X-MEN [10] : FIRE spoilers and review ish

[Husk]

I’ve always actually wondered if Petra was her name or her codename. It’s never explicitly stated. Petra means rock which suits her powers. But also, despite being born in America, I believe her family originated from Denmark so it works as a first name too. Not a major pondering to be fair but also wondered.

I agree. A story can be plot focused but there still needs to be a level of characterisation or there’s no stakes. You don’t particularly care what happens to a set of characters if you don’t care for them. Vulcan got some nice moments, particularly the display of love and support at the end, but it was all still a little flat for me. Just my two cents though.

[Frobisher]

No story can be a good one without meaningful characterizations. A plot without character work is stale.

Yeah, imagine if someone made a Superman movie, but Superman just wasn't likeable or relatable - his journey as an immigrant in America who becomes a great hero just wouldn't resonate.

[Havok83]

House of X was largely plot driven and considered by most to be the best X-story in a long time

[Glio]

Yeah, imagine if someone made a Superman movie, but Superman just wasn't likeable or relatable - his journey as an immigrant in America who becomes a great hero just wouldn't resonate.

There is a big difference between "no characterization" and "the characterization of the characters is not the central part of the narrative."

Like The Lord of the Rings.

[TheRealWashout]

A plot driven story still needs decent characterization, even if they aren't the focus. Hickman needs to do some kind of workshop on how to be interested in writing women because this is taking me out of his work.

[Glio]

The main difference is that in character driven series you create situations because you are interested in how they affect the characters.

In plot driven you put situations because the situation itself is what is interesting, the character is there to solve it. The characters have more or less characterization but the narrative weight is not in them, it is in the situation that has been created.

You can do a WW2 story in which you tell the intimate story of a soldier who longs for his home or a great epic about how a group of soldiers carry out an impossible mission. Not all of these soldiers are going to have a deep characterization because, frankly, it is not necessary. It would distract from what you want to tell.

Petra and Sway are supporting characters of a supporting character.

[ericng]

After ten numbers it is clear that this is a plot driven series. Some people prefer character driven series and it is ok to have different tastes, but neither approach is inherently superior to the other.

Chris Claremont days were focused on character driven stories, that's why it was so popular back then.

Yes, we need to have Vulcan hook up with Petra or Sway instead of just being 'drink buddies'.

[TheRealWashout]

The main difference is that in character driven series you create situations because you are interested in how they affect the characters.

In plot driven you put situations because the situation itself is what is interesting, the character is there to solve it. The characters have more or less characterization but the narrative weight is not in them, it is in the situation that has been created.

You can do a WW2 story in which you tell the intimate story of a soldier who longs for his home or a great epic about how a group of soldiers carry out an impossible mission. Not all of these soldiers are going to have a deep characterization because, frankly, it is not necessary. It would distract from what you want to tell.

Petra and Sway are supporting characters of a supporting character.

So basically there are plot driven stories with good characterization and plot driven stories with bad characterization. This was the latter.

[houndsofluv]

It's hilarious how in the main event that moon base is treated as the big deal and here is "Vulcan had a bad day".

God, the X-Men tie-ins are being the highlight of the event.

I was thinking this too ! even the Empyre mini the Cotati conflict doesn't take centre stage , or at least didn't in the one issue so far ; Hickman def knows how to milk a larger event for the benefit of his own stories

No story can be a good one without meaningful characterizations. A plot without character work is stale.

We've seen good character work from Hickman too it just isn't the focus. Scott and Polaris' convo, Scott and Kurt's convo, (noticing a trend loll) Storm and Mags in the 1st issue, Mystique and Destiny moments, this issue did good stuff w/ Vulcan, etc.

Yeah, imagine if someone made a Superman movie, but Superman just wasn't likeable or relatable - his journey as an immigrant in America who becomes a great hero just wouldn't resonate.

man of steel > citizen kane

[Glio]

So basically there are plot driven stories with good characterization and plot driven stories with bad characterization. This was the latter.

Vulcan had good characterization

[TheRealWashout]

Vulcan had good characterization

Yeah, he's a man.

[Glio]

Chris Claremont days were focused on character driven stories, that's why it was so popular back then.

Yes, we need to have Vulcan hook up with Petra or Sway instead of just being 'drink buddies'.

Not everyone has to write like Claremont. X-Factor is more similar to his style.

Yeah, he's a man.

No, he is the supporting character that this issue is focused on, just as Mystique had a good characterization in the comic that was about her. What characterization did Xavier have in the Mystique comic? He was only there to be a dick.

[houndsofluv]

Yeah, he's a man.

lol bloop.

I will say that their relationship rn is super interesting but I hope they get more development than just Alcoholic Wench 1 and 2. From Vulcan's POV that role says a lot abt where they all stand w/ each other and makes sense but outside of that its too shallow imo considering they all have Krakoa-based trauma

[Glio]

We don't even know if they are going to play a significant role in the comic again. Nor is it as if they were very defined characters before, they were basically characters created to die in a mini and give Vulcan backstory in Deadly Genesis.

[Sutekh]

It was one issue, I'm sure down the line when Vulcan really needs them, Sway and Petra will come through for him.

Possibly. And yet this issue gave me the feeling that 'Petra' and 'Sway' aren't really Petra and Sway, but are some sort of sleeper agents keeping an eye on Vulcan for the creepy alien dudes (unconsciously, at least, perhaps only being full-on Manchurian candidate when they are asleep, or blackout drunk?).

All three of them are clearly suppressing things that happened with them, hence the drinking and partying.

That also seems likely, just as it seems that none of them have much desire to hang out on Krakoa, the island that killed and ate them and, for the girls in particular, that's like *the last thing they remember* before waking up in this new shiny happy Krakoa-kumbaya-klub.

And yeah, it is odd how Petra is just 'Petra' and Sway is 'Suzanne Chan' with an actual name, and named parents (David and Emily), while Petra's Danish parents and brother also go unnamed. It's like, this is Vulcan (info dump) and this is Sway (small amount of background information) and this is Petra (out of space, TBD)...