X-Men Red #10 - "The New Age"

[laughing_tree]

We're tying off threads and closing arcs in this one, finishing the Abigail Brand storyline I started back in Empyre: Avengers Aftermath and continued into this book once it became clear that, actually, she's still the same person who had Colossus tortured for years because something something the hard choices. From here, we go into Sins Of Sinister, which is kinda sorta the Metal Gear Solid 4 to this book's Metal Gear Solid V, except I'm at least 80% sure we've got the budget to end X-MEN RED properly. -- Al Ewing

Comments

[numeronone]

So I guess Abby is going to have to change her hair?

[numeronone]

I really love the "Four Clones of Nathaniel Essex" subplot, don't get me wrong, and I'd love to know whose idea it was to have them each represented by a different suit.

The only thing that bothers me is - because of the sliding timescale - it's awfully funny that the other Essexes are all just coming out of the woodwork now, in the Krakoan Era. (I'd have equally loved it if it turned out an already established character was an Essex all along - if Colossus wasn't already compromised, him being a Sleeper Essex would explain why they had such similar looks back in the day.)

But if you just accept it, then it implies the hilarious idea that Sinister is the Nicolas Cage to the other clones' Coppola family, outrageously stealing the spotlight while they work quietly in the background.

[numeronone]

Imagine the group chat.

Doctor Stasis: "Fellow Essexes, it's come to my attention through encounters with this..."Sideclops" and his "Eczema Men" that one of our own bloodline has entered his second century with the manners and self-control of a stubborn six-year-old. I'm rather swamped - literally! - teaching my Alligator Men in the finer art of the grenade launcher. Anyone else fancy taking him in hand?

Orbis Stellaris: "I'm booked solid for the next two weeks. Got a planetoid full of D'bari IV refugees whose markets desperately need short-selling before Galactus gets there. Anyone else?"

Zbgure Evtugrbhf: "Tbg n qngr jvgu Znevan Noenzbivp, yhi"

[blues32]

Would have thought that last one would have sounded more...cockney.

[numeronone]

Zbgure Evtugrbhf: "Pbe oyvzrl, lbh zhfg or bss lre gebyyrl, Anguna! Ungr gb qhpx naq qvir ohg V'z cebcreyl pernz penpxrerq, fb V nz, ba nppbhag bs vaqhytvat gbb zhpu va gur by' Iren Ylaa jvgu gurve uvtarffrf Owbex naq Znevan Noenzbivp. Tbg cebcreyl ryrcunag'f gehax naq abj V'z jryy naq gehyl Zbol Qvpx, va n evtug 2 naq 8 vs lbh pngpu zl qevsg. Tvir hf n qbt naq obar jura V'ir unq fbzr xvc naq V zvtug unir n ohgpuref, ybiryl whooyl."

...Better?

[mastermahan]

That was magnificent.

V'z n ovg fhecevfrq Zbgure Evtugrbhf vf n trahvar Ybaqbare. Qvpx ina Qlxr jbhyq guvax ure npprag fbhaqf xvaq bs snxr.

[remial]

that's who she is?

really?

[mastermahan]

At this point I'd bet a large sum of money on it.

Fvavfgre zrnaf yrsg, fb gur bccbfvgr bs Fvavfgre vf Evtugrbhf.

Cyhf lbh'ir tbg Zbgure if. Zvfgre, fur'f nccneragyl sebz Ybaqba, fur unf n erzvk bs Fvavfgre'f pbybe fpurzr, fur unf n znfx gung pbiref hc ure sberurnq - fur rira unf n urneg-funcrq pyrnintr jvaqbj.

[numeronone]

This issue confirms your theory.

Gur znfx pbzrf bss naq fur unf n juvgr urneg gnggbrq ba ure sberurnq.

[blues32]

I didn't think so either, but if Orb Man or whatever his name is was another Essex, why not her?

[numeronone]

Vs gurer'f nalguvat gur hccre pynff bs Ybaqba xabjf orfg, vg'f fuvggvat ba naq/be nccebcevngvat gur phygher bs gur jbexvat pynff. Ybbx ng "Yvggyr Oevgnva" sbe vafgnapr.

Zbgure Evtugrbhf cebonoyl gbbx ba gurfr znaarevfzf orpnhfr fur gubhtug vg'q or sha. Be shaal. Ure "Oebguref" qerff yvxr Zbeovhf gur Inzcver, n fhcreivyynvabhf Qnsg Chax, naq...jungrire Beovf Fgryynevf vf.

[mastermahan]

Na rivy qvfpb onyy?

[numeronone]

"Jryy lbh pna gryy zl ol gur flzoby 'gjrar zl rlrf
V'z na Rffrk Zna, ab gvzr gb qvr
Fpurzvat fpurzrf sebz zl tbyqra guebar
Orra na Rffrk Zna fvapr V jnf pybarq"

[deh_tommy]

There was a dropped plot point before Krakoa where Iron Man discovered one of the X-Men was actually a Sinister clone the whole time. There was a fan theory it was supposed to be Kitty because she couldn’t use the gates but it’s never been brought up again.

[scorntx]

(Not idea whether to take that as meaning X-Men: Red has been cancelled or it's going to continue after SoS or what.
But it is a Ewing title, so probably safer to assume it's the former and be pleasantly surprised if it turns out otherwise.)


Given Gabriel's origin was being left for dead and forgotten, somehow it doesn't seem like sealing him up and throwing away the key is really the best solution.
Eh. What's the worst that'll happen?

[numeronone]

"S.W.O.R.D." ended and became "X-Men Red", so maybe it'll be a trilogy. After all, the Abigail Brand arc is kinda wrapped up but setting up the dangling plot thread of her becoming someone completely new, possibly even a mystery character we won't recognise.

[scorntx]

Given the X-Men's current track record, Brand could probably fool them all by wearing a hat.

... actually, given the Krakoan age's tenor, she could probably just come back and say "yeah, I manipulated you all and tried to start an intergalactic war, and I don't feel bad about it, but can't we just get over it?" and they'd be all "well, that's alright, then."

[numeronone]

I would correct you, but...that's exactly what just happened with Chuck.

Perhaps the current "Wolverine" arc will conclude with Hank donning a Maple Leafs baseball cap, thus rendering him immune to Wolverine's attacks...

[blues32]

Wolverine isn't THAT Canadian.

[numeronone]

You sure?

[blues32]

Oh, sure. He's Canadian, but not so Canadian that he won't dare harm someone with a maple leaf on them.

[numeronone]

In that case I'll point out that he did also recently suffer debilitating brain damage...

[cygnia]

The Flames though?

[cainofdreaming]

Yeah, Hank would have to throw in a case of Molsons too.

[numeronone]

Extra good news, I clicked on the link to the Ewing newsletter quoted above, which also says:

"This is a good time to mention that X-MEN RED has been high on many end-of-year lists this year - it seems what me and art maven Stefano Caselli did really struck a strong chord with critics and readers, hence us being able to continue on past Sins into a new story which we'll be dropping all manner of cryptic hints about in the next few months. Thanks for everyone who thought of us and spread the good word - it's highly appreciated!?

[scorntx]

Oooh.

(Now the question is, do we dare to hope that this is a continuation, and we'll get one of those rare Ewing series that actually makes it past issue 20?)

[numeronone]

Just look forward to an "Ewing writes X-MEN...IN...SPAAACE" omnibus in a few years, I guess

[blues32]

Aaargh...have ALL of the Essexes forgotten their main purpose to prevent the machine uprising? It's like four John Connors and not one of them is doing a thing about Skynet.

[numeronone]

There's a chance that Spades and Hearts could still be working on it, given that Essex Original was talking about seeking out other planets where they've already put down an AI uprising, or using "science-tamed superstition" as a robot's natural weakness.

Clubs may even also be playing a long game, cuddling up to the machines in order to be as close as possible to stab them in the back.

But then, as in the case of Diamonds, perhaps every Essex eventually just absorbs the goal of "defeat the machines" into their own specific interest - i.e. "Make everyone into my lab subjects forever"; "Make everyone into my lab subjects in a mutant-free world"; "Make a lot of money on the interstellar arms trade"; "Fuck around with magic and avoid finding out"

[giraffesforever]

This annoyed me too, but I've decided it's going to be Stasis that "succeeds" at preventing the machines, not because he's trying to prevent machine hegemony anymore, but because he's going to backstab them for his own petty interests someday.

[nyadnar17]

"Colossus tortured for years because something something the hard choices"

lol, Ewing does not forget nor forgive. Man what a great time to be an X-man fan.

[lordultimus]

Can he do Maria Hill next?

[scorntx]

We had Ewing writing Hill back in the New Avengers days.
She figured Roberto was a Wrong 'Un and tried to stop him.

(Though if anyone'd be stupid enough to go for Round 2 with someone who effortlessly chumped them, it would be Maria Hill.)

[lordultimus]

Don't forget he gave her the ovaries to say that Roberto was dangerous because "power corrupts". Yeah, you wouldn't know anything about that, Hill.

[giraffesforever]

My memory of the details is fuzzy - it was Brand that was responsible for Colossus' torture upon resurrection? I have this vague memory of generic evil company employing Kavita Rao and being secretly backed by Ord and Breakworld? And then Colossus joined the team and Hank started dating Brand? Seems awkward.

[numeronone]

A Joss Whedon story, needlessly awkward? Perish the thought!

[mindsweeper]

I hope they all have suit-related catchphrases.

"Sinister is ready to deliver. [pause for effect] In spades."

"All you really need is [pause for effect] heart."

"Diamonds [pause for effect] are a Sinister's best friend."

"This club [pause for effect] is poppin'!"

[numeronone]

"Oh, the Sinister Quadruplets, eh? Good thing I brought my...BLACKJACK!"

[goattoucher]

Man, they nerfed the dickens out of Vulcan.

Which I like. The previous writing of him was... not my favorite.

It is weird that they made a point of saying that he grew stronger in death, though, when they opposite is so obviously true.