EXILED #1 Review: The black guy is omega level

**yanapryde** · 05-03-2012, 06:25 AM

'Sup with Amara's hands?
Are those bandage looking things supposed to be some fashion trend?

Pixie_Solanas: Verify?

**Lady_Alternate** · 05-03-2012, 06:27 AM

Originally Posted by cookepuss

My parents didn't want me to work when I was in college either. That's not the point. It's not the same thing. Trust me. You're a college student. College is the time when you're first getting a little taste of the real world, but not the whole thing yet. For all intents and purposes, you're an adult child. You can't live and survive on your own yet. Graduate first and then tell me how "normal" it is.

If not having a job were normal then unemployment wouldn't be such an issue. As a functional adult and contributing member of society, if you don't have a job then you're pretty screwed. Only when you leave the safety and comfort of the nest and are no longer beholden to your parents do you realize how much money matters. Having been a college student, I can tell you that it's not the real world. It's just not. You may learn a lot, but it skews your view on how things actually work.

This thing with Dani & Bobby is not about the working guy screwing over the rich. It's about demonstrating exactly what I just said. If you're going to live on your own, as an adult, you have to do as adults do. Until then, you're just playing house. Bobby may have the benefit of a trust fund, but 99.9% of the world doesn't. If he wants to understand the world that he's going to live in then he actually has to live in it. Xavier's sheltered him, as did his parents' wealth.

It's just weird reading some of these posts. It sounds as if some people think that "work" is a dirty word. Let Bobby get a job. It builds character and lines the pockets. Also, since when was it such a bad thing for superheroes to have day jobs? Balancing both of their lives is a classic storytelling element.

Due to your avatar, I could only read your post in Oscar the Grouch's voice. And it works. Testify, my bin-bound brother. Testify.

**Seresecros** · 05-03-2012, 06:32 AM

Sunspot is the only sensible one here smh

jobs are for idiots and the poor

**murdershewrote** · 05-03-2012, 07:12 AM

Originally Posted by cookepuss

My parents didn't want me to work when I was in college either. That's not the point. It's not the same thing. Trust me. You're a college student. College is the time when you're first getting a little taste of the real world, but not the whole thing yet. For all intents and purposes, you're an adult child. You can't live and survive on your own yet. Graduate first and then tell me how "normal" it is.

If not having a job were normal then unemployment wouldn't be such an issue. As a functional adult and contributing member of society, if you don't have a job then you're pretty screwed. Only when you leave the safety and comfort of the nest and are no longer beholden to your parents do you realize how much money matters. Having been a college student, I can tell you that it's not the real world. It's just not. You may learn a lot, but it skews your view on how things actually work.

This thing with Dani & Bobby is not about the working guy screwing over the rich. It's about demonstrating exactly what I just said. If you're going to live on your own, as an adult, you have to do as adults do. Until then, you're just playing house. Bobby may have the benefit of a trust fund, but 99.9% of the world doesn't. If he wants to understand the world that he's going to live in then he actually has to live in it. Xavier's sheltered him, as did his parents' wealth.

It's just weird reading some of these posts. It sounds as if some people think that "work" is a dirty word. Let Bobby get a job. It builds character and lines the pockets. Also, since when was it such a bad thing for superheroes to have day jobs? Balancing both of their lives is a classic storytelling element.

But they're not normal. Not even close to normal. Dani isn't even normal, and she's the only human one out there.

Listen, I understand what they're trying to do here. It's similar to what happened in X-Force (AKA been there, done that) when they took Bobby's riches away for a bit and kind of had the kids slum across the country. But IMO, it's unnecessary and I'll tell you why.

1) Out of all the NMs, I'm fairly certain Roberto has had the most experience in a real world work environment. He was the active and participating CEO of da Costa International when his father first died - even planned a profitable hostile take-over of another corporation during his time. Outside of that, he acted as first an inner circle member, then the Lord Imperial himself of the Hellfire club. And if managing those divas isn't a full time job, I don't know what is. Add to that, he was the leader of X-Corps before the House of M. He's had more than his share of responsibilities over the course of his life and made considerable meaningful contributions in all - something this most recent run of NM likes to discredit in favor of making him the goofy, wacky roommate AKA one wild and crazy guy, in the words of Borat.

2) How exactly have they been paying rent, if not by using their previously acquired cash? Because from what we've seen, the only one that's been actively searching for a job is Amara. All the others just kind of squat around the house. Which, mind, is a very normal thing for people of their age to do, but...yeah. You'd think they'd be storming the workforce if Dani was that hellbent on being independent and all (Which, again, Roberto already is, Dani...)

Now I'm all for this if it'll give 'Berto some meaningful development, but I'm not convinced it will. Considering how DnA's dropped the ball on the Amara/Roberto romance - leaving key discussions out of the panel between them, commenting of their relationship through Dani instead of letting us see through Bobby and Amara's interactions, they're close at the end of the Paradise Island arc, then all of a sudden, she's back with Mephisto (which was like, ALL Bobby had going for him...) - I'm not hopeful for ANY meaningful Berto time at all.

So...yeah. I'm pretty sure they're just using that interaction to establish to the NM and to the reader that Dani's in goddamn charge, and no one can even by a television screen without going through her controlling ass.

I don't really think it's as big of a deal as I'm making it out to be, fwiw. But Dani's a big meanie.

**darknessatnoon** · 05-03-2012, 07:19 AM

Is that all anyone's going to talk about? Dani wanting Sunspot to get off his ass and work (probably for therapeutic reasons so that he can get over his mopishness over Alison).

**cookepuss** · 05-03-2012, 08:46 AM

Originally Posted by Seresecros

jobs are for idiots and the poor

Or, y'know, for people who like to eat.

Seriously though, while I understand that comics are escapism, what always separated Marvel from DC was that their characters were so relatable.

Peter Parker was a bullied nerd who, in spite of gaining super powers, still had trouble with women, paying the bills, and his social commitments. Hulk may have been strong and nigh indestructible, but Bruce Banner was a bundle of nerves, a veritable treasure trove of neurosese. Daredevil's blind. Iron Man had heart issues and a drinking problem. The X-Men looked like normal teens, but they represented a minority group and were persecuted for it. Even the FF had their issues with the sullen and irritatable Ben, the distant Reed, immature Johhnny, and co-dependent den mother Sue. That made them more like a real family than DC's Marvel Family of old.

Compare that to DC.

Superman might be an alien, but he had a stable job & grew up in the Norman Rockwell painting that was Smallville. Bumbling Clark was a cover and nothing more. Superman was pretty perfect in every way. Batman's was a billionaire who lived in a mansion, drove fancy cars, had a butler, and got the girl. Haunted past or not, Batman pretty much had the good life in his alter ego. Green Lantern? A freakin' test pilot turned galactic super cop. Wonder Woman? Amazonian princess. Aquaman? King of 70%+ of the world. Captain Marvel? The ultimate power fantasy, a little boy gets Superman-like powers from a wizard.

My problem with comics lately is that, in an effort to get those bigger bangs, the humanity has been sacrificed. Marvel's comics have become like a Michael Bay Movie over the past 10-15 years. Big booms. Empty characterization.

The X-Men especially have become cartoon characters. Proof?

1. COSTUMES: Ever notice how much time characters spend in costume compared to regular clothes? They could just be chilling and doing nothing particular, but still be in costume? That'd be like a cop, soldier, or fire fighter watching TV and eating dinner in full uniform.

2. CODE NAMES: This is what I love about Runaways. They tried code names, but ultimately stuck with their real names. With the X-Men, it's almost at the point where their costumed identity is their ONLY identity. Real names have become marginalized.

3. EASY MONEY: Wolverine is having trouble restarting the school because he ran out of money. Hmmm.... What to do? What to do? Oh, yeah. We'll go gambling at some alien casino. Money troubles? Don't worry. Warren's rich. Emma's rich. Xavier is rich. Gambit, as the thief of the group, has probably more stashed away than Fort Knox.

4. NORMAL LIVES: Cecilia Reyes is an exception, but how many X-people lead non-X lives? Even the kids at JGS seem to get dragged into the insanity. When was the last time an X-character went on a date, had to take public transportation, or had an unexpected visit from some normal relatives? Being an X-Man is a fulltime job.

IMO, the Morrison/Quitely run did a lot to invigorate the franchise. It was amazing. At the same time, it damaged it in a pretty big way too. By taking the X-Men out of the shadows and revealing the school to the world, he also obliterated the concept of a secret identity. With no secret identity, being a mutant and X-Man became their ONLY identity.

I'm not saying that comics have to be realistic. I'm all in favor of escapism and fun. I think that the X-Men, as a franchise, have lost their way. They may be awesome to watch and their adventures may be kick-ass, but the characters themselves are no longer relatable. I don't think that many readers see themselves in the characters anymore. That, imo, is why books like Spider-Man and Avengers have seen a sudden resurgence in popularity. The characters are more believable as people.

People complain about New Mutants and some of the tedious, boring things they do like looking for jobs or dealing with creepy neighbors, but it's something more... human.

Originally Posted by Lady_Alternate

Due to your avatar, I could only read your post in Oscar the Grouch's voice. And it works. Testify, my bin-bound brother. Testify.

I've been here 5 years and am still too lazy to change out of my Oscar avatar.

Originally Posted by murdershewrote

But they're not normal. Not even close to normal. Dani isn't even normal, and she's the only human one out there.

And THAT is the problem with X-comics these days. Prior to puberty, these characters were just regular people. They had friends. They went to parties. They got grounded or whatever. The puberty monster struck and all of a sudden they're expected to slip into spandex and strap on a X-belt. It's ludicrous. Part of what made the original volume so appealing was that they still felt like people. They still felt flawed and vulnerable, key components to being normal. They did normal people things like go to the mall. Granted, they were always subject to a potential Sentinel attack, but they strove to do normal things. They were the Tin Man trying to find his human heart.

1) Out of all the NMs, I'm fairly certain Roberto has had the most experience in a real world work environment.

That's hardly believable. If Sam & Dani are now 21, having been 17 when they first joined, then Bobby is only 17 or 18. He and Rahne were the youngest, having only been 13 when they joined. You could age him up to 21, but you'd also have to push Sam & Dani to 25, which seems unlikely given the rest of the X-Men's apparent ages.

My point being, at 18, I may have known what my dad did for a living, but I was in NO WAY equipped to deal with any company's accounting system. I still don't know a general ledger from a hole in my ass.

Bobby might have known hwat his dad did for a living, but I doubt that he would've made a good substitute for his father as CEO. The board and all of the company's employees did 99.9% of the work. Bobby was probably more like the sleepy eyed Bruce Wayne in TDK than Donald Trump.

even planned a profitable hostile take-over of another corporation during his time.

I ddn't buy it then. I don't buy it now. I can scream, "Buy!" or "Sell!" too. That doesn't make me a Wall Street mogul. It just means that I intend of faking it til I make it.

Honestly? I think that the New Mutants have been de-aged by the writers. I really do. It probably happened at some point around HoM. 90s writers and Morrison Era writers had these characters at a slightly later point in their lives. I would've easily believed that Bobby was 21 and Sam was 25. I might've even believed them both to be that 25yo age. New Mutants vol2 dialed Rahne's age back a little, putting her somewhat closer to the older Academy X students' ages. The rest of the characters, by and large, felt more like college aged students. About the only one who felt "older" was Karma, who was already a legal adult when she first joined the New Mutants.

I am most definitely convinced that the New Mutants have been de-aged. They all feel like 18-21 now. Magik 2.0, according to a previous interview, is now supposed to be the youngest.

There's some age related trickery going on here. If Franklin Richards can still be a kid after 30+ years and Peter Parker can still be mid-20s when he should be mid-60s..... I just take it for granted. They play age games at Marvel.

How exactly have they been paying rent, if not by using their previously acquired cash?

Ah!!!! The hipocricy of youth. You want to live on your own and don't want to be under daddy's thumb, but you've got not problem taking his cash. I'm pretty sure that Daddy Scott has funded their first few months of "free living." After all, they're still one of his X-teams.

Or... Dani could just be trying to ween the team off of Bobby's money.

But Dani's a big meanie

I don't get that. People commend her for being strong and assertive. The moment she actually demands something of her team she's a bitch? I'm not so sure.

Originally Posted by darknessatnoon

so that he can get over his mopishness over Alison

Amara. There is no Alison in this dojo.

**Pixie_Solanas** · 05-03-2012, 09:23 AM

Originally Posted by yanapryde

'Sup with Amara's hands?
Are those bandage looking things supposed to be some fashion trend?

Pixie_Solanas: Verify?

Anyone got a scan?

**murdershewrote** · 05-03-2012, 10:52 AM

That's hardly believable. If Sam & Dani are now 21, having been 17 when they first joined, then Bobby is only 17 or 18. He and Rahne were the youngest, having only been 13 when they joined. You could age him up to 21, but you'd also have to push Sam & Dani to 25, which seems unlikely given the rest of the X-Men's apparent ages.

My point being, at 18, I may have known what my dad did for a living, but I was in NO WAY equipped to deal with any company's accounting system. I still don't know a general ledger from a hole in my ass.

Bobby might have known hwat his dad did for a living, but I doubt that he would've made a good substitute for his father as CEO. The board and all of the company's employees did 99.9% of the work. Bobby was probably more like the sleepy eyed Bruce Wayne in TDK than Donald Trump.

I ddn't buy it then. I don't buy it now. I can scream, "Buy!" or "Sell!" too. That doesn't make me a Wall Street mogul. It just means that I intend of faking it til I make it.

Honestly? I think that the New Mutants have been de-aged by the writers. I really do. It probably happened at some point around HoM. 90s writers and Morrison Era writers had these characters at a slightly later point in their lives. I would've easily believed that Bobby was 21 and Sam was 25. I might've even believed them both to be that 25yo age. New Mutants vol2 dialed Rahne's age back a little, putting her somewhat closer to the older Academy X students' ages. The rest of the characters, by and large, felt more like college aged students. About the only one who felt "older" was Karma, who was already a legal adult when she first joined the New Mutants.

I am most definitely convinced that the New Mutants have been de-aged. They all feel like 18-21 now. Magik 2.0, according to a previous interview, is now supposed to be the youngest.

No way they're younger than 21. Zeb had them all drinking in the earlier issues of Vol 3. Besides that, it's been at least a couple of years since M-Day, and Rahne was marked as being 19 way before that when she was having her tryst with Elixer. I'd number the youngest New Mutant at LEAST 20-22, depending on how much canon time was supposed to have gone by, which is always confusing and nebulous to accurately measure (not counting Illyana, who came back as like... a 14-15 year old or something with as the Darkchilde).

Also, you don't have to 'buy' the whole deal with Roberto having work experience. It's canon. Written in his history, and as far as I know, not retconned. And it's an impressive resume he's built up, and he handled his responsibilities capably and intelligently. In comparison, Dani's worked as a SHIELD agent and a teacher at the X-School ('Berto also taught at the school, I forgot to add). But this isn't a 'who's had more work experience' fight, because that's stupid. This is more a 'stop treating 'Berto like he's an incompetent lug who needs to be handled with kid gloves' rant on my part, not aimed specifically towards you.

Also, like I said before, I didn't really have an issue as to her stance on the matter. I don't think Dani's really a bitch. Well, I do, but not for this reason. More, I was having fun picking on her because it's not serious business.

EDITTING TO ADD: How come it was considered work when Roberto's father was running the business? How come it's considered work when Emma Frost is making her millions? It's ageist to imply that his experience as CEO of TWO businesses (his family and X-Corp) somehow don't count just 'cause he's young.

Is that all anyone's going to talk about? Dani wanting Sunspot to get off his ass and work (probably for therapeutic reasons so that he can get over his mopishness over Alison).

Yep.

This is the X-board, isn't it? Most of the stuff in this issue of Exiled had more to do with JiM. This is about as controversial as it'll get, probs.

**Leirus** · 05-03-2012, 11:04 AM

Originally Posted by Pixie_Solanas

Anyone got a scan?

No need. She is sporting those roman style thingies. A bit like "Vynil Warrior" here but more stylized.

Click image for larger version.

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**Pixie_Solanas** · 05-03-2012, 11:06 AM

delightfully outre!

**Khajit** · 05-03-2012, 11:19 AM

Why do people have this weird idea that doing menial and/or blue collar work builds character or teaches something? It's not some sort of lesson from an Indian guru shaman living from the top of a mountain. It's working. I did not learn any meaningful life lessons from working those sort of jobs and I probably never will from the work itself. The closest thing to a lesson I'm getting is that I'd rather not have to do that type of work for the rest of my life and that I should study my textbooks to finish getting a CPA. Aka something i already knew.

If you make a rich person become a janitor all you teach them is that they never want to be a janitor which they presumably already knew so they learned nothing. Or was the lesson that being poor isn't as easy as being rich? That's kind of something you'd have to be stupid not to know already. The entire point of being rich is to not be poor. Why else do you think so much emphasis is placed upon a proper profession by middle and upper class families?

There is no mystical process inherent in working. It does not build character. it is a service you render for others in exchange for money. Building character tends to be an excuse for feeling better about making a person work hard when they could be doing the whole thing easier.