WATXM 19: Do I look like someone who needs psychiatric help? (Spoilers)

[Rosebunse]

This is likely to prove a challenge for Aaron and the comedic tone of the book.
Playing up Paige's troubles for laughs has worked for a little bit, but taken any further and it'll venture too far into the macabre and range of bad taste.
At the same time, just dropping the storyline would be ill advised and not very good story telling.
I think Aaron should take on a slightly more serious tone in concluding the situation with Paige, ditching the slapstick for a bit and really venturing into what's going on with Paige's issues.

It's still too soon to tell.

But it's hard to say that Aaron's not taking it a little seriously. Sure, seeing all of her different skins breaking through at the same time was sorta funny, but it was also very, very disturbing to see her have so little control over her powers.

[Faded]

This issue was enjoyable.

I liked most of the interview process, the descent of Husk and Toad, and the hint of a more mature take on Idie. However, Jia Jing's debut was horrible. Minority characters just shouldn't be done if you're going to have them bow and shit. Jia, Dust, and Psylocke should just take their show on the road and continue to publicly humiliate comic fandom.

[Mitteloss]

I haven't read WaTXM since #12 (due to AvX/MarvelNOW), but Paige's storyline, clearly about her suffering from some sort of mental illness now, is by far and away the most intriguing and makes WaTXM a quite tempting read.

I do like that Aaron has built this storyline up gradually and quietly, it does strike a tone and makes Husk's troubles very easy to relate to (it hasn't been sensational)- especially in the midst of WaTXM's very light-hearted feel- especially now.

However, the strengths of Aaron's handling of this story has been its weaknesses. That this storyline is taking so long to develop in a serious manner makes it seem like Aaron is just tossing a bone to certain readers and not really showing respect to the story-line which is after all, tackling quite a sensitive matter (health). It seems also quite in bad taste when the book has such a relatively light-hearted, comic tone to it-as if Husk's troubles are just another part of the oddness of the book.

I'm not saying that this story-line shouldn't have been used with this book, certainly not, but it is time now that it be dealt with more seriously and from Husk's perspective. In real-life Aaron is right to portray that people tend to only notice the very odd, disturbing behaviour of people suffering from certain mental illnesses at first, and unfortunately, many (like most of the staff at the school *cough*thatsmarmycowKitty*cough*), fail to relate or understand it, or show sufficient sympathy and I commend him for that.

But, it is getting to the point now where Aaron should break from WaTXM's usual tone and start tackling it more seriously from Husk's perspective or with real focus on her. I know Aaron intends readers are intelligent enough to empathise with Husk as it is, but that is not enough. For a few issues, PAD did it for Lorna starting with X-Factor #243, Aaron can do the same.

I do think that this story-line has likely been delayed by Brevoort's AvX- which I think disrupted the original plan of Regenesis (which I guess involved Husk)-so I don't think that Aaron is entirely at fault for the way he has been treating the story-line. Aaron should also not worry about not featuring the more popular characters enough ifthis story was to take centricity.

[Dr. Sonic]

Aaron did an okay job telling a more somber-toned issue of WaTXM in the stand-alone origin tale of Warbird. I could see him writing a similar tale for Paige, departing from the slapstick to focus on the more serious issues that she's coping with. There are so many interesting aspect to her situation - not the least of which is the fact that she has gone from one of the beautiful mutants who can 'pass' for human to a more grotesque visage who no longer can pass.

As for Jia Jing.. I'm not ready t pass judgement yet, have to see more of her. Bowing is perfectly normal and very common practice among school children from Beijing - but if she continues to portray only stereotypical Chinese/Asian behaviors and whatnot, it'll get annoying, offensive fast.

[Boozier]

I haven't read WaTXM since #12 (due to AvX/MarvelNOW), but Paige's storyline, clearly about her suffering from some sort of mental illness now, is by far and away the most intriguing and makes WaTXM a quite tempting read.

I do like that Aaron has built this storyline up gradually and quietly, it does strike a tone and makes Husk's troubles very easy to relate to (it hasn't been sensational)- especially in the midst of WaTXM's very light-hearted feel- especially now.

However, the strengths of Aaron's handling of this story has been its weaknesses. That this storyline is taking so long to develop in a serious manner makes it seem like Aaron is just tossing a bone to certain readers and not really showing respect to the story-line which is after all, tackling quite a sensitive matter (health). It seems also quite in bad taste when the book has such a relatively light-hearted, comic tone to it-as if Husk's troubles are just another part of the oddness of the book.

I'm not saying that this story-line shouldn't have been used with this book, certainly not, but it is time now that it be dealt with more seriously and from Husk's perspective. In real-life Aaron is right to portray that people tend to only notice the very odd, disturbing behaviour of people suffering from certain mental illnesses at first, and unfortunately, many (like most of the staff at the school *cough*thatsmarmycowKitty*cough*), fail to relate or understand it, or show sufficient sympathy and I commend him for that.

But, it is getting to the point now where Aaron should break from WaTXM's usual tone and start tackling it more seriously from Husk's perspective or with real focus on her. I know Aaron intends readers are intelligent enough to empathise with Husk as it is, but that is not enough. For a few issues, PAD did it for Lorna starting with X-Factor #243, Aaron can do the same.

I do think that this story-line has likely been delayed by Brevoort's AvX- which I think disrupted the original plan of Regenesis (which I guess involved Husk)-so I don't think that Aaron is entirely at fault for the way he has been treating the story-line. Aaron should also not worry about not featuring the more popular characters enough ifthis story was to take centricity.

Where have you been all my life? I just hope it stemmed from Age of X, so that actually had some ramifications on somebody's psyche.

[ImmortalIronFist]

Where have you been all my life? I just hope it stemmed from Age of X, so that actually had some ramifications on somebody's psyche.

I thought Age of X was suppose to be the reason Cannonball was depressed and gave up his spot on the New Mutants. Of course, no one's really written him since then for some reason, so we haven't seen it.

[Mitteloss]

Where have you been all my life? I just hope it stemmed from Age of X, so that actually had some ramifications on somebody's psyche.

Hehe thanks :P The Polaris Thread ;)

Aaron did an okay job telling a more somber-toned issue of WaTXM in the stand-alone origin tale of Warbird. I could see him writing a similar tale for Paige, departing from the slapstick to focus on the more serious issues that she's coping with. There are so many interesting aspect to her situation - not the least of which is the fact that she has gone from one of the beautiful mutants who can 'pass' for human to a more grotesque visage who no longer can pass.

That certainly would be good, but hopefully in the context of the JGS. Certainly- Husk was so different beforehand, pretty, competent, stable (well some might question it given a certain incident). We were all expecting her and Kitty to be too similar before this started and Aaron took both characters in opposite directions.

[HostilSpike]

As a Gen-X fan the most frustrating thing for me is that Aaron hasn't had any interaction between Paige and Jono.

Husk is going through a complete breakdown and one of her oldest friends is just sitting around letting it happen...

[DeadXMan]

As a Gen-X fan the most frustrating thing for me is that Aaron hasn't had any interaction between Paige and Jono.

Husk is going through a complete breakdown and one of her oldest friends is just sitting around letting it happen...

Why the hell would he talk to her

She left him for a man with money and a digestive system

[HostilSpike]

Why the hell would he talk to her

She left him for a man with money and a digestive system

Technically he left her for a Pop Star...

[ohsnapulon5000]

Jono and Husk really should be interacting more. They are supposed to representatives of the 90's- when being close friends with your ex was all the rage. Besides, they were kids back then. Mutant kids, who have been through loads of trauma. "you dated so and so" just doesn't hold weight in their world.

[Starleafgirl]

Jono and Husk really should be interacting more. They are supposed to representatives of the 90's- when being close friends with your ex was all the rage. Besides, they were kids back then. Mutant kids, who have been through loads of trauma. "you dated so and so" just doesn't hold weight in their world.

So agreed! Maybe now that Husk is on the outs and Chamber is basically ignored/a part-time teacher, they can actually have a scene together. I can't help but feel like Gage did more for the character of Chamber, and these two together (yes, they were actually in a scene together; though, sadly/comically, didn't actually talk to each other). Oh well.

And yeah, she's clearly got Multiple Personality Disorder now... (read her Twitter account, posted on the Husk Appreciation Thread, if you doubt it), which is a bit interesting in that her different personalities can literally rip off her skin to show how they look on the inside.

If there's anyone she'd listen to about getting real help, it'd be one of her old Gen X classmates. Or her brother. Or Emma. Meh.

Hope Storm has a good showing in WATXM beyond just "Date Night."

[Pixie_Solanas]

Technically he left her for a Pop Star...

Where is Spritney Beers from Poptopia?

[CMBMOOL]

I would love for a human teacher to be involved in the school.

I guess it means that this team of X-men is futher away from Xavier's dream than ever.

[imperial90]

I thought Age of X was suppose to be the reason Cannonball was depressed and gave up his spot on the New Mutants. Of course, no one's really written him since then for some reason, so we haven't seen it.

No, it was Illyana's plan to destroy the Elder gods that resulted in Cannonball giving up his spot, watching Dani get tortured wasn't good for his psych.