Marauders #3 [Reclamation] - Review/Spoilers

[powerpax]

I vaguely recall the design. Deep cut.

[powerpax]

This book (and X-Men #3) has somehow managed to invest me in the Shaws. I love the global scope. So fucking good.

[People Of The Earth]

I know you all read this. Stop being lazy.

- After the scene with Sebastian in preview, it's revealed that he's meeting with Xavier and the Five to resurrect his son, Shinobi. There's a couple of Duggan comedy scenes with Pyro.

- Sebastian introduces Shinobi to the Black Keep and after having his son change into a red suit, they leave for Manhattan.

- At the Manhattan gate, Daddy Shaw uses his powers to chase away some flatscan cultists. Dad explains to Shinobi what happened when he died with the Krakoa scheme and his version of what Emma's deal with Xavier + Magneto was.

- They then travel to Tokyo on Shinobi's request so Son can meet one of his acquaintances.

- Data pages of Bishop and Shadowcat.

- Scene cut to the Shaws at Black Keep. Dad tells Son that he needs him to act as his Black Bishop. Shinobi says he'll do it but he needs to know how he died. An earlier page reveals Xavier removed the memory of death as shown in Rosenberg's UXM. Sebastian tells his son that it was Emma's and Kitty's doing. End.

Score: No action? Whack/10

It was a good read, probably the better one this Week for me.

Hellfire Bay is an interesting concept, though seeing Sebastian Shaw strut around it while the local populace defer to him had a strong lord meat his peasants vibe I didn't appreciate.
The power of Krakoa is immense if it can build such powerful fortresses whenever mutants ask for them, though I suspect the Bay is not a place where the other Kraked are very common.

Michele Bandini has a knack for conveying emotions and give believable expressions to the characters he draws.
His work is night and day compared to Leinil Yu work over in X-Men.
It suits to the strength of the story here, because we can see driplets of inner turmoil leaking from Sebastian constant facade in front of his son, masking his attachement to him.
Knowing the "rocky" history and constant backstabbing of these two, it was rather touching to see.
I also liked that the resurrection led to another bout of people publicly asking to Shinobi what is now a ritualistic (cultural?) question "how do we know it is you?"... It was nice to see this carried over from HoX/PoX.

Another thing I liked is the way the author is adressing some of the incohérences we discussed on this forum previously.

Case in point, the gates in-universe.

Yes.
Of course their access would be regulated by other countries.
The krakoan gates are, de facto, a new frontier to monitor for said countries, to leave them unchecked if they knew of their location would be counter-intuitive.
The way it was treated here, like going through some airport processing, was smart. Surprisingly, the author played fast and lose with that immediately afterward with (one of?) the japanese gate(s) being left completely unguarded, so I Wonder if there's a cultural element to it that he's toying with. That, or the yakuzas are the one monitoring the gate.
Who knows.
I actually wished someone told that to Howard over in Excalibur but I digress.

Other incoherence "adressed": the lack of security forces to protect the island and, specifically, its frontier and various assets.
Glad to see someone acknowledging that gaping hole in-universe…
Here on this forum, pointing that out is perceived as pushing for a fascist state and/or useless measures because "there's already security in place" (!!!) depending on who you are talking to…
Though Shaw Sr clearly intend to make some profit over the development and acquisition of security infrastructures for Krakoa.
The oily and purposeful gaslighting of events by Sebastian Shaw to his son was every bit what I expected from the character, though there is Truth in saying Frost played a role in Shinobi's death.

Last point: the existence of cultists around the world who either see mutants as gods (like in this issue) or as demons to be eradicated (like the Purifiers for example).
Makes sense that the unhinged part and extremist fringe of the population would latch onto this kind of rhetoric - but they are just that: unhinged and extremists. I pity the crowd who Doesn't understand that kind of nuance, either genuinely or for the sake of trolling.
They stand for themselves and not for the rest of humanity, both in-universe and on this forum.

3.5/5

The quality of the writing, worldbuilding snippets and respect shown to previous continuity made for an enjoyable read, serviced by excellent art and colours.
One could make the argument that this issue was filler-ish, with lots of talk and close to zero action (if we Don't count the Shaws beating around these unhinged zealots) but if all fillers could be of that quality, most people would actually be fine with them.
X-read of the Week imo.

[teapartyofthedead]

I really enjoyed this issue. Sure, it was Shaw heavy, but it does serve to flesh him and Shinobi out. I loved the Pyro bits. Makes you wonder how dank Wolverine’s **** was because boy was blazing. As always, my queen Emma was a delight. I have to agree with a poster that said her hair was too gold yellow than we’re used to seeing it, but her outfit was spot on.

[BroHomo]

though there is Truth in saying Frost played a role in Shinobi's death.

Errr in what way?

[Triniking1234]

Frost didn't send Cortez and Shinobi after Cyclops so no.

[Havok83]

Frost didn't send Cortez and Shinobi after Cyclops so no.

She did send Cyclops and the X-men after Cortez and Shinobi though. She used her powers to instigate conflict between the X-men and the people on their list. She sent Scott down the path to take out her targets and the Upstarts were on it. Did she conspire to kill Shinobi? Not exactly but she did conspire to have him taken out and she didnt care if he died or not. He was collateral damage

[Michael Watkins]

She did send Cyclops and the X-men after Cortez and Shinobi though. She used her powers to instigate conflict between the X-men and the people on their list. She sent Scott down the path to take out her targets and the Upstarts were on it. Did she conspire to kill Shinobi? Not exactly but she did conspire to have him taken out and she didnt care if he died or not. He was collateral damage

but how was Shinobi even alive for Emma to manipulate? there's a lot about that run that confused me.

I feel like I missed a storyline regarding the sword Shinobi was carrying as well? what was the debt? I remember him having his hand taken off at one point.

[Havok83]

but how was Shinobi even alive for Emma to manipulate? there's a lot about that run that confused me.

I feel like I missed a storyline regarding the sword Shinobi was carrying as well? what was the debt? I remember him having his hand taken off at one point.

He was brought back in Necrosha

[Michael Watkins]

Yeah, that's what I was thinking.

Because Classic Pyro is CRAZY....

i don't know about him being crazy. he was a published author and has a smart mouth. but all of the Brotherhood, save Spiral, were pretty grounded.

[Michael Watkins]

He was brought back in Necrosha

I have those issues. I guess that I assumed that all who were resurrected went back to being dead after Selene siphoned their energy to become a god. the X-Men seem surprised when Seamus Mellencamp returned from the dead.

[People Of The Earth]

Errr in what way?

Frost didn't send Cortez and Shinobi after Cyclops so no.

The both of you need to go back read Uncanny if you don't know how Frost played a role in Shinobi Shaw's last death.

[Triniking1234]

Havok read it for us.

[Askani5]

I still don’t understand what’s the sudden change of mind for Shaw to want Shinobi back. They never had a great relationship ever ever. They spent most time at each other’s throats. I thought Shaw would be more eager to resurrect his deceased mutant wife more than anything. And why is not Selene competing for influence and power with Shaw and Frost. I wonder if her new found cult in Capt America would make an appearance. I can’t wait for her and emplate to feed on mutants lol

[jwatson]

I still don’t understand what’s the sudden change of mind for Shaw to want Shinobi back. They never had a great relationship ever ever. They spent most time at each other’s throats. I thought Shaw would be more eager to resurrect his deceased mutant wife more than anything. And why is not Selene competing for influence and power with Shaw and Frost. I wonder if her new found cult in Capt America would make an appearance. I can’t wait for her and emplate to feed on mutants lol

Shaw specifically stated in the issue he was inspired by seeing Xavier and Apoc shake hands. That in this new mutant world if those two could work together he felt anything was possible. Only natural that would make him think of where he failed his son. He's on the cusp of everything he strived for with the Hellfire club and literally had no one to share it with.