One of things that continues to surprise me about Bendis' run on the X-books, compared to his run on the Avengers, is that he spends a lot of time focusing on the X-Men as people. His Avengers were little more than delivery mechanisms for one-liners. However, his X-Men are a lot more mutli-dimensional, something that we see throughout this issue.
First things first, I love the scenes with Laura and Warren. I like them together, but, the way that Bendis writes these scenes, they don't have to stay together forever and ever for these moments to mean something. As Warren says here, maybe they just needed to enjoy some time as adolescents, not the next entrants on someone's hit list. Maybe they like each other simply because of this mutual need to escape the confines of their responsibilities (similar to Kitty and Peter's bond over their intimacy issues). Maybe it's something more. Bendis certainly leaves open the door to something deeper, but it doesn't have to develop to have what happens between them in this issue be something lovely. (Also, man, Pichelli draws a beautiful Angel. She certainly makes you understand Laura's comment about Warren being prettier than she is.)
Moreover, Bendis doesn't have to force the connection. The characters are recognizable throughout these scenes. Warren is funny in that arrogant way that Warren always is, and Laura is defensive in the sad way that she always is. (I've actually been reading old issues of "Dazzler," and Warren's self-assured courtship of her in that series doesn't feel entirely dissimilar to his courtship of Laura here.) They're trying to figure out their connection just as we are. From the individual characterizations to their actual interaction, Bendis really makes these two characters that've lurked in the background for a while shine.
Moreover, Bendis doesn't have to force the connection. The characters are recognizable throughout these scenes. Warren is funny in that arrogant way that Warren always is, and Laura is defensive in the sad way that she always is. (I've actually been reading old issues of "Dazzler," and Warren's self-assured courtship of her in that series doesn't feel entirely dissimilar to his courtship of Laura here.) They're trying to figure out their connection just as we are. From the individual characterizations to their actual interaction, Bendis really makes these two characters that've lurked in the background for a while shine.
Kitty and Peter's interactions are adorable as always, though I think that it's going to get harder and harder for Bendis to keep them "together." In fact, my only trouble with this issue is actually with its other "couple" -- Emma and Jean. I loved the members of the New Xavier School gathering on the hilltop to watch their confrontation, though Bendis lets out the air from the tires surprisingly early. We go from an enraged Jean showing an impressive mastery of her powers against Emma, to them suddenly giggling like school girls. It felt like we were missing a few panels. I don't understand why Jean telling Emma that she was already crazy (and didn't need Emma to drive her there) made peace between them. I'm guessing that I'm just going to have accept it, though, because Bendis seems unlikely to visit the subject again. The good news is that Laura and Warren's romance more than compensates for this stumble.
**** (four of five stars)
**** (four of five stars)
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