BLAME CANADA!

MUTANT X #30 (MARVEL COMICS)

“In another place–in another life–Alex Summers led a team of mutants in a battle against oppression. His methods were extreme, his tactics questionable, but–in his soul–he knew that he was fighting for the greater good.

Now that soul has been transferred to another world, and Summers, also known as Havok, has found himself living a lie, allied with a team of mutants who are sinister, parallel versions of his friends and family. It is to this dark, new place that Havok has come, where he stands as a man alone… a mutant alone. Alex Summers is Mutant X.

Fear him. Fear for him.”

25 years ago, Marvel Comics launched Mutant X, a Havok led X-spinoff. I recently came into a complete run of the series, and so now I’m going to re-read the series once a week, and you guys get to come along for the ride!

This week, the team helps Logan evade the Canadian forces, while also facing down this Earth’s Mightiest Heroes in “Blame Canada!”

THE ISSUE ITSELF

Mutant X #30 is dated April 2001. It has story and art by Howard Mackie, Ron Lim, and Andrew Pepoy, letters by Chris Eliopoulos, colors by Gina Going, and a cover by Michael Golden.

The Six’s jet flies towards the Canadian border. The onboard computer informs the team that crossing the border will violate international treaties. Captain America overrides the computer, and gives everyone the chance to sit this mission out, before the team ventures into breaking international law. As they near the border, they’re halted by Iron Giant Man, who is followed by Deathlok, Typhoid Mary, Hawkeye, and the Black Widow. They are this universe’s Avengers, and they have been sent to stop the team from aiding Havok and Logan. Meanwhile, Havok and Logan scope out the Canadian forces. Logan makes Havok promise to look after his kids, as he plans to create a distraction. A short distance away, Hudson, the Professor, and a squad of armored super soldiers land, and begin searching the forest. The Six and the Avengers exchange words. Widow calls Cap a coward for deserting them, and demands to speak to the team’s “real” leader. Bloodstorm steps up to speak. As she and Widow discuss terms, Cap talks with Ice-Man concerning his departure from the Avengers. Widow orders the Six to turn back, but Bloodstorm refuses, and strikes Widow with a bolt of lightning. A full battle breaks out, and Cap looks on in fear. On the other side of the border, a Super Soldier stalks Logan, but Logan reverses it on him. Havok and Jean aid Logan in defeating the soldier, and they make their way to The Six. They discover the remains of the battle, both teams lying around the battlefield. Cap remains conscious, but can only offer cries of “not again” in explanation of what happened. Before Havok can gather more information, Hudson and the rest of the Super Soldiers arrive.

After an absence, we finally get to see the whole team in action again this issue. Granted, Brute and Gambit are without speaking roles, but it’s a good focus for Cap, and Bloodstorm finally gets to act like she’s actually part of the team. After hints of them for the past 30 issues, the Avengers also arrive, with an interesting line-up to say the least. The backstory between them and Cap is an intriguing set-up.

This issue is also notable for being the first to acknowledge the impending cancellation of the series. The letters page is almost entirely dedicated to this fact, with many calls to avoid cancellation of the book, while the editorial staff sets the stage to wrap up the book’s plot lines in the next three issues.

THE ME HALF OF THE EQUATION

I liked this one. After being unimpressed by the last two issues, this one’s pretty fun. I liked the Cap focus, the Avengers are nifty, and I even liked Bloodstorm this time around. I have a loose idea where it’s all headed, but I’m excited to read more.

I snagged this whole run from my usual comics stop, Cosmic Comix, so I want to give them a shout out here, because it was a pretty great find.