Countdown to "'Ah'm Nigh Invulnerable When Ah'm Blastin':" "Ah'm pretty near invulnerable when Ah'm blastin'."
Summary
Bobby stands on the shore, recalling the events of the previous evening. After the Silver Samurai detonated HYDRA's headquarters (as seen last issue), Bobby used his powers to smash away the boulders hurtling at him as he and the other New Mutants fell into the ocean. He heard Sam cry for help since he couldn't swim, so he helped drag him to the shore. Dani and Rahne also made their way to shore; Xi'an did not. Bobby reflects on how proud they were after they defeated the Viper and how quickly things change. The three remaining New Mutants find Bobby. Bobby accepts Dani's coat (he's soaking wet from standing so close to the surf), and Sam exposits the Professor and the X-Men searched all night but couldn't find Xi'an. When Bobby suggests they may need to accept they don't have any hope left, Rahne breaks into tears, saying they have to maintain hope while at the same time fretting about the fate of Xi'an's younger siblings.
As they walk along the cliffs, Bobby laments their failure to catch Xi'an's killer, but Sam assures him she won't be free for long as they come upon the X-Men's makeshift command center. Nightcrawler teleports to the kids to bring them cocoa, startling them. (Rahne calls him "the demon.") Storm laments Wolverine isn't there, since his tracking ability could help. Rahne offers her services, but Storm says she doesn't have Wolverine's experience and might miss some clues. Xavier reveals he had the New Mutants find Bobby because his mother is there. A surprised Bobby enthusiastically embraces her, but then turns on her almost immediately. He realizes she must know he's a mutant if she's there, and she confirms his father wrote to tell her. He observes he desperately need her then, particularly with Juliana's death. She apologizes, saying she was "on a 'dig' in the middle of nowhere." Bobby comments she always is, and she defends herself, saying she loves her work as an archaeologist. Bobby suggests she loves it more than him and his father, something she notably doesn't deny.
Xavier reveals Bobby's mother wants to take them on an expedition to the headwaters of the Amazon and he thinks it's a wonderful idea. Bobby is shocked and asks about Xi'an, but Xavier explains the search is a job for the X-Men. Bobby is enraged. He says they can't abandon Xi'an just as they couldn't abandon Dani, and he blames Xavier for Xi'an's death, because he was too busy focusing on Team America. (Remember them? I'd rather not, to be honest.) As Bobby's professor, Xavier demands Bobby's obedience, and Bobby refuses, wondering whether it was time to quit the School. After Bobby leaves, Kurt asks the Professor if it was wise to provoke him. Xavier reveals, as always, he knows more than he's saying. The moment they arrived, he sensed a "powerful - and malefic - psychic entity." Xavier is convinced Xi'an is alive since he didn't feel her death, but the entity may strike again, so it's best if the kids are as far away as possible. Xavier is afraid the team would demand to save Xi'an if they knew she was alive, so he allows the ruse to remain (and their anger to fall on him).
Kurt questioning the wisdom of the Professor's decision is shown as wise itself as Bobby's grief over Juliana and Xi'an gets the better of him; he uses his powers to break rocks, lamenting how his powers didn't help him save the girls. As he cries how unfair it is, an approaching Sam coldly asks him what else is new. Bobby is (understandably) perturbed, but Sam explains how angry he was when his father died. They had so many plans for him to make something of himself, and Sam hated him for stealing that dream from him as he was forced to become the man of the house. He puts his hand on Bobby's shoulder, telling him that he was right life isn't fair and all they can do is keep on living. Bobby caustically wonders if they're just supposed to follow Xavier's orders; not surprisingly, Dani says of course they're not. But, she acknowledges Xavier has a point, as the X-Men worrying over the kids would distract them from finding Xi'an. Bobby acknowledges he misses her, and they all have a moment.
A week later, the kids arrive at Bobby's father's palace in Rio, and the narration explains Emanuel da Costa was raised in this house as a "barefoot houseboy," the son of one of the maids. The butler, Simon, greets Roberto and his mom, snarkily commenting on how long it's been since she graced the estate with her presence. He then equally snarkily informs the kids formal wear is required for dinner "if at all possible," prompting Dani to respond, "We like you, too, buster." Dinner is a tense affair, as Emanuel notes how dangerous the Madería is. Bobby's mom (whose name we finally learn is Nina) remarks how he plans to send geologists there for business purposes, and Emanuel says he'll always follow profit. Bobby is appalled at their hostility, and it gets worse, as Nina asks how much money they could possibly need. Emanuel -- not incorrectly -- notes that sort of comment is something only a person who's never been poor would make. He asks if she'd rather they live in the favelas, and she says she'd rather be happy. He comments he is happy. The kids are appalled as they have to watch the fight and sorry for Bobby over the humiliation; for Bobby's part, he silently pleads for them to stop fighting because they're killing him. But, they don't, as Nina accuses Emanuel and other businessmen like him of sacrificing the future as each year the Amazon basin is destroyed. Emanuel says it's progress, saying he knew her to be an idealist, but now he realizes she's also a fool. He leaves.
The next day, the kids attend Carnival, where a scantily clad dancer kisses an embarrassed Sam. Dani cheers on Sam, while Rahne says he should be ashamed of himself. Dani tells Rahne they themselves should get some costumes and join the fun, scandalizing her. But, she then seriously asks Bobby if he's OK after the fighting last night, and he tells her simply to pray for a miracle. However, Nina overheard Dani saying she wanted to join the parade, so she brings them to a costume shop so they can get costumes for the Governor's Ball the next night. Sam is nervous about the prospect of mingling with high society, but Nina tells him he can meet a lot of girls so he's game. Meanwhile, a dark figure lurks outside, calling for an ambush. Rahne feels beautiful in her gown, and Sam tells her she's always been, but never noticed. The kids have fun with their costumes, and Nina is called to see her chauffeur. However, Hellfire goons grab her and bustle her into a car.
Sam observes the kidnapping, blasting from the shop, but an axe strikes him, sending him tumbling into a nearby, derelict building. Dani goes to help Sam while Bobby goes to follow his mom, but someone interrupts them, telling Bobby his mom is in "good hands." A guy who looks like Mr. T with an axe announces his name is Axe (original) and tells the kids to stay put. Bobby activates his powers and attacks, but Axe bats him aside easily. Dani tries to pull out his deepest fears, but it doesn't work, and he wallops her. Rahne flees, and Axe wonders why his boss was so worried about the kids. Sam emerges from the wreckage and realizes he's too groggy to follow Axe (who leaps into a waiting car), particularly since he doesn't know Rio well enough to navigate its narrow, winding streets, particularly given his difficulties with maneuvering. He finds Bobby and Dani coming to their feet, and he wonders what the Hellfire Club wants with Nina or if they're trying to use her to get to them. He asks where Rahne is while Bobby asks the costume-shop owner to call the police. (She's more worried about her shop, and Bobby has to assure her his father with pay for the damages.)
Then, Dani gets a mindcall from Rahne, who didn't flee but turned to wolf form to follow the kidnappers. They're in an abandoned mansion, and Sam wants them to call the police or go "kick their butts" themselves. But, Bobby is unusually the voice of reason, recalling how the goons are killers and he doesn't want his mother to be killed in the crossfire like Juliana was. Dani uses her mindlink with Rahne, who's eavesdropping on the goons, to learn Nina is safe until morning when their employer arrives. Sam mentions how Bobby's hero, Magnum, P.I., would know what they should do, which gives Bobby an idea. Inside, the goons are spooked when they hear a howl; when Axe makes fun of them, one of the goons explains the "brilliant hideout" is a haunted mansion with ghosts that kill. Axe is unperturbed and tells the goons to search if they want. One of the goons dismissed Axe as a "stinkin' mutie" and nervously moves room to room. The goon realizes he should've brought one of the other goons for backup, but then encounters a bunch of lovely ladies on the steps. He notes they locked the doors and windows, but they urge him closer, as they're his hearts desire. (Ruh-roh.) They then turn into demons, what he fears the most. He tumbles down the steps as he recoils in fear. Dani is exhausted from the effort of pulling specific images from his mind, but suddenly she and Rahne are in danger as other goons have somehow found them and open fire. Dani then takes on the three goons, using their greatest fears against them despite how terrible she feels. Rahne then leaps into the fray in her wolf form; she takes out two of the goons while Dani punches out the other. Dani observes she had doubts about Bobby's plan, since even Magnum isn't lucky all the time, but is glad they did their part.
In the main room, Bobby breaks through the wall. Axe threatens his mother, but Bobby uses his powers to break the floor under him. Sam then rockets into the room and grabs Nina, though worries about leaving Bobby alone with Axe. Axe is confident in his ability to deliver a beatdown to Bobby, but Bobby makes quick work of him, explaining Axe caught him off-guard the first time they tangled. A few days later, the kids help Nina pack the plane they'll use to go to the Madería. Dani asks Bobby if he's OK, and he explains he's worried about his mom. But, Sam notes she seems like a lady who can take care of herself as she enthusiastically waves on the kids. Meanwhile, in a nearby car, Emanuel tells Sebastian Shaw his goons' performance was hardly an inducement to join the Hellfire Club, as he promised he'd "deal" with Nina. Shaw reminds Emanuel that he wanted her unhurt, which complicated matters, though admits he thought Axe would be able to handle the kids. He offers help again, but Emanuel says it isn't necessary: "arrangements" have been made to make sure Nina's expedition to the Madería isn't successful. Shaw then asks, "Even if that means the death of your wife and son?" Dun-dun-DUN!
The Review
This issue kicks off the Nova Roma saga, one of the series' high points. But, we first have to tie up the loose ends from the Team America story, one of the series' low points. Claremont seems to find himself narratively trapped here. As Bobby says, Xi'an is missing in part because Xavier took his eye off the ball. If he hadn't been training Team America for weeks on end, he presumably would've been able to respond to Xi'an's call for guidance before they invaded the HYDRA fortress. Moreover, if he had physically been present there, he probably would've been able to sense the "entity" before it had a chance to attack Xi'an. As such, the terrible Team America story connects to Claremont's odd decision to remove Xi'an from the book so soon into its run. The Nova Roma saga helps put the book on firmer ground, but it's in a rocky place when this issue opens.
- The scene between Rahne and Storm is weird. I think Claremont felt the need to underline the fact that Rahne's inexperience is why she couldn't find Xi'an's trail, given she's found pretty much every other trail she's tried to find so far. Storm implies the trail is too complicated for Rahne to find. But, it's also weird because it almost seems like it didn't even dawn on Rahne to try.
- Bobby's mother is just a mess in the way she's presented physically. She's constantly in athleisure wear (as if she should have a cigarette dangling from her mouth as she drops off the kids at school), she often looks like she's as old as Aunt May, and her cheeks are so rosy that she looks like she's Santa Claus' daughter. I'm not saying Bobby has to look exactly like her, but at times it feels like she'd be better suited as someone's aunt in an "Archie" comic .
- Xavier yet again leads through deception here. I get his concern the kids would demand to help find Xi'an if he told them she was alive, but he basically concludes they're incapable of listening to reason. Although he's right they're often emotional, they're usually in that position because Xavier has manipulated them into it. Xavier rarely, if ever, deals plainly with them, so he's never really seen how they're more mature than he realizes. But, this approach is also obviously a plot device to remove Xi'an from the title, at least for a while.
- I get Sam lost his father, so he's lost someone closer than Bobby. But, Jesus, he's uncharacteristically cold here when he tries to comfort Bobby right after his fight with Xavier.
- Emanuel da Costa allegedly became a millionaire by the time he was 20 years old. Is he a mutant? Otherwise, how exactly does a barefoot houseboy become a millionaire by 20 years old?
- Axe really socks Dani in the jaw here, but she's somehow totally fine? Also, what exactly are Axe's powers? I was surprised to learn he was a mutant. It seems very specific to have your mutant ability be, "wields an axe well."
- Claremont does a really solid job of showing the kids' developing, yet still limited, powers. Sam is aware he can't maneuver the narrow, winding streets of Rio. Dani displays a new-ish ability to pull specific images from people's minds, though it exhausts her. Rahne again saves the day keeping on Nina's trail, making me raise an eyebrow again over her conversation with Storm. Claremont shows they're learning, but also that Xavier is right not to be eager to throw them into battle.
- This issue starts a pattern of Bobby's father insisting someone "deal" with Nina while at the same time insisting she and Bobby aren't to be killed and then not providing an alternative solution to how his henchman could achieve this goal.
No comments:
Post a Comment