Rioting in California has forced Rogue back into action to see how her power adjustment has affected her in battle.
X-MEN: LEGACY #226
Publisher: Marvel
Writer: Mike Carey
Pencils: Dustin Weaver
Inks: Ed Tadeo
Colorist: Brian Reber
Letterer: VC’s Cory Petit
Cover: Terry Dodson
Summary: “UTOPIA TIE-IN Rogue, Gambit and Danger go to join the X-Men in San Francisco, only to find it in flames. The Dark Avengers have come into town and are taking no prisoners. Wait, the whole problem is that they ARE taking prisoners. Norman Osborn has the city of San Francisco in the palm of his hands and mutants are being forced to take sides. Will they side with Cyclops and the X-Men? Or go to Osborn and his Dark X-Men? What side will the returning mutants and one of the X-Men’s most powerful foes take? Part 1 (of 2).
Review: (Outside of this issue in the Utopia crossover…) It’s seems difficult to think of legislation that would be more devastating to the genetically-altered class of citizens other than the Mutant Registration Act, however the Humanity Now! Coalition has proposed just the thing. Simon Trask has actually introduced legislation that would require people with the X gene to undergo a mandatory birth control procedure.
X-Men Legacy #226 opens up with the Humanity Now! Coalition rioting through the neighborhood called Mutant Town. Rogue is back from Australia where she underwent a mind-meld with Xavier to break her mental barriers and completely alter her super powers. Traveling back with her are Gambit and Danger. Pixie literally pops in and tells them of the rioting, then in the blink of an eye whisks them back San Francisco. The “regular” X-Men have already engaged in the battle trying to stop both sides from fighting to no avail.
Rogue is shown in absolutely perfect detail from the wisps of her bangs to the outstanding coloring done when she moves through the light and shadows. That’s not to say anyone else looks less than perfect, but Rogue is definitely in the spotlight for #226 where she can showcase her new and improved power set. When Rogue is crouched down to absorb a fallen officer’s memories, Dark Ms. Marvel (Moonstone, or heck “Ms. Marvstone” if you will) shows up to arrest her for assault on a H.A.M.M.E.R. officer. The right to arrest is the duty of the Dark Avengers. There’s a wham-bam girl fight between the two which most fanboys would want to see ending with pillows and kissing, but it’s just an old fashioned smackdown. Sorry.
I read this issue but have forsaken adding other Utopia books to my pull list because, dammit, I’m sick of crossovers! That being said, this issue has left me with a rather important question: since Rogue’s power adjustment, just how drastically has she been changed? She seems able to control the absorption part but I noticed she runs from the Moonstone fight to the riot scene. Has she lost her flight and super strength, i.e. her original Ms. Marvel powers? It would be a rather huge demarcation for the character though not an unwelcome one. She is placed in a situation where other X-Men qualities such as wits and leadership are put before brute strength as she faces Ares, the god of war.
P.S. - Can someone please tell Ariel that Jem & the Holograms would like their wardrobe back.
This issue also contains a preview in The Marvels Project showing a heartfelt look into the character of Dr. Thomas Halloway, one of the Golden Age characters to be showcased in the new series. The sentiment of a character who recounts his childhood hearkens one back to those early visits to the five and dime to pick up a comic book.
July 17th, 2009 at 4:33 pm
Oooh there’s a Jem and the Holograms lookalike? This I must see.
July 18th, 2009 at 8:49 am
I’m sick of crossovers, too, Beth.