New X-Men #26 - Review, Spoilers, & Discussion!!

[Beast]

The same complaint from the last issue continues in this one. I'm really sick of seeing characters killed in every issue. And we have at least one death in this one, one that will likely upset the fans of the character. And if the second death turns out to be real, and not X-23 disguised as Dust, then I'll really be annoyed. However I do think it's X-23. I really wish they'd get to the point with whatever Forge is doing though. Hopefully the pay off is as good as the build-up has been. And hopefully the last issue wraps things up good.

The issue kicks off with a recap, that finally addresses GLMK II. However, it messes up the timeline even more, because it says it was several years ago that it took place. It appears that an earthquake brings Stryker out of suspended animation early, and 'Paul' seems to digitize and 'die'. Stryker loses any of his positive character development, now believeing that Kitty manipulated him. And for his faith in god being shaken, god punished him.

Then we see Dallas, TX two years before M-Day. Stryker, having lost everything goes to his boarded up church and prepares to blow his brains out. Suddenly Nimrod appears before him floating infront of the cross, before collapsing at his feet. Stryker took it as a sign and gift from god. By examining it's data records, he saw where history was headed. A future where humanity had won it's holy war, and mutants were hunted down and destroyed. He also saw that that 'perfect vision' of the future was changing, being erased. He finally discovered the key moment where he could set the future back on track, M-Day. But he needed help to ensure the future.

So he used Nimrod's datafiles, combing through obituaries and locating people that were supposed to die. Saving their lives and bringing them into God's Army. He also learned at this time what mutants were preventing Nimrod's future from coming to pass. The reason the depowered kids had to die, was because they were the tainted and would infiltrate society and create the greatest sympathy for mutants. That they would hand the world over to Satan. But since Nimrod had no records on the 'Demons in Human Skins', he used Jay. We see a flashback of Jay calling Stryker, telling him about the kids leaving on the bus, begging him to save them as he promised. Jay's pissed, because Stryker promised to save his friends if he gave up his wings, and returned them to god. Stryker tells him that those without souls cannot be saved. When Jay argues that Nimrod is just a Sentinel, not a messanger of God, Stryker tells him that God works in mysterious ways.

Meanwhile back at the school, Dust is preparing to go out and praying to Allah. Laura asks her why she prays. Dust explains that she gives praise to Allah and asks for guidance, as he's the creator of all things. Confused, Laura comments that Dr. Sarah Kinney is her creator. Sooraya explains that Allah created Dr. Kinney, so had a hand in shaping her life and her destiney. Laura catches on, but questions why god would make her a murderer, make her kill her own mother. Dust tries to explain that sometimes Allah's wisdom is beyond our comprehension, and we shouldn't question or judge him. Laura again asks why, but Dust promises to help her understand later that she needs to go find Jay. X-23 offers to go with her, but Dust tells her no. Laura tells her it's a trap, and it's the exact same tactic she would use to draw her out. Laura tries to argue against her going alone, but Dust is firm in her stance. She doesn't believe Allah intends for her to die, but if she does... it was meant to be.

David's in Scott's office, where he's informed that in the best interest of everyone, he's going to remain at the school. That it's too dangerous to ship him home, given the attacks on the 'human' students, as well as the Sapien League and copycat serial killers (from Generation M) going after former mutants. It's already been discussed with his family, and they've agreed. David feels rather useless at the school, but does note that Xavier had planned to open it to human students, he's just surprised he's the first. Beast bursts in on the meeting and informs Scott there's been another attack. That both Scott and David need to come with him immediatly.

Wolverine's holding Josh back, who's covered with blood and looking rather crazed while he screams Laurie's name. Several of the X-Men and students are rushing out to the scene, where Noriko is cradling Laurie's body in her arms. Bishop orders everyone back inside as Scott comes rushing out with David and sees the carnage, who drops to his knees by Laurie's body. Logan's trying to calm Josh down, who shocks Wolvie making him let him go. Logan's hands turn gangrenous with massive boils all over them. That's right, it seems Josh actually has some offensive power now as well. Scott orders that they need to get the kids inside out of the open.

Again we get a page showcasing Eagle Plaza in Dallas, TX. Forge is listening to the news about Xavier's. Apperantly there's a media blackout around the school, and even a no-fly zone around the mansion. They also say that there's been no official comment from the Xavier Institute ever since the O*N*E were put in place as a protection measure. And that more and more mutants are arriving daily. We see a humanoid form under a sheet in Forge's workshop, which is being uploaded with Sentinel O*N*E data, but still no clue what it is. The reporter on the news suddenly notes something is happening at Xavier's, and they're seeing heavy Sentinel movement.

Stryker shows Jay the future, via Nimrod's datafiles. We see the X-Mansion in flames, and each one of the New X-Men kids dead or dying. While Stryker's men are standing on the steps of the blazing mansion, Dust shows up and uses her powers to strip the flesh from their bones. She remanifests in human form and starts to cry over the dead body of X-23. Stryker freezes the datafile and turns to Jay, explaining what he's doing in detail.

Stryker showed Jay the files, so he would understand what part he played in the 'Lord's Endgame'. The original version of that future showed Wallflower being the one who defeated his men. And when she was killed, Dust took her place. And now he belives by killing her, that will remove the final obstacle in his way. Stryker orders the main monitors brought up, and Jay sees Dust approaching the Church. Stryker issues an order and Dust is riddled with machine gun fire and falls over seemingly dead.

Styker orders them to bring up the 'Vision' from Nimrod again. However it hasn't changed, Dust is still standing over X-23 and cryinger. One of Stryker's men is confused, as the vision should have disappeared immediatly and been replaced by the new version, just like when they killed Laurie Collins. Stryker tells him to be patient, and not to doubt the lord. Slowly Dust does eventually fade from the image.

Stryker's man is still confused, but Stryker tells him that's enough. Pulling a gun, Styker approaches Jay and tells him he's about to answer his prayers. That he's about to be reunited with Julie Cabot as he promised. In hell, where she belongs for loving a mutant. And to add insult to injury, Stryker also tells Jay that her death was no accident. He was the one who led her father and the others to the machines that killed her. Again, making the timeline even more messy. Jay calls him a monster, just before Stryker shoots Jay in the head and remarks on the arrogance of Satan to create a deom in the form of an Angel. He also announces that it's time.

The X-Men and 2 of the Sentinels depart the X-Mansion to try to locate Jay as well as try to discover who is behind the slaughtering of the students. This leaves Emma, Bishop, and Cannonball and 3 Sentinels left at the mansion, as well as the remaining students. Speaking of the students, David's down in the infirmary with Josh. David's doing his best to try to help Josh get over what happened. Meanwhile up above, Santo and Cessily are going to check on Sooraya as nobody has seen her all day. Santo keeps trashing on 'The Clone', and saying he hates her. Cessily actually sticks up for X-23, telling him her name is Laura and that she doesn't hate her. Santo shows he may have feeling for Cessily, as he swears that he's not going to let anything happen to her.

The moment is broken however by three loud 'BOOMS' from outside. Reverend Stryker and his followers have arrived, and the Sentinels are warning them to drop their weapons and surrender. We finally see why Nimrod's limbs were removed, as Stryker is wearing one of it's arms and blasts the three Sentinels, completely locking down their systems. The issue ends with Stryker proclaiming that tonight they win the war between heaven and hell. All in all not a bad issue, but the continuity issues and Stryker being reverted to a 2-dimension villian sort of hurt it for me. Hopefully the final issue next month will be worth the massive culling of students.

[Cayman]

I'm off this snuff-ride.

Cay

[Lady Obie]

I'm leaving the snuff-ride next issue, which is when my sub ends (still getting renewal notices for it in the mail, I'm considering emailing Marvel to tell them why I'm not renewing my sub for this series) :(.

I'm honestly not sure David is any safer at the school than he is at home. I think what they should've done is sat him down, told him of their concerns and let him make his own decision on whether he wanted to stay or go home BEFORE they called his parents.

If it were me, if my life were my life in danger no matter what I'd rather be with my family and it wouldn't surprise me if David had similar thoughts.

It's gotten so bad now I've gone from being annoyed at this death-fest and have started joking about it as I've seen other readers doing :evilsmile.

And really this isn't funny .

I can only think of 2 things that will ever get me to seriously consider reading, much less buying, this series ever again...

PAGING NUNZIO AND CHRISTINA, PAGING...

We need the fun and care they gave this series back again. We really do ;)!

[PhoenixBoyX]

This book sucks.................

I think I'm gonna drop the title aswell........ I'm sick of seeing a character or two die in everyone issue of this book. I miss Nunzio and Christina.

(this is HellFrost)

[Sentinel K]

*shakes fist in the air*

CURSE YOU KYLE AND YOST! CURSE YOU!!!!


So Beast, am i right in thinking GLMK2 took place before SLWA?

If so then Stryker would still have been locked up yes?

Yep, thats f***ed.

[Beast]

SLWA? Care to clarify what that stands for? :)

[Mariah]

I'm leaving the snuff-ride next issue, which is when my sub ends (still getting renewal notices for it in the mail, I'm considering emailing Marvel to tell them why I'm not renewing my sub for this series) :(.

I'm honestly not sure David is any safer at the school than he is at home. I think what they should've done is sat him down, told him of their concerns and let him make his own decision on whether he wanted to stay or go home BEFORE they called his parents.

If it were me, if my life were my life in danger no matter what I'd rather be with my family and it wouldn't surprise me if David had similar thoughts.

It's gotten so bad now I've gone from being annoyed at this death-fest and have started joking about it as I've seen other readers doing :evilsmile.

And really this isn't funny .

I can only think of 2 things that will ever get me to seriously consider reading, much less buying, this series ever again...

PAGING NUNZIO AND CHRISTINA, PAGING...

We need the fun and care they gave this series back again. We really do ;)!

I know, the death fest kinda reminds me of all of the deaths during the first Alpha Flight. why even create characters if all you are going to do is kill them?

[Callie]

They're not killing characters they created. They're killing off the characters that the previous writers created. Granted, I didn't actually like Laurie or Jay But still, they've sucked all the fun out of this series.

[The Lucky One]

David feels rather useless at the school, but does note that Xavier had planned to open it to human students, he's just surprised he's the first.

Technically he'd be the second, after Calvin Rankin, the Mimic. (He'll be the first non-powered human at the school, but not the first non-mutant student.)

Unless you also count all the human kids who attended the Massachusetts Academy when it became Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters. In which case David would be about the 1001st human student at Xavier's.

Another thing- When we last saw the original true pinky Nimrod, wasn't he starting to like mutants? I guess it was just a trademark Cleremontism of making terrible bad guys soften up. I wonder if we'll see any trace of that.

During the post-Mutant Massacre Australian era, yes, Nimrod had started to override his programming and no longer blindly hated mutants. During a battle between the X-Men and the Master Mold, Nimrod got involved and was sent through the Seige Perilous with the Master Mold, where they fused into one being with an entirely new personality- this creature became known as Bastion, who started Operation: Zero Tolerance. He was kidnapped by Mainspring in the shortlived Warlock series and all three of his personalities were deleted, turning him into another new entity called Template... this being was destroyed at the end of the series, so Bastion and the original Nimrod and Master Mold are all dead. The Nimrod we're seeing in NXM thus has to be a different Nimrod. (It also can't be the prototype that X-Force battled early in their series because it's actually from the future, whereas that one was from present day.)

-D

[Syzygy]

The Nimrod we're seeing in NXM thus has to be a different Nimrod. (It also can't be the prototype that X-Force battled early in their series because it's actually from the future, whereas that one was from present day.)

-D

Yes, this has to be the case...unles Kyle and Yost are making a huge error:

1) When "Kate Pryde" time-travels to Earth 616 in the original DOFP arc, she never mentions M-Day. Wouldn't she think this event just as important as Senator Kelly's assissination?

2) When Rachel Summers ("Grey") finally travels to the "past"--the Earth 616 timeline--she notes two huge inconsistencies: Jean Grey died on the moon, and Illyana Rasputin is 14 yrs old, not 7 yrs old. Rachel never mentions M-Day either.

THEREFORE: the timeline of the first Nimrod robot--the timeline of Kate Pryde and Rachel Summers--had no M-Day, and their Nimrod had no memories of M-Day. Kate and Rachel were from a non-M-day timeline.

THEREFORE: The current Nimrod must be from a different timeline...at least, the continuity gods will smile if it turns out that way.

If it turns out that this is the same Nimrod, I'm going to have an even bigger problem swallowing this whole arc than I already do.

Calling Kyle and Yost! Calling Kyle and Yost! The continuity gods are communing with you! Are you there, Kyle and Yost?

Peace,
Syzygy