X-Terminators #1 Review/Spoilers - Heartbreaker

[Anduinel]

I enjoyed it a lot. The X-Books generally just don't have a lot of high-octane, stupid fun - angst and drama is what typically greases the wheels around these parts. So it's a nice change of pace, especially as a side-quest away from AXE and all of that. Looking forward to the next one!

[jpmst17]

mediocre non sense. I did like the art though

[alexphantom]

Liked the art but not the writing, was only getting it for Laura but don't think I'll bother with the next issue .

[ohsnapulon5000]

ok it took me a while to comment on this but I'm here and so lets get into this ISH!

X-Terminators #1 by @handaxe // Gomez// Valenza

Admittedly, I went into this with the same solicited awareness of another Dazzler skatesploitation-girl-on-girl-murderworld-retrospective-world-tour that her one shots usually consist of, and I agree that this first issue delivered on that and then some. Im a bigfat DazzHead from the Himalayas if you will, so I look at her appearances with a very critical eye that comes from knowing the meta-textual Dazzler stuffs that give you a hint of what Dazzler's appearance says about the zeitgeist. Also got a chance to view it as a lover of the Grind House film genre and marry the perspectives in my read through and there we have mainly the gripes about the book. so islets start with those.

For a Grind House flick, this would have benefited so much more yet again, if Dazzler Was STRAWBERRY BLONDE HAIR. Im aware of the stark raving glitterati fan I echo the rally cry of when I say this. This is nothing new. X-terminator's Colourist in house is Bryan Valenza who is doing a hell of a job handling lots softer sweeter tones throughout the book with really the gore expressed through spattering blood, which at times are awkward and ineffective as the blood is almost coral in some panels, fire engine red in others. While Gomez does a great job of showing us interiors, and the detail of Mr. B's, Ali's West Hollywood apartment etc., the maze unfortunately with its maze-y blank wallness- Valenza's work is all but done as the plot descends into a palette of blue greens. Conveniently the same color of the Vampire Frog Men. So the book really depends on the color of the leading ladies and what they're doing to sell the story.

Jubilee and BoomBoom (the cool and crazy to Dazzler's sexy) are rendered in specific appearance that I appreciate from Gomez as they're characters are individually present and alive. I enjoyed the "acting" in this script as well as on panel. Jubilee felt like a mature Jubilee her coloring, face gags, and voice was spot on even down to her stained tank top. She comes across as "The Illest Stoner" and I love it.
Boom-Boom also doesn't disappoint and to be honest Boom did her job of making a Dazz fan almost envious of the ratchet access she has to comedic/ cartoonish revelry and antics that being a hot mess allows.

The poses on the character and her facial expressions were totally realistic and the sight/body gags were hit-ting more than a lot of the actual comedic dialogue. Her style of GrindHouse Film Blonde is the Blondiiest of the Horror Genre so really filling out the American Trope of Blonde-Redhead-Brunette would have been set with Ali STRAWBERRY Blonde. A more rough and tumble color that fits her infamous canonical history as as self proclaimed "Fireball". Instead we see the Blonde ambition pumped up to a peculiar ASH BLONDE affair that makes Ali look like a snowflake after she stops being pissed about Alex! and that's pretty early in the story. Her being pissed and grumpy and Stupid Sexy Trope while also alternating her mood as the quirky girl is SOLID Dazzler but it also works in story because she loses the momentum that throwing his ass out at the beginning gave her! I guess finding out he drugged her, was a secret vampire, and threw her and her friends into a freaking murderworld can't compare to him being a freaking CHEATER HOWDAREHE?! Her stank face should stay on! We could have stood to see DISCO HIGHWAY Dazzler here more in this ish but this is only 1 of 5 skatesploitation-girl-on-girl-murderworld-grind-house-Dazzler-porn so attitudes may change. Ash Blonde tho is a real scene drainer. It only works on Illyana and her hijinks.
But then, these are the lament of a Dazs-Fan. We get the glory even if we're getting goosed along with it.

One major point that must be made about this curiously historic little title is that it stars Dazzler and her canonical derivatives. Even X23 falls under this umbrella in a tangential way that I will explain thus: Dazzler is performing with her derivatives and that doesn't happen to many characters outside of Wolverine, Jean, Magneto, or Jamie Madrox. What or Who are derivatives? Simply characters that were created to replace their Template. Dazzler, in her publication history has been met with more than one unimpressed writer/ editor who's cooked up her death and no sooner that she's in the ground- has introduced us to her teen-bait replacement... Jubilee is completely validated as such in interviews with Claremeont. BoomBoom is validated in story as we see the Beyonder play out his romance with Alison with his friendship and partnership with Tabitha, even altering her appearance to look like Alison in one panel of a Secret Wars II tie in. This juicy factoid is made even juicier in the way Gomez makes Dazzler more prominent than the other two in stature- Ali seemingly towers over the other two. it's like she's 6ft tall compared to Tabby and Jubes who look like they're 5''5. I have zero problem since her bell bottoms look great on her long legs and her platforms. And yes, that ass is a Bubble, MixxaLots in trouble. She doesn't even have a peach on her shirt its a goddamn grapefruit, hallelujah.
And to add to the derivative point- Wolverine. Laura. X23. Why we clump her into the derivative category is not because she's a clone, but because she, like Dazzler is the product of a cross company campaign to shoehorn a cartoon character into the books created by a father company (in her case fox animation) to help sell the books. it happened with Harley Quinn from Batman as well. Dazzler was created by Casablanca Records and Marvel with the intent to sell records and ended up in the comics when even when that failed. So Wolverine tho definitely a er-Wolverine derivative is also kind of a Dazzler derivative by design alone. So go Leah Williams for putting some respect on that check for Ali Blaire, OG one true warrior and pantheon enough to have derivatives that she is now pal'ing around with. :.)

Lastly- some edits:
Jubilee: "Wow, you look str8 up like a hoe"
Jubilee: "Are the City Girls missing their one white friend?"
Jubilee: "bitch did you get pregnant just walking outside wearing that?"
Jubilee: "uh waitress, we ordered beer not the whole ass St. Pauly Girl"
Jubilee: "BoomBoom, dude, I can see your poonpoon"

I enjoyed the read, I am so happy these ladies are getting panel time. I hope more antics reveal a more strawberry attitude from Dazzler and Tabby going SPLAT against the window was hands down the funniest **** ive seen in a X-Book in a long time. 8/10!