Readthrough: Classic X-Men 11
17 Mar 2019 11:48 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
sheliak posting in ![[community profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/community.png){kind=small}
x_men_classicSorry in advance for the lack of images and poll this time around.
The POV character of this story is a new one, who as far as I know was never seen since--a writer named Phil Halloran. He's depressed, struggling to get words on paper and hating them once they're there, behind on his deadlines and generally feeling lost.
On a whim, he goes exploring in a closed-off skyscraper, thinking about how amazing and futuristic it seemed when it was new, and how little that promise has come to. He's found his way to the observation deck and is staring at the edge when Storm shows up.
His first reaction is anger at being interrupted, followed by awe--he hadn't believed she was real. She, on the other hand, tells him straight away that she's a fan of his work. She also says that she was drawn there by his sadness, which implies powers that Storm has never actually possessed.
Storm asks if he means to jump; he says he's considered it, and she offers to provide a reason not to. He jokingly asks if she can teach him to fly, and while she can't do that, she can do the next best thing, taking him into the sky with her. As they fly, they continue talking about life, death, and meaning; as excited as he is to fly, the wonder of it isn't enough to change his mind about how his life has been going.
Throughout, the two of them seem to be from different worlds (which the art definitely emphasizes; Bolton's superhero costumes still look just a tad off next to his realistic settings and street clothes). Storm, who risks her life regularly, urges Phil not to throw his away, comparing his ability as a writer to her powers. He retorts that lately, he can't write, and without that, he has nothing.
Storm tells him to find something else to give his life meaning, and he retorts:
This is an interesting question! And also one that is relevant to Storm's in-universe future. Unfortunately, Storm is not able to reply, because at this point a random serial killer attacks. (To be fair, the serial killer was foreshadowed by a newspaper Phil walked by earlier--but he still seems awfully unnecessary.) Inexplicably, he doesn't immediately attack Phil, but says he will if he follows.
Phil takes a moment to angst about the fact that if he helps Storm she'll prevent him from committing suicide, but by the next page has made up his mind. He follows and attacks the serial killer--rather ineffectually, but he succeeds in distracting the killer long enough for Storm to regain consciousness and muster up the concentration necessary for a lightning bolt, which resolves the matter.
Phil promises to call the police and an ambulance, and they briefly resume their conversation; she urges him to live, and he tells her that one way or another, it's his choice to make.
... This is not a favorite. I mean, I'm not sure it's my least favorite either--this series has a couple real clunkers, and this story was all right before the serial killer showed up--but I really don't think this one is much good. It would have been better without the serial killer, though.
Next Thursday: The X-Men face off against an angry purveyor of rented hovercraft, and also Magneto.
Next Sunday: Magneto's backstory.
The POV character of this story is a new one, who as far as I know was never seen since--a writer named Phil Halloran. He's depressed, struggling to get words on paper and hating them once they're there, behind on his deadlines and generally feeling lost.
On a whim, he goes exploring in a closed-off skyscraper, thinking about how amazing and futuristic it seemed when it was new, and how little that promise has come to. He's found his way to the observation deck and is staring at the edge when Storm shows up.
His first reaction is anger at being interrupted, followed by awe--he hadn't believed she was real. She, on the other hand, tells him straight away that she's a fan of his work. She also says that she was drawn there by his sadness, which implies powers that Storm has never actually possessed.
Storm asks if he means to jump; he says he's considered it, and she offers to provide a reason not to. He jokingly asks if she can teach him to fly, and while she can't do that, she can do the next best thing, taking him into the sky with her. As they fly, they continue talking about life, death, and meaning; as excited as he is to fly, the wonder of it isn't enough to change his mind about how his life has been going.
Throughout, the two of them seem to be from different worlds (which the art definitely emphasizes; Bolton's superhero costumes still look just a tad off next to his realistic settings and street clothes). Storm, who risks her life regularly, urges Phil not to throw his away, comparing his ability as a writer to her powers. He retorts that lately, he can't write, and without that, he has nothing.
Storm tells him to find something else to give his life meaning, and he retorts:
There is nothing else!
Turn things around--
--If I snapped my fingers...
...and took away your powers, how would you feel?
What are we, without our reason for being?
This is an interesting question! And also one that is relevant to Storm's in-universe future. Unfortunately, Storm is not able to reply, because at this point a random serial killer attacks. (To be fair, the serial killer was foreshadowed by a newspaper Phil walked by earlier--but he still seems awfully unnecessary.) Inexplicably, he doesn't immediately attack Phil, but says he will if he follows.
Phil takes a moment to angst about the fact that if he helps Storm she'll prevent him from committing suicide, but by the next page has made up his mind. He follows and attacks the serial killer--rather ineffectually, but he succeeds in distracting the killer long enough for Storm to regain consciousness and muster up the concentration necessary for a lightning bolt, which resolves the matter.
Phil promises to call the police and an ambulance, and they briefly resume their conversation; she urges him to live, and he tells her that one way or another, it's his choice to make.
... This is not a favorite. I mean, I'm not sure it's my least favorite either--this series has a couple real clunkers, and this story was all right before the serial killer showed up--but I really don't think this one is much good. It would have been better without the serial killer, though.
Next Thursday: The X-Men face off against an angry purveyor of rented hovercraft, and also Magneto.
Next Sunday: Magneto's backstory.
