I think this series was actually better than "Avengers vs. X-Men." In fact, upon reflection, it's actually the series that I thought "X-Men: Schism" was going to be, with Scott embracing militarism (of a sorts) and Logan advocating pacifism (of a sorts). It definitely seems to bring the process of the schism to a close, given that we now emerge from "Avengers vs. X-Men" with mutantkind falling into two very distinct camps.
Perhaps most notably, Cyclops embraces a more brutal side than we've ever seen him embrace, ordering Magik to send Jake's murderers to Limbo and Danger to scar the warden's face. In so doing, Gillen makes it clear that we're dealing with the new Scott now. He embraces his role as a terrorist because he wants people to fear him, to think of him before they engage in acts of mutant discrimination.
Gillen doesn't allow Cyclops to make that transition without comment, however. In fact, this Scott makes a lot more sense than the Scott that we saw in "X-Men: Schism." That Scott really seemed to think that children should be on the front lines of mutantkind's battle with humankind. But, with the resurrection of the mutant race, this Scott seems to feel freed from that position. Since mutantkind is no longer fighting for its very survival, he now seems to feel that it has the "luxury" of allowing students to attend the School. In shifting Scott's position on this issue, Gillen makes Scott a lot more of a sympathetic character. In fact, his note to Logan is heart-breaking, describing his turn to evil as something that he could do because he knows that Logan has embraced his turn to good. In this way, Gillen has Scott go in two different directions at once. He becomes harder against his enemies and softer on his allies. We despise him, and sympathize with him, more. All in all, he's a lot more complex but relatable character than he was.
I had wondered in my review of last issue why Marvel wasn't going to release a series on the new Brotherhood, as it seems clear that it has now reconstituted under Scott's leadership. However, I now see, from an ad at the back of this issue, that "All-New X-Men" is going to follow its story. Also, as hoped, Emma Frost is going to join the team. Whereas I was dreading and dismissing this title as a poorly considered time-travel story that couldn't last, I'm now excited about it. The new Scott's story is going to test the old Scott's beliefs. Excellent.
I think that we've got a decent likelihood that, in the end, some sort of time-travel device is going to be used to put Scott back on the side of angels, erasing the world's memory of his crimes. But, at least it seems like we're going to get some pretty damn good stories before that day comes.
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