a neame in this issue. Maybe next one. Thieves Guild Jr?

[Chewbaccacabra]

Oh by the way, does Iceman/Bobby not turn into his human form any longer?

[fishtaco]

delete post

[streator]

Oh by the way, does Iceman/Bobby not turn into his human form any longer?
yes. due to an injury, iceman was slowly turning into a true man of ice. supposedly, he has experienced a secondary mutation in which his body is made completely of ice and no flesh/tissue/bones/etc remains.

[Tre Styles]

His squad wasn't given a neame in this issue. Maybe next one. Thieves Guild Jr?

Nah...."Guild X."...I mean "Guild XX" ;)

[fishtaco]

delete post

[Beast]

I've not read the issue yet but I'll hazard a guess that Foxx is Mystique
Ding, Ding, Ding! I'm pretty sure she is also. Especially the way she corrects herself in the shower with Gambit. It's just too obvious, IMHO.

Gambit: "I love Rogue."

Foxx: "Yet still you want me. It doesn't make you a bad person. You're a virile man, You have needs. Needs that my...(daughter) Needs that Rogue cannot satisfy."

[Gaveedra 6]

If I were to be reading the issue 'fresh', without first having read all the buzz and speculation on these boards about the new girl being Mystique, I don't know if it would seem as obvious to me that she is Mystique.. But it does seem pretty obvious..

Still, great issue though. I like that Gambit has a squad of seemingly pretty dangerous mutants. The bad seeds, maybe.

With that incomprehensible Golgotha stuff out of the way, Milligan's off to a great start with this story. I think X-Men could be a real sleeper hit if it keeps getting better like this.

I liked the sexy shower scene at the end. When I first glanced at the page, and saw the last panel, with Gambit standing alone in the shower, I thought the previous frames with Foxx suddenly appearing in the shower were just a fantasy he was having, ala Fast Times at Ridgemont High. (That would have been cool, but I guess it was really her..) Still, we do get some good internal monologue from Gambit, during the Danger Room scene. I can't remember the last time I didn't find him annoying! Go Milligan!

[fishtaco]

delete post

[Beast]

What exactly was the purpose of the very last panel, where Gambit turns the water temperature all the way down?
He's taking a cold shower, because she got him sexually excited. Haven't you ever heard of taking a cold shower before? I'm stunned if you say no. :eek:

[Gaveedra 6]

Giving himself a cold shower! :p

[Dr. Killbydeath]

My main problem with this issue: I find lots of comic book chicks hot. Green chicks, some furry chicks, riery chicks, lot of different ladies.... But I really don't find grey chicks with blue lips and hair and sharpenned teeth all that attractive....

[Beast]

My main problem with this issue: I find lots of comic book chicks hot. Green chicks, some furry chicks, riery chicks, lot of different ladies.... But I really don't find grey chicks with blue lips and hair and sharpenned teeth all that attractive....
Gambit clearly has a thing for freaky chicks. :)

[Chewbaccacabra]

Why hasn't someone invented a full latex body condom for Gambit already?

[xakko]

Gambit clearly has a thing for freaky chicks. :)

Are you saying Gambit actually makes some sort of qualification in this area?

[Beast]

True. Gambit has no standards. If it's female (though considering the pink chest armor, I don't think it matters) and has a pulse, he's probably willing to have a romp with it. :)

[Hero For Hire]

Great issue
I loved Rogue's flashbacks to X-Men #4
I liked how Alex wanted Foxx in Bobby's squad to mess with Bobby and Lorna
The was Lorna is being written is really begining to intrest me
The only thing I didn't like was Wolverine trying to get with Rogue, shouldn't he be gone by now? :(
Oh well
I'm loving Milligan

[Sheldon]

I know Gambit's team should be called Gambit's Gumbo!

[Char Aznable]

Do the X-Men ever bother to do DNA tests? You'd think that ever student and every member would have DNA on file and a good number of their adversaries aswell.

[fishtaco]

delete post

[Ant-Man]

Be stunned, then. Ive never heard of that. Is he trying to calm down from the excitement, or is that kind of an odd way of...masturbating. Its probably a misconception. A lot of people say that you can sober up by taking a cold shower, and that isnt true.


Cold water makes "little Gambit" go flacid.

[Dr. Killbydeath]

Cold showers make you cold. To heat you up, your body increases blood to your skin. Blood in other places would be diverted to the skin...


Plus the shock of cold water tends to take your mind off of sex...

[Beast]

Be stunned, then. Ive never heard of that. Is he trying to calm down from the excitement, or is that kind of an odd way of...masturbating. Its probably a misconception. A lot of people say that you can sober up by taking a cold shower, and that isnt true.

OK, maybe I should just move on. I cant believe I just used the word masturbation.
Yes, he's using the shock of the cold shower to try to calm down from getting excited. And I can't believe you used the word 'masturbation' either. I'm tempted to put it in my signature. :D

[Joe Zool]

Cold water makes "little Gambit" go flacid.

Strange, it has the opposite effect on me.


Couldn't resist throwing a zinger on such a line like that! ;)

And in case anybody's confused, in my fantasy, "little Gambit" does not...

Hmm. Maybe that's a bit TMI for y'all.

[Dr. Killbydeath]

Hey, masturbation is a healthy part of being a sauve player sticking to one girlfriend that he can't touch...

[Joe Zool]

Hey, masturbation is a healthy part of being a sauve player sticking to one girlfriend that he can't touch...

In that case, I wonder if--

(stops speaking, eyes glazes over as Zool goes over to a dreamy place)

Oh, sorry, was I drooling?

How long until Brian censors the word masturbation? ;) :p

[fishtaco]

delete post

[Dr. Killbydeath]

Wow, I was feeling bad for Gambit, but then I thought about Rogue... That's a crazy amount of frustration....


I bet she's good with her fingers...


(soon to be censored)

[Beast]

And who says us comic fans arn't mature.

*Looks at all of us sitting around giggling about masturbation*

Never mind, carry on. :D

[Dr. Killbydeath]

And who says us comic fans arn't mature.

*Looks at all of us sitting around giggling about masturbation*

Never mind, carry on. :D

Yeah, this issue was more adult than most...


Hmmm

"Dear Penthouse,

This one time i was taking a shower in the teachers showerhouse after having been put into a coma by my girlfriend and in walk my new student, naked as a grey chick...."

[Beast]

Yeah, this issue was more adult than most...


Hmmm

"Dear Penthouse,

This one time i was taking a shower in the teachers showerhouse after having been put into a coma by my girlfriend and in walk my new student, naked as a grey chick...."
Heh. That reminds me of an old Uncanny issue, where Wolverine is reading Hustler. And Piotr's standing behind him at the rack, with this wide-eyed look on his face. :D

[Dr. Killbydeath]

Heh. That reminds me of an old Uncanny issue, where Wolverine is reading Hustler. And Piotr's standing behind him at the rack, with this wide-eyed look on his face. :D

"OMG Amercia has more than flat chested 15 year olds!"

[fishtaco]

Heh. That reminds me of an old Uncanny issue, where Wolverine is reading Hustler. And Piotr's standing behind him at the rack, with this wide-eyed look on his face. :DWhat issue was that?

[Beast]

What issue was that!?!?
It's the issue where the Xavier and the X-Men recruit Kitty Pryde. And they get attacked by the Hellfire Club when at the ice cream shop down from her house. Uncanny X-Men #129 or #130, I believe. :)

[cosmicspidey]

I liked this issue a lot more than Milligan's first arc. In the flashbacks to Gambit & Rogue's relationship, I was waiting for the scene that explained that remy and Anna (I'll never get used to that) lost their powers and could consumate the relationship for a few months. Yet it didn't come. I gotta give it up to Miligan though. The psychic sex thing seems like a brilliant solution to their no-touching problem. I can't believe no one's used this before.

[xakko]

It's the issue where the Xavier and the X-Men recruit Kitty Pryde. And they get attacked by the Hellfire Club when at the ice cream shop down from her house. Uncanny X-Men #129 or #130, I believe. :)

And it's been reprinted a couple times since then... I think it made it into the flash back in X-Mnm 110, complete with the Hustler mag

[Beast]

I liked this issue a lot more than Milligan's first arc. In the flashbacks to Gambit & Rogue's relationship, I was waiting for the scene that explained that remy and Anna (I'll never get used to that) lost their powers and could consumate the relationship for a few months. Yet it didn't come. I gotta give it up to Miligan though. The psychic sex thing seems like a brilliant solution to their no-touching problem. I can't believe no one's used this before.
Because I rather doubt that anyone before Emma would be.... ummm.. well, willing to facilitate such a thing. And she is a certified sex counciler. You certainly wouldn't want someone like Charles Xavier overseeing your sexual liasons. That's just sick and wrong. And just ewwww in general. :D

[Absolut_Fresh]

hmmm...I must be missing something here. I thought this was pretty bad. It was like a mutant Melrose Place. The Bobby/Lorna/Alex triangle is just NOT doing it for me. Maybe its b/c Bobby is completely ice, or maybe its cuz Lorna is not playing with a full deck, or maybe its cuz Alex is boring...I dunno, but for whatever reason, it just isnt doing it for me.

And I mean, how old is this girl Foxx supposed to be? And how gross is it for these adult males to be all drooling over a student. I dont know, it just seemed a little wrong to me. I mean, im pretty sure its gonna turn out to be Mystique, but still. Its a little sick.

Like I said, I guess im missing something, but I wasnt overly impressed.

[StarsAndGarters]

I thought this issue was better than Golgotha but was sort of... exploitative? No, that's not it... SLEAZY! There we go. I felt guilty reading it with some one else in the room. :rolleyes:

[Gaveedra 6]

It is a little weird to think that Gambit and Rogue were attempting a sexual liason with Emma watching over. It is kinda kinky. But yeah, having Emma watching is way sexier than having Professor X watching.. eew.

Stranger still, is that it didn't work- Rogue still absorbed Remy's energies. Even though their real bodies were never touching and the scenario was all in their imagination. That doesn't really make sense to me.

Maybe it goes along with Cleremont's idea of Rogue's powers being not just a physical condition. That she really could have control over it, she just has to get over some deep aversion to being touched. (And that aversion to being physical with someone would still exist in her psychic manifestation.)

[fishtaco]

delete post

[cass195]

if that's the case, and Rogue could control her powers, then I REALLY wish she would just get over it already. am I the only one tired of the no-touching thing, and the "drama" that goes with it? I just don't find anything interesting about it anymore. Move on to something else. Same goes for the relationship with Gambit. either change it or end it, because they've had the same problem for years now, and it's boring. I feel like the change did wonders for Scott and Emma.

I am digging Milligan, and if he does bring something different to Gambit and Rogue, I'll be quite happy.

[Stagier]

why did foxX ask to show her teeth? is one of her powers sex teeth?

[Ant-Man]

why did foxX ask to show her teeth? is one of her powers sex teeth?

Just a friendly warning to Gambit, before she went down on him ;) .

[The Fury]

I liked this issue a lot, it had a lot of aspects I liked. Gambit's team was cool, although there was only 4 (now 5) seen. All the Rogue stuff was good.

Just one problem, the Art. Larroca is still below par and I think it's not doing the book justice. He's not at the stadard he was back during Early X-treme or before that Uncanny X-men, he's not ever at his 90's work standard. Now bad inking does not help, but an Inker only inks the lines that are drawn, Take this for example, if this Foxx is meant to be that attractive, then why did she look slightly deformed in her first proper shot when she meet Gambit?

[DarthDookuk]

I thought this was a great issue. After reading it, i got the feeling that Foxx was going to be starting a lot more trouble than just interupting Rogue and Gambits relationship. Especially, when she threatened to tear the Rock guy's face off. I actually liked all the sexual implications and drama. I wasnt really interested in the whole thing with Alex, Lorna, and Bobby because i dont know anything about them. And Gambit turning the shower to cold was classic. I got a good laugh from that. I dont understand why everyones so pent up about all the teachers talking about Foxx in a sexual way because she's a student. Her being a student means she is new to the team and they need to teach her how the team works. It doesnt implicate her age in any way. Plus, she doesnt look young. The writers would not have done it if she was supposed to be a young girl.

As for Foxx being mystique, i think thats cool. Rogue is Mystiques daughter? I did not know this. You know this is not going to end well.

[Cayman]

I was surprised to enjoy an issue that focused so much on Gambit.

Cay

[The Fury]

Rogue is Mystiques daughter? I did not know this. You know this is not going to end well.
Rogue is Mystique's 'Adopted' daughter. No genetic connection.

Unless some people believe otherwise. Or it's been changed without my knowledge.
I was surprised to enjoy an issue that focused so much on Gambit.

Cay
As was I.

[f4faith]

I thought there were good points and bad ones to this issue. The good being that Milligan is addressing Gambit and Rogue's relationship where they are trying to progress it. I'd like to get past that and deal with different issues for the characters like Rogue worrying about becoming someone else when using her powers in the field. I like Polaris - she seems to be coming out of her truly crazy stage into something new. I wonder where her issues will take her. Gambit being one of the major adults in this story and seemingly being a fine trainer for his group. Despite his frustration, so far he hasn't acted as childish as Bobby or Havok. Foxx as a concept - if she's Mystique that is - she's way too direct for the teen member she's suppose to me. As a new character I find her a one trick pony though unless there is way more to her than everyone acting like she's drool worthy when she really looks and comes across as skanky - and more seems a feral type - we already have x-23.

The less that spectacular:

Going to Emma for relationship help. Shame it couldn't at least be Psylocke now. Emma given that she's happily "slept" with the guy in the last relationship she supposedly was trying to help is the last person I would go to.
The leadership of this team is atrocious. Emma and Havok debating who they should put the girl with based on whether she would seduce them? And actually Havok wanting to do that the Bobby. How about debating her powers and who would best help her with them - she seems a feral type (Wolverine actually having a purpose in this book?). Emma's suppose to be helping Gambit and Rogue and her students but it seems can't think to put skank girl on a female's team? Unless Emma has good reason to believe Gambit can and will turn this girl down then she's beyond useless here. Gambit shouldn't have to be dealing with this girl over the other students and that's Emma's job to consider. Bobby's still fairly juvenile with Havok and vice versa but at least Polaris is finally getting tired of it. Why is Wolverine here?

[SOBO]

(I wonder why two of his students have codenames that end in xx, coincidence?)

I figured out the code!

Gambit's team name is..... Dos Equis

[Flight]

Just read the issue :)

Polaris & Iceman?!!?!??!

This is massively stupid!!
When did this plot point come about???????? She was just making waves with Havok!

You're on my list Milligan!!

[Gaveedra 6]

Flight, unclench!

Polaris and Bobby used to "go steady" back before Alex was even in the picture, so it sort of makes sense. And I'm curious to see if Milligan will explore the physical side of their relationship, like he's doing with Rogue and Gambit. He's 100% ice- How exactly would that work?

Besides, I think Alex should fly solo for a while.

[Flight]

You're on the list too.

[Sheldon]

Don't worry flight....its all Wanda's fault.

[fishtaco]

delete post

[Ant-Man]

Flight, unclench!

Polaris and Bobby used to "go steady" back before Alex was even in the picture, so it sort of makes sense. And I'm curious to see if Milligan will explore the physical side of their relationship, He's 100% ice- How exactly would that work?


How would it work? I guess you don't watch many porno movies, do you ;) ?

[fishtaco]

delete post

[DDM]

Rogue is Mystique's 'Adopted' daughter. No genetic connection.

Unless some people believe otherwise. Or it's been changed without my knowledge.

As was I.

Rogue has never been officially adopted by Mystique. Rogue is Raven Darholme's unofficial foster daughter. Since Mystique is a shapeshifter, it would be difficult to explain herself to the adoption authorities. Mystique & Destiny raised Rogue from age 11-17 (Rogue ran away from home for unknown reasons). But Mystique knew of Rogue's powers before they manifested probably due to Destiny's precognative powers.

[Dr. Killbydeath]

Just a friendly warning to Gambit, before she went down on him ;) .

OMG!! OUCH!!! :eek:

[jarrod]

Just read the issue :)

Polaris & Iceman?!!?!??!

This is massively stupid!!
When did this plot point come about???????? She was just making waves with Havok!

You're on my list Milligan!!
Not a big deal... I'd rather see an inter-book romance with Alex and Betsy anyway. Show Emma and Scott how it's really done. ;)

[Dr. Killbydeath]

That's kind of a random pairing... Especially considering Betsy has history with Warren, and seems to be interested in Beast...

[methanolcereal]

Wasn't thrilled by Milligan's first story but I'm liking this one a lot better so far.
Sal's art was top notch as usual too.

I also hope Milligan at some point makes Bobby able to turn back to his human form. I mean it could be easily explained. Emma (after she took Bobby over) did more with his powers than he ever did. She always said he was holding back and when he got a whole blasted in him, it took Emma to unlock Bobby's potential and make him fix himself. Given Emma's frequency in the book, she could sort of push Bobby into making himself "normal" again.

[jarrod]

That's kind of a random pairing... Especially considering Betsy has history with Warren, and seems to be interested in Beast...
Not at all random, mutual attraction and interest was hinted at during the X-Men's Outback days. It's just never been touched on again (likely in part because Alex and Betsy have never been in the same book regularly again). I still think they'd make an excellent match though, much better than whatever the thing with Warren was.

[Ant-Man]

I just read in fishtaco's Sunfire thread that the reason Rogue shoots fire from her hands in issue #171 is because in Rogue's regular series, she has Sunfire's soul absorbed into her body. Can anybody confirm this?

[Ryan K]

I just read in fishtaco's Sunfire thread that the reason Rogue shoots fire from her hands in issue #171 is because in Rogue's regular series, she has Sunfire's soul absorbed into her body. Can anybody confirm this?

That makes sense I guess. I just assumed that because she had just recently absorbed Gambit's power that she had simply kinetically charged her cafeteria tray using his power.

Anybody know?

[The Fury]

Rogue has never been officially adopted by Mystique. Rogue is Raven Darholme's unofficial foster daughter. Since Mystique is a shapeshifter, it would be difficult to explain herself to the adoption authorities. Mystique & Destiny raised Rogue from age 11-17 (Rogue ran away from home for unknown reasons). But Mystique knew of Rogue's powers before they manifested probably due to Destiny's precognative powers.
Yeah, that too. :)

[jeangreydp]

I thought this issue was silly and trite.

Can't Milligan come up with anything better than, "He's mad cuz she likes him, but he's mad that they used to go out" etc etc

It's reading like a bad teen angst fanfic to me. I don't like it.

And Foxx is irritating- she's got to go.

[Beast]

That makes sense I guess. I just assumed that because she had just recently absorbed Gambit's power that she had simply kinetically charged her cafeteria tray using his power.

Anybody know?
Yes. Rogue's solo establishes her as absorbing Sunfire's powers/psyche permanently. An old friend of her's from the days when she was running with Mystique and Destiny pressed her down on Sunfire when Rogue was just going to for a quick kiss to absorb his powers so she could free them all from Lady Deathstrike. Rogue sucked too much, Sunfire died, and Rogue went nuts believing she was Sunfire.

[Doom Hammer]

Flight, unclench!

Polaris and Bobby used to "go steady" back before Alex was even in the picture, so it sort of makes sense. And I'm curious to see if Milligan will explore the physical side of their relationship, like he's doing with Rogue and Gambit. He's 100% ice- How exactly would that work?

Besides, I think Alex should fly solo for a while.

Well, he's capable of...building things...with his ice powers.

If you get my meaning. ;)

[The Fury]

Yes. Rogue's solo establishes her as absorbing Sunfire's powers/psyche permanently. An old friend of her's from the days when she was running with Mystique and Destiny pressed her down on Sunfire when Rogue was just going to for a quick kiss to absorb his powers so she could free them all from Lady Deathstrike. Rogue sucked too much, Sunfire died, and Rogue went nuts believing she was Sunfire.
Er...What? Has this happened or are you specualting?

:mad:

I'm not liking what I am hearing lately.

[Joe Zool]

Well, he's capable of...building things...with his ice powers.

If you get my meaning. ;)

Wouldn't that hurt?

I mean, the freezer burn... Well, if he's ice himself-- Never mind, I just answered my own question. ;)

Oh, sorry, were you talking about something else? Because all I got out of that is, well, something that is so totally unprintable.

[Beast]

Er...What? Has this happened or are you specualting?

:mad:

I'm not liking what I am hearing lately.
No, it happened. In the last issue of Rogue. She drained him, and the monitors showed him flatline. He asked her to kill him anyway, because he wanted to die. Since he didn't want to live without his legs.

[The Fury]

No, it happened. In the last issue of Rogue. She drained him, and the monitors showed him flatline. He asked her to kill him anyway, because he wanted to die. Since he didn't want to live without his legs.
:mad:

:(

Marvel are PISSING ME OFF.

[StarsAndGarters]

He's 100% ice- How exactly would that work?Heh, Lorna's gonna be shivering tonight! :rolleyes:

[We R. Venom]

MUCH MUCH MUCH MUCH better issue. I was going to drop the book, but Im definitely keeping it on my pull list, even though Im still going to skip the Black Panther X-over.

-Im glad Milligan introduced Gambit's squad, even though Gambit runs his a bit...differently...

- Foxx sounds awesome. I hope she isnt Mystique, but I still think Mystique is going to show up (either as Foxx or just herself) and join the X-men. Awesome character design, and the cover for next issue looks freakin amazing, especially with the fox definition.

- The art was good, but not as good as Sal's previous arcs. I still miss his style on X-Treme Xmen. That was the best.

- Despite the good writing, I really dont want Gambit and Rogue broken up. I really like them together. But if they do break up, I would like Storm to quickly move to Gambit. I just picked up Uncanny X-men 267, and I realized that Gambit and Storm are just totally meant for each other (when Forge isnt around, that is). Storm just felt so happy, and she never felt so alive when her and Gambit were robbing criminals and giving the money to the poor. I loved their naked dance in Intifada. That was funny.

- On the Alex/Lorna/Bobby front, Im liking whats happening. Lorna used her powers on Alex, who was being a total jerk. The Lorna-Bobby thing works for me.

- Jubilee! Even if it was a flashback. I forgot that Gambit and Rogue met on a basketball court. Wow. That was a powerful scene.

- The part at the end was kinda...awkward. Gambit's going to end up like Rahne. Then maybe X-Factor Investigators can become a detective agency for teachers that got fired or left Xaviers for having an affair with a student. Or not.

7.75/10

I was going to drop the book as well/ But do you think i should keep getting it. And what does it mean gambits squad. Well the only reason im on here is cuz i didnt get to get 171 cuz im out of town.

[onetruejp]

I thought this issue was silly and trite.

Can't Milligan come up with anything better than, "He's mad cuz she likes him, but he's mad that they used to go out" etc etc

It's reading like a bad teen angst fanfic to me. I don't like it.


Actually, that might be kind of brilliant. X-Men has mostly been just a step above that anyway...

Milligan's X-Statix pretty much handled relationships this way too. Lots of love-polygons around.

[Huzzah!]

Didnt like it like i liked the last arc. The X-men all seemed to morph into Husk/Jubilee get naked craziness. Wolverine needs to be taken away from Milligan. "Sex kitten"? Come on now. Foxx i dont like. I also done like the morrison mutant approach of "hey lets give then wierd skin= mutant". Although...now that i think about it, if they are the minority (which i imagine they are.. 10 percent maybe) they would be more inclined to join Xaviers where those like iceman might want to keep it underwraps.


Hmm

guess i cant complain about that anymore


Although rock/metal skin is overdone.

Nice to see Gambits training methods involve him kicking the crap out of children. No wonder they dont do well against the hellions. Gambit needs to nurture.

Also Nice to see Gambit and Rogue being more annoying. I started to like them in XXM, but its nice to know its safe to hate them again. Maybe sunfire can take over Rogues body (hope hope).

Also i dig it that Alex thought putting a hot chick in Gambits team would mean that he would sleep with her.

Furthermore, i dont really like the no sex angle between Gambit and Rogue. It lacks the class of the no kiss stuff. Plus with condoms i dont see the problem. Kissing was something more intimate somehow. I would rather hear her bitching about that rather than the fact she cant suck gambit off. :eek:

Milligan really needs a new team. This one doest seem to be working. Alex can stay, he seems okay. Iceman or Polaris can stay, not both. Gambit or Rogue can stay. After that ship in some other characters. Doop would be good.

[Tobias March]

:mad:

:(

Marvel are PISSING ME OFF.

Yes I was very surprised to see that referenced in this issue. But apparently it's true - Sunfire was quietly disposed of in Rogue's own title, far from our prying eyes. Oh well, he still has a sister right?

As for the issue itself I quite enjoyed it. Foxx is a fine addition (though the money's on her being Mystique) and I wonder about Emma's conversation with Alex. If it is Mystique, surely Emma can tell. Someone earlier mentioned DNA tests - why would they need them given that the building is full of tp's. Maybe Emma has already seen through Mystique's plot to 'help', her daughter by seducing Gambit and is letting it go ahead because it might actually be good for them. What do people think?

[Ugoff]

I thought this issue was silly and trite.

Can't Milligan come up with anything better than, "He's mad cuz she likes him, but he's mad that they used to go out" etc etc

It's reading like a bad teen angst fanfic to me. I don't like it.

And Foxx is irritating- she's got to go.


I bought this issue by accident cuz I always hold something that I consider crap or below average when looking throught other titles so I dont mess them up with my hands. I like Foxx but wasnt impressed with anything else about this story. The Rouge/Gambit unrequited love stuff has been done before. Also the fact that they killed off Sunfire and gave Rouge his powers, is very lame. I actually wouldn't mind all the main characters in this book dissappearing into comic limbo to be replaced by characters that havent been given the spotlight in awhile. I also found it weird that Emma introduced Foxx and then decided to hang out and stand there with Gambit's students. Then they had one of the students say something to Foxx but instead of having Foxx standing there with an expression on her face responding to what was said, there's Emma just standing there for no reason. I'm so over Emma and her barely there T'N'A look is so over rated. Ugh. Hopefully House of M will erase alot of this junk. I also felt alot of this issue was silly and trite. Some pages I just skipped. Like the ones dealing with the soap opera romantic angst towards the end of the issue. I did like the look of Gambit's students. They look very cool. Maybe the book can focus on them and the main characters can be supporting characters. I think that could work! Actually I would really want to see that. It would make for the opportunity to tell some original stories(as original as possible). Well more comments later after I read it for a second time, since I did skip a few pages. Also these are just my opinions and I dont think any should share them if they dont want to.

[The Fury]

Yes I was very surprised to see that referenced in this issue. But apparently it's true - Sunfire was quietly disposed of in Rogue's own title, far from our prying eyes. Oh well, he still has a sister right?

You don't want to get me started on that one either.

She was killed in Casey's Uncanny X-men, she was referenced s being dead by Austen in his Exiles. She was unexplainably revived in Alph Flight before it was cancelled.

Now I'm all for ressurections, but it was not explained apparently, I didn't read the book, apparently it sucked.

[Flight]

Well I'm over the fact that Po has gone with an icicle for the time being.
Alex needs the single life for a while.
He's always had women (and men) after him! He needs a break at last.

But maaaan, did he look hot and beefy in this issue.

Question!
Were Gambit's squad ever shown in his own solo book?

[The Fury]

Question!
Were Gambit's squad ever shown in his own solo book?
That's a good question, obviously they have not been shown in Academy X, but oddly there was only 4 of them until Foxx got introduced. And still that's only 5, the squads are teams of 6.

[Flight]

Maybe the other one is Rogue?

[The Fury]

Maybe the other one is Rogue?
:confused:

Litterally :confused:


Somehow I doubt it. :)

[Holland]

I thought this was a great issue. I'm really enjoying Milligans run and Larroca's art is as good as ever!
I agree that Foxx is probably Mystique though.
Who was she running from at the start though? Mutant haters who she revealed herself to?
The scene with Gambit pretty much clinces it.
"You have needs. Needs that my... needs that Rogue can't satisfy"
Was she about to say daughter?

Why would Mystique go to all this bother though? To get back at Rogue for giving her a beatdown in her solo title?
You'd think Mystique would just go to the mansion and hide as a student but I suppose thats a bit boring for her.
I wonder if Emma knows that she is Mystique and deliberatly put her on Gambits team to test him in some way?

Its nice to see Milligan cares about continuity as well!
Not only did he have the danger room from Astonishing come into play, but he also carried on a plot in Rogue's solo title. Nice one.

This is maybe my favourite X-Book at the moment. I wish he had a bigger cast, or at least a rotating one. Maybe swap characters with Claremont for arcs?

[The Dosadi Experiment]

Sunfire's dead!?

Why sweet jesus, why!?

Sunfire had a lot of potential, that writers never took him seriously and neglected every bit of potential the character had is just the icing on the cake that is his death.

[The Lucky One]

I've gotta be honest, I just can't get into it. No complaints about the story, it's just that dialogue- there's no natural flow to it. Everyone sounds like they're talking in a vacuum rather than as part of a conversation. That, possibly combined with the art, really throws off the natural pacing, to the point where it just feels choppy to me. Milligan's a good writer, but I think this one may be a drop for me.

-D

[Huzzah!]

Also it feels like that Milligan skipped the issue that would be inbetween FOxx jumping the fence, and alex and emma (HA wasnt that a movie title?) talking about how wild she is.


Also, why was foxx being chased i wonder. And why were people, with shotguns no less, chasing a person near the mansion?

[Gaveedra 6]

I'm of the mind that Emma is setting the whole thing up as part of the "therapy" she's administering to Rogue and Gambit. She seemed pretty emphatic about placing Foxx in Gambit's class. And she played dumb re: Foxx's sex appeal... Sex appeal!!! Emma Frost?? Please! She's totally up to something. I love Emma...

[Ryan K]

Also it feels like that Milligan skipped the issue that would be inbetween FOxx jumping the fence, and alex and emma (HA wasnt that a movie title?) talking about how wild she is.


Also, why was foxx being chased i wonder. And why were people, with shotguns no less, chasing a person near the mansion?


I just assumed it was some good old boys trying to kill a mutie. Works for me.

[Huzzah!]

It doesnt work for me, simply because they are in westchester. And not only that, the xmen are famously from there. Seems a very stupid place to go mutant hunting

[Beast]

That's a good question, obviously they have not been shown in Academy X, but oddly there was only 4 of them until Foxx got introduced. And still that's only 5, the squads are teams of 6.
Two of Gambit's squad were killed when Wolverine attacked the mansion. It's mentioned in the issue as well. That's why he only has five, with Foxx. :)

[The Fury]

Two of Gambit's squad were killed when Wolverine attacked the mansion. It's mentioned in the issue as well. That's why he only has five, with Foxx. :)
They were? :eek:

I've got to read the issue again. You know everytime I read the issue, I like it more and more.

Also, when Rogue used her flame powers, she didn't act much like her self, I have some suspision that that was Sunfire in control then. But that might be obvious.

I'm wondering as well, if becuase Rogue has a full male mind inside her, she might show some attraction to some of the many female characters.

[Gaveedra 6]

Also, when Rogue used her flame powers, she didn't act much like her self, I have some suspision that that was Sunfire in control then. But that might be obvious.

I'm wondering as well, if becuase Rogue has a full male mind inside her, she might show some attraction to some of the many female characters.

At the end of the last issue of Rogue, Sunfire's personality was stolen out of Rogue's mind by Blindspot. We'll have to wait till the final issue of Rogue to see if it's put back in! I have mixed feelings about having her wrestle multiple personalities like she used to with Carol Danvers. Being 1/2 Sunfire, she'd become a VERY different character, in theory.

In 171, when she flamed on, I don't think she was acting like Sunfire, per se, just irritated. It would be interesting if she was keeping the Sunfire absorbtion a secret from the other X-Men. (In ROGUE, they're all with her as she's hurling flames around. Maybe at the end she doesn't tell them it's permanent!)

[xakko]

Two of Gambit's squad were killed when Wolverine attacked the mansion. It's mentioned in the issue as well. That's why he only has five, with Foxx. :)

They offed two kids, just like that? That's cold.

I guess that answers the Academy X death question thread though...

That really was rather evil of Millar

[The Fury]

At the end of the last issue of Rogue, Sunfire's personality was stolen out of Rogue's mind by Blindspot. We'll have to wait till the final issue of Rogue to see if it's put back in! I have mixed feelings about having her wrestle multiple personalities like she used to with Carol Danvers. Being 1/2 Sunfire, she'd become a VERY different character, in theory.

In 171, when she flamed on, I don't think she was acting like Sunfire, per se, just irritated. It would be interesting if she was keeping the Sunfire absorbtion a secret from the other X-Men. (In ROGUE, they're all with her as she's hurling flames around. Maybe at the end she doesn't tell them it's permanent!)
OK, so his mind was taken out. So why not his powers as well. the logic in this is not making sense, leaveing the ming in would have given for some great story telling.

Rogue may have been tense in the situation but she was acting quite out of character, her anger at other may reflect that of what Sunfire's persoanlity show towards the X-men in general.

Eitehr way, I'd like it put back, Good stories could come from it.

I guess that answers the Academy X death question thread though...

That really was rather evil of Millar
I'm guessing Milligan wrote that bit. The only casualties in Wolverine were Northstar a few SHIELD Agenst and Havok taking a slashing to his chest.

[The Fury]

WAIT!!

First, Beast, where in it does it state that Gambit has only 4 members because 2 were killed during the EotS story?

Second, if this is Post EofS, then why the *BEEP* was Wolverine at the mansion?

[Flight]

I think we'll find out more about Rogue/Sunfire later in the arc giving issue 173's cover.

[Gaveedra 6]

OK, so his mind was taken out. So why not his powers as well. the logic in this is not making sense, leaveing the ming in would have given for some great story telling.

Rogue may have been tense in the situation but she was acting quite out of character, her anger at other may reflect that of what Sunfire's persoanlity show towards the X-men in general.

Eitehr way, I'd like it put back, Good stories could come from it.

I'm guessing Milligan wrote that bit. The only casualties in Wolverine were Northstar a few SHIELD Agenst and Havok taking a slashing to his chest.

Emma mentions "the incident" being the reason why some squads have fewer numbers. With the number of times the school's been attacked in the last year it could be any number of "incidents" (so, Milligan didn't really need to specify and run the risk of a continuity blunder).. Also, the kids may not have died. It stands to reason that more than a few parents might have pulled their kids out after the school was attacked.

Wolverine did drive the Blackbird through the school, so a few unfortunate kids could have been in the way. But you're right- if this is post-EOTS, having Wolverine hanging out in the cafeteria doesn't quite make sense. Hopefully when Agent of SHIELD wraps up, his status with the X-Men/Institute/Avengers can be clearly spelled out, and writers/editors can take note.

[Beast]

WAIT!!

First, Beast, where in it does it state that Gambit has only 4 members because 2 were killed during the EotS story?

Second, if this is Post EofS, then why the *BEEP* was Wolverine at the mansion?
Ok, I re-read the issue, and can't find it now. I must have misread, or something. So my bad, nevermind. :(

[Huzzah!]

I think it will probably be rarely mentioned not unlike liono beast

[Cayman]

Gambit's squad were pretty cool-looking, especially the one that looked like Kyogre the Pokemon.

Cay

[The Fury]

Ok, I re-read the issue, and can't find it now. I must have misread, or something. So my bad, nevermind. :(
I've properly re-read it, Havok says, Iceman's Team has been short since the 'Accident'. What that 'accident' is I don't know, The whole Wolverine story could explain it but that wasn't an accident.

[Gaveedra 6]

I've properly re-read it, Havok says, Iceman's Team has been short since the 'Accident'. What that 'accident' is I don't know, The whole Wolverine story could explain it but that wasn't an accident.

Ah, "Accident"... Maybe Onyxx did a cannonball in the swimming pool..

[angry monkey]

Anyone else think fox looks like apocalypse. :confused:

http://www.comicscontinuum.com/stories/0506/08/xmen172.jpg

[Beast]

Yes, she does. Read the X-Men #172 cover discussion. :)

[Cayman]

Foxx isn't really that hot as she's been drawn so far, I wonder if we're supposed to assume she's a lot better-looking than depicted or if she has some kind of super power that attracts men?

Cay

[The Fury]

Foxx isn't really that hot as she's been drawn so far, I wonder if we're supposed to assume she's a lot better-looking than depicted or if she has some kind of super power that attracts men?

Cay
I mentioned upon this in my very first post on this thread. The art does not do the justice it's supposed to. Her first full panel made her look a bit goofy. The smaller shots of here were alright though.

I blame Larroca who's art in this is not as good as it could be, well him and bad inking.

[Cayman]

I mentioned upon this in my very first post on this thread. The art does not do the justice it's supposed to. Her first full panel made her look a bit goofy. The smaller shots of here were alright though.

I blame Larroca who's art in this is not as good as it could be, well him and bad inking.

Is this Allen Martinez who is inking the same person as Roy Allen Martinez, the penciller who worked on Aria and Wonder Woman?

Cay

[The Fury]

Is this Allen Martinez who is inking the same person as Roy Allen Martinez, the penciller who worked on Aria and Wonder Woman?

Cay
No idea, but Danny Miki is involed, although putting blame on them may not be the right choice as they only ink what is drawn.

[slively]

Take this for example, if this Foxx is meant to be that attractive, then why did she look slightly deformed in her first proper shot when she meet Gambit?

I find this disturbing as well. There was a great build up of anticipation to see Foxx, with the emphasis on her sexual attractiveness, and in her first appearance she looks grotesque. Her abdomen was distended and her face was creepy as well. I'm thinking "Wha????" This is what has everyone so enthralled? I just found her completely creepy throughout.

And Rogue sucking Gambit into a skeleton was not something I ever wanted to see :eek:

[Beast]

And Rogue sucking Gambit into a skeleton was not something I ever wanted to see :eek:
I wanted to see it. Shame that it wasn't real. :D

[iceman rocks]

wot do mean it didnt happen ?

[DDM]

wot do mean it didnt happen ?

Emma Frost, being a telepath, performed her therapy within Rogue & Gambit's minds. Rogue did not really suck Gambit dry, although something similar would have happened had it occurred in real time.

[Huzzah!]

Please X-gods. Fire Miki. Please o please.

[bagheera]

Mostly I enjoyed this issue, but the next few issues will probably be great or horrid.

Foxx is supposedly sooooo sexually attractive? That's a hard title to claim in the company of Emma, Kitty, Psylocke, Jean, etc. Sure, she's a cutie, but not overwhelmingly so. Perhaps she does have a power to sexually attract men. Other than that, her attractiveness may be due to her sexually aggressiveness.

Yes, it was shameless and brazen to show up in Gambit's shower. I, too, thought his response should have been along the "Get the heck out of here, you nasty tart!! We're going straight to Emma's office."

I wonder if Emma put him in Gambit's team because she knows he WILL resist her and prove to Rogue his love for her.

That grown-up men find a sex tart teen "attractive" is of no surprise or concern. . . . . as long as they conduct themselves like respectable adults. While I would expect them to comment on it, as teachers, these comments should be made as cautionary reminders to steer clear of the jail bait.

What I want to see is the adult women tear into this little sleaze and point out to her that causing men to have erections is really not at all a "special power". Indeed, for teen males, all it takes is a change in wind direction. They need to put her in her place and make it clear that she will not be allowed to disrupt the whole school with her sexual politics.

Plus, in order to make this message believeable, COULD SOMEONE PLEASE DRESS EMMA AS SOMETHING OTHER THAN A LAS VEGAS WHORE!!!


My god, I'm tired of seeing the head mistress dressed in a fashion such that no one can get anything done but wonder about how soon her top will fall down!!!

The dialogue between Rogue and Wolverine did not work at all for me. Couldn't he keep track of a train of thought for more than one comment? Someone earlier said he was trying to move in on Rogue. I didn't see that at all.

I actually hope Foxx isn't Mystique, but her character needs to be put in check by the GROWN-UPs in the Institute.

What would Mystique's motivation be in seducing Gambit?

BTW, shouldn't Wolvie be able to smell Mystique's scent if she's there. He has done that in a previous issue...........where he went ahead and slept with her before telling her he knew who she was.

[SUPERECWFAN1]

When Milligan started his run on this series I had big hopes for him. In fact I wondered how awesome his tales would be. " Golgatha" started off creepy and all. Then It slowly......fizzled. It just went out In a lame way as the X-Men blast squid In space. As they battle private demons. Wow....awesome damn villain.


Then this Issue Rogue and Gambit are caught In thier 2,658 Love traingle as now a hot ( are they even serious ? ) mutant sets her eyes on Gambit. She then tries to make out with him In the shower. We see Gambit breath a sigh of relief but come on....If somethin that ugly was hittin on you..wouldn't you be happy It didn't jump your bones there ?


In all this Title has lost pretty much everything that made It good at some point. Emma Frost Is a regular I suppose but thats about It. Iceman and normal Polaris togethor makes little sense as Polaris's " edgy " attitude made her Interesting and this new version of her Is boring.

Gone Is a dysfunctional family team that argues at times and In Is a team more worried about Gambit's sexual problems with Rogue. Sorry Milligan....your run has done nothing at all for me. Maybe next Issue Emma will be a sex therapist some more as Rogue complains about Gambit's " problems ".


Grade: D. :(

[Dr. Killbydeath]

What would Mystique's motivation be in seducing Gambit?


Screwing with Rogue's life, because she left.... Or maybe something far more predictable...

[Huzzah!]

see this is why milligan seems to have forgotten to write an issue. The sexualness of this character should have been introduced earlier and setup before hosting it upon the story. He is so frantically trying to get to the story he trips over his own stuff and really really hurts it.


Also im not sure, but i would image the xmen have private showers in their rooms... but eh

[Beast]

Also im not sure, but i would image the xmen have private showers in their rooms... but eh
They do. But it is a school, so they would have showers near the 'gym' or temporary Danger Room set-up.

[Huzzah!]

Actually now that i think about it. I have trouble believing gambit actually showers

[iceman rocks]

I wanna know what lorna saw in space "it looked right at me " she was just goin to tell then iceman and havok had a fight god, i think peter milligan is trying to build the surprize. And Wolvie has'nt been near Foxx at all or seen her except the danger room so how can he smell her.

[Blackcat]

It was nice to see Gambit's squad. Does anyone know the name of this squad and who those 4 members are by name???


.

[fishtaco]

delete post

[Ryan K]

It was nice to see Gambit's squad. Does anyone know the name of this squad and who those 4 members are by name???


.

This is the first time Gambit's Squad ar any of it's members have ever been seen. The squad wasn't given a name in this issue and the only character named was the rock-guy codenamed Onyxx.

[Doom Hammer]

I just don't understand why Salva can't draw like he did back on the early issues of X-treme X-Men. His art was spectacular in those issues, and now, he's really not himself. I wonder why?

(I like the inking on X-treme waaaaay more than the inking on this book. Maybe that's why?)

[Ant-Man]

I just don't understand why Salva can't draw like he did back on the early issues of X-treme X-Men. His art was spectacular in those issues, and now, he's really not himself. I wonder why?

(I like the inking on X-treme waaaaay more than the inking on this book. Maybe that's why?)

Salva is using a low shadowing art style, like Josh Middleton or Scott Kolins does. This style is a lot faster and easier for the artist, but it lacks a lot of detail.

[Huzzah!]

I just don't understand why Salva can't draw like he did back on the early issues of X-treme X-Men. His art was spectacular in those issues, and now, he's really not himself. I wonder why?

(I like the inking on X-treme waaaaay more than the inking on this book. Maybe that's why?)


there wasnt an inker on x-treme. thats why it was the bomb diggity

[Doom Hammer]

Salva is using a low shadowing art style, like Josh Middleton or Scott Kolins does. This style is a lot faster and easier for the artist, but it lacks a lot of detail.

But it's more than that. It's even in the way he draws faces. His faces used to be beautiful. Now, they often look deformed, especially when they're not straight-on close-ups. Do a little comparison, you'll see what I mean.

[Ant-Man]

But it's more than that. It's even in the way he draws faces. His faces used to be beautiful. Now, they often look deformed, especially when they're not straight-on close-ups. Do a little comparison, you'll see what I mean.

I agree. At this point it would not bother me at all for the once great larroca to be removed from Milligan's X-Men. His art work's quality has gone down significantly over the last few years.

[Doom Hammer]

I agree. At this point it would not bother me at all for the once great larroca to be removed from Milligan's X-Men. His art work's quality has gone down significantly over the last few years.

See, I want him to stay, I just...want him to be good...

Okay, so I can't have it both ways. *Sigh* It's really sad, Salva's one of my favorites. :(

His covers are still great. Why can't he draw his interiors like his covers??!?!

[SUPERECWFAN1]

See, I want him to stay, I just...want him to be good...

Okay, so I can't have it both ways. *Sigh* It's really sad, Salva's one of my favorites. :(

His covers are still great. Why can't he draw his interiors like his covers??!?!


I think he gets way more time to do his covers than his Interior work. With the bad storyline the art Is pretty much the only thing keeping me around. I can deal with his art. Even though Its not as hot as It once was to many. Sad to say.

[Huzzah!]

also notice the covers arent inked, whereas the interiors are. Miki does to Laroccas pencils what Jason does to camp counselors.

[The Fury]

But it's more than that. It's even in the way he draws faces. His faces used to be beautiful. Now, they often look deformed, especially when they're not straight-on close-ups. Do a little comparison, you'll see what I mean.
You are not wrong, I've been saying that his work has been poor for months. Even with some people saying it's still great, which it is not.

If you look back in his Uncanny X-men run back during Claremont's second run his work was very good, same goes for early X-treme.

Any close up's he seems to be drawing do seem...odd... they are no where near the standar that he once had, his small less prfole image of faces are still good though.

Of course I've always said that bad inking and pastal colours don't help either and to me they still are not.

[Will.S]

Fun, dark issue.

Milligan writes a cool and somewhat brutal introduction to Foxx although she seemed to be accepted a little too easily into the X-Grounds (which Emma and Havok address and also reminded me of Schism). Emma trying to help with Rogue's power drain was pretty clever in approach, I've never seen a telepath go about it quite that way.

Lorna kissing basically a living block of ice was so weird. If both of them are hooking up, that's a pretty quick development although the Iceman/Havok bickering still gets on my nerves. If I didn't know about the Sunfire stuff beforehand the flames coming out of Rogue's hands would be a WTF moment but it's a nice touch if it's indeed referencing her own title and the whole Sunfire death. It makes me want to buy those issues now since it's a pretty big deal for that character.

I liked that Milligan is keeping up with the sub-plot of what Polaris really saw in space when she and Alex were destroying the Golgotha creatures. I'm thinking it was one last mental image put into her by one of them, this will most likely be an ongoing mystery.

I never thought that Gambit would have his own team but it's cool to see him in a combat teacher role. I always saw him as a more shady and loner character like Wolverine but there he is doing his thing at the school. The students under his training have some radical mutations going on but they look pretty cool designwise.

As far as Foxx goes, she's definitely Mystique. Look at the way she acts towards the big rock guy when he puts his hands on her. Also when she talks to Gambit in the showers she's about to say "My Rogue" but she stops short.

Artwise it looks awesome barring Foxx's first full body shot. She looks chubby and not that attractive. Sal's Rogue doesn't look as attractive as she did in X-Treme X-Men I will admit but Emma usually looks consistently sexy. Liquid!'s colors aren't as muted as last issue's and keeps a very atmospheric look.

Overall 8/10

[Neolucifer]

ust read the issue

Polaris & Iceman?!!?!??!

This is massively stupid!!
When did this plot point come about???????? She was just making waves with Havok!

You're on my list Milligan!!

Well i cant say that i'm happy about Bobby and Lorna as a couple . besides do we really need two " we cant touch each others sob sob" kind of couples ?? :s
Otherwise i liked the issue , and while that first panel of foxx was crappy , the rest was good enough . i still think that Larroca's art is great , even if not at his best lately .

[TinMan]

Just one problem, the Art. Larroca is still below par and I think it's not doing the book justice. He's not at the stadard he was back during Early X-treme or before that Uncanny X-men, he's not ever at his 90's work standard. Now bad inking does not help, but an Inker only inks the lines that are drawn, Take this for example, if this Foxx is meant to be that attractive, then why did she look slightly deformed in her first proper shot when she meet Gambit?

i can't disagree with this comment more. i was blown away by Larroca's work on this issue. i only recently (within the last couple months) started to read funny books again, and as soon as i saw larroca's name on X-Men, i said screw that and wouldn't buy it. i hated his work in the 90's, so i wasn't about to buy it now. but i decided to give it a shot and i was definitely impressed, as far as i'm concerned his work has gone from pathetic to excellent. i fully intend to continue reading this book, and possibly anything else that Larocca does.

[streator]

i disagree about the larroca comment as well. compared to his "90's" work, as you mentioned, his current x-men work is much better. look at heroes return, or fantastic four, or excalibur. i think sal's work has gotten cleaner and definitely more refined over the years. the darker look that's going on now in x-men is a reflection of the overall tone the book is going for. its superhero, but it wants to also be taken seriously at times.

[Will.S]

I think that with X-Treme X-Men and onwards, Sal's art has become smoother and rounder and his figures look less stubby and angular since back in the Heroes Return/Early FF days. His Spiderman rendition has improved tenfold, just look at the Spiderman Unlimited cover and his House of M covers.

He could definitely brush up on his Foxx and Rogue Renditions too but so far design wise he's hit both of them out of the park.

[The Fury]

i can't disagree with this comment more. i was blown away by Larroca's work on this issue. i only recently (within the last couple months) started to read funny books again, and as soon as i saw larroca's name on X-Men, i said screw that and wouldn't buy it. i hated his work in the 90's, so i wasn't about to buy it now. but i decided to give it a shot and i was definitely impressed, as far as i'm concerned his work has gone from pathetic to excellent. i fully intend to continue reading this book, and possibly anything else that Larocca does.
First, 'Funny Books'?

I have few issues with his art from the 90's and what I can see of it, it is just that, 90's style art. With inking and everything. When he drew Claremont's Uncanny X-men back in 2000, I liked his art. The start of X-treme was very good as well.

But since he's been back on Ucanny X-men under Austen and now on X-men. His art I think s not as good as it once was. Of course as I said back then, bad inking (line tracing in this case) didn't help, and not long ago I under Austen's X-men. I thought his art was generally as not good at all.

His current art as I said is below what i believe he could do. It's decent but that's it, decent ( rarely say people are is bad, compared to mind it's great). It's not as seemingly finished or inspiring as other X-men artists.

His art since Milligan has arrived I think has improved from Austen's X-men. the main reason for this is the fact it's a generally darker book. And that being so meant generally more actual inking and less line tracing.

But it's all down to personal taste, I'd bet there are many artists I think are great that you think do not draw well at all.

[TinMan]

First, 'Funny Books'?

I have few issues with his art from the 90's and what I can see of it, it is just that, 90's style art. With inking and everything. When he drew Claremont's Uncanny X-men back in 2000, I liked his art. The start of X-treme was very good as well.

But since he's been back on Ucanny X-men under Austen and now on X-men. His art I think s not as good as it once was. Of course as I said back then, bad inking (line tracing in this case) didn't help, and not long ago I under Austen's X-men. I thought his art was generally as not good at all.

His current art as I said is below what i believe he could do. It's decent but that's it, decent ( rarely say people are is bad, compared to mind it's great). It's not as seemingly finished or inspiring as other X-men artists.

His art since Milligan has arrived I think has improved from Austen's X-men. the main reason for this is the fact it's a generally darker book. And that being so meant generally more actual inking and less line tracing.

But it's all down to personal, taste I'd bet there are many artists I think are greath that you think do not draw good art at all.


yes, funny books lol. ok, but seriously, you've never heard the term funny books? have you ever read the magazine "Wizard"? i can think of probably 20 or 30 instances in those mags that i've read the term "funny books", so thats where it comes from.

but as for larocca. i stopped reading comics somewhere between 98 and 2000, can't recall exactly when. but back in that time and earlier, i couldn't stand larocca's work. this was mostly because of his "anime/manga" influenced work, which i HATE with a burning passion. don't get me wrong, i can dig some anime or japanimation, but it has to be in cartoon form, i don't like that style in comic books.

now, it seems like Larocca's adopted a more realistic and dramatic style, which i find rather excellent, not as good as some, but light years ahead of what it was. so i'm definitely lookin forward to more of his work, and i'm half tempted to go out and buy some back issues just to check out more.

and last but not least, i'm sure there are plenty of artists that we would disagree on, but thats the way the world works, to each their own.

[The Fury]

yes, funny books lol. ok, but seriously, you've never heard the term funny books? have you ever read the magazine "Wizard"? i can think of probably 20 or 30 instances in those mags that i've read the term "funny books", so thats where it comes from.
If by read you mean borrow my brothers copy and never really rad it properly, then yeah. But I don't read it properly enough to know that term.

Enlighten me, good sir, on what it means.

this was mostly because of his "anime/manga" influenced work, which i HATE with a burning passion. don't get me wrong, i can dig some anime or japanimation, but it has to be in cartoon form, i don't like that style in comic books.
I can understand that, any many may agree that manga infulenced work in american comics should not take place. But many artists do base their work on a manga style. But there is also a close line between some forms of East Asian art and Western art. Take Francis Yu and Philip Tan for instant, to me I can tell they get some infulences from East Asian art, but they are suits american comics (in my view), and they both hail fro SE Asia.

and i'm half tempted to go out and buy some back issues just to check out more.
I'd say it was a good idea. If it didn't mean buy Austen's X-men.

and last but not least, i'm sure there are plenty of artists that we would disagree on, but thats the way the world works, to each their own.
Then we are agreed on that.

[Ryan K]

I agree that Larocca's work is better than his 90's stuff, but far inferior to his work on X-Treme X-Men.

[TinMan]

I can understand that, any many may agree that manga infulenced work in american comics should not take place. But many artists do base their work on a manga style. But there is also a close line between some forms of East Asian art and Western art. Take Francis Yu and Philip Tan for instant, to me I can tell they get some infulences from East Asian art, but they are suits american comics (in my view), and they both hail fro SE Asia.


the term "funny books" is more of a joking slang term for comicbooks, more of a throw back to the early "Archie" comics and such that were meant to be child comedy and drama.

I do agree w/ you on Yu, i loved his work when he first started on Wolverine way back when, he's a wonderful penciler. Like you said he does have an "influence" of the asain style art, but its not overbearing and the realism takes a bit more preference. i don't mind a bit of influence, but all out cartoonish characters just drives me nuts, cause its not believable, people don't actually look like that, ya know? i like to read the pages and be able to buy that these events are happening, and anime doesn't do that. but as for this Phillip Tan guy, i've never heard of him, can you point me to some of his work please?

[The Fury]

the term "funny books" is more of a joking slang term for comicbooks, more of a throw back to the early "Archie" comics and such that were meant to be child comedy and drama.

I do agree w/ you on Yu, i loved his work when he first started on Wolverine way back when, he's a wonderful penciler. Like you said he does have an "influence" of the asain style art, but its not overbearing and the realism takes a bit more preference. i don't mind a bit of influence, but all out cartoonish characters just drives me nuts, cause its not believable, people don't actually look like that, ya know? i like to read the pages and be able to buy that these events are happening, and anime doesn't do that. but as for this Phillip Tan guy, i've never heard of him, can you point me to some of his work please?
'Funny Books', OK got it.

And yeah overly too manga style may not be a suitable choice for american comics. This being said an artist known as Kia Asamiya who drew Uncanny X-men for 5 issues under Austen, from #416-420. He is a manga artist. Plain and simple. i do think he did change his art a bit to sui western style faces though. But I'm unsure of that.

And Philip Tan was the artist who preceeded Larroca on Uncanny X-men from issues #425 - 433. Just search the issue numbers on Google image search to see the covers and no doubably his work.

[TinMan]

'Funny Books', OK got it.

And yeah overly too manga style may not be a suitable choice for american comics. This being said an artist known as Kia Asamiya who drew Uncanny X-men for 5 issues under Austen, from #416-420. He is a manga artist. Plain and simple. i do think he did change his art a bit to sui western style faces though. But I'm unsure of that.

And Philip Tan was the artist who preceeded Larroca on Uncanny X-men from issues #425 - 433. Just search the issue numbers on Google image search to see the covers and no doubably his work.

i checked out some of phillip tan's work, i actually like it quite a bit, at least what i saw, reminded me of Yu. i could get down with some of his work.

checked out Asamiya too, saw some of his anime stuff, and thats definitely hardcore eastern, but his x-men work was rather good, a lot like the previously mentioned Yu and Tan.

searched for x-treme x-men and came up with some of larocca's work on that. he definitely started refining his work more toward's the middle to end of the series, i liked a lot of the covers i saw (found a page with all of the covers in order) especially emma on 23? i believe it was.

also, as i was sittin here, i remembered an artist that i really disliked, that was Carlos Pacheco, i always did like Larocca better than Pacheco, his manga style was WAY to over the top for me. correct me if i'm wrong, but he did a run on uncanny or adjectiveless for awhile back in the late 90's? thats part of the reason i quit reading comics lol, cause back then all of the newer artists were anime influenced and it just bugged me, so i gave up on the "funny books".

[The Fury]

i checked out some of phillip tan's work, i actually like it quite a bit, at least what i saw, reminded me of Yu. i could get down with some of his work.

checked out Asamiya too, saw some of his anime stuff, and thats definitely hardcore eastern, but his x-men work was rather good, a lot like the previously mentioned Yu and Tan.
Yeah Yu and Tan I both like for the resons you said. I fidn them similar in some ways.

searched for x-treme x-men and came up with some of larocca's work on that. he definitely started refining his work more toward's the middle to end of the series, i liked a lot of the covers i saw (found a page with all of the covers in order) especially emma on 23? i believe it was.
Larroca's cover art is alwsy good actually. He seems to generally spend more time doing it, by the looks of it. So it turns out better.

also, as i was sittin here, i remembered an artist that i really disliked, that was Carlos Pacheco, i always did like Larocca better than Pacheco, his manga style was WAY to over the top for me. correct me if i'm wrong, but he did a run on uncanny or adjectiveless for awhile back in the late 90's? thats part of the reason i quit reading comics lol, cause back then all of the newer artists were anime influenced and it just bugged me, so i gave up on the "funny books".
He idid indeed.

X-Men (not Uncanny) #62 - 67, 69 - 72, 74, apparently.

[Will.S]

also, as i was sittin here, i remembered an artist that i really disliked, that was Carlos Pacheco, i always did like Larocca better than Pacheco, his manga style was WAY to over the top for me. correct me if i'm wrong, but he did a run on uncanny or adjectiveless for awhile back in the late 90's? thats part of the reason i quit reading comics lol, cause back then all of the newer artists were anime influenced and it just bugged me, so i gave up on the "funny books".
I never found Carlos Pacheco's work to be anime or manga influenced.

[TrickyDisco]

I myself love both Larroca and Pacheco's style, although I have to say that the inker can certainly make a difference. In X-Men #70 a few of the pages were done by a different inker and those pages were severly lacking IMO. Same with Larroca, his run on Excalibur and X-Treme was beautifully pencilled, in recent X-Men issues it seems that the inker is ruining the style again. :(

[Ashnan]

I agree that Larroca's work has been better. But I would rather read a book with a good storyline and crappy art than one with great art and a crappy storyline.

Personally, I love Milligan. To each his own I guess.

[iceman rocks]

Have you noticed in x-treme with Chris claremont,Larrocas work was great i loved it. Then with Austen the art was lacking and Then on the previous x-men #165 (christmas issue) with Chris, Larroca was wicked and there was a different inker well there was 2 inkers in that issue and it was good then came peter and his art lacks. I want Chris and Larroca back. who else agrees

[Robin3]

I know this was touched on back on page 4 or so, but I didn't really find Foxx all that attractive. Sexually aggressive, yes, but not "hot". I'm wondering what the deal is supposed to be. Was it an attempt at irony?

[StarsAndGarters]

I know this was touched on back on page 4 or so, but I didn't really find Foxx all that attractive. Sexually aggressive, yes, but not "hot". I'm wondering what the deal is supposed to be. Was it an attempt at irony?One of two possibilities:

A) Sal really biffed it on Foxx's big panel.

B) Foxx is making the fellas think she's hot somehow.

[Tobias March]

One of two possibilities:

A) Sal really biffed it on Foxx's big panel.

B) Foxx is making the fellas think she's hot somehow.


.......or C)

It's not that Foxx is physically beautifully, but that she's sexually atractive - which can mean anything from she is evidently sexually available and signalling as such, or all the guys are jonsin' on her pheromonal signature. The scene were Emma asks Alex's opinion makes little sense otherwise. Surely she would be able to recognize a woman's aesthetic beauty. The male reaction to Foxx seems to be tying in with Milligan's theme been teased out in this storyling - that male attraction is based more on sexual need. Rogue is confident Gambit will not cheat on her because she knows he loves her. Foxx is equally confident that he will - because she knows how frustrated he is. Rogue's classification of Wolvie's opinion, that Remy is a 'sexual neurotic', points to this basic misunderstanding of male/female attraction.

Note - I just think this is Milligan's portrayal, for the purposes of the story, of sexuality. I'm not holding to it in life or anything.

[Corey Dreher]

I think Alex is crazy. Looking at a student in that way. And well Foxx is Mystquie. I think. And Emma is helping her. Becuase like countless other people are saying, they are trying to break up Remy and Rogue. But I'm still trying to figure out her powers, the glowy eyes thing is creepy. And her sharp teeth makes me feel weird. I think she is a real fox. I think somehow her when her eyes glow they start to control men. Also we can see from her interaction with Onyxx she isn't very nice. So of course as we know she has a hidden agenda, but I'm still trying to figure it out. Becuase trying to break up Rouge and Remy is to easy and simple. I think Mystquie is trying to get her dear Rouge back.

[Tre Styles]

Foxx being Mystique is the general theory. BUT, I had another thought tonight.. could it be possible, that maybe, Mystique had a illegitimate daughter? And it's possible that Foxx has found this fact out, and goes to be near her "sister"? Which may explain why she tries to butter up to Rogue....and at the same time,try and "steal" Gambit away. So when Foxx says to Gambit that she could do things that "my..Rogue" couldn't do....maybe she was going to say "my sister"? But nah....it's probably IS Mystique. "How boring" as Rafael would say.(Yet it could be exciting too). I'll just let Milligan go ahead with this tale as he sees fit. But if Foxx IS Mystique, I don't understand why she is disguising herself as a child....but then again, who knows why Mystique does what she does. :confused: ;) :cool:

[Corey Dreher]

Foxx being Mystique is the general theory. BUT, I had another thought tonight.. could it be possible, that maybe, Mystique had a illegitimate daughter? And it's possible that Foxx has found this fact out, and goes to be near her "sister"? Which may explain why she tries to butter up to Rogue....and at the same time,try and "steal" Gambit away. So when Foxx says to Gambit that she could do things that "my..Rogue" couldn't do....maybe she was going to say "my sister"? But nah....it's probably IS Mystique. "How boring" as Rafael would say.(Yet it could be exciting too). I'll just let Milligan go ahead with this tale as he sees fit. But if Foxx IS Mystique, I don't understand why she is disguising herself as a child....but then again, who knows why Mystique does what she does. :confused: ;) :cool:


Well Mystique is mad at Xaiver. She and as we can see from House of M issue #1 Emma is a bit bitter with him. They can be ploting against them. But thats just a thought.