Dark X-Men #1 Discussion Thread - Summary and Spoilers

[The Sword Is Drawn]

I can't believe that nobody has started a thread on this issue yet.

Now before somebody starts on this Book purely because they thought that the whole Dark X-Men concept was a bit... meh, well let me tell you you weren't entirely alone. The idea of Norman setting up an X-Men team in the same manner he set up an Avengers team, did seem a little corny. And of course the team itself did kind of seem to implode at the end of the event itself.

Namor's gone. Emma's gone. Cloak and Dagger are gone. I know a fair few people on here complained about the team from its inception. Some of those criticisms were perfectly valid. And some thought that we never actually got to see the team interacting AS a team anyway.

Well, push all that stuff away. Because you know what? Paul Cornell, Leonard Kirk and Nick Lowe have done something great with this book.

They've made the Dark X-Men WORK.

And they've done a pretty good job of it, too.

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This issue begins with the remainder of Osborn's X-Men Mystique, Mimic (Currently suffering from clinical depression), Dark Beast (Getting bored of being cooped up by Osborn, and close to experimenting on staff members to eleviate that boredom), and Omega (Who talks too, much and generally pisses off the rest of his team mates) are sent out on a little PR excercise.

It seems that in small area of California people seem to occasionally be possessed by something which is leading them to wander around in this trance state repeating the mantra "I AM AN X-MAN". And Osborn wants to OWN that brand.

The first thing which is noticable is the actual aesthic of the team is far more defined in this series. Eack wearing costumes akin to those early X-Factor costumes the O5 used to wear. But in a group shot we now have one guy who looks like Angel, obviously one who looks like Beast, and with the cowl up over his head, and if he;s standing at the back, you could almost mistake him for Cyclops. But the most interesting is Mystique's new appearance.

She's now posing as Jean Grey.

Seriously.

Which pretty much completes a quite convincing group shot. And through the banter between team members this actually feels like a real TEAM at last. It makes a world of difference.

The whole issue is littered with pop-culture references, advertising slogans, song titles and literary notes, which at first might seem a little jarring. Until Omega, and as a result Mimic, starts channelling who's really responsible for all this. And those references suddenly start to fit together. They're broken thought processes of the very mutant who's trying to get in.

If you've seen the solicits and interviews you already know.

He recognises Dark Beast (Albeit possibly as his 'good' counterpart).

Dark Beast certainly recognises him.

And Mystique can't work out why he's calling him 'Mom'.

It's Nate Grey. And he wants to come home.

This really was a great issue. The way that Cornell finally seems to have given Omega some personality (Albeit that it's a personality which winds up Dark Beast in particular) apologising for the voices of others which come out when he channels their powers.

I particularly liked the "Inventory of Items Destroyed By Omega". The count is currently 2, but I hope we see more.

The way that Mystique oddly comes off as the voice of moral reason here is brilliant, too. The banter between her an Beast is great.

Kirk's artwork is great, as usual. He makes these chaacters look like classic X-Men but still distinct enough to show them as individuals.

It's just a really good team book. A fair amount actually happens in this issue. But it's never too wordy, and it gives a proper exposure to each character in the process. Nobody is under used. Other X-Men titles should seriously take note of that.

It almost makes me wish this was an ongoing. Or at least that this creative team gets put on a Core X-Title at some point. Because it was REALLY good.

Anybody else pick this up?

[Death's Head 2.0]

Picked it up. Liked it a lot.

How come Cornell writes such wicked team books, and gets a mini series, but Fraction can't and he gets Uncanny?

No justice man.

Seriously psyched about seeing Nate Grey again. And he's still got that whole shaman look going on? I can live with that. Just cool to have him back.

I see what you mean about the team being styled on the original five X-Men. Hadn't thought of that! But yeah.

And in that light form Nate kinda looks like... Iceman?

Nah, I'm clutching at straws, now! But Mystique wearing Jean Grey face is cruel, man.

[Havok83]

you didnt look hard enough

http://forums.comicbookresources.com...d.php?t=295178

[The Big G]

Originally Posted by The Sword Is Drawn

I can't believe that nobody has started a thread on this issue yet.

Actually i made a thread about this yesterday.... here's the link: http://forums.comicbookresources.com...d.php?t=295178

[The Sword Is Drawn]

Originally Posted by Death's Head 2.0

Picked it up. Liked it a lot.

How come Cornell writes such wicked team books, and gets a mini series, but Fraction can't and he gets Uncanny?

No justice man.

Please, let's not turn this into a Fraction bashing. I'd hate that.

But I do know what you mean.

Originally Posted by Death's Head 2.0

Seriously psyched about seeing Nate Grey again. And he's still got that whole shaman look going on? I can live with that. Just cool to have him back.

Looks like we last saw him, yes.

And while I know a fair few people on here seem to hate the guy pretty irrationally, lets just see how he goes, here. So far it's all very logical, and dramatically it delivered in terms of a proper return for Nate.

Originally Posted by Death's Head 2.0

I see what you mean about the team being styled on the original five X-Men. Hadn't thought of that! But yeah.

And in that light form Nate kinda looks like... Iceman?

Nah, I'm clutching at straws, now!

Ha ha. It's okay. Wished I'd thought of that at the time I put the first post up.

Originally Posted by Death's Head 2.0

But Mystique wearing Jean Grey face is cruel, man.

A very nice touch, yes. And enough to trick Nate, initially. And Kirk draws a great Jean Grey it seems.

[The Sword Is Drawn]

Ah, damnit!

Mr Cronin? Any chance you could merge this?

[MIMIC616]

Mystique on a leash and still deadly as ever,

Dark Beast's only enemy is boredom.

Weapon Omega, high as the sky.

Nate Grey, good to see you again.

Mimic. Worried, Good, and balancing in the middle. Loved it.





The surprise is who was in his future. Vera Cantor former girlfriend of the Beast and him.

[The Sword Is Drawn]

Originally Posted by MIMIC616

Mystique on a leash and still deadly as ever,

Dark Beast's only enemy is boredom.

Weapon Omega, high as the sky.

Nate Grey, good to see you again.

Mimic. Worried, Good, and balancing in the middle. Loved it.





The surprise is who was in his future. Vera Cantor former girlfriend of the Beast and him.

You know I hadn't thought of that.

He definitely does say "...Vera..." just before it flashes forward.

I really like how Calvin is characterised here. He's clearly still troubled, but not in the usual 'He's Crazy' kind of stick in trade role they used to give him in the 90s.

A very balanced characterisation here.

[darknessatnoon]

Will Mimic be able to copy X-Man's power since Nate Grey is not real? He was made in a cup - like soup.

[MIMIC616]

Originally Posted by darknessatnoon

Will Mimic be able to copy X-Man's power since Nate Grey is not real? He was made in a cup - like soup.

yes and he did.

[The Sword Is Drawn]

Originally Posted by darknessatnoon

Will Mimic be able to copy X-Man's power since Nate Grey is not real? He was made in a cup - like soup.

Well, kinda.

Omega kinda gets in sync with Nate's power floating around the town. Mimic, being in the vicinity of Omega when he manifests Nate's powers gets some of it.

Hence how he gets that flashforward.

[jackolover]

I have a similar view to this guy:

"Dark X-Men" #1 ...Well, let's just say the last page is grotesquely disappointing (not to mention largely out of context and unknown to anybody who started reading comic books after 1996). Also, it starts out with a centralized mystery which is virtually ignored by the last third. The only saving grace would be the chemistry of the team, which makes Dark Beast a wonderfully acerbic element and leaves Mystique flustered at his antics. Snippets of banter can't save this train wreck, however".

[The Lucky One]

Originally Posted by MIMIC616

The surprise is who was in his future. Vera Cantor former girlfriend of the Beast and him.

That's what I really liked. Any writer who throws in little nods to past continuity like that -- not major plot-influencing references, just minor nods to show they've done their homework -- has got me hook, line and sinker.

Seriously, how many writers would have remembered that in one Mimic appearance in a random issue of Incredible Hulk from the '70s, it was shown that Cal and Vera had gotten together and were in a relationship? After which he immediately "died" and the partnering was never referenced again? That's the kind of crap we're supposed to remember as fanboys, but for a writer to include it? Excellent show, Paul. Top marks.

-D

[Will.S]

I liked the issue and all and I usually like to support the MI 13 team but for $3.99? And the back up isn't even continued within these books or the Psylocke one? That's dumb.

I might trade wait this stuff or check these issues out at a sale or something.

[joshtylen]

Wonder what Nate's there to do. He's says he's trying to get home but where is his home.