Tuesday, August 21, 2012

MUTANT X #14 - November 1999


Homecoming!
Credits: Howard Mackie (writer), Cary Nord (penciler), Andrew Pepoy (inker), Gina Going (colors), Chris Eliopoulos (letters)

Summary: Cyclops and the Starjammers learn from the Skrulls, who are monitoring humans with connections to the Goblin Queen, that Havok is alive. Cyclops and his team travel to Earth, just in time to protect Havok and Scotty from Gladiator and a Kree hit squad. The Watcher suddenly appears to defend Havok and Scotty, declaring that Earth is under his protection now that the Goblin Queen is dead.

“That’s Crazy Because They’re Different”: The Scott Summers of this world is a devil-may-care adventurer who’s often chided by his teammates for not taking life seriously. Apparently, in this reality, Cyclops’ parents were killed when the Shi’ar came to Earth, and Cyclops took Corsair’s place as their captive. Cyclops also dresses like Corsair, oddly enough.

Continuity Notes: This reality’s Starjammers consist of Binary, Nova, Lockheed, and “Surfer,” who appears to be Silver Surfer without the board.

Better Than X-Factor?: Not particularly. Mackie goes for the second most obvious alternate reality rendition of Cyclops you can do (making him a villain is the first), and doesn’t really get anything out of it. Considering that Cyclops has believed his brother to be dead since he was a child, this should be an emotional reunion, but given that Howard Mackie is so often unable to convey even basic human emotions, all we’re left with is an issue of Cyclops making bad jokes while Havok runs around making dumbfounded expressions. And bringing in the Watcher as a quicky plot resolution is just lazy. I’ll give Cary Nord a lot of credit for making the visuals work, though. He’s evolved into an impressive cartoonist.

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