X-Men Red #2 Spoilers and Review

[Harpsikord]

It's that time again folks! Not gonna be as in depth as last time.

- The issue starts with the preview.
- From there, Jean explains Gentle's power and who he is to Gabby - he's one of the strongest mutants in the world, and could probably go toe to toe against the Hulk. Too bad his power hurts him.
- Afterward a Wakandan guard gets Jean and tells her they THINK she got a message. They take her... somewhere and explain that they got a message through a public Wakandan server, but they can't open it because it wants Jean's... bank password? Of all things? Turns out that it's Trinary, and that the reason that she was in trouble in the first place is that she hacked a few Indian banks, and sort of, uh - fixed the pay disparity between men and women? She's kind of awesome. She asks Jean to save them.
- Of course, they gotta be careful in India, because if they're caught then they could be extradited back to the states - does that mean they aren't going? Nah. Cut to Delhi where Jean, Kurt, Gabby, and Laura are tracking the man from the preview, whose name is Lackshay Singh, the head of the mutant defense force in India. Jean leads him into an alleyway, where they get all the info they need to find Trinary, and he's gonna take 'em to get her. There's a cute moment here where Gabby asks if she can poke the psychically dampened Singh, which is totally adorable. I love Jean with kids.
- At the facility it's decided that Kurt, Laura, and Gabby will do the rescue while Jean keeps Singh busy. Jean mentions she'll be in their heads, and there's ANOTHER cute Gabby moment where she mentions having a crush on a girl and not having dealt with those feelings yet.
- Jean leads them through the facility telepathically and for the most part, things are going smoothly. Kurt saves Trinary and it's a really good sequence - there's another cute Gabby moment here, too. And a Star Wars reference! "Aren't you a little too short to be an X-Men?"
- There's a problem though. Outside, Jean starts to hear some gunshots, and has to deal with an angry mob. She puts them to sleep telepathically, but three of them are still up. Just like with the ambassador, Cassandra is keeping them awake telepathically, and then there's a gunshot. Back in the prison Kurt mentions that they've lost Jean - she isn't in their minds anymore! He rushes as quickly as he can out of the prison, where he finds...
- Jean, fine and well, but she needed to drop the others to focus and handle Cassandra's victims. The unexpected consequence, however, is that she's lost control of Singh too. He initiates code sentinel and, uh, promptly gets his fingers lopped off by Laura, who isn't sure what he just did - but Jean is.
- The ground starts rumbling. Jean tells her team to move. To get out of there.
- Right as a Sentinel rises up from underneath them

There is also a Where's Wolverine backup at the end of the issue that I initially forgot about, but it's... decent? Just one page.

-------------------------

Another good issue! I'd give this one an 8/10 as opposed to a 10/10; it's much more action packed than the first issue was and I actually lowkey missed Namor? The only time he's even mentioned is when Kurt says Atlantis offered them Asylum. I'm really liking Trinary so far, she doesn't seem like a typical "new X-Man." She has her own agency and was introduced very well. Gabby fits right in, and Jean's rapport with her is great; she always has been one of the best teachers of the X-Men. I'm also incredibly fond of Jean and Kurt's dynamic here. Kurt got really upset when he felt Jean slip from his mind, and was of course the one to lead the charge to save her if anything bad had happened. He had every right to be worried; normally when a telepath loses connection they've been hurt or they've died. And Jean just got back!

I'm excited for the next issue to see which of Jean's comrades gets taken by Cassandra, and just in general. In Tom Taylor I trust.

[Andru]

A solid follow-up to the first issue. I am really loving Asrar's art.

At first, I was pretty disappointed with the announced roster. However, this is my favorite X-Men Book Marvel is putting out right now.

Very excited to see Gambit in the next issue!

[Rosa Snarks]

I cant wait to read this. Trinary seems like she'll be giving me life from now on.

[phoenixzero23]

- At the facility it's decided that Kurt, Laura, and Gabby will do the rescue while Jean keeps Singh busy. Jean mentions she'll be in their heads, and there's ANOTHER cute Gabby moment where she mentions having a crush on a girl and not having dealt with those feelings yet.

I haven't read the issue yet, but this sounds interesting. we need more LGBT characters and i think it would be cute to see gabby pinning for other girls.

[Master of Sound]

Did not read it yet, but....

Reading the word 'CUTE' 3 or 4 times in the review worries me a bit actually.

Is this turning out to be more of a girlish book?

[Harpsikord]

Did not read it yet, but....

Reading the word 'CUTE' 3 or 4 times in the review worries me a bit actually.

Is this turning out to be more of a girlish book?

No, and even if it were, why would that be a problem? Get that hypermasculine ish outta here.

Gabby, by nature, is a cute character. Things involved with Gabby are going to be cute.

[5cents]

Sounds like another solid issue.

[Fokken]

No, and even if it were, why would that be a problem? Get that hypermasculine ish outta here.

Gabby, by nature, is a cute character. Things involved with Gabby are going to be cute.

True.
I mean, Laura sliced off a dude's fingers. We had a stealth rescue mission. None of those things are exclusively feminine or masculine. ha
Levity, by way of Gabby, is merely an entertaining means to balance the story and appeal to a broad audience. This book isn't Uncanny X-Force after all.

[starduck]

Sounds like a great issue

[Master of Sound]

No, and even if it were, why would that be a problem? Get that hypermasculine ish outta here.

Gabby, by nature, is a cute character. Things involved with Gabby are going to be cute.

Good to hear it does not.

I just dont like reading a comic which is girlish. I Like hypermasculine.

So there's no problem.

[Heroine Addict]

Agree w/everyone else, the sophomore ish is a solid, 2nd entry for Jean's Red team, that successfully introduces us to newest Mutant Trinary, and brings Gentle into the picture besides. Highlights for me as well, that were already touched upon in most cases, were:

• Kurt's growing & deepening bond with Jean.
• Jean demonstrating her leadership ability, with a strong, balanced combination of both calling the shots, AND power displays.
• Laura's sturdy, straightforward support, and Gabby injecting healthy doses of levity when needed, to lighten the mood.
• Trinary certainly seems like an interesting & engaging enough protagonist, so far. Look forward to seeing her powers in action, learning more about them, and just her in general.
• Gentle's backstory bit definitely adds to the already compelling visual his character possesses, IMO.
• Cliffhanger ending's got me pretty eXcited for the neXt issue.

Wonder what was up with the 3 mob-crowd members, who resisted her TP sleep command... Cassandra? Also, reading the solicit for #3 again & the way it's worded, thinkin' maybe Gambit could be the "old friend turned foe"... IDK.

[Disciple of Redd]

Did not read it yet, but....

Reading the word 'CUTE' 3 or 4 times in the review worries me a bit actually.

Is this turning out to be more of a girlish book?

There are a decent number of females in important roles, so kinda.

It's how X-Men is supposed to be, to be frank.

[L.R Johansson]

I haven't read the issue yet, but this sounds interesting. we need more LGBT characters and i think it would be cute to see gabby pinning for other girls.

Wait a minute... isn't Gabby a CLONE of Laura Kinney - Aka X-23, aka Wolverine II?

Doesn't her being gay mean that Laura must be gay AS WELL? As far as I know, the general consensus in both science and LGBT-communities is that you're BORN that way - i.e, it's an innate property - this means that this property must be shared with Laura - i.e, if Gabby comes out, then Laura must come out as well.

I suppose it could be revealed that Gabby/Laura are bisexual - this would explain previous relationships Laura has had, and allow for Gabby to have a crush or two on girls. (it could of course be revealed Laura is simply gay and have been far, far too deep into the closet as well - this doesn't ring true to me though - it doesn't seem... like Laura's style? I.e it seems out of character for her, to repress herself and lie to others and herself like that)

Unless the writer intends it that sexuality is a choice or something you grow into or whatever... which would be grossly inaccurate and potentially harmful.


Of course, this is all moot if someone tells me Gabby and the other Laura-clone-sisters are in fact not pure clones but actual sisters created by recombining her DNA with that of other individuals... In that case, disregard this post, lol!

[Havok83]

Wait a minute... isn't Gabby a CLONE of Laura Kinney - Aka X-23, aka Wolverine II?

Doesn't her being gay mean that Laura must be gay AS WELL? As far as I know, the general consensus in both science and LGBT-communities is that you're BORN that way - i.e, it's an innate property - this means that this property must be shared with Laura - i.e, if Gabby comes out, then Laura must come out as well.

I suppose it could be revealed that Gabby/Laura are bisexual - this would explain previous relationships Laura has had, and allow for Gabby to have a crush or two on girls. (it could of course be revealed Laura is simply gay and have been far, far too deep into the closet as well - this doesn't ring true to me though - it doesn't seem... like Laura's style? I.e it seems out of character for her, to repress herself and lie to others and herself like that)

Unless the writer intends it that sexuality is a choice or something you grow into or whatever... which would be grossly inaccurate and potentially harmful.


Of course, this is all moot if someone tells me Gabby and the other Laura-clone-sisters are in fact not pure clones but actual sisters created by recombining her DNA with that of other individuals... In that case, disregard this post, lol!

No. Identical twins with identical DNA can and are often times different sexualities. Gabby is a clone but she also isnt exactly like Laura. Her one claw per hand is evident of that.

[Ambaryerno]

Wait a minute... isn't Gabby a CLONE of Laura Kinney - Aka X-23, aka Wolverine II?

Doesn't her being gay mean that Laura must be gay AS WELL? As far as I know, the general consensus in both science and LGBT-communities is that you're BORN that way - i.e, it's an innate property - this means that this property must be shared with Laura - i.e, if Gabby comes out, then Laura must come out as well.

I suppose it could be revealed that Gabby/Laura are bisexual - this would explain previous relationships Laura has had, and allow for Gabby to have a crush or two on girls. (it could of course be revealed Laura is simply gay and have been far, far too deep into the closet as well - this doesn't ring true to me though - it doesn't seem... like Laura's style? I.e it seems out of character for her, to repress herself and lie to others and herself like that)

Unless the writer intends it that sexuality is a choice or something you grow into or whatever... which would be grossly inaccurate and potentially harmful.


Of course, this is all moot if someone tells me Gabby and the other Laura-clone-sisters are in fact not pure clones but actual sisters created by recombining her DNA with that of other individuals... In that case, disregard this post, lol!

While they are clones, as Havok noted they're not completely identical. Alchemax's cloning process was flawed, thus why Gabby was the only one of the ten Sisters who developed claws and a healing factor. However she also only developed a single claw in each hand, so clearly the X-Gene was altered during the process in which she was created. And if the X-Gene was altered, it stands to reason that the imperfections in the cloning process led to other alterations in her genetic code. All it takes is whatever genes determine human sexual orientation being altered in the cloning process.