Iceman #2 review *spoilers*

[Beetle]

If he didn't have the time to explore these ideas well, he shouldn't have done it at all. That's why I call it a crass decision.

The fact that NO ONE in the past 14 years has followed up on Christian means that no other writer has been interested enough to do so, to devote even a little part of their story to a follow up. If Sina Grace didn't do it, then who would? Because Emma was a major player on the X-men for years and no one ever bothered, not Whedon, not Fraction, not Gillen, not Bendis, not Lemire, not Bunn.

Plus I think there's something to be said about a one and done story. People have been complaining about how decompressed comic book storytelling has become for years now, story arcs that are written for the trade and stretched to 6 issues just to make last longer when the story could easily be told in a single issue.
We finally get some compressed storytelling and now they should have taken more time with it?
Another writer can take more time later to flesh it out

[The tall man]

The fact that NO ONE in the past 14 years has followed up on Christian means that no other writer has been interested enough to do so, to devote even a little part of their story to a follow up. If Sina Grace didn't do it, then who would? Because Emma was a major player on the X-men for years and no one ever bothered, not Whedon, not Fraction, not Gillen, not Bendis, not Lemire, not Bunn.

Plus I think there's something to be said about a one and done story. People have been complaining about how decompressed comic book storytelling has become for years now, story arcs that are written for the trade and stretched to 6 issues just to make last longer when the story could easily be told in a single issue.
We finally get some compressed storytelling and now they should have taken more time with it?
Another writer can take more time later to flesh it out

But the thing is did this story have to be told in Iceman's book? This was basically an Emma story and Bobby was an afterthought really. Like someone said this story could of been told in Emma's upcoming black issue or some other one shot. How did this story advance Bobby's story arc in any way (since its his book afterall)? Sure Emma fans loved it, more page time for mama but it did absolutly nothing for Bobby. Overall this was an ok one and done but it should have been told somewhere else. Emma had the spotlight for over a decade, Bobby not so much; let Bobby be front and center in his book with stories focusing on him please. Who knows how long this book will exist, can't afford to waste issues on side stories.

[yogaflame]

But the thing is did this story have to be told in Iceman's book? This was basically an Emma story and Bobby was an afterthought really. Like someone said this story could of been told in Emma's upcoming black issue or some other one shot. How did this story advance Bobby's story arc in any way (since its his book afterall)? Sure Emma fans loved it, more page time for mama but it did absolutly nothing for Bobby. Overall this was an ok one and done but it should have been told somewhere else. Emma had the spotlight for over a decade, Bobby not so much; let Bobby be front and center in his book with stories focusing on him please. Who knows how long this book will exist, can't afford to waste issues on side stories.

Exactly. This story had practically nothing to do with Bobby. Oh, are all gay people crazy? Is it justified to go Psycho on your abusive father and kill him with a freaking fireplace poker? Is that a fun, entertaining story? Is it a necessary one? Was it handled with tact and subtlety? Sina knows he has a 5-issue arc. Tell a freaking 5 issue arc, not some disjointed grab-bag.

Further, seriously, who cared about Christian? Who even cares about Emma's [ret-connerific] solo from a million years ago? If there's any plot line from that run to be addressed, it's when will Astrid Bloom be avenged? These Frosts just think they can get away with murder...

[Confuzzled]

Further, seriously, who cared about Christian? Who even cares about Emma's [ret-connerific] solo from a million years ago?

People have been wishing Christian to return for years in Emma's appreciation threads.

Is it justified to go Psycho on your abusive father and kill him with a freaking fireplace poker? Is that a fun, entertaining story?

Since when did "fun" become mandatory for each and every story? Also, we don't even know how the scenario played out. Maybe Winston was the one who attacked Christian first so it could've been an act of self-defence. Also, why do you care when you clearly don't care about the Frosts in the first place.

[Confuzzled]

But the thing is did this story have to be told in Iceman's book? This was basically an Emma story and Bobby was an afterthought really. Like someone said this story could of been told in Emma's upcoming black issue or some other one shot. How did this story advance Bobby's story arc in any way (since its his book afterall)? Sure Emma fans loved it, more page time for mama but it did absolutly nothing for Bobby. Overall this was an ok one and done but it should have been told somewhere else. Emma had the spotlight for over a decade, Bobby not so much; let Bobby be front and center in his book with stories focusing on him please. Who knows how long this book will exist, can't afford to waste issues on side stories.

Emma and Bobby have had history together. It was brilliant of Grace to connect Emma not outing Bobby for years due to the fact that she had a persecuted gay brother of her own. That's just great retrospective storytelling and adds layers to characterizations.

If you don't care about Emma then fine but to pretend that it's not at all relevant to Bobby or that he has to be front and centre in every issue is a weird way of complaining about it. It's not like people didn't know this issue was going to be Frost heavy. You got what was written on the tin. This just seems like basic pettiness from Mama's haterz like always.

[yogaflame]

People have been wishing Christian to return for years in Emma's appreciation threads.



Since when did "fun" become mandatory for each and every story? Also, we don't even know how the scenario played out. Maybe Winston was the one who attacked Christian first so it could've been an act of self-defence. Also, why do you care when you clearly don't care about the Frosts in the first place.

No, I don't care about the Frosts. And Iceman's solo should not be the place for their stories to be told. And if Christian's story was to be told, it should not have been done in this context, as a one and done throw away in Bobby's Coney Island memories? Are you serious. Even as someone who doesn't care about Christian or Emma, their stories deserved better.

[Confuzzled]

No, I don't care about the Frosts. And Iceman's solo should not be the place for their stories to be told. And if Christian's story was to be told, it should not have been done in this context, as a one and done throw away in Bobby's Coney Island memories? Are you serious. Even as someone who doesn't care about Christian or Emma, their stories deserved better.

HOW, when as Beetle pointed out, other writers didn't care for years. Almost 15 in fact. To put that into perspective, people who didn't even exist when Christian last appeared have grown old enough to relate to some of the themes touched upon in this story.

Fans who actually care about the characters can appreciate the effort Sina put into this.

[yogaflame]

HOW, when as Beetle pointed out, other writers didn't care for years. People who actually care about the characters can appreciate the effort Sina put into this.

Ok, fine, enjoy your crumbs. Still, this is Iceman's series. It is completely valid to criticize this story in this context. Have your powwow in Emma's thread if you will not entertain valid criticism of this issue.

[jalsrix]

Frankly, issue number 1 was boring with the senseless Morlocks story.

That issue could have started with introduction to Christian and Emma's childhood, how his father sent him there and how he spent his days at the 'conversion' place with more interesting scenes.

Most of us didn't read Emma's solo series 15 years ago including me.

Starting and ending one full story in one issue is too rushed.

[ExodusCloak]

Ok, fine, enjoy your crumbs. Still, this is Iceman's series. It is completely valid to criticize this story in this context. Have your powwow in Emma's thread if you will not entertain valid criticism of this issue.

Emma is heavily tied to Iceman's growth as a character and him coming out. Additionally, she's tied to the speculation for years that he was gay. She had to appear as a guest at some point. Given her non X-Men status they had to find a way to tie her into the story. And her brother was it. It's why Sina refrained from using her in volume 1. Additionally this was an Iceman story we saw how his mind works how he did not end up like Christian.

[Anduinel]

HOW, when as Beetle pointed out, other writers didn't care for years. People who actually care about the characters can appreciate the effort Sina put into this.

Seriously. The issue isn't perfect, but "perfect" was never on the table. If this story was going to get told at all, there was going to have to be compromise somewhere, because Grace doesn't have the luxury of giving it all the time, space, and focus he wants. And Frosts are going to be revisited later, so we'll see where that goes.

[ExodusCloak]

Iceman's stunned reaction to Emma having a brother is supposed to be the readers reaction. All you needed to know was in that one page summary. A wiki would suffice or read the Emma solo but elaboration wasn't needed in this story to show the difference between Iceman and christian

[Heroine Addict]

I'm not much of a decompression fan, that's for sure. But as others have pointed out, this was a l'il too condensed, even for me . Also agree that some of the verbiage was a bit awkward, here & there, like when the word "brat" was used a couple of times.

Still enjoyed it tho, in particular the use of Bobby's mindscape. Current, adult Bobby cautioning the childhood memory of himself that no matter how deep he digs a protective moat, the tide will always wash away his sandcastle regardless, was what resonated most I think. Found that to be rather subtly profound, actually.

[jalsrix]

Iceman's stunned reaction to Emma having a brother is supposed to be the readers reaction. All you needed to know was in that one page summary. A wiki would suffice or read the Emma solo but elaboration wasn't needed in this story to show the difference between Iceman and christian

Wiki is just a brief summary with some words but no pictures. A picture paints a thousand words. Would we need to buy past issues if we just have wiki which might not be correct.

[Heroine Addict]

... just seems like basic pettiness from Mama's haterz like always.

Reading between the lines, that's been my conclusion, as well.

... this was an Iceman story we saw how his mind works how he did not end up like Christian.

Ditto.