X-Men: The Wedding Special Recap/Review

[Maestroneto]

First story is by Claremont and Nauck. Kitty recaps her life up until the present. Kitty's narrative moves from the bullet to her break to Gold (despite the art showing the WatXM era), which means Fraction to Bendis effectively gets erased from continuity. Some might argue that's because of the bad writing during that era, but it's probably because she had the audacity to date men not named Colossus during that period.

Anyway, there is ONE person Kitty loved more than anyone else and that is Grampa MacTaggart who is now the love of Kitty's life. Yep, even Godmont has betrayed us and fallen for boring heteronormativity in some miniseries nobody read. Kitty also remembers her dad as a good, honorable, decent men even though I think he did some naughty things related to fraud or whatnot.

Kitty goes to work at the old bar where she says she has wedding jitters. Nightcrawler appears and says if she's scared, she should just run away and everyone will understand, including Colossus. The ghossts of Grampa MacTaggart, Logan and Carmen Pryde show up to encourage her to get married anyway and Kitty has a happy weep while saying "I do".

Second story is the bachelor party by Greg Land. Nightcrawler is EXTREMELY happy and Gambit says boyo a bunch more times. Colossus is sad because he just wants to be with Kitty all the time. This kind of dependence on somebody is very, very healthy.

At the casino, they get interrupted by one of the bad guys from the Secret Empire tie-ins and Colossus beats him up. Ultimately the fight gets resolved because the bad guy fought Storm and OML, not these guys. The guys get away and Colossus points out this was just like that time Juggernaut. If you liked UXM #181, sorry that issue is cursed now.

Third story is the bachelorette party by Kelly Thompson and Marika Cresta. Colossus doesn't want Kitty to have a bachelorette party, which is EXTREMELY healthy. Anyway the bachelorette party is stripperoke. Kitty gets flustered and goes to the bathroom where Rogue is putting on too much makeup. They talk about wedding jitters again and Rogue says she's never been more happy with Gambit, probably because he says "boyo" now all the time.

Kitty gets teleported to the sewers by Callisto and they fight. As it turns out, Callisto is still in love with Colossus after their short fling decades ago. Sorrry Storm/Callisto's tentacles shippers! Anyway she says she'll kill Kitty if she ever hurts Colossus. Well, that came out of nowhere.

Kitty gets back to the party where she meets up with Magik, who found out about the stripperoke and decided to come. Everybody is dancing to Storm's singing. Domino is there, which about zero sense. Kitty gets champagne and a letter from Emma telling her to have an astonishing wedding. That's when my issue broke because of how incredulous that is but the good news it was the end of the issue anyway.

There are three stories in this book and none get the time to breathe with the ten pages they get in each. In fairness, some of this is the writers' own fault. Claremont didn't need to spend half his page time recapping Kitty's history. We just got those Legacy primers a couple months ago! Guggenheim wastes all his time on shitty character scenes, which means the fight is done in a double page spread and the resolution to the conflict is extremely rushed. Thompson's story works the best even though all of Kitty's paneltime is wasted on characters she rarely interacts with and mostly just serve to reiterate scenes from Gold with (Rogue, Callisto). Obviously, she deserved more pages even though the writing is rather poor.

All three issues brag about their continuity and none of it really works. X-Men True Friends is an extremely little known comic so making Grampa MacTaggart a crucial character in Kitty's history is pointless. The reference to Uncanny #181 was random and mostly just served as Guggenheim's answer to his critics that A) he has actually read a couple of comics and B) that he knows Kitty and Colossus had broken up once upon a time. But it mostly just serves as proof that Guggs is a bad writer because there is nothing "ironic" about the situation like Colossus tells us. Callisto's revelation about her feelings for Colossus feels equally bizarre and an attempt to show off continuity chops. That scene would've worked a lot better if it was with Domino. And where the hell was Karma??? I thought Thompson told me I was presumptuous about her when I said she doesn't know about her and Kitty. Oh well at least Kitty's BFFs Polaris and Domino are at the party...

That said, if you like some cooldown stuff and a lot of little character moments you will enjoy this book. Nauck and Cresta's art is neato and Land is Peak Land. 10/10 best issue yet.

[akiresu_]

I haven't read the latter two stories yet, but I had to rush over after finishing Claremont's. Chills, throughout my body. Nearly had to wipe away a tear, it was an absolutely fantastic story. Kitty's back! For a moment, it was like Claremont never stopped writing the X-Men. I know it's the hip thing to take a more nuanced position on his writing nowadays, but man, does he get the voice right. The Dr Pryde development is neat, but even if it isn't brought up again I feel like it represents so much- with showing Kitty's degree Claremont is really making a statement about what kind of character she is, particularly in the face of recent portrayals.

This nervous, relatable, young (still 20s guys!!) Kitty has been sorely missed. Ah, screw it. The whole wedding fiasco was worth it for this story in my opinion.

EDIT: This is possibly the greatest single issue of ResurreXion. Put Thompson on Gold. That was a perfect story. (and honestly Guggenheim's little bit wasn't too dreadful either!). Felt so rewarding as an X-Fan. Emma Frost sending champagne caused involuntary noises. Callisto referencing her relationship with Piotr! X-Women bonding! Stripperoke!

Bravo. Definitely made this wedding worthwhile. I just might read this all over again.

[Bafflement]

Some might argue that's because of the bad writing during that era, but it's probably because she had the audacity to date men not named Colossus during that period.

Could just be editorial mandate to erase all reminders of Iceman's straightness as well.

[Andru]

Why is Kitty working at a bar? She is a doctor? Who the f*** is Alasdhair?

[Nick Miller]

Its not a party until Kurt wraps his tail around someone.

[donpricetag]

...did I misread or did she just claim to be the same level of martial artist as Wolverine during her monologue?

Only two "boyos", guess that's better.

[WhiteQueenEmmaFrost]

LOLOLOLOL

Like I said "Kitty Pryde rewrites history"

Wouldn't Emma send THEM a bottle of Champagne? This all around idea that Colossus is SO dependent and attached to Kitty is ridiculous.

[FUBAR007]

Why is Kitty working at a bar? She is a doctor? Who the f*** is Alasdhair?

Alasdhair Kinross from Claremont's 1999 X-Men: True Friends mini-series.

[Havok83]

It looks like Rachel almost caught Kitty and Illyana making out. Kitty is horrified as she tried to keep it a secret but Illyana doesnt care and wants to taunt Rachel with it. I want this secret triangle to come out at the wedding.

[Maestroneto]

Probably Alistaire Stuart. Kitty had a crush on him during Claremont's initial run on Excalibur.

No, it's Moira's grandfather from X-Men True Friends.

[jalsrix]

This confirms that Illyana is straight, no lesbian would say 'wow' at a male stripper show.

[Havok83]

This confirms that Illyana is straight, no lesbian would say 'wow' at a male stripper show.

there are female strippers too

[Maestroneto]

This confirms that Illyana is straight, no lesbian would say 'wow' at a male stripper show.

It's a coed club.

[DDM]

Repost

The only redeemable part of Thompson’s story was Storm openly acknowledging hers and Kitty’s bisexuality. The only redeemable part of Guggenhiem’s story was nothing. Sorry Boyo.

I saved Claremont’s story for last and Bless the Bright Lady I did. X-Men Wedding Corrections was the perfect palette cleanser. Alasdhair Kinross? Logan? Belles of Hell? Dr. Kitty Pryde? LOCKHEED?!? Thank you Master CC.

[Muffinman]

but it's probably because she had the audacity to date men not named Colossus during that period..

This kind of dependence on somebody is very, very healthy.

Colossus doesn't want Kitty to have a bachelorette party, which is EXTREMELY healthy.

Rogue says she's never been more happy with Gambit, probably because he says "boyo" now all the time.


Kitty gets champagne and a letter from Emma telling her to have an astonishing wedding. That's when my issue broke because of how incredulous that is but the good news it was the end of the issue anyway.


Oh well at least Kitty's BFFs Polaris and Domino are at the party...

and Land is Peak Land. 10/10 best issue yet.

The best part about anything Gold related are the fantastic reviews lol. Totally incredible.