This issue is a lot of talk. Talkety, talkety, talk. I'd like to say that it's a series of conversations, but it's really just Scott monologuing in a variety of locations. He tries to convince Matthew Malloy to side with him, an increasingly unhinged Matthew Malloy continues his ongoing nervous breakdown, Cyclops tries to have banter with Magik, and then Magneto appears and announces that he's putting an end to the conversation. Obviously, Magneto is the hero here, because he gets Cyclops to stop talking.
I'm still not sure what Bendis is planning here. It's pretty clear that Malloy isn't going to get a grip on his powers. Even if he does, it's also pretty clear that he's too dangerous to survive. Scott tries to console Malloy by telling him that other mutants have been so powerful that it overwhelmed them and hopes that Matthew can learn from those cautionary tales. He somehow neglects to mention the fact that almost all those mutants -- Apocalypse, Phoenix, Franklin Richards, the Goblin Queen, Legion, Magneto, Scarlet Witch, and Colossus-naught -- died or lost everything as a result of their powers. It's not exactly the inspiration that I'd be using for a pep talk. But, it underlines just how insane Scott must be to think that he can really guide Malloy to controlling his powers.
Bendis also includes a bizarre sequence where Hank McCoy expresses frustration over the fact that the Avengers and the governments of the world won't respond to his distress call. I get his frustration, but Bendis portrays it as him losing faith in humanity. Um, humanity did try to help. S.H.I.E.l.D. tried to shut down Malloy. But, he downed a Helicarrier and then Scott stole him. Seriously, I think this one really does fall on the X-Men's shoulders.
All in all, it's just a weird issue. I feel like this Malloy story has eaten up a lot of issues, but it's probably just because it started under "Original Sin" and continues through "Avengers & X-Men: Axis." As I mentioned in another review recently, Marvel is changing status quos so quickly that it's hard to follow stories involving major players happening outside events. But, it also doesn't help that nothing has actually happened. We've been following Malloy for six issues and he's really just downed a Helicarrier. At some point, could someone throw a punch?
** (two of five stars)
No comments:
Post a Comment