Age of X-Man: X-Tremists #2: Williams does a great job of showing how tentative Nate's grasp on this reality is. First, we learn that the X-Tremists are setting the wildfires so that it gives the X-Men something to do. I'm assuming Nate is aware of that (though I'm also pretty sure that the X-Men aren't), but if he isn't then it raises questions about how actively Nate is calling the shots. After all, someone gave the X-Tremists the order to set these wildfires. But, Williams also shows how Nate's ability to prevent people from forming connections is doomed to fail, as Blob admits his feelings for Betsy. If even his enforcers can't live by his rules, Nate is in trouble. So far, the most interesting character in this series is Moneta. She's violent in her treatment of the pregnant woman the X-Tremists (or "Department X" as they're known in-world) rounded up last issue, though we haven't yet been shown why she's such an extremist (heh). She was created for this event, so she doesn't have a "real-world" analogue to give us a hint about her motivations. We'll see where we go from here.
Amazing Spider-Man #18: Spencer is on creative fire here. I mean, I already thought that it was ingenious to reveal that Kraven's fellow hunters were controlling the Kravenbots through "advanced VR control unit[s]" imbedded directly into their cerebral cortexes. But, he then turns it into Fortnite, as you can use your credit card to upgrade your hunter. Brilliant. But, I'll admit my enjoyment of this issue was constrained by Spencer going all "Women in Refrigerators" with Mary Jane. He reveals that the Goblin-looking figure we've seen a few times is in the apartment with her, and I found myself rolling my eyes. I mean, Spencer does some great work with MJ here, as she contemplates how much better she is about handling the stress of Peter's time as Spider-Man than she used to be. But, it's overshadowed by turning her into a helpless victim yet again. I get that Spencer seems to be setting up the next arc here: Peter isn't able to save MJ because he's trapped in Arcade's Thunderdome. But, I wonder if it was really necessary, because I would've preferred Spencer to spend more time on the fights in the dome.
Mr. and Mrs. X #9: This issue reads like Kelly Thompson just read a Brené Brown book, and I'm totally on board with that. Rogue realizes that it's her fear of connection that led her to keep her powers unchecked, putting a physical and psychological wall between her and the world. Rogue tears down those walls here as she leans into her fear. "Everything we've ever wanted. It's up to us and nobody else. Exactly as it should be." I kind of need to hear that today, to be honest. I can't wait for us to kick Mojo's ass next issue. #issueoftheyearcandidate
X-Force #5: This issue is a coda to "Extermination," which is why I'm tagging it here. We finally see the future events that cause Nathan to force the original X-Men to return to the past.
In the future, Nate is fighting his war against the New Canaanites when suddenly two of his Clan Chosen soldiers, Bava and Flintshard, dissolve into the timestream and another solider, Spheeris, becomes a different soldier entirely, named Dorna, who claims that they all know him. Eventually, Blaquesmith arrives and brings Nathan to one of the underground safehouses that older Nathan built. The computer recognizes him and informs him that 893 temporal breaches have occurred since he was last there, but only one was critical: Hank bringing the original X-Men to (our) present. Blaquesmith explains the results of this decision are now hitting the present as timelines gets confused. Blaquesmith and the computer introduce Nathan to Graymalkin, giving him his mission to maintain the timestream. Blaquesmith expresses his disappointment in Nathan's older self for allowing his emotions to blind him. (I'm still not entirely sure that we've ever gotten an adequate explanation for why Cable didn't send back the kids, but I think we'll get there eventually.) It's a cool moment, as Hopeless is essentially showing us the moment that Marvel rebooted Cable to his younger self. Cable then watches as his remaining allies, including his lover, Aliya, dissolve into the timestream. Hopeless makes it clear that it's this loss that hardens Nate against Cable, showing him appearing at the burnt-out Xavier Institute as he did in "Extermination." Meanwhile, we also see Stryfe and his Mutant Liberation Force learn about Nathan's activities from a pair of grotesque, Sugar Man-esque (but larger) figures. Stryfe and the MLF follow Nate into the timestream to prevent Nate, who they deem a terrorist, from destroying their timestream.
In other words, Hopeless does an amazing job of covering a lot of ground while also telling a coherent story. Is it functionally a reboot of the original Cable/Stryfe story? Yes. But, I love the return of Stryfe and his war with Cable, so I'm not complaining. I can't wait to see where we go from here.
Also Read: Avengers: No Road Home #7; Star Wars: Vader - Dark Visions #2
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