Lorna Dane: Polaris Appreciation 2020

[jmc247]

The only thing I want from Lorna in terms of romance, is to live her best life enjoying the hot men and women on Krakoa. After being dedicated to the same dude for fifty years, she's earned it.

That would be nice.

I do want her to be an "edgy" dangerous more militant character though and a romantic relationship COULD be a damper on that but then again it may not, and it could go with it... just have to find out.

I don't see her being allowed a steady relationship of any sort until she and you know who are on the same title. Some implied playing around though plausibly deniable is the most I could imagine.

I will just say this isn't a book for a warrior, its a detective book investigating mutant murders with a mission statement not to get retribution. I don't know how well Leah understands Lorna as a character based on what she said at this point. There are some ways I can think of that the character could work in this title and a lot of ways she might turn into generic dry wall.

[AbnormallyNormal]

That would be nice.



I don't see her being allowed a steady relationship until they are ready to shove her back with the same old same old. Perhaps some hinting at swinging, but who knows.

I will just say this isn't a book for a warrior, its a detective book investigating mutant murders with a mission statement not to get retribution. I don't know how well Leah understands Lorna as a character based on the two interviews I have seen as they don't get into her character. The book needs a generic voice of reason, Lorna has had that role in some past books where the writer didn't get her very well and was just handed her without understanding, I hope she doesn't fall into it in this one.

Prodigy = Voice of Reason if you asked me to name one right now surely.

We already know Leah will write Rachel Grey as "rebel" , Daken almost surely something like that.

"Polaris is the team's North Star" yeah I don't know. At first my inclination is that makes her role sound important but I don't actually know what it means.

Northstar probably isn't a Voice of Reason but he will be the leader and so he's sort of like that.

Eyeboy comic relief.

Lorna just feels like ... I don't want to say "too good" for this team but. I don't know. Just feels out of place. I would imagine she would get along best with Rachel as they have the most in common probably.

One issue is that Rachel massively overshadows Lorna unless Leah distinguishes Polaris' EM force control to let her do things Rachel can't. Which could happen

[jmc247]

"Polaris is the team's North Star" yeah I don't know. At first my inclination is that makes her role sound important but I don't actually know what it means.

Lorna just feels like ... I don't want to say "too good" for this team but. I don't know. Just feels out of place. I would imagine she would get along best with Rachel as they have the most in common probably.

The north star was historically used before the astrolabe and compass for people to find the right path as it points north. The star was used for people as a directional guide and still is for people lost in the middle of nowhere without technology. A competent Lorna who understands systems and can get things done? That would work.

Lorna as the voice of reason character for dealing with the killers of mutants and genocidal racists? No, she doesn't really function well in that role. Its been attempted, but she comes off an uninteresting Suzie White bread character and it doesn't feel at all right based on her history and personality.

Lorna, Rachel and Daken can follow orders, but are the opposite of turn the other cheak characters. Lorna has pre-existing relationships with Rachel and Daken.

[spirit2011]

Leah made a tweet about "bisexual disasters" and I wonder if it could apply to the entirety of this squad. Like she'll turn Lorna bi and maybe EyeBoy as well.

Since 4/6 are already non-straight might just go for all of them?

What do you all think?

Me personally I'm fine with Lorna having any sexuality but I'd hope it's a slight bit better evolved or introduced compared to e.g. Iceman

And having a romance outside Havok would be good since as far as I know that has never happened beyond her original flirting with.... Iceman. So yeah it could help her "move on" more since it seems she's either with Havok or "pining for" Havok and there's nothing else.

I do want her to be an "edgy" dangerous more militant character though and a romantic relationship COULD be a damper on that but then again it may not, and it could go with it... just have to find out.

I don't see Marvel allowing Lorna to be bisexual, she is a strategic character daughter of Magneto.
marvel also have been very controlling about revealing chaarcters as LGBT

Off topic, but I hope you don't mind me saying I feel this pain...and I feel like we should start a support group.

Yep, I know the feel

[Domino_Dare-Doll]

I don't see Marvel allowing Lorna to be bisexual, she is a strategic character daughter of Magneto.

That would make for a pretty juicy plot though?

Wait, what is Magneto's view on LGBTQA+? Has that ever been established?

[spirit2011]

That would make for a pretty juicy plot though?

Wait, what is Magneto's view on LGBTQA+? Has that ever been established?

No, but i don't think he cares at all.

If lorna gets bisexual and leave havok behind, Magneto would be happy

[houndsofluv]

I feel like Polaris is in great hands from how Williams talks about her. "real North Star of the group" etc., she clearly respects her as a character. I think we're in for some good ****

That would make for a pretty juicy plot though?

Wait, what is Magneto's view on LGBTQA+? Has that ever been established?

hes married to Charles so I presume his views are positive

[LoganAlpha30X33]

No, but i don't think he cares at all.

If lorna gets bisexual and leave havok behind, Magneto would be happy

I don't think that Magneto would be happy with any guy that Lorna dated unless he hand picked him out for her or something along those lines, and I don't see Lorna being bi or ever truly leaving Alex behind, just like he hasn't left her behind regardless of how many gimmick pairings they stick him with...

[salarta]

Leah made a tweet about "bisexual disasters" and I wonder if it could apply to the entirety of this squad. Like she'll turn Lorna bi and maybe EyeBoy as well.

Since 4/6 are already non-straight might just go for all of them?

What do you all think?

Me personally I'm fine with Lorna having any sexuality but I'd hope it's a slight bit better evolved or introduced compared to e.g. Iceman

And having a romance outside Havok would be good since as far as I know that has never happened beyond her original flirting with.... Iceman. So yeah it could help her "move on" more since it seems she's either with Havok or "pining for" Havok and there's nothing else.

I'd rather see Lorna as bi or lesbian. And as I've said before, I think she'd have a better chance of not getting screwed over in a relationship with another female character.

Closest things Lorna's had to "romance" in the comics outside of Havok are what you mentioned of Iceman, Random's one-sided infatuation, and some fleeting flirting with Gambit in ANXF. And if you reeeaaally try to stretch your definition of "romance," then Malice by virtue of their spirits merging. So for all real intents and purposes, since 1968, Marvel hasn't allowed her to date anyone that isn't Havok. While Havok's been with Goblin Queen, Wasp, Nurse Annie, and had Wolfsbane obsessed with him (similar to Random for Lorna, but it lasted much longer for Wolfsbane).

tl;dr Marvel insists Lorna wear a Havok chastity belt at all times and show it off regularly, while he sleeps with anyone he wants.

Off topic, but I hope you don't mind me saying I feel this pain...and I feel like we should start a support group.

Marvel Sucks Anonymous!

The only thing I want from Lorna in terms of romance, is to live her best life enjoying the hot men and women on Krakoa. After being dedicated to the same dude for fifty years, she's earned it.

This gave me an idea for a porn fic (sans Krakoa of course; no free promo here), so thanks for that!

"Polaris is the team's North Star" yeah I don't know. At first my inclination is that makes her role sound important but I don't actually know what it means.

It sounds good, but post-Havok-mention I think it doesn't mean anything. At least good. Before that, I could've seen it meaning she serves as guidance in the sense of why it's so important to take time hunting down murderers or something like that in a role that's on the same level as original Prof X and Magneto. There's a niche in there she could fill while more active elsewhere.

There are a lot of things Marvel does where I can see how it might go good places, and then it just doesn't.

Lorna just feels like ... I don't want to say "too good" for this team but. I don't know. Just feels out of place. I would imagine she would get along best with Rachel as they have the most in common probably.

One issue is that Rachel massively overshadows Lorna unless Leah distinguishes Polaris' EM force control to let her do things Rachel can't. Which could happen

She's a character who's been on books titled X-Factor so much, and didn't get a real shot as leader during ANXF, that if she's not leading it then she shouldn't be there. It's like starting out as tech support, getting degree, climbing the ladders to CEO of a tech company, then a few years later you're back to doing tech support for $10 an hour.

By that same example, not being CEO but being a special advisor/consultant of sorts is valid, but that would still involve a) having the respect and position commensurate with it, and b) doing all sorts of other things besides that (e.g. running your own company, writing books and going on tours, getting interviewed on talk shows cause you're just that important, etc). If that's not happening, why even have her involved? Just let her stay out of it and leave the fans to do things with her that she should really be doing but Marvel's too afraid or too disrespectful toward Lorna to pursue.

And this isn't just a note of best interest for Lorna. It's also best interest for Northstar. Consider the problems with how the dynamic between Lorna (as leader in name) and Gambit (as leader in depiction) in ANXF #4-6 went. Though to be fair, Lorna's a female character in Marvel comics, so there's more chance of her being devalued than of her hijacking Northstar's leadership.

I feel like Polaris is in great hands from how Williams talks about her. "real North Star of the group" etc., she clearly respects her as a character. I think we're in for some good ****

Bunn said a lot great-sounding things about Lorna too, and she ended up mostly defined as daughter of Magneto, ex of Havok on Blue. He improved on how he treated Lorna around Magneto as he went, but the Havok stuff never got better. Nice words can't be trusted for follow-through out of Marvel.

[Michael Watkins]

No, but i don't think he cares at all.

If lorna gets bisexual and leave havok behind, Magneto would be happy

i don't think he would micro-manage her life like that. his focus is pretty narrow and doesn't generally include family members. he didn't judge Pietro's choice of Crystal. if anything, he'd see Lorna staying with Havok as a lateral; a way to solidify the bond between his family and the Summers family.

[salarta]

How Magneto behaves and what he thinks of Havok may vary from writer to writer.

When Mike Carey wrote Five Miles South of the Universe, I got the distinct impression of dismissiveness toward Havok from Magneto. Similarly, Bunn on Blue seemed to have an undercurrent of Magneto and Havok "competing" on who gets to define her (which, y'know, was my huge complaint about Blue; treating her like an object for the taking of men instead of her own character).

We're fortunate in some respects that Lorna wasn't acknowledged as Magneto's daughter until the early 00s, because I suspect Marvel in the 70s/80s/90s would've made her dynamic with her father just as toxic as her dynamic with Havok now is. Because its return is so new, adjustments are easier to make.

Though frankly, what Magneto thinks of Havok as a partner for Lorna shouldn't matter. It shouldn't matter because nothing about Havok should be coming up around Lorna anyway right now (again, toxicity and need to do right by Lorna first), and it shouldn't matter because who Lorna decides is right for her is none of his business. Magneto needing to "approve" of who she's with would just be another case of male ego trying to control female action, and not much different from how Lorna leading X-Factor on ANXF was none of Havok's business.

[spirit2011]

i don't think he would micro-manage her life like that. his focus is pretty narrow and doesn't generally include family members. he didn't judge Pietro's choice of Crystal. if anything, he'd see Lorna staying with Havok as a lateral; a way to solidify the bond between his family and the Summers family.

being happy that she is with a guy you live vs one that you don't like isn't micromanage as long as he doesn't interfere with her choices.
He is a big boy and relationship drama seems petty for him

I don't think Mageneto cares about summers family bonding.

[LoganAlpha30X33]

How Magneto behaves and what he thinks of Havok may vary from writer to writer.

When Mike Carey wrote Five Miles South of the Universe, I got the distinct impression of dismissiveness toward Havok from Magneto. Similarly, Bunn on Blue seemed to have an undercurrent of Magneto and Havok "competing" on who gets to define her (which, y'know, was my huge complaint about Blue; treating her like an object for the taking of men instead of her own character).

We're fortunate in some respects that Lorna wasn't acknowledged as Magneto's daughter until the early 00s, because I suspect Marvel in the 70s/80s/90s would've made her dynamic with her father just as toxic as her dynamic with Havok now is. Because its return is so new, adjustments are easier to make.

Though frankly, what Magneto thinks of Havok as a partner for Lorna shouldn't matter. It shouldn't matter because nothing about Havok should be coming up around Lorna anyway right now (again, toxicity and need to do right by Lorna first), and it shouldn't matter because who Lorna decides is right for her is none of his business. Magneto needing to "approve" of who she's with would just be another case of male ego trying to control female action, and not much different from how Lorna leading X-Factor on ANXF was none of Havok's business.

Actually my thoughts on Magneto's "approval" had nothing to do with Lorna's gender, more that Magneto can at times be a control freak and want everything done his way, and we've already seen that he's not a big fan of Alex's so...

Had Lorna been Magneto's kid years ago she would have probably gone through the same ups and downs with him that Wanda and Pietro did, so in the future there will be a time that Lorna is antagonistic towards Magneto and not like she is now...

And if those X-kids rumors are true then an Alex/Lorna kid, probably in some test tube by Sinister could be quite interesting...though I won't hold my breath...

And again I could say that Magneto had a toxic relationship with Wanda and Pietro when they were still his kids, and am guessing that time will come with Lorna as well if history is any guide...

[Magnetic]

Maybe 15 issues at most for X-Factor if we're lucky before cancellation.

[houndsofluv]

Maybe 15 issues at most for X-Factor if we're lucky before cancellation.

im not so sure. the cast may not have the typical "draws" but the concept is so tied to The Five/resurrection protocols that pretty much everyone keeping up with the books is itching to know more about. I can see this becoming a steady success