Brandon Borzelli's Geek Goggle Reviews

X-Men #206 (plus X-Men: Messiah Complex Mutant Files)

Marvel Comics
Carey & Bachalo

Well, I complained about the lack of development in future for this story and I cant complain about that anymore. This issue focused on the future and the X-Men scratching their heads as to where Cable is heading. Cable gets to where he is going and is met with a big surprise. A fantastic issue, but not perfection.

We begin in the future where Layla and the dupe of Jamie are captive. This is a bleak scene. Torture, shaving heads, tattooing, cells, cold showers, dirty medical rooms and it all looks as ugly as it sounds. I’m not sure what will happen to Jamie or Layla, but it’s clear they aren’t gathering up a whole lot of information and they sure don’t seem to be able to escape.

Back to the present, where the X-Men regroup. Some mourn Caliban. Others, like Wolverine and Cyclops talk strategy. They narrow down Cable’s path to south and a little west. They decide to follow that trail.

We see that David aka a New X-Men, is fixing the Cerebra with some help from the other New X-Men. Where Xavier and Beast are is a question I’d like to know the answer to.

Finally, we see that Cable and the baby are in Texas. After hijacking a truck and heading towards Dallas I’d say it’s a save bet Cable is heading for Forge and a time machine jump.

At this point I’d like to mention that there are three X-Men who have played a role in this thing to this point that haven’t gotten much page count the last few issues. One is Forge. One is Bishop and the last is Rictor. My assumption was that Forge was going to be the hyped “traitor” because Cable is walking right into his hands.

After some more torture of Jamie in the future we catch a conversation between Warpath and Monet about Caliban. Warpath goes on about more death on the way and I start thinking he’ll be the traitor.

David gets the Cerebra online and the three Cuckoos hook up to it for some information. They confirm that Cable is heading for Forge. Cable busts in to see that Forge has been shot (or beaten up). Cable is shot from behind.

After Jamie is dumped off into some hole with some other mutants (I assume they are mutants) we find out who the traitor is. I happened to mention him in this review and I ain’t spoiling it here. The cliffhanger is that he about to kill the baby. (Hint: the traitor is on the cover of the variant cover for Uncanny #494)

An outstanding issue. We advance that subplot of the future arc finally and we get some fast resolution with Cable on the run with the kid. It’s a very good issue. It seems to me, though, that it will be X-Men versus X-Men in the end of this arc and the Sinister crew isn’t coming back. We’ll see.

Problems? Yes and it’s with the art. I hate to be an art continuity freak, but Wolverine and X-23 arent even wearing the same costumes that they wore in the previous issue. It’s sort of ridiculous and very noticeable. Another thing that annoyed me was the Cable has his rifle over his left shoulder in most shots, but not in all shots. These things drove me nuts. And since when does Richard Petty drive a truck in Texas?

I loved the cliffhanger for this issue. I enjoyed the advancement of the future plot. I was very happy with this issue. I still grade tough, but only because I want this arc to be perfect.

4 out of 5 geek goggles.


X-Men #206

Marvel Comics
OCT072139D

X-Men: Messiah Complex Mutant Files

Marvel Comics

Various writers and artists

To be brief, this issue contains many, many bios for characters that have not been previously included in this type of bio book or were in need of updating. You wont find Wolverine or Xavier, but you will find Anole and the Marauders.

Generally speaking the information is great to have on hand. However, wouldn’t it have been better to include all the central characters of this arc? Even if they only included what Cable has been doing since the last bio of him would have been enough. I would expect something with the Messiah Complex written on the cover to include the major players within its pages. But then again, what do I know?

One other part of this issue I didn’t like was the long bio of Jean Grey. Why not just announce she is the baby? She isn’t in any pages of this arc, so if she is in the bio comic she must be the baby in some way, yes?

This issue gives lots of information on many, many Messiah Complex characters, but not all of them. I was left with only some pieces to the puzzle.

2 out of 5 geek goggles.


X-Men Messiah Complex Mutant Files

Marvel Comics
OCT072142D