Third of the five issue limited series as Jamie pursues one case in Chicago while his dupe, along with Wolfsbane and Strong Guy, try to keep the lid on cases in Mutant Town. Whad’ja think?
PAD
Third of the five issue limited series as Jamie pursues one case in Chicago while his dupe, along with Wolfsbane and Strong Guy, try to keep the lid on cases in Mutant Town. Whad’ja think?
PAD
• 
Pretty good. But here’s what I don’t understand. Maybe my memory is playing tricks on me, Peter, but didn’t Jamie learn in X-Factor that dupes grew more and more independent the more time they spent away from him, which his what led to that one dupe hooking up with Mr. Sinister? If my memory’s right (correct me if I’m wrong), then why would he continue to send out dupes for years on end to other parts of the world and expcect them to come back. Mind you, it’s a really clever way to use his powers to give him whatever bit of esoteric knowledge a given scene requires him to have, but then the end of the issue shouldn’t be a surprise to him.
Also, I compliment Pablo Raimondi’s art, as it is fare more consistent and adroitly rendered than David Lopez’s Fallen Angel work, but I do wish he would depict Guido with the same body proportions and hunchback with which Larry Stroman and Joe Quesada did back in X-Factor, or at least explain this as another development in the story. I hate it when a character’s established physical distinctions (of which there are relatively few in comics) are not maintained by the succession of artists.
Still, I can’t wait for the next issue. Well-done! 🙂
I’ve been absolutely loving this series – every issue is better than the one before. I came to it with high expectations, and those expectations have been exceeded.
Two questions:
– It’s mentioned that a duplicate dying is not nearly as big a deal as the original dying. My question is … how do we know this to be true? In other words, is there any proof that the original Madrox is any more “prime” than a duplicate? (This may seem an odd question, but I’ve loaned the issues to friends of mine who don’t read comics much, and though they both enjoyed it, they each had the same question.)
– Both in concepts and characters, this series is absolutely overflowing with potential. How are sales? Are there talks about a possible ongoing?
I, too, agreed with much of what the two posters above mentioned. As teh writer who has done the most with Madrox, you obviously have final say on what is and is not correct with him, but some of what you are doing now jsut doesn’t seem 100% consistent with the past. Granted, powers can evovle and change, but the changes that are happening here seem rather unhelpful. The fractured personalites of the dupes immediately upon emersion, fo instance. I can accept that the longer away a dupe is, the more his personality might change, but having it happen instantaneously seems like just a way for you as a writer to work in gags and, (more importantly) instill some significant limitations to Jamie’s powers.
The fallen angels LS (the Marvel New Mutant Spinoff from years ago, not your own DC book , as well as other stories prior) clearly established that Jamies dupes can also duplicate. One such dupe was having dinner with Siryn, mentioning something to the effect that we (the dupes) are completely identical, and that “I am just lucky, I’m th one with you.” I believe Your own X-factor story had Jamie pitted against his own dupes — a story in which I believe you set an upper limit to the number of dupes that Jamie could manufacture. In that sory both Jamie and his dupe coould duplicate. Has that changed? If so, when?
I also must echo the above posters comments re: Prime Jamie vs Dupe Jamie. Is this anything like Tom Riker and Wm Riker over in Star Trek World. Both of these would consider themselves the original, who is to say which is which? Only the mechanism for creating the dupe was different. Mutant power vs magical transporter accident.
Not a bad issue – loved Marvin the Paranoid Madrox :).
Got to ask PAD – how long do you see it having been (MU time) since Jamie was in X-Factor? Just curious.
> Pretty good. But here’s what I don’t understand. Maybe my memory is playing tricks on me, Peter, but didn’t Jamie learn in X-Factor that dupes grew more and more independent the more time they spent away from him, which his what led to that one dupe hooking up with Mr. Sinister? If my memory’s right (correct me if I’m wrong), then why would he continue to send out dupes for years on end to other parts of the world and expcect them to come back. Mind you, it’s a really clever way to use his powers to give him whatever bit of esoteric knowledge a given scene requires him to have, but then the end of the issue shouldn’t be a surprise to him.
PAD’s been playing fast’n’loose with his power the whole series (traditionally, he absorbed dupes’ injuries at half the intensity (by making a chain of dupes to absorb, he could lessen this – and PAD referenced this himself in XF76), whereas all that happened when absorbing the stabbed-to-death dupe in #1 was that he freaked out, then was unconscious for 20 mins). Not to mention the Legacy Virus thing, which he got via a dupe.
Basically, accept that stuff from before doesn’t hold, or drive yourself nuts.
Bottom line, I’m not bending over backwards to be 100% consistent with what I did…what? Ten years ago? This is the way I want to play the character now, and as far as I’m concerned, if I’m being consistent within the context of the series, I’m okay.
I’m not going out of my way to contradict the continuity, but I’m not going to be completely enslaved to it…especially since I was just starting to work with the character back then and I’ve had a lot of years to think about it and ponder the possibilities. Ten years ago I wasn’t thinking about the notion of Jamie dispatching dupes to gain worldwide knowledge. Now I am. So I’m not about to say, “Ah, but I can’t do it because it doesn’t track perfectly with stories I wrote last century that probably over half the current readership never saw.”
So I figure, y’know what? Long time fans are clever. If it really bothers you, I’m sure you guys can come up with a spiffy reason to explain it. Say it’s a leftover side effect from the Legacy Virus. Say it’s a result of Captain Marvel not putting the universe together back exactly right. Whatever works.
PAD
as far as I’m concerned, if I’m being consistent within the context of the series, I’m okay.
To be honest, the parameters of his powers haven’t been all that clear to me even within the context of the series. Did you define his powers before you started, or are you just sort of playing it by ear as you go along?
In any event, I hope that Jamie is going to be included in the upcoming Marvel Knights edition of the Official Handbook, so we can get it laid out in full.
I don’t even remember most of the parameters of Jamie’s powers, but one thing struck me as interesting this issue…a duplicate would manifest wearing cuffs? So Jamie can actually create solid matter besides himself and his clothes? That raises a lot of fun possibilities. Can Jamie just create a hundred dupes, have them all empty their wallets on the ground, absorb them up again, and be left with the sum total of their money?
SEAN
What I found most interesting about this issue was Jamie mentioning that if he used his power while wearing handcuffs, the dupe would also show up wearing handcuffs. That’s logical–his dupes don’t show up naked, and there’s no hard-and-fast dividing line between “clothes” and “worn items that aren’t clothes.”
But it got me to thinking–how stable would something created like this be? Would it last for any great length of time if taken off a dupe, or would it go back to wherever the mass that creates the dupes comes from in the first place, and how quickly? (I’m having an image of an unethical dupe selling Rolexes and diamond rings that melt away like fairy gold a day later…)
Peter David: Say it’s a leftover side effect from the Legacy Virus.
Luigi Novi: Okay, that works. 🙂
I wouldn’t mind, though, if you worked in an explicit mention of that in a story, just to make it all jibe. I mean, if you can work in pink bunny slippers, not to mention lots of other things you inserted to “correct” things that didn’t make sense or didn’t like (like what you did with Lockjaw), why not this? 🙂
I didnt expect to like Madrox,the character never really did anything for me.The only thing i remember him for was having a duplicate taken over by Proteus.Having said that i like the series.Wolfsbane was always a fave in the New Mutants.I have a long time love of lycanthropes
and if they turn into cute redhead FEMALE all the better.Sorry,OZ 🙂
Really more interested in the subplot,the cheating astral projector.
I know that origionally his spandex looking outfit was unstable molicules given to him by Reed Richards. Im assuming thats why his trench coat didn’t multiply. It could be easily explained that Reed hooks him up with T shirts and Jeans made of unstable molicules also but im gonna go with secondary mutation because that seems popular lately.
I will take issue with the handcuffs because it makes me think that he should be able to make a dupe not wearing handcuffs. The reason being is that he can spit a dupe out from under the door. If he can do that then he could also do that through a hole in the wall. Lets say he sticks his wrist through the hole and has as much room as he would if his wrist was in handcuffs. Does the dupe come out with a new wall or part of the wall? I doubt it. Im sure this would be hard to explore but just how much can he recreate is a question id like to see answered. I mean if he can make new handcuffs he can probably make a pen or something small like that. What about a baseball bat? a car? what about a person? I mean he could probably do a mouse if size is the issue. Would he be able to make another alive mouse. Blam my head just exploaded.
PAD,
I laughed. That is my reaction. I laughed hard. I laughed really, really hard, and really, really loud. In case you haven’t figured it out, that means I liked it.
You have, again, blended a story that has some very serious, thought provoking elements with some moments of pure insane brilliance. My personal favorite is the Doc Savage line. Having loved (as a kid!) the movie, I actually was thinking about a similar scene from the movie and wished Madrox had done the same thing — and then to find out he had AND he mentioned Doc Savage.
His arguments with himself. Especially when he is in a “tight” situation and his dupe can’t decide whether or not to act (I am trying to not give too much away!). You know how to nail human nature and to portray interesting people from those viewpoints. I know we would disagree on some of the answers to the questions Madrox 1, 2, 3, 4, etc., raise, but I am awed by how you work the questions into the story.
(As you know from other threads, we see life very differently. But I have appreciated your stories that ask the big questions. Other elements in Fallen Angel are not my cup of tea, but I have like most of your work for this reason.)
The conclusion. Won’t say more, other than that I should have seen it coming. It was so obvious. In fact, not that you are predictable — you normally are not — but I should have thought that is at least one direction you might go.
I don’t have the issue with me, and I know there is one other line that made me laugh out loud. I may mention it in another post. I definitely am on board and hope this series lasts. I am recommending it to all who will listen.
Can’t wait for #4!
Jim in Iowa
I thought the Apathetic Dupe and the Jesus Freak Dupe were hilarious and awesome. The way his dupes are manifesting with personalities based on what’s in his head at the time seems really interesting. At least, I’m assuming that’s what’s happening.
The story so far is fun and funny. I was hoping it would be something different than a Rogue Dupe story, but I’ll be hanging in there. I’m positive you’ll make it just as great as you made it in X-Factor, if not better.
One thing that concerned me, and this is nitpicking, was the depiction of Guido’s powers. Strong Guy is one of my all-time favourite Marvel characters. I was under the assumption that when he was struck (kinetic force), he gained body mass and strength, which he had to discharge in 90 seconds or be stuck with that further growth. I always thought it was really cool that he and Jamie, who had such similar powers, were close friends. However, when we see Guido fighting in this issue, he just seemed to have generic Super Strength/Invulnerability, unless I missed him growing when the fat lady blew him through a wall. As I said, just a nitpick, let me know if I missed something.
All in all, another great issue of a comic I wish was ongoing.
>>One thing that concerned me, and this is nitpicking, was the depiction of Guido’s powers. Strong Guy is one of my all-time favourite Marvel characters. I was under the assumption that when he was struck (kinetic force), he gained body mass and strength, which he had to discharge in 90 seconds or be stuck with that further growth. I always thought it was really cool that he and Jamie, who had such similar powers, were close friends. However, when we see Guido fighting in this issue, he just seemed to have generic Super Strength/Invulnerability, unless I missed him growing when the fat lady blew him through a wall.
Guido IS super strong and nearly invulnerable; it is a side effect of the permanent warping of his body. In addition to this, he also absorbs kinetic force to temporarily enhance his strength (this may result in some bulging muscles, but I don’t think he gets that much bigger at that point). If he doesn’t use the energy within a few minutes (I don’t think a 90 second rule was ever given) THEN he gets bigger permanently.
Also, on a related note, he doesn’t absorb 100% of the energy he is hit with (or he wouldn’t be knocked back); hit him hard enough and you CAN drop him.
Great fun, as ever.
Guido I’ve never been too keen on but that’s okay, it’s nice to have a supporting character who is a bit pants instead of a bland main character.
Jamie’s attitude is good, as well as that of the dupes. Why the hëll couldn’t this be a television show? It’s perfectly formed in a televisual manner and a concept both simple and interesting enough to work like that.
Charlie E/N
I did not like that it was a rouge Dup, just like the rouge dupe in X-Factor 75 (?) Being your best friend and your own worst enemy is slightly repeative. Though I know it is probably new for most fans.
The bit about creating a dupe while handcuffed would create a dupe with handcuffs confused me too. And I also thought of the money thing. Heck, if he’s in coitus with a hot chick, and he dupes, does that make twins?
All in all, though, this is a great, strong story. I hope this series continues.
Guido IS super strong and nearly invulnerable; it is a side effect of the permanent warping of his body. In addition to this, he also absorbs kinetic force to temporarily enhance his strength (this may result in some bulging muscles, but I don’t think he gets that much bigger at that point). If he doesn’t use the energy within a few minutes (I don’t think a 90 second rule was ever given) THEN he gets bigger permanently.
Also, on a related note, he doesn’t absorb 100% of the energy he is hit with (or he wouldn’t be knocked back); hit him hard enough and you CAN drop him.
Oh, I know that. I just meant he seemed like a generic super strong brick-type, instead of the unique powers he has on top of that.
I decided that Jamie, if handcuffed, would reproduce a handcuffed dupe for two reasons:
First, because if all he needs to do to get out of a situation in which he’s bound is created a dupe that unties him, where’s the challenge in that?
Second, I wasn’t able to wrap my mind around the notion of how he’s wearing pretty much anything and it duplicates, but that his power would then be able to distinguish between–say–a coat, socks, shoes, underwear, but not handcuffs. In my own head, I envision that he’s got a sort of “sphere of influence” when he dupes, and anything inorganic within that narrow sphere is going to be duped.
So yeah, for instance, the money in his wallet would be duped. (Kind of lends a new meaning to “What’s in YOUR wallet?”) On the other hand, it’s going to have the same serial numbers as already existing money, which essentially means it could be seen as counterfeit. The US mint created the original; Jamie created the dupe. So I figure it’s just something he never wants to get involved with.
But if he’s holding onto a girl, she won’t be duped because she’s not inorganic. I suppose if he’s holding her really tight, an argument can be made that her clothes would be duped, but really, how much do we want to overthink this?
PAD
But if he’s holding onto a girl, she won’t be duped because she’s not inorganic. I suppose if he’s holding her really tight, an argument can be made that her clothes would be duped, but really, how much do we want to overthink this?
Hey man, if you ever get an ongoing Madrox series I think that’s one of the first opportunites you should explore. Dupes commming out dressed as chicks. Awesome stuff.
anyway, I don’t know if you’ll get a chance to answer these ones but I’ll go for it anyway: am I going nuts or are there “uncredited cameos” by Liev Schreiber and Steve Bushemi in this series? Mainly cuz the art for Jamie’s newspaper buddy looked alot like Steve Bushemi and the main boss badguy looked like Liev Schreiber? Is this intentional? Is it not? Did the artist do this? Did you? am I going freakin nuts? Why Liev Schreiber of all people to use as a character template? All I remember him from is Cotton Weary in “Scream”?
You don’t have to answer each question individually of course, just confirm with me that this is all intentional or if I’m just going batty.
Peter one, what prevents Jamie from IMPROVING his MASTERY over his powers so as to maintain control over dupes? People with a natural affinity for piano playing, baseball playing, target shooting, can over time IMPROVE their MASTERY over said natural skill, why not Madrox? Riddle me that, Batman. >=^>
Or his control could naturally improve like the way people continue to develop physically until their 20s or like how women reportedly reach their sexual peak in their 30s. (Thus explaining why Aquaman no longer had that 1-hour limit of being out of water, back when a certain writer of stuff was scribing him.)
How do we know the original we saw a decade ago that was killed was not a flawed dupe, so that his death was far more traumatic to his “subdupes”?
Dupes replicating matter is like vampires being invisible in mirrors or disintegrating when staked, their clothes and items carried are invisible and disintegrate, what’s the boundary?
— Ken from Chicago
P.S. Final page, in the words of the great literary scholar, Doctor Eric Theodore Cartman, “Suhweet”.
> But if he’s holding onto a girl, she won’t be duped because she’s not inorganic.
So does he only wear artificially-produced fabrics like polyester and nylon then? ;p
I’m a new reader to the character, I missed X-Factor all those years ago for some reason. I’m loving the miniseries and I’ve never heard of any of the characters. PAD has made it very accessable for new readers. Would love to see a 2nd miniseries or an on going series.
Excellent issue. I am really enjoying this series. One thing I was wondering though, is this really only a mini? Lately Marvel has been indicating if something is a mini in the indicia by saying “Published Miniseries.” However for Madrox it just says the usual “Published Monthly.” Maybe I’m just being hopeful. 🙂
I think that Madrox is my favorite thing that you’ve written since the Hulk. I enjoy Fallen Angel and I liked Captain Marvel, but this comic is just SO much fun. Great premise, great character. This latest issue was the best of the three, with more than one laugh-out-loud moment. Some of my favorite scenes involved the the dupe flashbacks (anatomy class and particularly that hilarious panel in Russia). I really hope that this becomes an ongoing series.
Here’s a bunch a great reviews that I found online:
http://www.thefourthrail.com/reviews/snapjudgments/111504/madrox3.shtml
http://www.thefourthrail.com/reviews/critiques/111504/quickcritiques.shtml
http://www.comixfan.com/xfan/forums/showthread.php?t=31279
http://www.thexaxis.com/minis/madrox3.htm
Qabiri
Guys,
Has anyone yet considered that Jamie’s control over his dupes has lessoned because he’s having problems in his own life. Maybe he’s just not as mentally healthy as he used to be. Maybe his dupes are manifesting his sense that he has less control over his life than he used to. I dunno. But then, I haven’t read anything with Maddrox in it since the time that the X-Men went up against Proteus/Mutant X.
It sure looks to me like people are overthinking stuff a lot…especially the handcuffs. Personally I was wondering if the fact the Jamie duplicated his clothes meant that his dupe would come out cuffed when Mr. David had Jamie answer it for me. It’s enough.
Bad Guy 1: “Don’t drop him! Impact causes him to duplicate.”
Bad Guy 2: “You’re kidding.”
Bad Guy 1: “I’m serious.”
Bad Guy 2: “Freakin’ mutants. It’s always something. Do these ‘duplicates’ have powers?”
Bad Guy 1: “No. He’s just a guy who can turn into a bunch of guys.”
Bad Guy 2: “Whoooa. I’m soooo scared.”
Funniest friggin’ thing EVER.
I’m skipping over the spoilers, because I’m STILL waiting to read #2. My shop was shorted issues, and then didn’t order enough of #3 for everyone who wanted one. I’d be angry, but they’ve been very good to me in every other instance, and are working at getting more of the issues in question.
I’m just DYING of anticipation!
(I guess there’s nothing for it but to read [B]Tong Lashing[/B] while I’m waiting… 😉 )
What’d I think?
Good stuff. That’s what I thought. Plain and unexciting, I know.
Pad wrote, So yeah, for instance, the money in his wallet would be duped. (Kind of lends a new meaning to “What’s in YOUR wallet?”) On the other hand, it’s going to have the same serial numbers as already existing money, which essentially means it could be seen as counterfeit. The US mint created the original; Jamie created the dupe. So I figure it’s just something he never wants to get involved with.
Mr. David, not only would in be seen as counterfeit, it would be counterfeit. It’s a duplicate of U.S. currency that wasn’t made by the U.S. Treasury Department. The fact that he would have used mutant powers to make it instead of a printing press wouldn’t change that fact. Getting a conviction in court would be an entirely different kettle of fish, but I get the impression that Jamie wouldn’t be invovled in such a scam. On the other hand, what one of his dupes might be willing to do if he was in the right frame of mind when he made the guy…
I’ll admit to being somewhat curious what happens to duplicated stuff that isn’t on the dupes at the time Jamie reabsorbs them. To continue the money example, if a dupe put change in a pay phone would it disappear when the dupe was reabsorbed or remain in existence. If the “fairy gold” option were in place I can think of some really amusing things that could be done. I can just imagine Jamie as part of a sting on gun dealers. Jamie sells the the dealers a load of guns that are duplicates a one he was holding when he created an army. He then sells them off and then goes to reabsorb his dupes…and the dealers are left with noting as all the weapons diappear.
I like the fact that the handcuff-duplication was a result of trying to legitimize what was likely originally just another example of a very common conceit in comic books. When common sense dictates a character would be nude, ignore common sense. At the very least, leave them in underwear. (Most often seen in characters that change size and shape)
We can’t have Multiple Man producing naked duplicates of himself, so obviously the material duplicates with him. But that has repercussions, and PAD is exploring those repercussions.
I agree organic/inorganic isn’t enough since leather is organic. But living organic vs non-living organic/inorganic would work. (But what about a zombie?)
Unfortunately, I was disappointed when at the end of issue #2 we saw the woman getting out of the pool. We never saw the top of the bikini, but we definitely saw the bottom. At the beginning of issue #3 the text refers to her as naked. No she wasn’t. Perhaps she was topless, but that’s not the same thing.
Perhaps it was the artist’s decision to draw the bikini bottoms instead of covering everything with the towel. It just seemed there was a desire to avoid even the implication that she was swimming in the nude, and then in #3 PAD tried to claim she had been. Sigh.
I did not like that it was a rouge Dup, just like the rouge dupe in X-Factor 75 (?) Being your best friend and your own worst enemy is slightly repeative. Though I know it is probably new for most fans.
I am almost ashamed to confess this, but I don’t remember this from X-Factor. It has been too long since I read it. Besides, with Madrox being the multiple man, it even makes that you would revisit the same idea multiple times.
I also think the consfused dupes clearly is a manifestation of Madrox’s confused mind. It actually works quite well as a plot device — and makes for a lot of throw away lines that I love.
Jim in Iowa
Hi Peter,
I’m enjoying the Madrox series. It’s nice to read a superhero story not about someone with world-shattering powers. It’s a fun read, and it stays interesting on other levels. I just wished it was continuing.
BTW, I found my old issues of Before the Fantastic 4: Reed Richards, yesterday, and I gave them to my son. He loves them (as has everyone I have ever loaned them to). I appreciate how you write so many types and styles of stories and do it so well. Not an easy thing.
Thanks for the good reading.
I’m enjoying this book as much as Identity Crisis right now. I love a good mystery.
Can we post reactions to ST:NF: After the Fall here too?
I do in enjoy the Madrox seris and hope its run, um, multiplies
Not reading Madrox, sorry. Only comic I buy is Fallen Angel…
Just saw a notice that After the Fall is supposed to hit the shelves tomorrow (11/24)…is this true?
Can we post reactions to ST:NF: After the Fall here too?
I do wish there’d be more threads about his novels. I’ve got so many thoughts on Sir Apropos…
Amazon started shipping on Friday, I’ve gotten and read my copy. But I have confirmation that stores will have it tomorrow, up from next week.
I posted reviews on amazon and simonsays (who is offering the ebook for 15 $s up from $5 for the last one)
While I must respectfully disagree RE: handcuffs and duplicating matter (why create an fuzzily-defined list of what he can and can’t duplicate when you’ve got the easy out of unstable molecules?), I’m enjoying this story a lot.
I may be in the minority, but I don’t think that this will necessarily be a rogue dupe rehash. Maybe Jamie sent a dupe to learn about the criminal mind…
As for why Jamie didn’t already know about his dupe being the attacker, I think it’s because, like others have said, he’s having less control over them. If PAD doesn’t offer an explicit explanation of how this happened in the comic (since, after all, Jamie used to have incredible control over his dupes), you could chalk it up to Jamie’s crappy time in the X-Corps. Maybe, after that debacle, he decided he needed a new life direction, so he explored them all at once.
Also, there’s precedent for Jamie to develop instability when he’s over-extending himself, dupe-wise. From what I understand, in the Age of Apocalypse he had somehow created thousands of dupes, but at the expense of his sanity.
Anyway, count me along for the ride however long it lasts. If it does become a series, I would ask that Mr. David please take the time to explore Jamie’s reaction to Moira MacTaggert’s death.
“but really, how much do we want to overthink this?”
Oh, lots and lots and lots. We’re comic book fans.
So if the clothes he’s loosely wearing get duped, what about the molecules of air around him? Could he hyperventilate on too much oxygen?
Why doesn’t he correct for the 1st-printing-only problem Marvel has and stand around with copies of X-Men 94 and Ultimate Spider-Man 1 in his hands? Hëll, he should stand on the street corner with Fallen Angel…
Just read it last night. Great issue. Great explanation of why the duplicates are acting so weird. Nice touch on the last page (the image that shows the character with the bandages on his fingers).
________________________
As a long time X-series non-reader, what was the Legacy virus (in 25 words or less)?
Mutant AIDS.
LATTERDAYKNIGHT:
I read your review at amazon.com and i agree with you. I read the book in one sitting and enjoyed it a lot. I hope it will be less than a year for the next one. As someone mentioned at another board maybe it will be titled ST New Frontier “Before the Spring?”
I hope PAD starts a new thread about this.
HA! I get it – no wonder the stores took so long to get it (they originally said Oct 2004) I can’t believe I missed that one from a book so full of puns!
oh, yeah, so to validate this as a Madrox post. I vote that Jamie’s secondary mutation is the Randomization power (I mean, Longshot had ‘luck’) The details being his primary power randomly alters over time to match any current story needs – furthermore, his 2nd power is so vast as to warp all reality around him so that others think that that is how it always was. (ie, Rahne saying “Ach, well of course ye cannae duplicate organic matter Jamie, why’d ye wear leather pants anyway, Ach.” (On a side note, if Gambit can’t ‘charge’ organics either, is he just charging the wax coating of the paper cards?)
Hey everyone. This is my first comment. I’ve liked the series so far. I agree that you can over think the duplicating non organic matter thing. For instance, what if Jamie starts with a 20 in his wallet. Then he duplicates. Then the duplicate goes and buys a big mac or something. The duplicate 20 is in a McDonald’s register, and he has a 10 and a 5 in his wallet now (depending on taxes). What happens when he merges again?
The other thing about the series that makes me need to suspend a little more belief than normal is the whole Shaolin thing. It was established with the knife wound that Jamie only absorbs Mental memories, not physical ones. So, after reabsorbing Shaolin monk Jamie, his mind would remember the training, but his body would not. I mean, just because I know all the rules of basketball doesn’t mean I can play. That takes physical practice.
Aside from that, really enjoying the book so far. Love having Strong Guy back. (Incidentally, it still cracks me up that there was an action figure on the Shelves at Toys ‘r’ us that had to be called “Strong Guy”. 🙂 )
Now, we just need Quicksilver to show up.
MJT
MikeT,
It says that Jamie does not absorb physical *damage*, not that he can’t absorb physical memory.
He would retain skills he acquired from dupes, but would not retain damage that had been done to the body.
I never caught Your other runs on this character, and to be honest knew very little about him, a friend of mine gave me a nod to issue one of hte mini. and I have to say that I am loving the book, lets put it this way, I went on my bi-monthly run this week and in a haul invovling the latest MK wolverine, Ultimates 2#1, the latest superman issue THIS was the issue IW as salivating for, I really think that This my Book of the Year (even above Astonishing and Identity Crisis) just for the fact that is it so dámņ well done in a style I love, with a non sure-fire hit lead figure. not sure weather this matters here but spoiler are ahead.
anyway I have a question, When Jamie is reaching out of the pool and breaks the fingers of his own dupe, How come said dupe isn’t reabsorbed into jamie? since the contact thing is what re-absorbs. That kinda confused me.
Spoilers over.other than that I gotta say that this is an awesome run, any talk of more Madrox from MK with your penmanship?or even you working on another title?
Mike T said:
“Love having Strong Guy back. (Incidentally, it still cracks me up that there was an action figure on the Shelves at Toys ‘r’ us that had to be called “Strong Guy”. 🙂 )”
It wasn’t that bad for Toy Biz, Strong Guy was fairly popular with kids, since he appeared in the cartoon. (incidentally, I collected the action figures for all of Peter’s X-Factor characters: Quicksilver, Guido, Rhane, Havok, Random. As far as I know they didn’t make one of Lorena or Jamie. Although I did get Forge Sabertooth, and Mistique).