Inspired by Master of Sound's X-Books Awards, I figured it would be nice to reminisce about our favorite moments of the year. From huge battles to quiet moments to stunning art to funny jokes, let's take a trip down memory lane. I'll start with the first 3 that came to mind.
I stared at this page for some time as I couldn't quite believe what I was looking at. The power, the intimacy, the faces of everyone watching. Storm and Magneto made a commitment to give up eternal life to further solidify their seats at the table, literally and figuratively. The Arakkii are a people of old customs and yet this was when we saw them, during a very dark hour, change. They shifted as a people by witnessing Storm and Magneto. It all still takes my breath away.
Nightcrawler's Immortal issue. Because Cerebro is not recording 24/7, the majority of deaths allow for the resurrected to "forget" their actual death. But Nightcrawler requested that Xavier back him up constantly to achieve the task at hand, directed by Destiny. He remembered every excruciating death yet continued to launch forward, with a smile. I'm posting this scene because of how beautifully it was rendered but the whole issue was a master class in super-heroics.
I probably can't properly explain how happy I was to witness this kiss. As a gay man, it warmed my heart to see two major female X-characters showing affection in such a beautiful and special way. It was a long time coming for Rachel's character to finally be depicted as queer and it's a moment I'll never forget. From an in-story perspective, Betsy was thrust into everything that came along with being Captain Britain and so I see it as a hopeful message that love still found a way through. Plus it must have been nice to experience that feeling in her original body once again.