Greatest Deus X Machina

[Tobias March]

X-Men have had some near escapes over the years....and some frankly stupid endings. I mean bloody illogical, moronic, slapdash resolutions that make no sense whatsoever.

Not that that's always a bad thing. Sometimes it can be pretty cool. I've only listed a few, I'm sure you can think of others so mention them if they come to mind and say whether you thought it was a good move or not.

Onslaught - This started out as an interesting idea. I remember Mark Waid's issue of Uncanny with Jean being hounded by the repressed negativity of Xavier being very good. It was topped ten years later by Morrison's 'sshhh', issue when Emma Frost and Jean entered Xavier's mind and were confronted with some wacked out symbolism. Anyway the idea of Xavier's darker half asserting itself was cool. Then it turned out to be Magneto. 'cough'. Then it was turned into a company wide crossover that removed the heroes of Marvel into a pocket dimension. That was pretty deus ex-ey - an interesting storyline shunted into a relaunch of several titles. Less Ultimatized more null and void.

Scarlet Witch - Pick. I didn't mind Disassembled so much reading it in the trade, but I assumed Scarlet Witch's trials were over for now. Her role in the House of M took it a bit too far. 'No more mutants', was meant to clear house and it did, but seems like the baby got thrown out with the bathwater. Peter David is one of the few writers to try and deal with the consequences of M-Day (don't talk to me about New Warriors...a bunch of ex-mutants acting nothing like they did before...written by the guy who made those wonderful Underworld films...grrr).

Xavier 'dying' - it was a clone. It was a shapeshifter. He was regrown in a vat by Moira. Bishop restored the timeline. Cassandra Nova shot her own body in the head after switching minds knowing full well it would regenerate. Man just die already. Oh and the movie apparently has him possess the mind of a previously unmentioned twin upon death (always handy to have a spare lying around).

The Legacy virus - this was a controversial one. The Legacy virus storyline was started with good intentions, I believe. Still the writers couldn't match it up to AIDS/HIV - though it was generally recognized to be an allegory for that real world tragedy. Instead Legacy was defined as an airborne viroid that would strike randomly - meaning less popular characters were toast. Two Rasputins died due to it....they're both back now. Ah well.

Madrox dying - in honour of Madrox week, Jamie did die. Then it was revealed it was a dupe. Which was convenient.

Other suggestions?

[dellicious]

wanda witch

even before this whole house of m business her very powers made her a walking plot device

[Nachturne]

One word: SAGE

[Demondaze]

Well, at least the Dead Jamie being a dupe thing can be stomached because it was always an option, i.e. from the second he died people were speculating that the one who died was just a dupe (and thank god that's how it turned out).

The worst Dei Ex Machinis (oh god, I just had a wordgasm. I think I've been waiting years to throw out the plural of Deus Ex Machina) are the ones that really come out of nowhere and kinda make you scratch your head and go "Huh?" rather than "Oh, I guess that was an option all along."

So, to that end, I'd say that from the list above, "No More Mutants" is probably the biggest DEM, and maybe the conclusion to the Legacy Virus storyline as well, as that was a pretty forced way of bringing a long-standing (but hard to just sweep under the carpet) plot element to a close.

OT/ I don't think any of them are as bad as the Norman Osborn Did It! DEM introduced to the Clone Saga in Spider-man though.

[Affinity]

The greatest is obvs Chris.

[DarthCyclopsRLZ]

The hell, this ain't a Sage thread?

[Deus ex Chris]

The greatest is obvs Chris.

You tell 'em, MOHO!

[Tobias March]

You tell 'em, MOHO!

This is your thread me boyo :D

Sage totally slipped my mind, but wherever she appears on this board a flamewar is not far behind, so that was probably my internal censor stepping in to prevent bloodshed.

[Deus ex Chris]

This is your thread me boyo :D

It is. Discuss me instead of Sage.

[Pach!]

It is. Discuss me instead of Sage.

I think if there were to be a comic book version of Chris I would want Sage to be his BFF. I could see him putting her down every time she opened her mouth. Sage would develop a huge drinking problem due to this.

[caney]

It is. Discuss me instead of Sage.

I love it when Chris uses his wit as a weapon against people who aren't me.

[Deus ex Chris]

I think if there were to be a comic book version of Chris I would want Sage to be his BFF. I could see him putting her down every time she opened her mouth. Sage would develop a huge drinking problem due to this.

I love it, and it's so true. I wouldn't be very good for her confidence.

I love it when Chris uses his wit as a weapon against people who aren't me.

I would never use it on you, Jay Jay. Well, I might, but I don't plan on it.

We're probably getting deleted or warned for derailing or something, but I love you guys anyway.

[Citizen V]

Bendis's House Of M with the Scarlet Witch.I bet nearly all Uncanny fans want this reconned.Before HoM,i would say Onslaught...it could have been great..but was not.

[Omega Alpha]

Well, at least the Dead Jamie being a dupe thing can be stomached because it was always an option, i.e. from the second he died people were speculating that the one who died was just a dupe (and thank god that's how it turned out).

The worst Dei Ex Machinis (oh god, I just had a wordgasm. I think I've been waiting years to throw out the plural of Deus Ex Machina) are the ones that really come out of nowhere and kinda make you scratch your head and go "Huh?" rather than "Oh, I guess that was an option all along."

So, to that end, I'd say that from the list above, "No More Mutants" is probably the biggest DEM, and maybe the conclusion to the Legacy Virus storyline as well, as that was a pretty forced way of bringing a long-standing (but hard to just sweep under the carpet) plot element to a close.

OT/ I don't think any of them are as bad as the Norman Osborn Did It! DEM introduced to the Clone Saga in Spider-man though.

QFT. Although the Changeling as Xavier was worse than the conclusion of the Legacy Virus, IMO.

[Faded]

The top-notch deus ex bitch may not have depowered 90% of the mutant population, but she's a penny richer.