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[personal profile] crabby_lioness
Hello again, here's the second installment of Shatterstar in X-Factor.  Shatterstar was a gay teenage superhero-entertainer created by Marvel in the 1990s who recently got brought back with a Barrowman/"Captain Jack"-based makeover, that was believable given the character's history and that's proven highly popular with the fans.  I covered his return and reunion with his old boyfriend Julio Richter here.  This is what the guys have been up to since then, including their first argument serious discussion.

WARNINGS FOR MODERATE GORE AND MILD NUDITY.

As I said last time, this story cannot by definition be considered a soap opera, since superhero comic books are obviously meant for boys and can't possibly contain any yucky soap-opera elements which boys hate, in spite of any and all evidence to the contrary.  That said, X-Factor is the most down to Earth of Marvel's Merry Mutant not-soap-operas.  ("Down to earth" in this context means that while they have people with Daddy issues and people who are batshit crazy, nobody here combines those with the ability to destroy the planet, unlike the Summers clan or Magneto's brood.)

Julio "Ric", "Rictor" Richter is a Mexican-born mutant with humongous Daddy issues who escaped from a family of professional gun-runners with a predilection for hot-tempered mutant redheads (more on that later).  He's obsessed with being a better man in every way than his crooked father was.  (His friend Terry "Siryn", "Banshee" Cassidy found this side of him really nice when she was pregnant as he was far more attentive to her needs than her own boyfriend.)  He lost his mutant powers a few years ago, and he's been slowly learning how to cope. 

Ric2

Shatterstar is a genetically engineered alien gladiator who didn't even know what a "Daddy" was before he escaped from another dimension with a predilection for getting into fights; most people consider him batshit crazy.   He's obsessed with being the most successful warrior/entertainer around and the center of attention as this was literally a matter of life or death when he was growing up.

Star 2

They've had an on-again, off-again relationship for many years, because while they appear to love each other passionately they are completely clueless about relationship maintenance.  Ric is especially bad about not talking about his feelings.  He's walked out on 'Star twice with little to no reason given, and 'Star's fallen apart each time.  The second time he ended up back in his home dimension, Mojoworld, from which he made a very dangerous passage back to Earth just to be by Ric's side once again.

There's another escaped gladiator-slave from Mojoworld, the luck manipulator Longshot.  Genetic testing has shown that he's probably Shatterstar's sperm-Daddy, but the two men have never discussed this fact.  Bred and reared for short, violent lives spent killing to entertain the masses, family is a concept alien to their upbringing.

Longshot 2

Currently the three men work for X-Factor, Jamie "the Multiple Man" Madrox's all-mutant detective agency, considered a less-stressful alternative to the X-Men.  In our last picspam we saw our team visit the mostly-mutant island of Utopia and get an offer to stay for mutual protection.  They pass on the offer because it's really not that bad for mutants, is it?  Surely the X-Men are exaggerating the threat level?

Cue bad guys who want to kill all mutants attacking.  Mutant children are the main targets.  Utopia, home to all but four of the world's known remaining mutant children, bears the brunt of the attack, but they dispatch a mop-up detail to take care of X-Factor.  After all, how much trouble can half a dozen D-level mutants be?

They fire up their computer simulator and punch in "frontal assault".

Ric shot

Julio

dodging

Maybe not.

They decide to lure X-Factor into a trap instead.  Plan B appears to work well.

Plan B

hologram

But appearances can deceive.


scanner


The funny thing about those scanners is that they can't distinguish between a nonmutant and a depowered mutant like Ric.  (Note Ric is smiling.  That's only happened twice before in the last six years, and never this big.)

intel

Plan B soon enters FUBAR territory.

Banshee

don't walk

sanguinely

pointless

professionals

fire!

brake!

The mop-up detail gets mopped up.

count

It's not like this never been done before.  Vicious anti-mutant attacks are an unfortunate fact of life for "out" mutants on all-mutant teams.  Most of the X-Factor personnel have been dealing with attacks like this one literally since they hit puberty. (There's a reason why their benefits package includes on-site living accomadations.  Jamie didn't even think about taking on more employees until he could house them in reasonable safety.)

After weeks of running about X-Factor gets a simple case that leaves the team with lots of downtime.

Halja

simple case

Rictor and Shatterstar finally have some time to spend together, and come face-to-face with exactly how much they've both changed over the years.

shooting range

waste of time

connected

open

emotional anchor

Later

privacy

Rahne

That's "Rahne, Ric's mutant werewolf Fundamentalist Christian ex-girlfriend who ran out on him a few months ago when he wanted a commitment."   (Remember, this is not a soap opera.)

(Some people consider what Shatterstar said as an invitation to a threesome, but it may have been simple confusion over "public space" and "private space".  What Shatterstar said would have been completely appropriate if they'd met in a public space like a street corner or office. Yes, 'Star is that culturally clueless.)

Born the illegitimate daughter of a hellfire-and-brimstone preacher and a prostitute who died in childbirth, Rahne's always had a difficult life.  Oftentimes only her deep Christian faith has gotten her through.  When they first met shortly after he came to Xavier's School  the 15yo Ric and the slightly older Rahne began an intense but platonic relationship, and he comforted her after she could not be with her One True Love (more on that later).  Then she left the school and both moved on to other people, Ric finding Shatterstar.  Before Shatterstar returned Rahne tried to comfort Ric in the depths of his depression, and ended up having pity sex with him.  When the desperately needy Ric pressed her for a commitment she fled, leaving a note that Ric burned unread.  (This is not a soap opera.)

pity

justify

Rahne's had an especially bad time since she left Ric and X-Factor. She's been working on the X-Men's secret wetworks team, which has been fighting Bastion and the bad guys mentioned above for months prior to thelarge-scale attacks.  Bastion kindapped, drugged, and brainwashed Rahne into betraying her friends and murdering her scumbag father.

no sin

While recovering from these traumas, she got some unexpected news.

intro Hrimrahi

enter Hrimrahi

Hrimrahi the wolf-lord is Rahne's One True Love.  Previously he lived in Asgard with the other Norse deities, where they couldn't be together.  Now Asgard is (temporarily) destroyed and he's on Earth.  Hrimrahi gets Rahne pregnant, but strain of carrying a half-Asgardian fetus is killing her.  Hrimrahi tricks the Norse Death-Goddess Hela into claiming his soul for the means to save Rahne and their unborn child.


exit Hrimrahi

Now alone, pregnant, and severely traumatized, Rahne returns to the closest thing she has left to a family:  "foster brother" Jamie (Jamie used to be the handyman for her adopted mother when the X-Men arranged for the 13yo Rahne to leave the legal custody of her abusive father after the first time Daddy Dearest was caught trying to kill Rahne.) and ex-boyfriend Ric.  But due to the supernatural element of her pregnancy, she's much further along with it than she would be if the father had been human.

pronoun trouble

five minutes later

charge

kraash2

dog

mind control

hydrant

goose

not quite a lie

Remember, this is not a soap opera.

Madrox has just found out his client used him to recapture her runaway slave.

enter Hela


Back at HQ....

python

not enough liquor

don't tell

(They're asking about one of Jamie's split-personality duplicates (or "dupes") because that's how Terry got pregnant.  Once again, this is not a soap opera.)

Jamie suspects Rahne isn't being entirely honest, but can't figure out the details.  He leaves Ric and Rahne to talk things out, and pulls all the able-bodied crew (including Shatterstar) in on the Vegas job.

Sorry to leave y'all at a cliffhanger, but that's about all the pictures I'm comfortable posting in one go.  The trip to Vegas and Ric's conversation with Rahne will be in the next picspam, up in about a month.  Here's some teaser pics from Vegas:

pirate king

dirty sexy money

The stories of X-Factor's trip to Utopia and the anti-mutant attack are collected in X-Factor:  Second Coming.  (To see the battle on Utopia read X-Men:  Second Coming.)  I don't know yet what the Vegas story will be called when it's collected.

Just remember, this is not a soap opera!

By the way, am I the only one who suspects Hela's playing a deeper game involving Hrimrahi?

ETA:  Thatoddowl has summarized this story far better than I could!

(no subject)

Date: 2010-09-22 05:13 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] scatteredgray.livejournal.com
"Why is that well-dressed dog attacking Shatterstar?" LOL



(no subject)

Date: 2010-09-23 01:42 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] crabby-lioness.livejournal.com
"Oh, well that would explain.... No, wait. Still confused."

(no subject)

Date: 2010-09-22 05:29 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] foreverrhapsody.livejournal.com
The only problem I can spot so far is that it's Barrowman, not Barrowmen. This is awesome though, I'm definitely going to use your picspams to hopefully get more readers/fans.

No, I totally agree with your suspicions.

(no subject)

Date: 2010-09-25 05:41 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] foreverrhapsody.livejournal.com
It may be because I'm not too knowledgeable in the Norse side of Marvel mythology, but I have no idea how this whole thing is going to go sour. I mean, things have been relatively silly for the past couple issues, but I have a feeling it's going to take a dark turn soon. (Which is backed up by what PAD has said, people leaving or getting incredibly messed up.)

(Also, I was rereading again, and while I don't feel safe to nitpick as far as analysis and plot go, I do feel safe to nitpick against grammar. I really hope you don't mind >.<
Anyway, this sentence: "Julio "Ric", "Rictor" Richter is a Mexican-born mutant with humongous Daddy issues who escaped from a family of professional gun-runners with a predilection for hot-tempered mutant redheads" almost makes it sound like Ric's family is the one with the predilection for redheads. While that may or may not be the case, I'm not sure that's what you're going for.)

(no subject)

Date: 2010-09-22 05:51 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] meghannibrooks.livejournal.com
I didn't really think it was all that possible to make X-Factor even funnier, but most of your running comentary proved me wrong. :D

(no subject)

Date: 2010-09-23 03:41 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] crabby-lioness.livejournal.com
Thank you! Did I make Rahne engaging? I know you said you found her a "meh" character.

(no subject)

Date: 2010-09-23 08:51 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] meghannibrooks.livejournal.com
Welcome. :)

Heh yeah, you did a good job. I'm also strangly flattered that you remember what i said. :D

(no subject)

Date: 2010-09-23 01:52 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] crabby-lioness.livejournal.com
I took it as a challenge. :) Really, unless the audience understands why Rahne is acting this way, it comes across as the worst sort of cliche.

(no subject)

Date: 2010-09-23 02:57 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] meghannibrooks.livejournal.com
I find religious characters to be extreamly boring which I guess is a tad ironic as I'm a Christian (also, you may want to change "Fundamentalist Christian" to "Presbyterian") myself.

I've just never been a fan of her, has nothing to do with what's happening now (as for that, I'm gonna wait for more of the story before I pass judgement on her).

(no subject)

Date: 2010-09-23 04:00 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] crabby-lioness.livejournal.com
Some religious characters do tend to be written extremely boring. I put that down to laziness on the part of the writers.

you may want to change "Fundamentalist Christian" to "Presbyterian"

Fundamentalism is a nuance more than a sect, but I have known Presbyterians who were proud to be Fundamentalists.

I'm not Rahne's biggest fan, but when she's written well she can be a very good character. You have to have a good writer with few hangups about conservative Christians for her to be written well. It's a question of baggage. Forex, I enjoy Incorruptible, but the main character is such a conservative Christian stereotype that if I had read it while I was still in the church or only a few years after leaving it I would have hated him because of all the negative baggage I had associated with it.

(no subject)

Date: 2010-09-23 04:23 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] meghannibrooks.livejournal.com
I figure most things can be put down to lazy writers, I know it's a long history with more than a few re-writes, but they can at least try, right?

Oh, has nothing to do with that, it's just that she is Presbyterian and some people get a little nit picky if you get it wrong. I'm one of those people where the different sides of it don't interest me as it's the same God we all believe in anyway.

My dislike of her is the same dislike I have for Miley Cyrus, isn't a bad person or anything, I just don't really care for them. There are some things that you just don't like/get right off the bat and you don't really know why.

(no subject)

Date: 2010-09-22 06:21 pm (UTC)
ext_375632: IM One of those days (NotAsGayAsThisIcon)
From: [identity profile] okami-oujou.livejournal.com
Every time I read "Remember, this is not a soap opera." I lol'ed harder and harder. XDDD

Great job with putting this post together! Thank you for sharing :)

(no subject)

Date: 2010-09-22 06:39 pm (UTC)
ext_375632: IM One of those days (One of Those Days)
From: [identity profile] okami-oujou.livejournal.com
Premature 'Post comment' hit... ^^'

> By the way, am I the only one who suspects Hela's playing a deeper game involving Hrimrahi?

Nope! I wouldn't be at all surprised if she had a hidden agenda (for example, wanting to get her hands on a half-mutant, half-god baby...). Her appearance in the X-Factor's office seems fishy to me. I wouldn't be surprised if she intentionally let Pip the Troll escape in order to hire X-Factor and get their attention.

(no subject)

Date: 2010-09-23 02:17 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] crabby-lioness.livejournal.com
IDK if she let him escape or he escaped on his own. Things got real chaotic in Asgard for a while there. But she's certainly exploiting the situation.

Nerd am I

Date: 2010-09-22 11:00 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] qara-isuke.livejournal.com
When they first met shortly after he came to Xavier's School the 15yo Ric had a crush on the slightly older girl, and she allowed him to platonicaly comfort her after she could not be with her One True Love (more on that later). Then she left the school and both moved on to other people, Ric finding Shatterstar.

Gonna nitpick this a bit, as a huge New Mutants fangirl, since it's kinda incorrect. *ducks shoes*

First and foremost, I believe it was stated that Rahne did in fact love Rictor. She actually states she cared more for him than she ever did Doug. In fact, there's an ADORABLE PAD-written side-story in one of the New Mutants annuals about that. Rahne goes to Doug's grave to ask his "permission" to pursue Rictor, who she has fallen for. In her wolf-form, she sees his ghost and gets his blessing to be with Rictor.

She also very fiercely defends Rictor when Sunspot expresses unease over the relationship (Rictor isn't good enough for her, basically). So calling it platonic isn't exactly accurate, since he states they're "an item" and as such, dating.

And she doesn't really move on -- even with her mutate programming steering her towards Havok, she's still clearly interested in Rictor. When injured in the desert, she hallucinates Rictor coming to rescue her -- mourning that she thought he'd forgotten about her. The reunion during X-Cutioner's Song is mutually passionate, being their second very passionate on-panel kiss.

It's only MUCH later that she actually moves on from Rictor, getting involved with "Douglock" in Excaliber around the same time that Rictor and Shatterstar started to get involved.

< / end nerd>
Edited Date: 2010-09-22 11:24 pm (UTC)

Re: Nerd am I

Date: 2010-09-23 12:12 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] rukia.livejournal.com
First and foremost, I believe it was stated that Rahne did in fact love Rictor. She actually states she cared more for him than she ever did Doug. In fact, there's an ADORABLE PAD-written side-story in one of the New Mutants annuals about that. Rahne goes to Doug's grave to ask his "permission" to pursue Rictor, who she has fallen for. In her wolf-form, she sees his ghost and gets his blessing to be with Rictor.

What issue # is that? It sounds cool!

Re: Nerd am I

Date: 2010-09-23 01:57 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] qara-isuke.livejournal.com
New Mutants annual #6, the sidestory called "Tribute the Second".

Re: Nerd am I

Date: 2010-09-23 02:31 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] rukia.livejournal.com
Thank you! ^_^

Re: Nerd am I

Date: 2010-09-23 03:07 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] hyperactivator.livejournal.com
Interesting. I was of the idea that it had always been one sided.

Re: Nerd am I

Date: 2010-09-23 03:27 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] qara-isuke.livejournal.com
Not in the least bit. Louise Simonson made it very clear in her writing their attraction was mutual. Things developed between them during their trip to Asgard, slowly becoming closer during their time there. By the time they return to earth, Rictor is clearly attracted to Rahne and she expresses the beginnings of attraction as well.

By the time Cable has been with them a few months, the two are dating and clearly very close. In the X-Tinction Agenda crossover, they share a passionate kiss (the first on-panel kiss for either of them) and afterwards, Rahne thinks to herself about her feelings for him. Lemme quote:

"I loved Doug, but he never made me feel like this. So wonderful, that it must somehow be wrong."

"I love Ric, I want to do as he wishes. But Doug was the last teammate who'll sacrifice himself for me."


When thinking about them, Sunspot expresses realizing that Rahne loves Rictor. This makes him protective of Rahne, as he wonders if Rictor actually returns her feelings or not.

During the Terrigen Crystals incident, Layla calls off Rahne by using her feelings for Rictor.

"If you care anything about Rictor....and I know as well as you do that you do....way more than you let on..."

In the next issue, they sleep together. In following issues, Madrox mentions in a narration that he knows Rictor and Rahne are involved again.

Re: Nerd am I

Date: 2010-09-23 04:05 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] foreverrhapsody.livejournal.com
So how'd they break up the first time?

Re: Nerd am I

Date: 2010-09-23 05:21 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] qara-isuke.livejournal.com
It happened in the final issue of the X-Tinction Agenda crossover. During it, Cameron Hodge had Rahne put through the Mutate Process -- turning her into one of Genosha's genetically altered, brainwashed mutant slaves. Because of her powers, she's able to regain her sense of self when transformed. As such, she can never return to her human form again.

Anyway, at the end she "decides" to stay behind. I say this with quotation as we eventually learn in X-Factor that she stayed because she was bonded to Havok as her designated "master". So her programming essentially forces her to ask Rictor and the New Mutants to leave her behind. Rictor is heartbroken and in the following issue, Liefeld has him decide to head back to Genosha to rescue her. (Unfortunately, by the time he arrives, she's already been hired on to X-Factor and is long gone.)

It really is kind of messed up, as her dumping Rictor was never her own choice. She only leaves him because of her programming, which forces her to stay with Havok and makes her believe she loves him -- all courtesy of Rictor's old "buddy", Cameron Hodge. Part of me wonders if maybe Hodge did this on purpose, taking something else precious away from Rictor.

ETA: Rereading it, X-Tinction Agenda is really kind of tragic for them both. We see their first kiss, as well as Rictor and Rahne both admitting to themselves they love each other. But it ends with Rahne turned into a mutate and "deciding" to stay in Genosha, forcing Rictor to leave her behind.
Edited Date: 2010-09-23 05:28 am (UTC)

Re: Nerd am I

Date: 2010-09-23 06:42 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] foreverrhapsody.livejournal.com
Aw. I really should go and read all of their early issues, they sound kind of adorable and star-crossed, and now my shipper senses are all confused. CLEARLY THREESOMES ARE ALWAYS THE ANSWER.

Also, if I'm putting this together right, if Liefeld hadn't put that little kink in the Rictor/Rahne relationship (Rahne being forced to stay behind.) things might've turned out MUCH differently. It's almost... poetic. [EDIT: Although I guess we'd really have to thank the person that wanted Rahne but not Rictor in X-Factor.]
Edited Date: 2010-09-23 06:51 pm (UTC)

Re: Nerd am I

Date: 2010-09-23 07:25 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] qara-isuke.livejournal.com
CLEARLY THEY DO! MAKE IT HAPPEN, PAD!

Re: Nerd am I

Date: 2010-09-23 01:01 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] hyperactivator.livejournal.com
Thank you! This love triangle just became alot more complex. ^_^

Rictor's got it going on.

Re: Nerd am I

Date: 2010-09-23 09:22 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] meghannibrooks.livejournal.com
The reunion during X-Cutioner's Song is mutually passionate, being their second very passionate on-panel kiss.

I like to think Shatty was a little jealous when this happened. I really like the idea that he was interested in Julio before Julio was interested in him.

Kind of cerments itself when he carries him off the battle field a few scenes later. *smile*

Re: Nerd am I

Date: 2010-09-23 02:29 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] rukia.livejournal.com
That was also PAD-written too, wasn't it? XD

He's been writing the Rahne/Rictor/Star lovetriangle for years and we didn't really notice!

Eventually Doug is going to visit X-Factor and the #$@! is going to hit the fan. Again. I'd buy a dozen copies of that issue.

Re: Nerd am I

Date: 2010-09-23 02:57 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] meghannibrooks.livejournal.com
Yeah, someone pointed that out a while ago and a few posts up.

I'd like to see that happen. :D

Re: Nerd am I

Date: 2010-09-23 02:19 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] crabby-lioness.livejournal.com
Thanks. Does it read better now? I want to get it across honestly but succinctly, without overwhelming the newbie with TMI.

(no subject)

Date: 2010-09-22 11:04 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] michiru42.livejournal.com
Wonderful like before! Thanks for these, they're a great way to catch myself up and entertaining in their own right.

<
[Error: Irreparable invalid markup ('<most [...] puberty.>') in entry. Owner must fix manually. Raw contents below.]

Wonderful like before! Thanks for these, they're a great way to catch myself up and entertaining in their own right.

<<Most of the X-Factor personnel have been dealing with attacks like this one literally since they hit puberty.>>

Accurate though that is, it cracked me up to think about it. I just had this image of their teenage schedules: Breakfast, shower, anti-mutant attack, lunch, sentinel attack, afternoon tea...

And thanks for the X-Force pages. I didn't like that book, but it's good to see what happened to Rahne there.

(no subject)

Date: 2010-09-23 12:39 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] crabby-lioness.livejournal.com
I just had this image of their teenage schedules: Breakfast, shower, anti-mutant attack, lunch, sentinel attack, afternoon tea...

LOL Uh, yeah. There's a reason why the traditional greeting for the newbie is, "Welcome to the X-Men, so-and-so. Hope you survive the experience!"

(no subject)

Date: 2010-09-23 09:40 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] meghannibrooks.livejournal.com
I just had this image of their teenage schedules: Breakfast, shower, anti-mutant attack, lunch, sentinel attack, afternoon tea...i>

Would you mind if this statement made it's way into some of my fic? I know just the person who would say something like this. *grin*

(no subject)

Date: 2010-09-23 02:21 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] crabby-lioness.livejournal.com
The only problem with that statement is that it leaves out the daily Danger Room session. :P

(no subject)

Date: 2010-09-23 02:51 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] meghannibrooks.livejournal.com
Well, we know it would be the first thing 'Star does every morning. :D

(no subject)

Date: 2010-09-23 02:57 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] rukia.livejournal.com
I enjoyed the picspam and reading your descriptions. ^_^ As someone who has read all the issues, it's cool to see all of the pages collected in one place.

However, if I had yet to read the series, maybe a few panels for each scene to highlight some of the best qualities of each scene might be better than showing all of the full pages. Being able to read all of the full pages might not entice new folks to pick up older issues, although I admit it would be a good way to catch people up who haven't read the series in a long while. :)

A little off-topic, but the page where rahne and hrimhari reunite never ever fails to creep me out. o_0

And Shatterstar's "Are you happy? I know I was." smile the the BEST. :D

(no subject)

Date: 2010-09-23 03:33 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] crabby-lioness.livejournal.com
I enjoyed the picspam and reading your descriptions. ^_^ As someone who has read all the issues, it's cool to see all of the pages collected in one place

Thank you!

maybe a few panels for each scene to highlight some of the best qualities of each scene might be better than showing all of the full pages. Being able to read all of the full pages might not entice new folks to pick up older issues, although I admit it would be a good way to catch people up who haven't read the series in a long while. :)

I try to show as little as I can while maintaining flow and comprehension, but if the new audience doesn't understand what's going on they won't buy the collections. I actually cut out about a quarter of the pages I originally thought I'd use, including some pages with Ric and 'Star, because it made the flow tighter. (Now I have to clean up my photo account!) I would have liked to have included the covers, but they're "speedbumps". Beautiful speedbumps, but still speedbumps.

the page where rahne and hrimhari reunite never ever fails to creep me out. o_0

It never fails to make me to "Guh!", and I'm not a furry!

And Shatterstar's "Are you happy? I know I was." smile the the BEST. :D

He's got that smirk DOWN, hasn't he? :D

(no subject)

Date: 2010-09-23 02:32 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] rukia.livejournal.com
I saw this on deviantart and I thought you might find it funny. ^_^


X-Factor: The Soup Opera (http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/178822412/) by ~thatoddowl (http://thatoddowl.deviantart.com/) on deviant (http://www.deviantart.com)ART (http://www.deviantart.com)

(no subject)

Date: 2010-09-23 03:26 pm (UTC)

(no subject)

Date: 2010-09-23 09:31 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] kiev4am.livejournal.com
Aw, this is great. Your commentary is awesome. OF COURSE this is not a soap opera. Absolutely not. The very idea :)

This is very sappy, but seeing the character biographies summarised like that makes me see again how romantic it is, in the way that apparently ill-matched and unlikely couples are always romantic. Depowered angsty mutant underdog with father issues/genetically constructed alien gladiator with no social skills - it's just, WHAT. D'aww.

(no subject)

Date: 2010-09-23 09:38 pm (UTC)
From: [identity profile] kiev4am.livejournal.com
Oh, also bloody hell, poor poor Rahne. I heard all about her time in X-Force, but those two panels of her crouched against a wall covered in gore are an absolute gut-punch. Wolfsploitation.

(no subject)

Date: 2010-09-24 01:01 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] crabby-lioness.livejournal.com
Wolfsploitation indeed. Those two panels are the first of a six-panel page that's nothing but reiterations of that scene. I thought less was more in this case.

Bad as the story was, the first half of X-Force V3 had some great gut-punch panels. The three above are some of my favorites, but there's also Warren sprawled atop a pile of corpses, or Jimmie and Ghost Rider fighting a Demon Bear. Ooomph. Unfortunately they lost that aspect half-way through, and while Necrosha tried to recover it most of its panel were too dark and muddy to see.

(no subject)

Date: 2010-09-24 12:54 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] crabby-lioness.livejournal.com
Complementary couples are the best kind.

(no subject)

Date: 2012-02-03 02:24 am (UTC)
ext_19682: (Dune_Leto Atreide II)
From: [identity profile] oximore.livejournal.com
I adore the regular reminders that "this is not a soap opera!"
It's a truly welcome reminder anytime you try to recap something in comic world (Erik & Charles story//Jean Grey story...)
I'm really enjoying this, Shatty & Rictor are some of my favourite (Shatterstar is just so much fun and I may have a thing for dysfunctional relationships).

(no subject)

Date: 2012-02-03 03:37 am (UTC)
From: [identity profile] crabby-lioness.livejournal.com
The last time I tried a straight-faced history of the X-Men I choked on Magik. That was back in the mid-80s and cured me good.

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