Welcome back! Glad you enjoyed my column enough to come back
for a second taste. It warms my heart to see you all here, really.
This month, I was having trouble coming up with a good idea for a
topic, and I started talking with one of my friends about the new
writer of Uncanny X-Men, Steve T. Seagle. He brought up some
points I hadnt yet considered myself, so I decided to use our
discussion as a springboard.
I was mostly enjoying the new writer, and direction, and had
yet to really come up with a solid opinion on it. The stories
were simple, with a lot of characterization and not many huge
world-threatening fights. It was a very nice change of pace from
Scott Lobdells seven or so years of big fight after big fight,
event storyline after giant crossover.
Seagles first issue was not the best I have ever read in my
opinion, it was only slightly above Lobdells usual fare. After
doing some digging, I learned that Lobdell only provided a very
rough script and left Seagle to do the hard work. I decided to
give him a few issues before I passed judgment.
His first full issue (#351) was a look at a day in the life of
one of the new characters that Lobdell had join the team in his
final issue. A side note here: I commend Seagle and Adjective-less
X-Men scribe Joe Kelly for not just throwing out these characters,
but actually trying to do something with them.
That issue was quite well written, and made me actually like
this character that Lobdell had forced on us. It gave her a
personality. it shows that these characters have, or in some cases
had, lives outside of the X-Men. I was very pleased, and looked
forward to future issues. He was off to a good start.
Next, we actually got a look at some of the classic characters.
Finally, after seven years of Lobdell removing her spine, Rogue
once again had a personality. Unfortunately, the same can't be
said for the rest of the characters.
Cyclops started questioning Xaviers dream. Something he
would never do. Jean started wearing the original Phoenix costume,
something she would never do. The Phoenix went mad and destroyed
billions of lives, in Jeans name. And Wolverine just did not
seem right at all. He was questioning his actions. Logan has
always acted, never caring for the consequences, and never
regretting them much afterwards.
What is going on?
I can say, with all honesty, that I dont know. Only the
writers do. Maybe its just how Steve Seagle sees the
characters. Thats not so bad really, since his stories are
entertaining. they just seem off. or maybe, and I hope this
is it, this is actually some sort of plotline coming up, and
it is all subtle, or maybe not so subtle foreshadowing. Now
we wonder, was the plotline conceived to accommodate the
inconsistencies, or were the inconsistencies thought up to
make the plotline? Again, I dont have an answer. I just
hope one is forthcoming, and soon.
All in all, I am enjoying myself. I dont think she
would do it, but I do like seeing Jean back in the old
green and yellow. The stories are fun, and well-paced. It
just seems like Ive been reunited with some old friends,
after finding out something I never knew. You still like
your friend, but theyre now different in how you may
perceive them. At the very least, its 1000% better than
Lobdells butchering of the titles.
If the rumors and suspicions are true, the answers
to my questions may very well be answered in the course
of the next few months, along with tying up some of
Lobdells infamous dangling plotlines. Just for cleaning
even one or two of those up, then Seagle will gain some
more respect from me.
That just about wraps my thoughts up on the recent
state of Uncanny X-Men. In a slight continuation of last
month's article, the newest issue of Generation X was
the final straw. Larry Hama completely ignored previously
set continuity when he decided to reveal the origin of
the mystery member of the team, Penance. As of that
issue, I officially dropped the book, which is a surprising
thing for an X-fan such as me to do. Hopefully, someday
it will be readable again, and Hamas mistakes will be
removed.
Be sure to come back this way on July 1st, when Ill
be writing about...well, Ill decide that later.
