In Fallen Angel #22 we see war coming to Bete Noire as seen through the eyes of an unexpected visitor, and X-Factor #26 continues the Messiah Complex. Whad’ja think?
PAD
In Fallen Angel #22 we see war coming to Bete Noire as seen through the eyes of an unexpected visitor, and X-Factor #26 continues the Messiah Complex. Whad’ja think?
PAD
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Just read Fallen Angel this morning. I really liked that the story was told from a different viewpoint. Does Benny have regenerative powers?
The only complaint I have about Fallen Angel is the price. It is the only regular sized comic that I buy for $3.99, because I think the story is worth it.
I liked the story, and JK Woodward is awesome. Or at least he used to be. I don’t like his new style. It looks rushed.
I liked Woodward’s superhero-y style, it’s got a touch of Marc Wheatley to it. Woodward clearly likes to experiment with styles.
X-Factor…so-so. Not following the rest of the crossover, so there’s a lot of pagecount that is meaningless to me. And, frankly, drawing Xavier to look exactly like Patrick Stewart was more distracting than anything else.
Finally starting to read “Before Dishonor,” BTW…would it have killed the editor or publisher to include a note at the beginning saying that it picks up from “Resistance”? The whole setup was confusing as hëll, since I don’t read every single Trek novel that comes out, and couldn’t recall anything about a Borg super-cube from the canon. Finally went googling to figure out what was up.
David Van Domelen: What did you find and where did you go? I asked similar questions on the Before Dishonor page, but I was never answered. I, too, thought the lack of guidance on backstory was a real problem.
At this point, I’d be happy with a simple list of books that directly precede BD so that I’d know where to start. I had no idea the Star Trek novel universe was so cohesive these days.
Eric
I both liked X-Factor and had problems with it.
The parts I liked are definitely PAD’s fault. There is a confusing revelation about Layla, hilarious dialogue, and key character development.
The part I had the most problem with was the exchange between Xavier and Scott. I have no problem believing Prof X would want to drive the car (so to speak). But he came across as petty and patronizing in a way that just does not fit what I would expect. Other than X-Factor and Astonishing, I have not read other X-books lately, but the current Prof X in X-Factor is absurd. The problem is, PAD normally nails characters. So I am left with at least two other options. Either there has been a change in the character in other books (and if so, it is stupid), or the current plot line for the crossover required it. If I missed something, I am open to hearing what it is. (Ok, there is an obvious 3rd option: he is a skrull. That would actually make the most sense.)
That said, this crossover is far better than the stuff Supergirl went through and other crossovers that PAD has had to write. This makes sense and seems to further the plot PAD has established. I have not bought any of the other issues (sorry, it just has not interested me), but I feel like I still got a PAD issue that mattered. That is a pretty impressive accomplishment.
I am a little unsure where X-Factor will go when this crossover is done. I am hoping there is not too big of a change. As long as Layla is in it, I will most likely stick around since she provides the best lines most of the time.
Iowa Jim
Eric: I bounced around a lot, but eventually found the answers at Memory Beta: http://startrek.wikia.com/wiki/Unnamed_Borg_cubes#2380_cube (contains spoilers for Before Dishonor).
As somebody who’s pretty much abandoned most X-books some time ago, I found this issue of X-Factor rough going in terms of the storyline that was so tied in with current continuity. Instead of X-Factor guest-starring the X-Men, it felt more like the opposite. I may give the next issue a pass if it’s the same; no offense to you Peter, as know you probably have no say in the matter, but reading one part of a multi-part crossover that I’m not interested in isn’t all that exciting. But I will definitely be back when we return to our regularly scheduled program.
Hmmm. I actually liked both titles this week. FALLEN ANGEL is a given. This was also a great issue for newcomers and should have been promoted by the publishers as such.
As for X-Factor, for the people complaining about being lost in the cross-over, did any of you read the first page. I thought that it was a good summary of events. While I rather not have X-Factor be involved in any event that is not being controlled/plotted by Peter, I was not lost reading this title at all. FYI, I am not buying any of of the other mutant books.
General question. How do you feel about the current Messiah Complex plot arc? It has gotten good play in comic fandom. Myself, I think it may be the first time in fifteen years that the X-Universe, en masse, has been fun to read.
X-Factor was slightly frustrating for me, because of how much of it wasn’t X-Factor, especially the Scott/Prof X bits. In the bedlam that is Messiah Complex, I sort of count of X-Factor to be my monthly dose of personal conversations (at any time, midst of battle works just great), character development, and generally just a higher dose of the things I love best. This month’s installment gave me Jamie and Layla who I love, even more when they’re together (which was something I had been wanting after the Huber arch which had them only briefly conversing on a phone. This however was totally made up for, re: PENNY.) not to mention more tantalizing Layla-explanatory stuff.
X-Force’s existence just makes me go “wuh?”. Between the Marauders and the Purifiers and the X-Men and the Future, the sudden bizarre formation of the team feels really extraneous and not nearly as climactic as I get the feeling their introduction was supposed to be.
That said, Rahne and Wolvie on the same page gave me joy.
Your book is the only one in which I feel like the personal moments of connection and conflict that take place in high stress situations aren’t ignored, so: Thank you, PAD.
You brought back Peepers! And sadly, he was taken from us all too soon. I know it’s odd, and I’m probably the only one who’ll complain about it, but I’m going to miss the little weirdo. Sure, my first introduction to the character was as a Wizard “mort of the month” a decade ago, but in my mind there was always a chance that he’d make a particularly awesome resurgence. And, honestly? You’d think a guy with his particular endowments would’ve noticed the deer before hitting it. The man had telescopic AND x-ray vision. But enough nerding out.
Anyway, liked the crazy 1984esque “They’re always watching” and “all references are deleted” thing. Enjoyed the issue and the crossover thus far.
-Robert
Peepers is dead??!!! NO!!! Not Peepers!!!!!
Oh Peepers, we hardly knew you.
I enjoyed the X-Factor a great deal. While I’m still not sold on the X-Force team, you’ve presented them as a lot more acceptable than I ever thought possible, and it’s interesting to see wolverine in a leadership role (more interesting than anything he’s done recently in either than his own comics.)
Iowa Jim: they’ve been portraying Xavier in a sort of sinister “Father Knows Best” attitude for a while now. In Whedon’s run, it was revealed that he knew the Danger Room had turned sentient, but kept it enslaved because he thought training the X-Men was more important. In Brubaker’s comics, it was revealed that Xavier had a team of X-Men between the first batch and the Wolverine/Storm etc. team, but erased everyone’s memory of them because he thought they died on their first mission–despite the fact that one of these missing X-Men was the third Summer brother. And he claimed to be acting in everyone’s best interests in both cases. So, Mr. David’s being pretty consistent here. And yes, it is a bit ridiculous, but at least he doesn’t believe he’s in love with Jean any more.
I took one look at the cover of X-Factor, said “This @!#*& crossover is still going on?” then I gave it back to the comic store manager and said “No thanks.”
If I wanted to read an X-men comic, there is no shortage of actual X-men titles on the shelf. I don’t.
I know you probably don’t have much say in this.
Iowa Jim: they’ve been portraying Xavier in a sort of sinister “Father Knows Best” attitude for a while now.
I actually read both of those issues. I get that Xavier is being portrayed differently. I think a conflict makes sense. I think Xavier won’t let go, and, finally, Scott is being written with some passion and experience. My confusion was that the conflict seemed more petty.
At the end of the day, I give PAD the benefit of the doubt when it comes to characters, so it is a minor complaint. It just came across as off. But maybe your “fathers knows best” is what I am missing.
Iowa Jim
Benny does have regenerative powers. There was a previous issue wherein Benny gets decapitated and the next few panels show him regenerating. So, yes, that is established. I’m not sure if anyone in Bete Noir actually dies after they come to live there. Perhaps Peter could enlighten us?
Gayle
>I’m not sure if anyone in Bete Noir actually dies after they come to live there.
Oh yes. Early on in the DC run there was some supernatural critter who was killing off inhabitants quite messily. And, late on, Lee does in one of the Hierarchy. You’d think if anyone were close to unkillable there, it’s be one of them.
Count me in as someone who isn’t crazy about the crossover. Too many *&$^% X titles. You need a road map to figure out what’s going on where and keeping it all straight. X FACTOR on its own is a delight. I wish these messy spillovers from other titles weren’t foisted on PAD.
Oh yes, death is a very real concern in Bete Noire. With the exception of Benny, anyone can die permanently in Bete Noire. The rule of thumb has been that if someone is hovering on the brink when the sun rises, then basically they go into a sort of stasis and the city decides if they will live or die. But if you die before that, well, then there’s only one thing to do: Go through your pockets and look for loose change.
PAD
I thought you did a REALLY great job writing James Proudstar, the best I’ve seen since some point in the 90s.
PAD wrote: “But if you die before that, well, then there’s only one thing to do: Go through your pockets and look for loose change.”
To see if you can pay for your sins?
There was one panel in X-FACTOR 26 where he looked very much like Patrick Stewart. Now, combine the fact that he was played by Stewart in the movies; Stewart’s other prominent genre role as Jean-Luc Picard; your note in X-POSITION at CBR about Xavier being able to join the team if he looked good in a trenchcoat and fedora; and one of Captain Picard’s favorite holodeck scenarios….
There’s gotta be something there – doesn’t there?
RD Francis
It is a bit off topic but because it hasn`t been announced here yet, I feel the urge to do it now:
I learned yesterday that there will be more NF comics! 🙂
(I hope I copied the link correctly)
http://trekweb.com/articles/2007/12/18/IDW-Launches-Peter-Davids-Star-Trek-New-Frontier-Comic-Book-MiniSeries-in-2008.shtml
Can you tell us any more, Peter? To me, this announcement is a great Christmas present. I am so much looking forward to these comics!
Another heads-up for everyone that PAD is answering X-Factor questions again in this week’s X-Position column at Comic Book Resources. (I won’t put in the link because that runs the risk of it being eaten by the spam filter, but it’s easy enough to find.)
Just read X-Factor. Not reading the other titles, but I still enjoyed it. The look on the baby’s face everytime he appeared cracked me up.
Just read X-Factor. Not reading the other titles, but I still enjoyed it. The look on the baby’s face everytime he appeared cracked me up.
Just read X-Factor. Not reading the other titles, but I still enjoyed it. The look on the baby’s face everytime he appeared cracked me up.
Just read X-Factor. Not reading the other titles, but I still enjoyed it. The look on the baby’s face everytime he appeared cracked me up.
Just read X-Factor. Not reading the other titles, but I still enjoyed it. The look on the baby’s face everytime he appeared cracked me up.
Funny that someone should suggest that Xavier is a Skrull. I’ve been thinking that for a while, ever since he came back from House of M with legs but no powers. I hope this point is touched on at some point in the future of the X-books (Wolverine knows about the Skrulls, after all).
I am wondering if Peter could confirm something: that MESSIAH COMPLEX takes place prior to the events of the current arc of ASTONISHING X-MEN?
“I am wondering if Peter could confirm something: that MESSIAH COMPLEX takes place prior to the events of the current arc of ASTONISHING X-MEN?”
I don’t think anyone can confirm or deny that yet. It seems like they’ll just try to find somewhere to fit it in once it’s done. Which is fine by me.
“I am wondering if Peter could confirm something: that MESSIAH COMPLEX takes place prior to the events of the current arc of ASTONISHING X-MEN?”
I don’t think anyone can confirm or deny that yet. It seems like they’ll just try to find somewhere to fit it in once it’s done. Which is fine by me.
“I am wondering if Peter could confirm something: that MESSIAH COMPLEX takes place prior to the events of the current arc of ASTONISHING X-MEN?”
I don’t think anyone can confirm or deny that yet. It seems like they’ll just try to find somewhere to fit it in once it’s done. Which is fine by me.
“I am wondering if Peter could confirm something: that MESSIAH COMPLEX takes place prior to the events of the current arc of ASTONISHING X-MEN?”
I don’t think anyone can confirm or deny that yet. It seems like they’ll just try to find somewhere to fit it in once it’s done. Which is fine by me.
“I am wondering if Peter could confirm something: that MESSIAH COMPLEX takes place prior to the events of the current arc of ASTONISHING X-MEN?”
I don’t think anyone can confirm or deny that yet. It seems like they’ll just try to find somewhere to fit it in once it’s done. Which is fine by me.
In regard to PAD’s Xavier: the whiney Chuck character that we saw in X-Factor #26 is consistent with the character we have seen in the other issues of the crossover.
As a note to the cross-over haters: from what I understand, PAD had a good deal of input in the crossover. I mean, three X-Factor characters have been prominently featured thus far. So far, I have enjoyed Messiah Complex more than any other crossover I have read in the past decade- it is definitely an excellent story. I’m actually looking forward to the next chapter than I am to getting my other Christmas gifts next week.
I really liked X-Factor, I thought it worked well in terms of the crossover but also in pushing the Layla & Jamie bits forward too (which have been abit neglected in other books). The only point I had to laugh at was when Wolverine gave the radio to Hepzibah. Surely the barely able to speak proper sentances member of the team would be the most unlikely member to monitor radio traffic between the police.
RE:X-Factor/Messiah Complex
I have been loving THe Messiah Complex story line and I have especially been enjoying X-Factor. I really love Rhanes reaction to the religious warriors (cant remember thier name off the top) and I love the art. Scott Eaton is a fellow Vermonter and I was lucky enough to meet him at the art store I work at in Burlington. Great guy and an always improving and growing talent. Oh yeah; and the writing has been a blast to read, Peter. Thanks for the great yarns.