X-Force #2 review feat Xaviers corpse *spoilers*

[Strong Girl Daken]

Right. Magneto had cerebro, Jean tk's it to herself. He fashions it into a sword and when it flies back to him it does have a pinkish color instead of the blue/white.

That is my take but I guess it doesn't matter much.

It doesn't matter to the bigger picture but it's a nuanced character moment I'm craving. This was the same issue that had Wolverine be critical of Magneto.

[Celestialbodies]

That first scene with all the mutants gathered around the body of Xavier reminded of that scene in Harry Potter 6 with Dumbledore, strangely enough. Though I saw many among that crowd who could have stopped effortlessly that attack from happening, not just Magneto who acknowledged his Failure in that regard.

What he says afterward is interesting, that the direction of this whole project on Krakoa is dependent on their ability to bring Xavier back from the dead. Ergo, should they failed to do so, the leadership role and future direction given to the Kraked would fall on someone else' shoulder.
This could materialize in any number of ways, from cooptation among the Quiet Council of a new leader, to hostile takeover attempt from one or several of the ambitious on this island, with potential for a civil war-type of situation.
Successions can be messy affairs in any countries, but it's especially delicate in newly formed ones as we can see IRL. And this kind of internal turmoils can be perceived by other countries as a window of Opportunity to strike, possibly invade them.
For the sake of maintaining the peace, Xavier coming back to life would be in the best interests of everyone.
The forging of a sword out of the Cerebro helmet, as an allegory to the Damoclès sword and the ticking situation they were in, was pretty brilliant.

It was Strange to also see Magneto and Jean of all people speak of the Resurrection Protocols as if they were an unproven system.
Magneto saw first hand the system work in HoX when the X-Men died on the Orchis station, and obviously Jean tested the system first-hand as a result. Regardless of how we feel about it being a true resurection or just fancy cloning of now deceased former X-Men, she should have known better…
I guess they were talking of having the RPs work without Xavier in the picture but given the sheer number of highly skilled telepaths on the island, how would that ever be an issue? All in all, it was conveyed a bit poorly here.

I loved how Beast pointed out the absurd carelessness of Xavier prior to its death, which was a point many made on this forum Following issue #1: rulers of countries Always travel with an entourage who includes a strong security escort.
That's basic 101 thing to expect, if not Inside the country itself, at the very least whenever said rulers go to a foreign country for x/y/z Reason.
It was just uncharacteristically reckless from Xavier to do away with that, and I'm surprised that the Kraked abided by his wish to have zero escort around him. Jean pointed out he might have done it out of humility despite his position, but it rings pretty hollow to me - one's feelings shouldn't factor into whether or not s/he needs protection.
And as the face of the Kraked around the world, Xavier absolutely needed that protection.

Also, the sudden delicacy of bringing back Cerebro online.
How is that an issue when you have the likes of Forge or technopaths like Hijack who could do the job without sweating?
Which irks back to Hank McCoy being considered THE tech guy of the franchise who can deal with everything scientific - it's a bit of a shame to do that when you have, again, specialists of the issue you are facing off. Though maybe they'll show Hank turning to exactly those guys to help him bring back Cerebro online, to which I would Simply say "Bravo, well done!" if the author go down that path in future issues.
Though I Wonder how that will chime with the daily EMP measure, given it could harm any non-shielded piece of hardware…
And if it's the locations that are being shielded and not the hardware itself, how is the measure going to be efficient? People won't necessarily Always be outside, exposed to that EMP blast. Just food for thought.

We learned afterward that the ceremony in Sokovia was infiltrated by unknown parties during which Xavier was drugged, and that what we suspected about the fate of that civilian plane did occur: all passengers and crew were lost at sea. Hopefully, some people will remember that the casualties of that attack were both sapiens and mutants, and that, therefore, it highlights again how the actions taken by those unknown parties are reflecting only of them and their extremist beliefs, not of the entirety of the world.
We are also confirmed that Sage did screw up, though again, given the resources and technologies the mutants have at their disposal, a breach shouldn't have been possible to begin with. The X-Mansion had better security than Krakoa for crying out loud…
The likes of Domino or Colossus going into deep covert missions ALONE, without any kind of support, or even back-up readily available… All of that adds up with the whole feeling of carelessness/recklessness going back from issue #1.
Wolverine might be the author mouthpiece in that regard, so far he's been right about this, though the way it occured made the mutants look like Simply stupidly naive/incompetent individuals. And the more I think about this, the more I feel like Wolverine should have been one of the Great Captain on the island, because the way he acts, the suggestion he makes, the level-head he shows scream of competence (expected given his experience), and above all, he's not MIA like all the actual, supposed Great Captains are. Cyclops (MIA) showed he fit that leadership role in X-Men, but Magik (MIA) doesn't do that in New Mutants currently so yeah. Wolverine would have been a much better fit; alongside Cyclops and Gorgon (MIA too).

The concept of a fablab, not of machines but of enhanced individuals was both irksome and awesome at the same time. It meshes well with the concept of transhumanism Hickman played with during HoX/PoX, though to be fair, there's a long history of mad science going on in the Marvel Universe.

Kid Omega was insufferable.
Acting like a bully toward that guard (hope that coffee was cold otherwise he'll suffer severe burns to his face) and spouting the same verbal diarrhea than Magneto does about mutants being "gods" and "superiors" to sapiens who are "disgustingly pathetic".
Foul talk from a foolish boy, and I'm glad to see - FI-NA-LLY! - someone puting a foot down and saying how this line of thought is wrong.
That mutants are just people like sapiens, and are no better nor worse than them because of their powers as a result.
Wolverine is right.
Seeing Kid Omega freak out over the loss of his power reinforce that point.
Kind of highlight that worrisome trend too, that see mutants defining themselves entirely by their powers and, generally speaking, the Worth of a group of people being measured on whether or not said group have powers… That's the kind of reflexion that fuels supremacist (Magneto) and eugenistic (Sinister) views, excusing the worst kind of atrocities in the minds of the ones spouting or defending said views.
You know the kind: "evolutionary dead-end" being an argument used for justifying any massacre, any genocide done in its wake…

The conclusion that Logan has though is grim: a race war is on the horizon between sapiens and mutants, if they Don't stop competing against one another over the planet...


3.5/5.

It was a good issue. The art cliqued much more here for me, and the writing was of better quality all in all.
The writer acknowledging himself via characters in-universe the PIS of some of the set-up in #1, confirms the contrived nature of it.
Seeing - finally! - some character (here Logan) voice a differing opinion about mutant/sapien Relationship was refreshing.
Hope it keeps improving in further issues.

....for perspective several X-students were crucified on the X-mansion lawn, Xavier was kidnapped from the X-mansion and crucified on Genosha, a bus full of students were blown up in the driveway, and several members have been kidnapped and or taken from the premises all without a single alarm.

All without half the planning these "Reavers" had, they came up with a pretty solid plan for carrying out their plan. This issue did a good job of explaining how they carried it out in a fairly logical way which took advantage of Krakoa's blindspots. Plus, I'm sure someone much more knowledgeable can give better examples of every X-base being easily infiltrated in much less rational way.

[JB]

It doesn't matter to the bigger picture but it's a nuanced character moment I'm craving. This was the same issue that had Wolverine be critical of Magneto.

I say we're all correct! Whatever meaning we take from it, enjoy it.

[Solitaryhawk]

Gorgeous. I don't immediately recognize some of them. Is that Laura Northstar is consoling?

Finally! A confirmed Shatterstar sighting (Dah-ahm! His hair grew back fast!) and it looks like Feral is back in the land of the living. Nice!

[MechaJeanix]

It was Strange to also see Magneto and Jean of all people speak of the Resurrection Protocols as if they were an unproven system.
Magneto saw first hand the system work in HoX when the X-Men died on the Orchis station, and obviously Jean tested the system first-hand as a result. Regardless of how we feel about it being a true resurection or just fancy cloning of now deceased former X-Men, she should have known better…
I guess they were talking of having the RPs work without Xavier in the picture but given the sheer number of highly skilled telepaths on the island, how would that ever be an issue? All in all, it was conveyed a bit poorly here.

I loved how Beast pointed out the absurd carelessness of Xavier prior to its death, which was a point many made on this forum Following issue #1: rulers of countries Always travel with an entourage who includes a strong security escort.
That's basic 101 thing to expect, if not Inside the country itself, at the very least whenever said rulers go to a foreign country for x/y/z Reason.
It was just uncharacteristically reckless from Xavier to do away with that, and I'm surprised that the Kraked abided by his wish to have zero escort around him. Jean pointed out he might have done it out of humility despite his position, but it rings pretty hollow to me - one's feelings shouldn't factor into whether or not s/he needs protection.
And as the face of the Kraked around the world, Xavier absolutely needed that protection.


3.5/5.

It was a good issue. The art cliqued much more here for me, and the writing was of better quality all in all.
The writer acknowledging himself via characters in-universe the PIS of some of the set-up in #1, confirms the contrived nature of it.
Seeing - finally! - some character (here Logan) voice a differing opinion about mutant/sapien Relationship was refreshing.
Hope it keeps improving in further issues.

I agree it was odd that Magneto made a comment that what if Charles was wrong, Jean was wrong, and the resurrection doesn't work. It is if he is not sure they process works. They do know it works. Even Beast seemed unconvinced. But we may be reading it all wrong. Magneto is probably worried that the process cannot be done without Xavier. Jean is a bit worried because she has never done it before (she kind of did during New X-men but there she caught Xavier's mind as he died which isn't the same situation as this). Beast is concerned because he doesn't know how the new cerebro works. I bet Forge should know. I agree that one of the technopaths should have been used. Where is Trinary when you need her. But they needed a role for Beast to play. I do love him working with Jean and Sage.

[numberthirty]

After a few times through, a couple of things stuck out...

- Beast trying to bring one of the "Backup" Cerebro units back on line... Do Jean and Hank(actually, anyone on Krakoa) have any clue that Forge built the new version of Cerebro? Did Charles work up the game plane for using them(and what would happen if and when they were destroyed) without Forge having any input?

Just seems interesting that Forge is entirely out of play in this set of circumstances.

- Quire's powers failing. While it might not amount to anything, it sticks out that Domino's mutant ability seems like it could be compromised coming up when Quire's powers suddenly fail completely(well, what looked a lot like "Completely").

[loke13]

After a few times through, a couple of things stuck out...

- Beast trying to bring one of the "Backup" Cerebro units back on line... Do Jean and Hank(actually, anyone on Krakoa) have any clue that Forge built the new version of Cerebro? Did Charles work up the game plane for using them(and what would happen if and when they were destroyed) without Forge having any input?

Just seems interesting that Forge is entirely out of play in this set of circumstances.

- Quire's powers failing. While it might not amount to anything, it sticks out that Domino's mutant ability seems like it could be compromised coming up when Quire's powers suddenly fail completely(well, what looked a lot like "Completely").

I think Logan said that they had psychic dampners in place

[numberthirty]

I think Logan said that they had psychic dampners in place

It may very well wind up being as simple as that. Just crossed my mind that it seemed like a pair of power failures in short order.

[JKtheMac]

I get that. They should have used the portals from the very beginning now that they have them, not traveling for who knows how long on a boat only so they can give Kitty a guest appearance in other books unnecessarily. It just doesn't make sense.

If you are referring to the appearance in Excalibur then there is probably a reason behind that. Two actually, one ‘in universe’ and one thematic. Rogue has been put to sleep by a backlash from a portal and as such almost certainly can’t travel via portal. Arriving by sea in the issue reinforces the Otherworld theme of Excalibur. Thematically, the arrival, crossing water and with a deadly guardian traditionally marks the begging of a mythic quest, and this is further supporting the notion of the ancient shipwreck.

[Su_Whisterfield]

If you are referring to the appearance in Excalibur then there is probably a reason behind that. Two actually, one ‘in universe’ and one thematic. Rogue has been put to sleep by a backlash from a portal and as such almost certainly can’t travel via portal. Arriving by sea in the issue reinforces the Otherworld theme of Excalibur. Thematically, the arrival, crossing water and with a deadly guardian traditionally marks the begging of a mythic quest, and this is further supporting the notion of the ancient shipwreck.

Would also take several weeks, from the South Pacific to Cornwall in a small yacht.

[loke13]

I agree it was odd that Magneto made a comment that what if Charles was wrong, Jean was wrong, and the resurrection doesn't work. It is if he is not sure they process works. They do know it works. Even Beast seemed unconvinced. But we may be reading it all wrong. Magneto is probably worried that the process cannot be done without Xavier. Jean is a bit worried because she has never done it before (she kind of did during New X-men but there she caught Xavier's mind as he died which isn't the same situation as this). Beast is concerned because he doesn't know how the new cerebro works. I bet Forge should know. I agree that one of the technopaths should have been used. Where is Trinary when you need her. But they needed a role for Beast to play. I do love him working with Jean and Sage.

I don't think it was odd Xavier has been the lynchpin for this Resurrection Protocol since the beginning he's been responsible for thousands of resurrections so far and is very familiar with the process. This method hasn't ever been tried before without Xavier so there's some apprehensions.

[Frobisher]

After a few times through, a couple of things stuck out...

- Beast trying to bring one of the "Backup" Cerebro units back on line... Do Jean and Hank(actually, anyone on Krakoa) have any clue that Forge built the new version of Cerebro? Did Charles work up the game plane for using them(and what would happen if and when they were destroyed) without Forge having any input?

Just seems interesting that Forge is entirely out of play in this set of circumstances.

- Quire's powers failing. While it might not amount to anything, it sticks out that Domino's mutant ability seems like it could be compromised coming up when Quire's powers suddenly fail completely(well, what looked a lot like "Completely").

Beast staring at Cerebro muttering about faith was the dumbest thing in this issue. Like Forge didn’t just stick an on button on it, and then Clippy (ask your grandad) pops up and says “it looks like you’re trying to change your primary Cerebro unit”.

[JKtheMac]

Overal, I enjoyed this issue, even if it did mostly follow the path I expected it from last issue. It further suggests that Xavier is not going to come out of this unchanged or unscathed.

I always enjoy seeing Quire when written with more depth. Until now only two writers, Morrison and Aaron, have written him in a compelling manner, I hope Percy can maintain that.

It is wrong IMO to write him as a pure jerk, but it is equally wrong to write him as too identifiable or likeable. The touchstone should be McDowell in ‘If...’ with a touch of ironic ‘Clockwork Orange’ pretentiousness. He should be a rebel with a vague, unnuanced cause of dissatisfaction and underappreciation. A too cool for public school boy who takes up an anti-establishment stance out of sheer exasperation at his circumstances, despite not having seen enough of the world to fully appreciate what that means or how to go about it.

[loke13]

Beast staring at Cerebro muttering about faith was the dumbest thing in this issue. Like Forge didn’t just stick an on button on it, and then Clippy (ask your grandad) pops up and says “it looks like you’re trying to change your primary Cerebro unit”.

I mean I would imagine that Forge tried to make it as difficult to access as possible just in case anyone tried to reverse engineer it or something like that.

[JKtheMac]

Would also take several weeks, from the South Pacific to Cornwall in a small yacht.

It would but comics. I am not that bothered about that part and it seems a little nitpicking to worry about geography when nobody else ever seems worried about it in Marvel comics.

We can be sure this was considered and then they decided to not worry about it. Neither should we.