X-Men: Hellfire Gala #1 - Review/Spoilers

[Rift]

Okay, here's how Hellion will be okay.

Xavier was commanding everybody. But when has Julian Keller ever listened to authority? Much less Xavier? And his motivation was to help people? Julian ain't gonna help people. So his naturally defiant personality would have helped him to resist.

[CaptainUniverse]

So...Cannonball is dead? What about Izzy and their son?

[Kingdom X]

That line up would never carry the franchise. None of those characters have star power.

Ok so give them one a-lister… think you missed the point the poster was making.

[Nazrel]

I’m trying to figure out what about “mutants seemingly extinct and everyone on the run” is SO appealing that I had to be the next phase of this ongoing story. It’s like… the exact setup of Rosenberg’s run. I guess it’s supposed to hit harder because the mutants were finally on a bit of a high, but to me it just shows a lack of creativity.

Despite the pretensions of this era, they still never got off that tedious hamster wheel, which has been the real albatross around the franchises neck.

[Hi-Fi]

Okay, here's how Hellion will be okay.

Xavier was commanding everybody. But when has Julian Keller ever listened to authority? Much less Xavier? And his motivation was to help people? Julian ain't gonna help people. So his naturally defiant personality would have helped him to resist.

Hellion's lack of respect for authority made him miss Xavier's class on how to RESIST, actually.

[Itchpfork]

It was very momentous and dramatic &c, but—on the whole it was just kind of an okay read. Duggan's writing in general doesn't make me feel anything, and this wasn't much of an exception. It's like he writes plot summaries with pictures put to them.

I almost lol'd at the Cuckoos' spiel on the early pages. As soon as he inherited the "showrunner" role from Hickman, Duggan started doing all he could to dial back the moral ambiguity and cultish weirdness that Hickman baked into Krakoa (and which made it so strange and exciting), and here the handwaving is especially fierce. "Sorry if we came off as abrasive with all the manifest destiny stuff. All we want is to solve world hunger and build better cities for you"

[davetvs]

Ok so give them one a-lister… think you missed the point the poster was making.

Clearly on purpose, don't even bother. X-23 and Juggernaut have no star power?

[Hi-Fi]

It’s the same thing as when they were deciding who was getting crucified outside the school, who was getting depowered, and who was getting blown up on a bus. This franchise is REALLY comfortable killing and maiming characters from marginalized backgrounds for shock value, all while preaching a message of inclusivity. I was able to chock up those other examples as “being in the past” and not knowing better but nah. They just don’t care.

Hopefully they do care and will give those characters decent roles in the books when they're back.

[Zoks]

Ok so give them one a-lister… think you missed the point the poster was making.

The only A-list character that can really carry a diverse main line team is Storm, and she is carrying X-Men Red.

Clearly on purpose, don't even bother. X-23 and Juggernaut have no star power?

No they don't. Yes they are recognizable, but they are not franchise carriers.

[Rift]

Hellion's lack of respect for authority made him miss Xavier's class on how to RESIST, actually.

Nah, we know he regularly attended class based on New Mutants vol 2. Classrooms were an opportunity to bully students and sexually harass his teachers.

[Triniking1234]

I forgot this was today. Probably cuz I saw the damn two weeks thread and thought "lol I still have time."

[Saithor]

It’s the same thing as when they were deciding who was getting crucified outside the school, who was getting depowered, and who was getting blown up on a bus. This franchise is REALLY comfortable killing and maiming characters from marginalized backgrounds for shock value, all while preaching a message of inclusivity. I was able to chock up those other examples as “being in the past” and not knowing better but nah. They just don’t care.

This is what happens when you give writers an excuse to portray white straight people as minorities. Honestly the joke about Emm Frost lecturing Luke Cage about what Racism is and what it means to suffer it seems more likely every day.

[JB]

Nope that’s his only appearance. All things considered… a non-speaking cameo as one of the escapees is blessed considering the fate of most.

True. I was happy to see Gambit there as part of the resistance.

So...Cannonball is dead? What about Izzy and their son?

He and many others, for now anyway. The Five are alive and being protected by Exodus, they just don't have access to back-ups and DNA at the moment.

I have a feeling Jean might eventually have an answer to that though...

Hopefully they do care and will give those characters decent roles in the books when they're back.

That's what I'm hoping and think to be true. Their upcoming stories in Unlimited written by Steve Foxe and Stephanie Williams feels like a good sign. There currently is no official roster of X-Men and I think we'll be seeing some of these characters coming back around when it's time to make it official again.

For those that feel they may jump off the franchise, maybe try to hang in there until we know what's coming after the Fall of X. We know this mini era is temporary and something much brighter (hopefully) will be on the other side.

Putting on my positivity hat for a moment, a few things:

- Synch and Talon as leaders. Yes! I can't wait to see Everett taking charge especially during this dire situation. Everyone knows how much I love him and I think he's going to be extremely important in all of this. He personifies hope and perseverance and will serve as a symbol of inspiration for mutants. I'm still getting to know Talon but she is a beast so I'm looking forward to their co-leadership.
- The hostage situation with the humans on meds is very high stakes. It makes sense now why the resistance will be in hiding or in disguise. I like high stakes. Every move the resistance makes going forward will be in careful consideration of humanity. Protecting a world that literally hates and fears them like never before now.
- Firestar. I went from feeling indifferent about her to loving her in one issue. She has a tough road ahead of her and now we know why she's fighting Juggernaut on that future X-Men cover. I hope she's able to get some allies on her side fast.
- Rogue. Well deserved big moment for her, finally.

Also I recommend checking out Iron Man this week as it continues a sliver of the story. spoilers:

Emma and Kingpin are in it.

end of spoilers

[TheRealWashout]

I liked this, and I generally like Duggan as a writer, but I do think the scene with the new team was something they should have put a lot more thought into.

That said, I love a dark and terrifying issue, and that scene with Xavier and Rogue was really great. I'm glad Rogue finally got a real moment to shine in the Krakoan era, and Xavier telling her to avenge Krakoa gave me chills.

[Hi-Fi]

Nah, we know he regularly attended class based on New Mutants vol 2. Classrooms were an opportunity to bully students and sexually harass his teachers.

I stand corrected.