Mr and Mrs X #4 opens with Gambit and Rogue engaged in one of their favorite activities: bondage. They are both hanging upside-down, their powers suppressed, bound by heavy-duty chains. They were apparently captured when they attempted to infiltrate Chandilar. I say "apparently," because it turns out that it was a deliberate ruse to be taken to the maximum-security facility where Cerise believed that Xandra was being held.
Rogue has hidden a lockpick in her mouth. Gambit manages to extract it with his tongue, before proceeding to pick his locks with his mouth. It is all very impressive and sexy and acrobatic, and he tops it off by opening her locks, doing a backflip, and catching her. I always appreciate it when a writer remembers how athletic Gambit should be.
After they dispatch with the remaining chains, they find Xandra's "egg." Xandra hugs Rogue, much to Rogue's consternation. She explains that she is able to disguise herself by pushing on people's brains, and turns Gambit and Rogue into members of the Imperial Guard. Notably, Gambit gets an Guy Fieri-esque hairstyle; it is spiky and has frosted tips and promises a trip to flavor town. Xandra decides she wants to turn herself into Warstar, as she likes the idea of having a built-in friend. She is very cute and endearing, and I think she should become the official replacement for Honey Badger.
In a Shi'ar escape ship, Rogue is having trouble hailing Cerise, and notes correctly that Carol may kill her if she fails to return the ship. However, before Carol can get her shots in, the Starjammers do. Rogue and Gambit are confused, because they are theoretically their allies. Xandra psychically investigates, and discovers that Cerise is on the Starjammers' ship. Cerise directs them to land on the nearby moon to rendezvous. Corsair explains that they thought Gambit and Rogue were the Imperial Guard, and attacked them for that reason. The Starjammers still feel as if they're one space cameo too many, after the past few issues of space cameos. I'm not sure that they add much narrative value in this issue, but that may change in the next.
With the confusion resolved, Cerise and Xandra have a sweet reunion, where Xandra remembers how Cerise's mind was the first one she know, and how she would sing and tell stories to her. At that point, Xandra offers to repay Rogue by reaching into her mind and turning off her powers. Rogue hesitates on the point of refusal, and Gambit pulls her aside for a private conversation. This conversation is the best scene of the book; both characters and their perspectives are perfectly written, and I think it's worth reproducing for discussion, since it's Rogue's clearest articulation of how she would like to approach her powers and gaining control of them.
mmx41.jpg
mmx42.jpg
Gambit and Rogue's conversation is interrupted by the arrival of the Imperial Guard in full force. A giant battle ensues -- literally, since Titan is involved.
Just as the X-Men and the Starjammers seem to be getting the upperhand, Deathbird and the Deathbirds of Prey arrive. Deathbird catches Gambit with her lance in the side, and drives him to the ground. She stands above him, and contemplates whether she wants to finish him or not.
At this point, matters get confusing. Gambit and Rogue look meaningfully at each other, but it's not clear to me what they are trying to communicate. Rogue touches Xandra's face; presumably, she wants to absorb her powers, but I am not sure why she couldn't tell Xandra to use them herself. Rogue and Xandra begin to glow, and then they go nova. They explode, leaving behind a glittery, green and black slick. Even in death, Rogue cannot escape being green.
Did Rogue know that would happen? Did Xandra communicate it to her? Was the explosion the point? Why was that the plan? I know some of these answers may be revealed in the final issue of the arc, but I'm not sure the storytelling works well at this point. I'm more puzzled than intrigued. It feels as if something has been lost been in communication between writer and artist.
To resurrect a Victorian metaphor, this issue felt a little like the curate's egg to me. It was genuinely excellent when it focused on the characters and their relationships. The scenes between Rogue and Gambit, and between Xandra and Cerise shone for me. However, the Starjammers added very little to the story, and the final battle scene started out as generic and became confusing. I feel as if the arc could have benefited from a quieter issue to break up the pace, and allow the characters and the narrative to breathe.
8/10