Comings & Goings Credits: Larry Hama (writer), Terry Dodson (penciler), Rachel Dodson (inker), Nic Musolino (colors), Richard Starkings & Comicraft (letters)
Summary: Bianca and her seven dwarves work to repair the Biosphere, while Banshee picks Siryn up from the airport and Husk says goodbye to Chamber before leaving for Kentucky. When Synch leaves campus holding Skin’s cigar box, Jubilee’s afraid that he’s going to shoot Dorian and Weasel. Instead, she learns he’s pooled his savings with Skin to give them money to replace their totaled car. Later, the Biosphere disappears with Bianca and the dwarves. A Polaroid is left behind, showing a dilapidated Biosphere in what appears to be the future.
Continuity Notes: Synch says that Skin got rid of the gun in his cigar box following the events of Generation X #1/2. Husk is leaving to visit her sick mother, a subplot that ties into Cannonball’s recent X-Force appearance. Emma notices that her telepathic powers have returned while talking to Gaia. And, finally, a massive continuity blunder has Banshee apologizing for not making enough time for Siryn during her youth. He actually wasn’t aware of her existence until she reached adulthood.
Review: Following a wacky action issue, this one largely consists of tender character moments, with a mystery ending thrown in for good measure. This is arguably one of Hama’s better Generation X issues, but the Banshee/Siryn continuity error is just grating. It’s not as if it’s just one line of dialogue that could be misinterpreted as a mistake. Banshee goes on for several pages, apologizing for not making time for Siryn and justifying his behavior by repeatedly commenting on how young he was. He even remembers “shakin’ in me youthful shoes back at the dispensary where ye came howlin’ into the world all red and wet and wee hands grabbin’” in spite of the fact that it’s a vital part of Siryn’s origin that Banshee had no idea his wife was pregnant the last time he saw her. The rest of the plots thankfully fare better. I’m glad Lucinda Guthrie’s sickness isn’t being ignored in this title, and Hama’s take on forgiveness is certainly unique. Most writers would at least have Synch beat the living crap out of Dorian and Weasel before forgiving them. Hama skips the violence and even has Synch give his assailants enough money to buy a car because he knows they need their pizza delivery job. “Hatred is a cycle…fueled by ignorance, envy, and fear…somebody has to break the chain, you know?” That’s the strangest resolution to a hate crime story I’ve ever read, but it says a lot about Synch’s character. (This makes him the most pious hero this side of Superman!)
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