Today we're flipping through the pages of X-Men Annual #3 & UXM #125. Our first annual of CC's run happens just before #125, itself something of a standalone ahead of two major X-stories.
CW: sexual assault- for the next several issues, I'll be discussing Jean & Mastermind
CW: sexual assault- for the next several issues, I'll be discussing Jean & Mastermind
Over the next thirteen issues, we'll be faced with a lot of violence committed against women- including Moira and Jean.
In light of that, if you need to mute this account until next Sunday when I move on from the Dark Phoenix Saga, please do so and come back when you feel safe.
In light of that, if you need to mute this account until next Sunday when I move on from the Dark Phoenix Saga, please do so and come back when you feel safe.
Keeping this in mind, you can safely read through the first half of the thread until a splash panel of Jean lets you know we're into the heavier parts of the thread.
If anyone has any thoughts or insight into the best way to handle these warnings, please reach out.
If anyone has any thoughts or insight into the best way to handle these warnings, please reach out.
I'm committed to protecting survivors of violence from further harm.
I also want to make sure that I am treating Jean's story seriously, without glossing over it and only posting pretty panels.
Finding this balance is hard. Bear with me and please tell me if I'm doing it wrong.
I also want to make sure that I am treating Jean's story seriously, without glossing over it and only posting pretty panels.
Finding this balance is hard. Bear with me and please tell me if I'm doing it wrong.
The story acts like a spiritual success to some Avengers issues I have not read, so I can't tell you too much about Arkon's backstory.
Just know that he's from another planet, he can throw lightning bolts that open portals to other worlds, and he's just descended upon New York!
Just know that he's from another planet, he can throw lightning bolts that open portals to other worlds, and he's just descended upon New York!
Another thing I can tell you about the Avengers story is that I am certain that in ALL Avengers stories, Jarvis does *not* get paid enough to deal with any of this bullshit.
This, however, except when required by crossover, is not an Avenger's account, so enough about them.
This, however, except when required by crossover, is not an Avenger's account, so enough about them.
As we check in with our merry mutants we get one hell of a chaotic Danger Room scene featuring tentacles which certainly do not portend a number of weird, horny things Claremont is going to do with tentacles in the future.
(Witness, the birth of a fetish!)
(Witness, the birth of a fetish!)
MAKE 👏 THIS 👏 STORM'S 👏 LOOK
GIVE 👏 COLOSSUS 👏 MORE 👏 DRAGONS
(Can you tell I don't have much to say about this Annual? I'm just not feeling it! Read it by all means, but I really don't feel like it contributed a lot in the way of good plotting/characterization during the run.)
(Can you tell I don't have much to say about this Annual? I'm just not feeling it! Read it by all means, but I really don't feel like it contributed a lot in the way of good plotting/characterization during the run.)
Last thing I'm bringing up from the annual before jumping into UXM #125- and major #XSpoilers here- but this gave me big Mutant Circuit™️ vibes.
Definitely a creative use of Piotr/Ororo/Scott's powers!
Definitely a creative use of Piotr/Ororo/Scott's powers!
Alright- back to the run!
A symptom of our segregated storylines, UXM #125 is all over the place catching up with a lot of plots.
Jean's ongoing Phoenix glow-up, the mystery of Muir Island, and the end of the "the team is dead!" trope are all dealt with in this single issue!
A symptom of our segregated storylines, UXM #125 is all over the place catching up with a lot of plots.
Jean's ongoing Phoenix glow-up, the mystery of Muir Island, and the end of the "the team is dead!" trope are all dealt with in this single issue!
We haven't gone full Dark Phoenix yet, but it's growing apparent that something is wrong about Jean's ever-expanding powers. Moira- whether or not you acknowledge her recent #XSpoilers retcon- is still the top genetics expert left on Earth.
If she's worried, we should be too.
If she's worried, we should be too.
Several pages get dedicated to driving this point home. Whatever is happening to Jean is so beyond Moira's expertise that she's not even sure where to begin. She's scared of Jean and scared for her.
Jean responds by petulantly insisting that she's more than fine, she's amazing.
Jean responds by petulantly insisting that she's more than fine, she's amazing.
I doubt anybody reading this is unaware of what's going on (if you're on X-Twitter, you don't need me recapping the P.S. for you), but this panel does a really good job brining us up to speed.
Which, considering it had been over 2 years since #100 came out, is pretty important.
Which, considering it had been over 2 years since #100 came out, is pretty important.
Back in NY with the team, we're treated to another Danger Room montage, the latest of many in recent issues.
Ever since Jean & Hank "died", Scott's really been pushing the team hard. He hasn't said it out loud- but it reflects just how badly he feels he's failed as a leader.
Ever since Jean & Hank "died", Scott's really been pushing the team hard. He hasn't said it out loud- but it reflects just how badly he feels he's failed as a leader.
We also check in with Erik, having been largely unfeatured since he went up against the team in #112-113!
Between now and #200, CC is going to do a lot of work to make Magneto a sympathetic and redeemable figure, and these panels are where that starts.
Between now and #200, CC is going to do a lot of work to make Magneto a sympathetic and redeemable figure, and these panels are where that starts.
We get a little more information about just how sinister Mastermind's plot with Jean truly is.
Mastermind's manipulations allegorically (and later literally) reflect sexual violence, and get to the core of the violence's cause: power, control, and entitlement to womens' bodies.
Mastermind's manipulations allegorically (and later literally) reflect sexual violence, and get to the core of the violence's cause: power, control, and entitlement to womens' bodies.
Wyngarde's "entitlement" to Jean is all about seeing her as a tool for his own gratification & indulgence.
Jean's saga is often framed as a story about an inability to handle incredible power- but that's not it. It's a story of one woman's response to trauma inflicted upon her.
Jean's saga is often framed as a story about an inability to handle incredible power- but that's not it. It's a story of one woman's response to trauma inflicted upon her.
An often stated worry for Jean's ability to handle her powers undermines this, because it isn't until Morrison's run that we see Jean wielding the P.F. safely.
And why can she do it then? Because she's not responding to her rape by Wyngarde, with all the rage she's entitled to.
And why can she do it then? Because she's not responding to her rape by Wyngarde, with all the rage she's entitled to.
Because that's the truth of Jean's story- she does in fact have the powers of a God- but she only wields them truly vengefully and madly until after the extent of the violence committed upon her is revealed.
Mastermind may actually be one of the most evil men in the X-mythos.
Mastermind may actually be one of the most evil men in the X-mythos.
And now... on a much happier note, here's one panel of Hank I somehow haven't managed to immediately hate.
The X-Men will always be a story of found family and radical love in the face of darkness & pain. This panel reminded me of that force for good & hope.
See you back soon.
The X-Men will always be a story of found family and radical love in the face of darkness & pain. This panel reminded me of that force for good & hope.
See you back soon.
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