X-Men #191 - Spoilers, Discussion, and Gushin'!

[Faded]

Another excellent issue from Mike Carey!

Fill-in artist Clay Henry does a great job with all the characters except Rogue and does adequate storytelling.

If you just want basic spoilage: we DO learn what the Children are, Sabretooth explains his connection, Serafina's sexual yearning revealed!

spoilers:

The issue starts off with "Sarah" (actually Serafina) using the comatose Lady Mastermind's powers to manipulate Sam Guthrie's mind. During this session, the two meet, get married, have children, and live out a normal life. However, alarmingly to Serafina, Cannonball seems to be able to break through the mental grasp she has and begins to seriously question the reality of it all. He awakens thanks to one of the guest-stars, an attack ensues, etc. We learn later why Serafina did this, and her motives and personality intrigued me. Meanwhile, Sabretooth reveals what the Children are: humans who served as experiments living on a ship. While they were not mutated or are mutants, the ship was an isolated area in which time accelerated faster than normal. Within thirty years our time, the ship had been through six thousand years. They, as I quote Cable, "fully human. But after so many centuries of genetic drift, they have to count as a separate species". Their "superpowers" are nothing more than their advanced technology (though I wonder about Fuego's physical appearance). Anyway, all of this is explained either through Sabretooth's recollection to the X-Men or by Cable's "telepathy". At the end, Serafina is confronted by the other Children for exposing thier species, but it seems they are now ready to fight.

end of spoilers

I really thought the story was told rather well with excellent pacing and use of words. There continues to be some nice little subplots that are keeping me guessing and Carey continues to use clever attacks instead of boring blasts and action.

I tried to only talk about the plot and not include all the great details, so be sure to pick this up!

Prominent Guest-Stars:
Emma Frost, Cyclops, and Wolverine
and unnamed Children of the Vault members

P.S. It is totally my favoritest X-Book, and in competition with Runaways for the top spot.

P.P.S. I hope I didn't spoil too much!

[Cayman]

X is for eXposition, apparently.

It was pretty good, but the shift in art style was so jarring that I was really distracted from the story. I hate mid-arc fill-ins! Argh!

The Children are cool foes though.

[Deus ex Chris]

I really enjoyed this issue, and much to my surprise, Clayton Henry's pencils were the best I've seen them--or maybe it was the colorist. Anyway, I liked them, and that's huge, because I generally don't. Mike Carey's magic must be rubbing off. Anyway, the Children are cool. I like the origin, and I like them. I'm just sad that Rogue didn't have another eternally quotable one-liner this issue.

[caney]

I liked the issue as well. It seems we now know what the Chirdren are, but does anyone have any guesses as to why they were created or why they were "activated" on the specific day they were?

I've been thinking about this and can't come up with any good answers. I guess I'll just have to keep reading...

[dellicious]

cant wait to read this
its like 1000000 x better than the snoozefest in uncanny

[jen]

I really thought the story was told rather well with excellent pacing and use of words. There continues to be some nice little subplots that are keeping me guessing and Carey continues to use clever attacks instead of boring blasts and action.

I know, right!!! I am loving Carey's rhythm. I like that he can focus on the story and plot and not feel he has to put action in there for action's sake. I can't wait to get my hands on this! :D

[Sean Whitmore]

I really enjoyed this issue, and much to my surprise, Clayton Henry's pencils were the best I've seen them--or maybe it was the colorist. Anyway, I liked them, and that's huge, because I generally don't.

Yeah, shortening him name to Clay really did something to make his art look less like colorforms arranged on the page. Not a WHOLE lot less, but less.

And he gets points for not including that stupid-ass piece of wheat in Sam's mouth.


SEAN

[Cayman]

Yeah, shortening him name to Clay really did something to make his art look less like colorforms arranged on the page. Not a WHOLE lot less, but less.

And he gets points for not including that stupid-ass piece of wheat in Sam's mouth.


SEAN

But it was there last issue. He's violating continuity!

[rilokyle]

Can't wait to get this issue tomorrow. I'm very intrigued to read it, and still kinda confused about the Children. Hopefully it will all make sense tomorrow.

[melodyrider]

Whoo! This seems to be the month for mental illusions of the domestic kind. I think when this is all over Kitty and Sam will have to start a support group.

[We R. Venom]

Damn I did like this issue a lot. Well except a few things. Like Mystique not saying much at all, and Iceman as a no show. But at least theres a reason for that. But Im not picky, at least I got to SEE Mystique.:D

Serafina is one freaky girl. Had to get her some Cannonball while she could. So selfish, love that. And Cable had some great dialogue in this issue as well. Rogue sassin' miss "know it all" Emma like that, nice touch. The girls got Brass ill tell you that. It was great and set up the rest of the arc perfectly. I thought so anyway.

[Deus ex Chris]

Whoo! This seems to be the month for mental illusions of the domestic kind. I think when this is all over Kitty and Sam will have to start a support group.

Can Storm join, too? She's currently enduring a domestic illusion of her own.

[We R. Venom]

Can Storm join, too? She's currently enduring a domestic illusion of her own.

Way Harsh:)

[melodyrider]

Can Storm join, too? She's currently enduring a domestic illusion of her own.

Absolutely! But no Wanda. She's banned.

[Sheldon]

I really liked Clay's art this issue.

I hope the children of the vault aren't as quickly forgotten as the Neo.