Third part of the four part introduction of the Isolationist, and a single issue tale in which Jude finally comes to terms with his dilemma. Whad’ja think?
PAD
Third part of the four part introduction of the Isolationist, and a single issue tale in which Jude finally comes to terms with his dilemma. Whad’ja think?
PAD
• 
X-Factor 23.
Since i am not a good writer of critics (possetiv or negativ ones) i simply say that from my point of view it was quite a good issue.
Some point of intrest from me.
I wonder if its the crystals in his back or simply the fact that he is depowered which makes Rictor kind of cable resisting Huber.
The end makes me wonder what exactly Hubers powers are. At the moment he literaly seems to be a “übermäßig” powerfull with all these powers. Kind of reminds me to Pan from one of Mikey Careys last arcs.
Also a slighty question why did Quicksilver said “Wanda” before he got hit. I am not that familiar with his history, is that kind of a natural thing of him?
I think i safe any marrow questions this time.
Anyway couldn’t see anything bad in this issue.
Fallen Angel: While I thought the Shi crossover was fun, it was beginning to lose me. However, seeing Jude finally realizing the implications of his job really brought me back.
As for X-Factor, it just always puts a smile on my face while making me scratch my head. Head-scratching is a good thing. This month’s head scratching moments:
*SPOILER SPACE*
Wait, is Quicksilver dead? and is the Isolationist Mimic…? How else does he have Cyclops, Colossus, and Nightcrawler’s powers…? I wish my X-factor #89 wasn’t packed away…
Thanks for the amazing stories, Mr. David!
I always like stories about how the city of Bete Noire impacts its denizens. I’ve been a sucker for “How Bete Noire Works” stories since this series was over at DC, and I really REALLY REALLY want to see you dig deep into some Bete Noire-centric storylines. Crossovers and guest stars and one-shots are nice and all, but you’re neglecting such a rich world!
I’m definitely intrigued as to why the city is allowing Slate to cross back and forth…what could he possibly be doing out there? Methinks the city has an agenda all its own that it’s trying to keep from the Hierarchy, and Slate is its agent…?
Dying to see more!
X-Factor: Jonathan’s suggestion of Huber being the Mimic is kind of interesting. Explains how he can have the powers of other mutants… it’d be interesting if Huber had the powers of ALL the 198 all at once–it would explain why he’s going crazy.
Fallen Angel: I thought the story was good, but to be honest, I didn’t like the art at all. It looked sloppy and rushed.
Fallen Angel: As of this latest issue, IDW has now equalled the number of issues published by DC (and has surpassed by one the number of trades). On my weekly Diamond invoices, each new issue has been listed as “FALLEN ANGEL IDW,” presumably to differentiate between the two series.
They can stop now.
And here’s hoping that DC will soon publish the third volume of their TPB collection. I have quite a few customers waiting impatiently to complete their sets in a unified format. Me, I love the original comic books, but I’m being increasingly outvoted, even when I do my best to keep those original comic books in stock.
Is Hubers’ name a play on Hubris?
I really like the pace at which Jude is being taken down by the city. It’s slow enough that it hasn’t come off feeling rushed, but seems to be gaining speed the further he goes.
I enjoyed Fallen Angel, but by an interesting coincidence, a day or two before I bought the issue, I mentioned Elisabeth Kubler-Ross’ five stages of dealing with death and dying in Kathleen’s thread about the Doctor Who episode “Family of Blood.” Then lo and behold, there they are in Fallen Angel.
Sheesh, PAD. Could you not read my mind months before I think of something?
True, Jude is neither literally dead nor dying, but as he can’t escape Bete Noire and return to his old life, he’s lost that life. Which pretty much comes to the the same thing.
Jude didn’t fully understand what he was getting into when he accepted the magistrate position, but one would assume Jubal, having grown up in Bete Noire, is a bit more aware of the catches associated with taking the job. Yet he still wants it. Interesting. Does that mean he isn’t as aware as one would think; that he thinks he can get around those restrictions despite the fact that no one else has; or that he’s acting on some instinctual level– like the scorpion that stings its benefactor despite itself?
For that matter, can Jubal become magistrate, or is the job passed on only to the first born son, no exceptions? If he can’t become magistrate by the ordinary rules, I suspect he intends to make some sort of “deal” to allow an exception. If so, does he fully understand what he’d be letting himself in for? I suspect not.
But I suppose we’ll find out in due time.
Rick
Both good issues, Peter, and Congratulations for tying your DC run of Fallen Angel, soon to be surpassed next month. 🙂
Well, Jeph Loeb used them in his Fallen Son series about the Death of Captain America (based on J. Michael Stracynski’s idea), so it makes sense that people would be reading and writing about them.
Fallen Angel was really good. The Shi crossover was nice, but I echo the sentiment of having more city centric stories. When was the last time Lee had a client? The story about the Beast and that whole intrigue with Slate was what drew me in. So, yeah, more Slate stories would be great. More peeks into Slate’s background and history would be good.
I do kinda miss Shadow Boxer. I think Bete Noire needs a character like him again. There was just something about him that was compelling. Don’t bring him back, his story ended strong, but his type of character is something I miss.
Okay… what’s meant to have hit Quicksilver, exactly?
Apparently every place in the world except Phoenix got Fallen Angel. I hope it shows up tomorrow.
“Okay… what’s meant to have hit Quicksilver, exactly?”
A big, jutting piece of metal that probably hurt like a sonovabitch, I’m assuming.
That wacky Quicksilver, man, he’s nuttier than a fruitcake and goes crazier every subsequent issue. I hope next time he shows up drooling and communicating exclusively through sock puppets on his hands. That would rule.
(Quote) “I’m definitely intrigued as to why the city is allowing Slate to cross back and forth…what could he possibly be doing out there? Methinks the city has an agenda all its own that it’s trying to keep from the Hierarchy, and Slate is its agent…?”
A very intersting idea. If we’re going to accept the city as a kind of “living entity”, it would be interesting to discover thta even as Jude is feeling cursed at being bound to the city, the city may be feeling just as cursed at being bound to him.
Well… I’ve enjoyed the current volumes of both Fallen Angel & X-Factor thoroughly NEARLY every month. In recent months though especially with the Fallen Angel series, i’m beginning to feel more & more distanced from what I felt to be the heart of the series at one point. From its humble & idiosyncratic beginnings over at DC, to its dark re-emergence with IDW, we have seen these characters change, grow, & literally age. With those changes comes the increased inconsistency of the series itself. Initially from all press interviews I’d read with Mr. David, I was given the impression that the first arc of the IDW FA would consist of the flash-forward “future” tale, showing a fate for Jude and his scarred shoulder blades, Lee, Dolf, Slate, Juris, Bumper, & Asia.
I was under the impression that after that initial arc or 2 max, that the storyline would revert back to the original chronology of the DC series. (i.e. when Jude was still a baby) Yet, none of the characters in Bete Noire have aged, except the streak of white in Lee’s hair circa IDW #’s 1-5, & Jude now being 25+ years old and the new magistrate of the city itself.
Did I miss something? Are the stories set in the future from the DC volume thus making sense of the current IDW continuity? So with that & the fact that J.K. Woodward has improved but still can’t hold a candle to Mssrs. Lopez & Blanco, PLUS – the decompressed, & jumbled last 3 arcs have left the title with an overall spotty feeling as of late.
I can’t help but ask where it’s all going? But when I ask it now, I ask it with apprehension, as opposed to pretty much every series PAD has written through the years that’s left me feeling maybe mystefied but enthused at each issue’s conclusion. I just want a return to some guidance to the series again. To return the feeling of PAD’s master plan devoid of forced guest stars (Shi) and disjointed diversions for months on end.
So all in all, it’s all Love for sure, I am and have been a huge fan for a very long time and look forward to many more years of wonderful characterization that can barely be touched by the rest of the industry’s writers… & X-Factor was excellent! Glad to have Pablo return, but who’ll be the new artist after #25?
Thanks again!
Joe
Well… I’ve enjoyed the current volumes of both Fallen Angel & X-Factor thoroughly NEARLY every month. In recent months though especially with the Fallen Angel series, i’m beginning to feel more & more distanced from what I felt to be the heart of the series at one point. From its humble & idiosyncratic beginnings over at DC, to its dark re-emergence with IDW, we have seen these characters change, grow, & literally age. With those changes comes the increased inconsistency of the series itself. Initially from all press interviews I’d read with Mr. David, I was given the impression that the first arc of the IDW FA would consist of the flash-forward “future” tale, showing a fate for Jude and his scarred shoulder blades, Lee, Dolf, Slate, Juris, Bumper, & Asia.
I was under the impression that after that initial arc or 2 max, that the storyline would revert back to the original chronology of the DC series. (i.e. when Jude was still a baby) Yet, none of the characters in Bete Noire have aged, except the streak of white in Lee’s hair circa IDW #’s 1-5, & Jude now being 25+ years old and the new magistrate of the city itself.
Did I miss something? Are the stories set in the future from the DC volume thus making sense of the current IDW continuity? So with that & the fact that J.K. Woodward has improved but still can’t hold a candle to Mssrs. Lopez & Blanco, PLUS – the decompressed, & jumbled last 3 arcs have left the title with an overall spotty feeling as of late.
I can’t help but ask where it’s all going? But when I ask it now, I ask it with apprehension, as opposed to pretty much every series PAD has written through the years that’s left me feeling maybe mystefied but enthused at each issue’s conclusion. I just want a return to some guidance to the series again. To return the feeling of PAD’s master plan devoid of forced guest stars (Shi) and disjointed diversions for months on end.
So all in all, it’s all Love for sure, I am and have been a huge fan for a very long time and look forward to many more years of wonderful characterization that can barely be touched by the rest of the industry’s writers… & X-Factor was excellent! Glad to have Pablo return, but who’ll be the new artist after #25?
Thanks again!
Joe
Hey, just belatedly picked up X-Factor 22… and noticed that Nicole’s wearing a Yankees shirt when she bashes Layla over the head.
So it wasn’t enough for Nicole’s evil credentials that she be French — you had to make her a Yankees fan, too? hmff.
You actually did it. You actually made me feel kind of sorry for Quicky. I mean, he’s always been kind of a… you know, cryer. He cries a lot, and that’s okay, he’s got gross emotional issues (Although the way he said his sister’s name makes me suspicious of an appearance by the Scarlett Witch and I’m not sure how I’d cope with that.). But getting whacked in the head with a large piece of metal, well, what can I say?
I LOVE Layla Miller.
Weddingnaoplz? Explanation mebbe? For Rahne’s sanity? Possibly my own as well? Just, you know. Think about it.