Readthrough: Classic X-Men 15

[sheliak]

I like how the title font matches Christopher's early dreams--it'd be right at home on a pulp sci fi novel cover--and contrasts with his reality.

Hepzibah, running from prison guards, runs smack into Christopher. The delay lets them catch her, and Christopher is only briefly defiant; one strike of the guard's neuro-lash and he's out of it, even when he hears that the guards are planning to eat Hepzibah alive. "That's the spirit. Broken all to bits!" the guards cackle.

We get a flashback to happier times. (Flashback Christopher looks rather like Nightcrawler's Errol Flynn disguise, doesn't he?)



Alas, he is the father of a major X-Men character; over-the-top tragedy is his lot in life. He and his are kidnapped by the Shi'ar (as "zoological specimens"), and see their kids' parachute catch fire from a distance; naturally, they assume the boys are dead. Then the Emperor "takes a fancy" to Kate, and when Christopher tries to rescue her, he kills her and sends Christopher to this prison, considering it the cruelest possible response.

I like how the panel shape changes here, as Ch'od interrupts the flashback.



Corsair is too terrified to help or hinder them, and claims he knows nothing; they both know he's lying. (In this story Ch'od has a power of sensing auras; he can tell that Christopher was recently tortured, for example. I can't remember that power being used elsewhere; has it been?)

Raza Longknife considers killing Christopher, both as a mercy and because otherwise he might tell the guards and ruin their chance of saving their friend; Ch'od agrees with the logic, but still says no.

But if we slay with the same casual, rationalized ease as the guards...

... wherein are we different?

Mercy may be a fool's habit, my friend...

...but occasionally, it is better to be a fool.

Raza isn't sure it's a mercy to let him live, but he goes along with Ch'od's decision.

Between the contempt from both Raza and the guards and the presence of a damsel in distress, Christopher is spurred to action. He knows where the guards will hold their "feast", and he heads there, seen but ignored; everyone has already decided he's not worth bothering with.



Instead of alerting the guards, he attacks. Of course he loses spectacularly. But Ch'od and Raza are happy to come to the rescue (and take advantage of the distraction, too). Ch'od in particular banters like someone out of a different story, and I think that's on purpose: this is who the Starjammers will be.

Your pardon, gentle sentient--

--but being a noble soul...

...I fell certain you'd much prefer...

...dealing with someone your own size.

Raza, would you care to acquaint these worthies...

...with our opinion of their hospitality...

...towards our friends?

(I do like how quickly Christopher is promoted to "friend" here.)

Christopher isn't sure how much good his intervention has really done. But Hepzibah is glad for the help.

Christopher: I'm a pilot.

Ch'od: Even with your aid...

...there are no guarantees.

Hepzibah: Can fly starship?

Christopher: Can learn.

I love him picking up traces of her speech patterns there.

Corsair: Look-- whereever you go, I'd like to come with you.

Whatever you have planned, I'd like to be a part of it.

That is--if you'll have me?

There are no objections. Ch'od asks his name, and he introduces himself as Corsair.


Kate Summers's death here is a blatant fridging, although I think it had already been established as such, and poor Hepizibah plays the damsel in distress. Still, I like this story; the emotional beats work for me, the contrast between the high space opera adventures Corsair once dreamed of (and will one day live) and his current misery, the moment he pushes through at last. And I really like Ch'od.