Age of X-Man: X-Tremists #5: I've not been a fan of this event or this series, but Williams lays it all on the line here, and it might be the only thing to save this series (though too little to save the event). In each issue of this event, the authors have studiously avoided placing any blame on Nate for his decision to create his Utopia. Sure, this title and "Age of X-Man: Prisoner X" have focused on the repressive infrastructure Nate put in place. But, this issue finally shows how truly horrible it is, as Jubilee remembers Shogo. Williams effectively uses Jubilee writing a letter to Shogo as her framing device. It allows Williams to convey Jubilee's horror at not just forgetting Shogo, but, like a true parent, her horror at not knowing if he's OK. There's no redeeming that, particularly not when you consider how many people experienced exactly that horror. Speaking of horrors, Williams also addresses the homosexuality of Iceman, Northstar, and Rictor more directly than I've ever seen in a comic, even "Iceman." They're all comfortable in their skin here, as they engage in the drunken "gay apocalypse" with Jubilee. It makes their "awakening" all the more awful, as their loss of memories was functionally like returning them to the closet. Williams even addresses -- for the first time that I can recall -- the fact that Northstar's crush on Iceman was the first hint that we all had that Bobby was gay. "Otter-pop" indeed. I still can't say that I recommend this event or series, but Williams, at the end, gives it the emotional grounding that it's been missing all this time.
Age of X-Man: Prisoner X #5: It's hard to believe this event is still happening. The team, such as it is, rushes Legion, whose omnipotence is stretched to the limit in his attempt to keep the prison under control. Legion eventually surrenders, using a Shard persona to warn the team that someone is pulling the strings. For reasons that aren't clear, he can't say the name. Bishop guesses that it's Nate Gray, but his description of why he thought that Nate was the only person who could create this Universe is ridiculous. First, I'm not sure how Bishop even knows Nate other than a few X-Men Christmas parties. Second, even if he did, any number of powerful telepaths seem like possible candidates. It has to be Nate and not, say, a deranged alternate-future Cable possessing his full powers? Jean Grey losing it again? A personality Legion himself wasn't aware was doing it? This event has had way too many of these overly convenient epiphanies for me to take it seriously, and I find myself looking forward to Hickman's turn at the wheel here. Given how I feel about Hickman, that's saying a lot.
War of the Realms #6: If last issue was a chaotic mess, this issue was nothing short of perfect. It's like the creator of the "Gilmore Girls" knowing how the last episode was going to end from the start. Aaron's entire run led to the moment where Thor picked up a reborn Mjolnir and declared himself the God of the Unworthy. The Thor makes the hammer; the hammer doesn't make the Thor. But, Aaron let us think that we had lost Mjolnir forever, as Thor sacrificed that (and his eye) to Yggdrasil for knowledge. But, as the Mother Storm returns and everyone -- Daredevil, Freyja, Odin -- mumbles about how Thor has to use it to defeat Malekith, Thor responds, "What do they think I've been doing since the tree exploded?" Thor makes it rain fire to destroy the symbiote and then reveals Mjolnir, in all her fury. The single tear welling in his eye when she returns? Perfect. The Storm of Thors -- for Jane Thor, Old Thor, and Young Thor have all joined him -- makes short work of Malekith. Ultimately it's the Wild Hunt that kills him, smelling the fear on him: the fear that he lost his father, brothers, and uncles to war for no good reason. We then end where we needed to end, as Odin relinquishes his throne in favor of Thor. In some runs, this moment would seem logical but rushed, a quick way to change a status quo and show that the author had left his impact on a character. But after so many issues, after so many years, it feels like what it is: a Thor-blessed coronation. Thor has been in the wilderness for a long time, and he found his way home. I can't wait to see where we go from here. Although last issue might have been shaky, Aaron closes out this event so strongly that I think it's the best of the best. I can't recommend it enough.
Also Read: Avengers #20; Thor #14; War of the Realms: Uncanny X-Men #3
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