Originally Posted by
Fokken
Simplicity. Sometimes its the easiest thing to overlook. Its often the easiest to ignore too. Well I thought this issue was very touching and I enjoyed it very much. I appreciate and deeply relate to this never ending journey of exploring who we are, WHY we are, and especially the deep dive into those pockets we carve out to house of vulnerabilities.
Fear.
This issue really spoke to me and got me thinking. When I briefly summarized the content of the issue to my husband, his reaction was much the same as many online: "This again?" With that, I broke down each memory she examined and we had a really wonderful discussion about psychology and adolescence and those formative (and often painful) moments that change us and add layers to who we develop into, and how certain events and people steer us and sometimes reroute us, and how we're both products of nature AND nurture and its difficult to say how much of us is entirely US and how much of us is the result of that which we encounter.
And Rogue is this remarkably complex person because of her unique power. Whereas we, as human beings, change and evolve and adapt and grow through our interpretations of that which we encounter -- be it a life changing event or a life changing friend or lover or chance encounter at a gas station(?) -- this woman quite literally takes others INTO her, however briefly-- but in one very traumatic and haunting instance, she took the entire person for an extended period. In her YOUTH. When we are all trying to figure out who we are, and what we stand for, and what our path will be, and where our future lies, and how we feel and why we feel, this woman (Rogue) suddenly has TWO psyches to figure out who are continually in violent contention with one another. It is COMPLETELY understandable that Rogue would become FURTHER insecure and doubtful about what is her versus what is Carol.
Is Rogue who she is today because of Carol? Well, in some ways, absolutely. That was event that drove her to Xavier, right?
Is Rogue a hero because of Carol? That's debatable. Its very possible that Carol's psyche influenced Rogue from time to time, but Rogue ALSO gained a FAMILY with the X-Men. A family unit of heroes. JOINING the X-Men may have been (in a backwards way) thanks to Carol, but thriving within the X-Men and finding value and purpose in Xavier's mission, and in being a role model, and a mentor, and a teacher, and a leader -- I feel that is largely thanks to her X-fam. Her time spent in the Uncanny Avengers is, imho, proof positive of that passion.
Wow.
Rambly.
Anyway. We are all endlessly discovering who we are because we are all endlessly changing as we grow. And I thought this issue was beautiful. It didn't necessarily SOLVE Rogue's control issues because fear is a very tricky thing to keep a grip on, and it too changes over time, but I'm very much looking forward to where this sexy bad ass couple heads next.
Viva MR & MRS X!