The Quick and Dirty
Writer: Mike Carey
Art: Chris Bachalo (p),Tim Townsend/Jon Sibal (i), Brian Reber (c)
Pros: A very scary depiction of the future; we finally begin to understand what Cable is doing; terrific art.
Cons: The cover ruins the payoff of this issue’s main plotline; poor Layla!
Who should buy this issue: Any and every fan of the Multiple Man; anyone following the crossover thus far.
Overall Rating: ●●● ●●● ◦◦◦ (6/9)
The Details
The Art:
Bachalo and Reber do an amazing job on the future scenes. I love Reber’s use of reds- with a story that switches settings so frequently, it paints the emotional preparation that the reader needs before stepping back into the concentration camp. Doing so allows us to prepare ourselves for something uncomfortable. Jamie’s face frequently sits in shadow, a device that both hides his marking until the critical reveal at the end of the issue, and also calls the readers to use their imaginations draw in Jamie’s anguish. His and Layla’s situation is draw so brilliantly desolate that we are actually glad when other prisoners arrive on the yard, as their presence staves off some of the lonliness.
The other pages worth mentioning are the roadside pages featuring Cable. There’s a powerful effect to Bachalo’s layout here. He uses it again on the opening two pages of the issue, and in a couple other places. It is so effective because it greets you with an open, scene setting shot, and then brings us in tight to see the characters in detail. In general, Bachalo chooses one particular panel per page to focus on, and the other panels work on the periphery. As this is such a visual story, this technique works very well for Carey’s writing.
Townsend used to be one of my favorite inkers on the title when he layed down Maduria’s pencils. Because Bachelo’s pencils are tight and clunky, it makes it difficult for the inker to express any individuality. Of course, in an issue where the inking chores are split, it is probably a testament to Sibal and Townsend’s skill that it is difficult to tell the difference.
The Story (possible spoilers):
This issue read more like a great issue of X-Factor than Carey’s typically action packed X-Men book, which is 100% okay with me. After last issue’s thrilling knock down, a little breathing room was needed. Of course, this is assuming one can breathing while sitting anxiously on the edge of their seat.
Jamie Madrox is the star of this issue, making this the chapter that I have been waiting for since Messiah Complex began. Unfortunately for Jamie, it’s not a pretty issue. Things look very bleak in the future, and the reader is given a front row seat to the dehumanization that greets new prisoners of the mutant concentration camp. As difficult as it is to watch Jamie stripped of his hair, clothing, identity, and basically his di. gnity- it is far worse watching Layla stripped of hers. At least Madrox is a grown man. And as easy as it is to forget, we also need to remember that he is just a duplicate. As soon as he is killed, his memories will rejoin Jamie Prime, and life in the current timeline will resume.
This isn’t the case for Layla. With even the memory of mutants erased in this future terror, there is little hope that one of the world’s future metahumans will break her out of her cell. Some dampening device must be in effect to keep the current prisoners from using their powers. In short, things look extremely helpless. And Jamie seems to be aware of it all, as his thoughts are always of Layla and not of himself. He protests, fights, and inquires about her wellbeing, and never complains when he gets beat down for it. Carey’s done an excellent job of being able to show both sides of the man over the course of the crossover. I would like to see him write Jamie again, post Messiah Complex. Maybe he’ll get a chance for an issue or two in X-Men: Legacy.
Out on the yard, at the end of the issue we finally get to see the result of the Jamie’s marking: a big “M” tattoo just like the one that Bishop, Shard, and the other X.S.E. members wear. Maybe this could be a sign of hope, as Shard and company may exist in this alternate future. They could save Layla, bring her back to the present time, and then Shard could once again join X-Factor! As amazing as the cover of the issue is, it does spoil what seems to be set up as a surprise at the end of this issue. I for one would have been shocked to learn of Jamie’s marking had it been revealed at the second to last page of the issue. Of course, had it been revealed then, it would have lessened the impact of the shock on the next page (which I will discuss in a moment). And while this dupe’s presence in the future is only temporary, we know from Marker Whitman’s dialogue that the ink is bonded to DNA which I’m sure is supposed to mean that Jamie Prime will have the tat as well when he reunites with his dupe.
Back in the present time, Caliban’s death is dealt with in a way that is almost not sad. I mean, its sad that we won’t ever get to see more of him in action, and I feel bad for Proudstar, but the X-Men really seem to have respect for him. He earned himself a place amongst their ranks the hard way, but as Hepzibah pointed out, what a way to go. Glory blazing and all that. After a great funeral, I think readers will be able to let him rest. I just hope the character is done justice and kept under ground. The one aspect of Caliban’s passing that does bother me is Proudstar’s reaction outside in the snow. He seems caught up in petty return-the-favor feelings rather than sadness and mourning. Of course later in the Blackbird, he’s switched to feelings of revenge, which is more of what I’d expect from him. I wonder who he’s going to take it out on? The Reavers and Deathstrike are dead- I wonder if he thinks he can actually kill Cable? Or maybe he’s mad at Cyclops for sending them on the mission. We’ll have to see.
Notice, that on page 7 panel 2, the image is very pixelated. This means that there was a picture of cyclops that was zoomed in on, and something originally in the background of the panel was edited out. I wonder what was edited out?
The New X-Men’s role in this story seems to be finished. Basically, they whined about not being able to do anything, rebelled, got put in their place and almost got the rest of the X-Men killed, then fixed Cerebra. The main showdown will probably occur without them (with the exception being X-23). Tough rocks for the NXM fans. At least a few of ‘em got to throw down with the Sentinels.
Cable is the other star of this issue, finally reaching his mystery destination. I like that we are returning full circle and heading back to Forge’s place. I was honestly under the impression that Forge’s role in the story was over- kudos to the extremely capable writing squad on this one. As it is, this story-line stands to be the best X-over in history. Of course, all five writers have failed to deliver on the climax at one point or another in their recent careers, so I won’t make any claims yet. However, they have been able to surprise and excite us readers even while telling us in advance what will happen: we all knew an X-Man would die, we all knew a baby was being born, we all knew about the new X-Force, we all knew the Sentinel subplot was being resolved, and we all knew someone would turn traitor. Many Internet fans even believed (correctly) that the traitor would be Bishop.
And with Bishop’s reveal, some may still have been surprised. I was. I thought that the traitor would be Layla, as she has had mysterious motives since day one, has no real loyalty to the X-Men or X-Factor, and keeps many secrets. She even lies about not know things she does know about. While watching Cable run up those steps, I thought it was Mystique holding the gun. She’s To my surprise it was another of Sinister’s operatives: the man from the future. This explains why he was wondering when Bishop would “turn up” many moons ago. Of course, in the last page of the issue, Bish’s eyes are glowing red, leading me to believe that he either is under mind control (Malice), or that he isn’t really Bishop (Sinister or Mystique). If any of these options are true, then Bishop really isn’t a traitor and Layla once again has the opportunity to betray the X-Men. Regardless of her loyalties, in looking at her current state I would have to comment “she better know what she’s doing.”