Uncanny X-Men #444

Publisher
Marvel
Year
2004
Month
7
LastChanged
1/27/2024 8:15:29 AM
The End of History

Summary

  Obviously, the major event for Reload this week is Uncanny X-Men #444, as Chris Claremont returns to the title. Essentially, it's a continuation of X-Treme X-Men with a change of artist. But Marvel have managed to give it the feel of a major event, if nothing else.

  Of course, the last time Claremont returned to this title, it only lasted nine issues. And sales on X-Treme haven't exactly been soaring of late. I'm still thoroughly unconvinced that this is the best direction for Marvel to go in. But we shall see.

  Claremont's fanbase will be understandably delighted, because much of this issue is a reassertion of the status quo. It's certainly the closest Claremont's come to recapturing the feel of his peak in the 1980s. Not only is there the obligatory baseball game, even the lettering is in a Tom Orzechowski font. (It's not by Tom Orzechowski, but it's in his font.) [PS: Actually, it isn't. I'm reliably informed that it's an original Chris Eliopoulos font - my mistake.]

  As we pick up, the X-Treme team are simply visiting the Mansion, and are starting up their new career as the XSE. Some of them get to go off to Africa and fight... well, some completely generic villains, to be honest. And the others get to go to Washington, where the local authorities are bigoted and don't like them. You get the general idea.

  Somewhat more interestingly, there's a nice little subplot feuding Rachel and Emma. Rachel's bitter that her "father" has remarried, and Emma's not exactly thrilled at having an ungrateful stepdaughter around. That's a nice little story, and it's good to see that the X-books are running with the Scott/Emma relationship (and it's implications). On the other hand, following the plot calls for at least a working knowledge of Rachel's background, which isn't actually explained anywhere in the issue. [NB: As plenty of you have pointed out, Scott and Emma haven't actually remarried. They're just a couple. Don't know what I was thinking when I wrote that bit...]

  Alan Davis seems to share Claremont's enthusiasm, and he's always been a fantastic storyteller. This issue doesn't quite have the lightness of touch that you find in his best work, but it's still really nice work. Not sure about some of the costume designs, mind you. Cannonball's is ugly, and Rachel suffers under an attempt to pay homage to that horrible green miniskirt Jean used to wear in the Silver Age. Maybe in the sixties, but not now.

  It's Claremont doing his old routine, with the XSE set-up at least providing some variation (and avoiding that old problem where Claremont characters tried to change the world by hanging around the Mansion until evil attacked). It's also one of Claremont's better uses of the formula in recent years. But it's still the formula, and most readers will already know whether they regard that as a comfortable old friend or a relic of yesteryear.

  Rating: B

Summary

  Note: this is part of the X-Men "Reload," and can be read in conjunction with X-Men II:157, Astonishing X-Men 1, Excalibur 1, and New X-Men: Academy X 1.

  It's been a long time since the X-Men had a baseball game (perhaps iss. 379, Apr-00); Moonstar and Karma are the announcers, it's 1-0, bottom of the ninth, bases loaded, two outs. Ororo's team (see X-Treme X-Men) has Rachel pitching to Emma on the home team. She throws a brush-back, and Emma's not happy. Scott, the runner on second, asks Logan, the baseman, why he's on the opposing team; he growls that he picks his own friends. Another near bean-ball, and umpire Lucas gives Rachel a warning. Full count: Emma reverts to type and cheats, reading Rachel's next pitch, but she's fooled her, and Emma swings and misses. Rachel thinks of Emma crying cartoonishly and says that's for her mother; Emma, angry, powers up and calls her a cow, but Rachel powers up with Phoenix effect and just says, 'Moo!" Kurt and Lucas break them up. The visitors celebrate; Scott tries to calm Emma, but she cattily notes Rachel is a girl who should never have been born.

  The mansion has been rebuilt on a larger scale to house the new students. Xavier is gone, the school is public, and there are many more mutants in the world. Someone has to keep tabs, and Sage uses her cybernetic sunglasses to call up access to the White House. She observes government agencies observing the mansion from satellites and hidden cameras; all they get for their efforts video of Hank doing a cannonball into the pool.

  Cho leans out of a news helicopter over the mansion, reporting on the new XSE (X-treme Sanctions Executive, see X-treme X-Men 35), with global jurisdiction over mutant criminals. Sam flies up and waves a badge, telling her she's in restricted airspace and spoiling her interview with Melody and Josh Guthrie (see X-Men II:157), who wanted to be on TV.

  In the hanger bay, Sage helps Rachel fix one of the jets; in the medical bay, Hank orders Remy to rehab before using his newly restored powers; in the memorial garden, Lucas leaves flowers at Jean's picture; in the head office, Scott and Emma smooch.

  Rogue escorts students to the Danger Room, but their session has been preempted by Logan, Ororo, and Kurt, so the students watch their work-out against Sentinels big and small. They are, of course, impressive, and congratulate each other after the session is done. Ororo tells them about the XSE, whose mission is to keep the peace and take responsibility for the next generation of mutants. Sage appears as a hologram, to assign missions.

  The Weaponeers have taken over a former French Foreign Legion outpost in the Central Saharan Republic, using advanced technology against villagers. The sergeant claims the land in the name of their master, Achmed Al-Khalad, but Rachel appears, flashes a badge, and says they're under arrest. They challenge the girl in the green miniskirt, but she's brought back-up, and Lucas starts pummeling Weaponeers. Melee ensues, and Rachel puts a TK shield over the villagers while Lucas absorbs energy blasts and returns them. A snowstorm rises in the desert: Ororo must be nearby, and Sam blasts through the aircraft, crippling it. It teleports away, and Ororo zaps the stranded soldiers. Lucas recaps: the Weaponeers can teleport, but this was their first defeat, and more will be learned from the prisoners. He asks Ororo to turn off the weather so they can restore the village to its people; Rachel has meanwhile made a snowman for the children, who've never seen snow.

  Sage monitors from the mansion; Rachel says she can't read the Weaponeers' minds without frying past their psi-blocks, but Sage has ways to make people talk. Rachel asks about Brian Braddock; Sage calls him, and he says the X-Men are always welcome at the manor.

  Logan reports a problem from Wade River, WA: a mutant criminal has taken hostages, and the local police won't accept XSE jurisdiction. Kurt tries to talk to the sheriff, but he calls them freaks and tosses their badge away. Logan tells Kurt it was a mistake to come openly and has him port them inside; just then, the building explodes.