@xmenliveblog.bsky.social
A dedicated account for my project to read every single X-Men comic book released in publication order. Run by diemtf.bsky.social
Over the rest of this original run we're going to see other writers that have a lot more ambition but a lot less grounding. Stan only used a few predictable balls but could juggle them like a master; other writers will try juggling chainsaws and will drop a few.
January 3, 2025 at 2:50 AM
Over the rest of this original run we're going to see other writers that have a lot more ambition but a lot less grounding. Stan only used a few predictable balls but could juggle them like a master; other writers will try juggling chainsaws and will drop a few.
Stan isn't a big picture writer, he's an issue-to-issue guy. There's little ambition to greatness, but each individual comic is suitably charming and a fun yarn. Even the worst issues in this run aren't boring. And there are some great concepts and gags in there.
January 3, 2025 at 2:47 AM
Stan isn't a big picture writer, he's an issue-to-issue guy. There's little ambition to greatness, but each individual comic is suitably charming and a fun yarn. Even the worst issues in this run aren't boring. And there are some great concepts and gags in there.
There's also a very formulaic aspect, especially in the first ten issues. Danger Room training leads to clowning around, leads to Xavier lecture, leads to Magneto fight with wonky science.
January 3, 2025 at 2:45 AM
There's also a very formulaic aspect, especially in the first ten issues. Danger Room training leads to clowning around, leads to Xavier lecture, leads to Magneto fight with wonky science.
The biggest issue by a mile is that there's zero character development at all, and that leads to a feeling of spinning in circles. Scott angsts, Bobby never stops being the class clown, the love triangle continues.
January 3, 2025 at 2:44 AM
The biggest issue by a mile is that there's zero character development at all, and that leads to a feeling of spinning in circles. Scott angsts, Bobby never stops being the class clown, the love triangle continues.
The issue ends with Jean reviving Xavier, and the X-Men regrouping and preparing to attack Lucifer. On its own, this is a very solid issue but the retcon is soon distracting.
January 3, 2025 at 2:33 AM
The issue ends with Jean reviving Xavier, and the X-Men regrouping and preparing to attack Lucifer. On its own, this is a very solid issue but the retcon is soon distracting.
It's a real shame that Stan inexplicably feels the need to tie this all back to the weaksauce villain Lucifer (maybe he just really liked the name) because this is appropriately epic and exciting stuff diluted by the very distracting retcon.
January 3, 2025 at 2:31 AM
It's a real shame that Stan inexplicably feels the need to tie this all back to the weaksauce villain Lucifer (maybe he just really liked the name) because this is appropriately epic and exciting stuff diluted by the very distracting retcon.
And yeah, nowadays it's a bit shaky that a white American leads the locals in rebellion however psychic he is, but Stan seems to shine a little more when he's writing this adventure comic stuff instead of superheroics.
January 3, 2025 at 2:28 AM
And yeah, nowadays it's a bit shaky that a white American leads the locals in rebellion however psychic he is, but Stan seems to shine a little more when he's writing this adventure comic stuff instead of superheroics.
Xavier tells in flashback of how he first met Lucifer when the alien (yes, he already knew he was an alien despite what issue 9 said) had hypnotically taken over a village in Tibet.
January 3, 2025 at 2:26 AM
Xavier tells in flashback of how he first met Lucifer when the alien (yes, he already knew he was an alien despite what issue 9 said) had hypnotically taken over a village in Tibet.
Stan. Stan. You can't just have your heroes let a villain off scot free and then a year later in real time have them talk about how he's an unfathomable threat. It's been 11 issues man.
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The X-Men defuse the bomb and...just let Lucifer go. This gets extra weird when the backstory that Stan couldn't be bothered to think of comes out and it turns out that Lucifer is a) an invading alien and b) did all kinds of nasty shit.
January 3, 2025 at 2:23 AM
Stan. Stan. You can't just have your heroes let a villain off scot free and then a year later in real time have them talk about how he's an unfathomable threat. It's been 11 issues man.
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Cyclops once again beats someone invincible by shooting the floor under their feet, this time with Unus and Blob landing on a speeding subway train. Meanwhile Lucifer (whose powers and purpose stagger the mortal imagination) messes up Xavier.
January 3, 2025 at 2:20 AM
Cyclops once again beats someone invincible by shooting the floor under their feet, this time with Unus and Blob landing on a speeding subway train. Meanwhile Lucifer (whose powers and purpose stagger the mortal imagination) messes up Xavier.
It's also pretty great that Lucifer is just standing around jabbering to himself about how smart he is. I hope that Marvel eventually reimagined this guy as a billionaire with a ton of sockpuppets.
January 3, 2025 at 2:17 AM
It's also pretty great that Lucifer is just standing around jabbering to himself about how smart he is. I hope that Marvel eventually reimagined this guy as a billionaire with a ton of sockpuppets.
Lucifer (remember him?) claims to have planted the idea of Unus and Blob teaming up in their minds but honestly it seems like they were both into it anyway? Them both immediately pretending Scott is their buddy is a legitimately funny bit.
January 3, 2025 at 2:14 AM
Lucifer (remember him?) claims to have planted the idea of Unus and Blob teaming up in their minds but honestly it seems like they were both into it anyway? Them both immediately pretending Scott is their buddy is a legitimately funny bit.
It's kind of weird how Xavier has gone from ridiculously authoritarian in the first few issues to barely paying attention to one of his students just peacing out. Meanwhile, the X-Men's policy of just kind of letting their foes wander off: not very effective?!?
January 3, 2025 at 2:10 AM
It's kind of weird how Xavier has gone from ridiculously authoritarian in the first few issues to barely paying attention to one of his students just peacing out. Meanwhile, the X-Men's policy of just kind of letting their foes wander off: not very effective?!?
Scott whining about how his awesome eye lasers make him unworthy to be with Jean has been simmering for years in real time but it finally boils over here. Spoiler alert for anywhere who hasn't seen any X-Men media ever: this won't stick.
January 3, 2025 at 2:05 AM
Scott whining about how his awesome eye lasers make him unworthy to be with Jean has been simmering for years in real time but it finally boils over here. Spoiler alert for anywhere who hasn't seen any X-Men media ever: this won't stick.
If I was only 20 issues in and I had used impervious villains as often as this comic did, I wouldn't draw this much attention to it.
January 3, 2025 at 2:01 AM
If I was only 20 issues in and I had used impervious villains as often as this comic did, I wouldn't draw this much attention to it.
Mimic successfully lures the X-Men to where his dad's machine was and takes Xavier hostage, but it turns out the machine was a power remover after all. And Xavier planned it all along. It's a pretty goddamn weak ending to an issue that had potential.
January 3, 2025 at 12:43 AM
Mimic successfully lures the X-Men to where his dad's machine was and takes Xavier hostage, but it turns out the machine was a power remover after all. And Xavier planned it all along. It's a pretty goddamn weak ending to an issue that had potential.
Mimic's origin is pretty daft (mad scientist daddy, magic chemical gave him temporary mimicking, daddy tried to make a machine to provide permanent mimicry but died in a mad science explosion) but the fact that he can detect the X-Men following him thanks to their powers returning is great.
January 3, 2025 at 12:40 AM
Mimic's origin is pretty daft (mad scientist daddy, magic chemical gave him temporary mimicking, daddy tried to make a machine to provide permanent mimicry but died in a mad science explosion) but the fact that he can detect the X-Men following him thanks to their powers returning is great.
Despite having instant mastery of all his powers, and an immunity to Xavier's usual mindwipery, Calvin still gets defeated by the X-Men because they can work as a team and, well, because it's six-on-one.
January 3, 2025 at 12:36 AM
Despite having instant mastery of all his powers, and an immunity to Xavier's usual mindwipery, Calvin still gets defeated by the X-Men because they can work as a team and, well, because it's six-on-one.
Calvin claims to want to join the X-Men but in truth it's because he wants to be strong and can only use other people's powers when he's near them. Weirdly he's able to contain Scott's eye blasts despite only wearing normal sunglasses.
January 3, 2025 at 12:33 AM
Calvin claims to want to join the X-Men but in truth it's because he wants to be strong and can only use other people's powers when he's near them. Weirdly he's able to contain Scott's eye blasts despite only wearing normal sunglasses.
At least in this case the date has a point as it gives Calvin, the Mimic, an excuse to be a jealous dick. He beats up Hank and Bobby with their own powers but in a pretty good twist, gets chased off by an anti-mutant mob.
January 3, 2025 at 12:29 AM
At least in this case the date has a point as it gives Calvin, the Mimic, an excuse to be a jealous dick. He beats up Hank and Bobby with their own powers but in a pretty good twist, gets chased off by an anti-mutant mob.
A lot of the early issues wasted a few pages each with the X-Men in the Danger Room bitching at each other but it's been a while so I'll allow it here. Another recurring bit starts here with Bobby and Hank (who is still the absolute worst) going on double dates.
January 3, 2025 at 12:26 AM
A lot of the early issues wasted a few pages each with the X-Men in the Danger Room bitching at each other but it's been a while so I'll allow it here. Another recurring bit starts here with Bobby and Hank (who is still the absolute worst) going on double dates.
This is an aggressively stupid issue, and it's probably not a coincidence that Lee is only a few issues away from leaving writing duties for this book.
January 3, 2025 at 12:18 AM
This is an aggressively stupid issue, and it's probably not a coincidence that Lee is only a few issues away from leaving writing duties for this book.