One of the funny little things I’ve encountered in regards to this blog are the occasional “crossovers” into real time events. Me reading Banshee’s first appearance right around his death is a good example. Reading the revelations in “Deadly Genesis” as I’m reading Giant-Sized X-Men # 1. Reading “Onslaught” the same month as “Onslaught Reborn” comes out. And so on. Unfortunately, this latest coincidence is of a far less enjoyable note – Dave Cockrum, a visionary of the X-Men, passed away last weekend.
And yet, as I read through this patch of comics, they featured the Shi’ar. In my opinion, besides the X-Men redesigns, the Shi’ar rank up there with some of the best additions the pallet of the X-Men’s universe that wouldn’t have been as perfect if done by anyone else. Back during his initial run and his later arcs, Cockrum made the Shi’ar very strange and very alien, but at the same time still making them human enough for us Earthers to see a bit of ourselves in this strange world.
Beyond the Shi’ar, the new X-Men’s initial costumes still remain among their best (save Wolverine’s, but it still looks cool). In fact, that Storm costume is my favorite of all time, beating out all of the others. Same with Nightcrawler and Colossus.
So, thank you Dave Cockrum, for adding the perfect texture to Claremont’s words. The X-Men wouldn’t have been the same without you. Thank you.
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Uncanny X-Men # 341-345, Generation X # 26
Joseph, Beast, Bishop, Gambit, Rogue, Trish, and Cannonball are in NYC on Christmas Eve, out for a night on the town. However, they all end up breaking off and doing their own thing. Trish and Beast go off for dinner. Bishop goes off to spend some time alone. As does Gambit. Joseph takes Rogue to the top of the WTC, where he shows her the Z’Nox Chamber (how it got there and then how it left is beyond me). He then uses said chamber to temporarily negate her powers. He gives her a tender smooch on the forehead.
Meanwhile, Cannonball is attacked by Gladiator, who (after a bit of a battle with Cannonball) teleports the X-Men (save Cannonball) to a starship and to save the Shi’ar in his stead (because the Imperial Guard are remaining on Earth to help out with the other heroes are “dead”). This team of X-Men arrives at a massive shipping hub, but they find it decimated and the crew all gone – expect for Deathbird.
The X-Men then discover who this foe is. Their old pals, the Phalanx. The Phalanx have torn through Shi’ar space. The gang play possum, teleport onto the homeworld, free Lilandria, protect the royal babies, and destroy the invading Phalanx by separating their organic from inorganic parts somehow.
They celebrate the success and decide to head back to Earth with Deathbird as their escort. On their way home, though, they are caught in massive ships wake and then get caught in the destruction of the stargate back to Earth.
Back on this green and blue orb, Jubilee is at the mercy of Operation: Zero Tolerance. She attempts to escape, but after accidentally injuring someone, she stays and help said person. Her last minute escape is then thwarted by Bastian.
Also on Earth, a creature searching for Joseph hunts down Sister Maria. Maria is then saved by the mysterious Maggot, who then asks the same question . . . just nicer.
Meanwhile, Generation X is stuck floating the middle of the ocean with no way to safety . . .
Overall, pretty good. Joe Mad and fill-in Melvin Rubi do a good job of capturing some of Cockrum’s style when it comes to the Shi’ar. Not to mention making the Phalanx about ten times cooler looking than their “Phalanx Covenant” appearance.
The story itself is a little shakey and while Lobdell does a great of focusing on the characters, the action/adventure side suffers. The ending is a dues ex machina that any Shi’ar scientist should have thought of. Good moments for a lot of the characters including: an about to be assimilated Rogue telling Gambit she loves him; Joseph having holocaust flashbacks; the Rogue/Joseph kiss; Cannonball’s battle with Gladiator; the Trish/Hank relationship; and Lilandria and Gambit’s respective angst. But are these great points worth the price of crappy moments, such as the big spaceship, the defeat of the Phalanx, and the unnecessary battle with Gladiator (cool looking, though)? Maybe.
It’s good to see the Shi’ar again, too. Always a great story with these guys, it seems.
Oh, and Generation X was good.
Plus Maggot! I love that guy!
~W~
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