SECRETS AND LIES

MUTANT X #4 (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, Madelyn Pryor unleashes her dark side, while Bloodstorm reveals some of her secrets! And Alex? Well, he sort of bounces around.

THE ISSUE ITSELF

Mutant X #4 is cover dated January 1999, and has story and art by Howard Mackie, Gary Nord, and Andrew Pepoy.

Madelyn Pryor has a nightmare of becoming the Goblin Queen, but is awoken by Alex, who tells her Scotty is calling her. Alex tells her to go back to sleep and goes to check on Scotty himself, encountering Bloodstorm on his way. She leaves for business off premises, and arrives at another castle. Kitty Pryde informs her that her meal awaits, and Ororo enters to see Forge, who allows her to feed on him. Back at Bannerman’s Castle, the lights go out, and Alex and Scotty go to check on them. They are attacked by goblins, and run to find Maddie. Beneath the castle, Maddie speaks with a shadowy demon figure, who convinces her to give into her demonic powers. Alex and Scotty are chased through the castle by the goblins, and are eventually cornered, before Maddie arrives and makes the goblins vanish with her new powers.

This issue starts to really delve into the ongoing story elements that will really shape this series, especially Maddie’s arc. It also gives us our first glimpse into Bloodstorm’s character, and further develops Alex and Scotty’s relationship. The developments with Maddie are important, but also feel just a tad sudden, given she and Alex just made peace with his own problems last issue. Knowing that this was originally only supposed to run 12 issues does explain some of this, since it gave them more of a tight schedule. However, that tight schedule makes the lack of any role for three of the team’s members (Ice-Man, Brute, and Fallen) in this issue seem even worse, especially since Bob and Warren have neither one gotten any real focus thus far. Warren in particular still hasn’t gotten much to go on beyond being the friend that nobody likes.

THE ME HALF OF THE EQUATION

As a kid, the Goblin Queen stuff is sort of where my interest checked out. Not that it’s bad, but it did feel a little meandering at times. This issue definitely shows that more so. There’s set up, but it doesn’t quite have a punch just yet. Of course, it’s still nice to get more Alex/Scotty scenes, and at least this advanced the plot more than last issue.

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.

THE PACK

MUTANT X #3 (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, Mutant X meets Wolverine. Yep, it’s a Wolverine episode, guys. Buckle up for “The Pack!”

THE ISSUE ITSELF

Mutant X #3 is cover dated December of 1998, and it has story and art by Howard Mackie, Tom Raney, and Andrew Pepoy.

In the wilderness of Saskatchewan, Canada, Alex Summers searches for his missing team members. He finds the downed Blackbird, and spots three unidentified figures in the snow, blasting in their direction. Four hours earlier, the team flies over the Northwestern United States, as Alex and Maddie discuss Reed Richards’ assessment of Alex’s mental state. Maddie asks Alex for some proof of his alternate life, but the Blackbird is shot down before he can give it. Back in the present, Alex encounters The Pack, made up of alternate versions of Wolverine, Sabretooth, and Wildchild. The Brute has seemingly joined them, but Alex is able to help Hank regain himself. A stray blast from Alex uncovers a restricted area, which fascinates The Pack. Alex is able to reason with the Pack and get them to find the rest if The Six. They and the Pack break into the restricted area and discover a Weapon X facility. A holographic projection triggers a hostile response from The Pack. The Six battle The Pack until Alpha Flight arrives and places the Pack under arrest and orders The Six to leave Canada or be executed as spies. As they fly home, Alex tells Maddie he’s done trying to prove his prior life, and he will just embrace this one.

This issue does the thing that every ’90s x-book had to: add Wolverine. Admittedly, it’s a more unique take than most, since he’s the rare alternate Wolverine that’s not just the same Wolverine but with some cosmetic change. He’s actually a different character entirely, and a bit player at that. We also get more exploration of this universe’s unique traits, including a less than friendly relationship between the US and Canada. Despite the changes, Alpha Flight appear to be more or less he same in their one-panel appearance. The Six still remain rather unexplored, as this issue sticks to the formula established by the last one, which is Alex trekking through this universe, more or less on his own. Once again, it’s really only Maddie and the Brute that get any time to shine.

THE ME HALF OF THE EQUATION

This issue was definitely the weakest thus far for me. While it may be a different take on Logan, The Pack are still pretty one note, and the payoff to their story feels very deus ex machina with Alpha Flight’s arrival. There’s ideas here that are intriguing, but they don’t quite land for me.

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.

NO WAY OUT

MUTANT X #2 (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, Havok encounters the Fantastic Four of another world, in “No Way Out!”

THE ISSUE ITSELF

Mutant X #2 is cover dated November 1998 and its story and art were handled by Howard Mackie, Tom Raney, and Andrew Pepoy.

The Six answer a distress call from the Fantastic Four, who are battling Moot and his insectoids. The Six make quick work of the insectoids, allowing Reed Richards to take out Moot. When Alex tries to talk to Reed about being stranded in an alternate dimension, he discovers there is history between the other Alex and this world’s Reed and Sue. After returning to Bannerman’s Castle, Alex talks with Scotty about Scotty’s knowledge of the alternate dimension situation. Alex promises to bring Scotty’s real dad back, and goes back to Reed to ask for his assistance in returning home. Alex reveals his predicament to Reed, who attempts to dissect Alex, revealing that Reed has been taken over by Moot. Moot offers to help Alex return home if Alex will become his ally. With the help of Sue, Johnny, and Ben, Alex defeats Moot and restores Reed to normal. Alex talks with the real Reed about his inter-dimensional nature. Reed runs some tests and comes to a conclusion: Alex is suffering from brain damage, caused by the Sentinel blast last issue. Reed calls Madelyn and informs her of this news, and leaves Alex in her custody.

This issue is clearly aiming to fill out the universe a bit more, especially after the first issue’s heavier X-focus. It’s refreshing to see more than just X-characters in play, and the hints at history between Sue and Alex are fun, as is having the FF be powerless adventurers. The twist at the end where Reed thinks Alex is just crazy is an interesting misdirection, but it’s ultimately not executed in an all that thrilling fashion, making the final panel of the issue a rather mundane shot of Alex and Maddie flying home. Unfortunately, the focus is largely just on Alex and Reed this issue, with the rest of the FF and the Six being just bit players. The Six get a fight scene at the beginning and a short character scene when they return to the castle, but it’s still not much to go on. We do at least get a solid scene with Scotty this time around, which helps to set the stage for how central the Alex/Scotty relationship will be to the series.

THE ME HALF OF THE EQUATION

This issue is the first of many that I’m reading for the first time on this read through. It’s cool to see the ground work for things I know are coming later, but I don’t know how well it works as an issue on its own.

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.

IN THE END…AS IN THE BEGINNING

MUTANT X #1 (MARVEL COMICS)

Hello dear readers and welcome to a new thing that I’ve decided I’m apparently doing! I’ve been reviewing action figures for over a decade, but I’ve also been known to review the occasional non-figure thing. Never in a recurring capacity or anything, but hey, there’s a first time for everything. Action figures and comics have been connected for a good long while, so it’s not a crazy stretch to go from one to the other, so that’s a thing I’m gonna at the very least attempt. And why? Havok, that’s why. At the tail end of the ’90s, Havok was granted his own Havok-centric X-spin-off, Mutant X, which saw the main universe’s Alex Summers, in a near death state, shifted into the body of an alternate universe version of himself. And, aside from the general Havok focus, what’s that got to do with me? Well, I just came into a complete run of the whole of Mutant X, which I’d been looking to re-read. And if I’m doing a re-read, I thought I might just drag the rest of you along with me. So, let’s jump back 25 years, to the fall of 1998, and take a look at Mutant X #1, titled “In the end…as in the beginning!”

THE ISSUE ITSELF

Mutant X #1 is cover dated October 1998, and its story and art were handled by Howard Mackie, Tom Raney, and Andrew Pepoy.

Having seemingly died in the pages of X-Factor, Alex Summers floats in limbo. On another Earth, a different Alex leads The Six in a battle against a group of Sentinels. This Alex takes a blast to the chest and falls into the river, also seemingly dead. The mainstream Havok goes into to body of his alternate counterpart and is pulled from the waters by the Brute, thus universe’s version of Hank McCoy. A confused Alex, who believes this whole outing to be some sort of trick, becomes hostile towards the Six, and he’s knocked unconscious by The Fallen (Warren Worthington III). Alex awakens in Bannerman’s Castle, home of The Six, and is greeted by the Brute, who demonstrates his lack of McCoy’s usual intellect. Alex is claims memory loss from his injury and is introduced to Marvel Woman (Madelyn Pryor, Alex’s wife in the universe), The Fallen, Ice-Man (Bob Drake, who after a run0in with Loki is unable to fully control his powers and cannot touch others), and Bloodstorm (Orro Munro turned vampire).  Maddie also reveals to Alex the existence of their son, Scotty. When SHIELD, an anti-mutant terrorist organization in this universe, sets out to attack Liberty Island, The Six must intervene in order to save Scotty, who is visiting the island on a day trip. Alex is initially reluctant to help, but when an emotionally distressed Maddie shows signs of her Goblin Queen persona, Alex intervenes and assists the Six in taking down Nick Fury and his Mandroid-armored SHIELD agents. Back at Bannerman’s Castle, Alex goes to check on Scotty, who reveals that he knows that this Alex isn’t his father…

This issue has a lot of ground to cover, which is aided by the fact that it’s a whopping 56 pager. We get only the slightest bit of recap of what happened to main Alex before jumping into the whole alternate universe thing, at which point, Alex is essentially just there to walk the reader through this new universe. There’s quite a bit to exposit, but the story actually handles it alright, keeping most things from being too dry or clunky. There are a few spots where it’s a little choppy, with Scotty’s trip to Liberty Island in particular being a slightly awkward beat. The whole SHIELD change up is also a little off, with little explanation offered as to why Fury is just straight evil in this universe. Of the main team, Brute definitely gets the best showing in this first outing, actually getting his backstory worked into the story, as well as getting an immediately different characterization, and a more clearly defined deviation from his main universe counterpart. It’s also kind of refreshing to see an alternate universe take on Hank that doesn’t jump right to “evil scientist” the way so many Hank variants do. Maddie definitely shows a lot of potential for where they’re going to go with the character, but isn’t quite a full fledged character on her own just yet. Ice-Man has a fairly interesting change-up, even if it is just a slight recycle on Rogue’s usual schtick. Bloodstorm and Fallen, however, are both pretty slim on characterization at this point, both relying on being like the normal versions, but edgier. The smaller role for Scotty is also noticeable, especially with the mislead at the end where it looks like he’s distrustful of Alex.

THE ME HALF OF THE EQUATION

I recall a lot of Mutant X‘s existence when it was new, and I picked up the odd issue here and there.  It was one of my go-tos when I just wanted to pick out a comic for myself, honestly.  This was one of the issues I had as a kid (though I believe I had a copy from a later print-run), and I remember re-reading it a lot at the time.  I honestly didn’t recall the whole SHIELD sub-plot, which probably speaks to how it’s the weaker portion of this inaugural story.  In general, though, I was pleasantly surprised by how well this first issue held up, and it’s made me very excited to read the rest of the run.

I snagged this whole run (and in fact my first copy of this issue as well) from my usual comics stop, Cosmic Comix, so I want to give them a shout out here, because it was a pretty great find.