This Issue! Things Get Worse! #141
The Uncanny X-Men #141
“Days Of Future Past”
Chris Claremont and John Byrne
Synopsis
While in the middle of training, Kitty Pryde suddenly claims she’s her future self from 30 years in the future. What’s going on here? And how does it connect with the New Brotherhood of Mutants?
Rolling Commentary
Page 2. Was Escape From New York out yet when they were doing this issue? (Checks) Looks like no. Still. I get that vibe from these Rogue guys. Just a weird coincidence then?
Page 5. Seeing Magneto in a wheelchair is still a great image. Interesting side note, here, and one that shows you how big a nerd I can be: Magneto calls Peter “Piotr Alexandreivitch”, which I’m assuming is a referencing his middle name. However, in current mainstream continuity his name is actually Piotr Nikoleivitch. I have no idea why the change, but I’m assuming Claremont himself made the change. And wow. I suck just for noticing the change as soon as I saw it. Also, the first appearance of Rachael… no, I’m not telling you what her last name is yet.
Page 6. Wow. Sentinels suck.
Page 8. I like that Wolverine gets pissed about his helmet being chopped in half.
Page 10. Okay I get the phasing powers, but how exactly does Kitty keep her footing over a trap door underneath her?
Page 11. Storm is… protective of Kitty. VERY protective.
Page 13. Seriously, Storm. Why would she make up stuff like this?
Page 15. Shite. Magneto dies off panel, and there goes Franklin Richards.
Page 18. First Mystique, Destiny, Avalanche, and Pyro.
Page 20. Screw being reasonable, Charles. Kelly’s a twit.
Page 21. “Lois” wouldn’t have a last name of “Lane”, would she?
Post Mortem
It’s hard to remember, in this modern age of superhero wonders, just how new and different “Days of Future Past” really was in 1980. Believe it or not, this was the first dystopian future in superhero comics. The first. Ever. Before Dark Knight, before Kingdom Come, before everything. And yes, these two issues accidentally set in motion a series of unfortunate events leading to a precedent of less cool time travel stories in X-Men, but still. Despite Cable and his ickyness, Days of Future Past stands as a monumental moment in X-Men, and general comic book history.
Perhaps more importantly, Days of Future Past was also a big turning point in terms of mutant/human relations within the book itself. With the exception of Steven Lang way back 40 issues ago, Claremont hasn’t focused much on the concepts of racism and bigotry that, to me at least, are so fundamental to doing the X-Men right. You can’t do the X-Men without dealing with them in terms of an oppressed minority group. I’m glad to see it being really brought to the forefront here, and hopefully it’ll stay for a while.
Also, a shout out to the new Brotherhood of Mutants. Especially Destiny and Mystique. Those two rock.
Next Issue! Everybody Dies!
“Days Of Future Past”
Chris Claremont and John Byrne
Synopsis
While in the middle of training, Kitty Pryde suddenly claims she’s her future self from 30 years in the future. What’s going on here? And how does it connect with the New Brotherhood of Mutants?
Rolling Commentary
Page 2. Was Escape From New York out yet when they were doing this issue? (Checks) Looks like no. Still. I get that vibe from these Rogue guys. Just a weird coincidence then?
Page 5. Seeing Magneto in a wheelchair is still a great image. Interesting side note, here, and one that shows you how big a nerd I can be: Magneto calls Peter “Piotr Alexandreivitch”, which I’m assuming is a referencing his middle name. However, in current mainstream continuity his name is actually Piotr Nikoleivitch. I have no idea why the change, but I’m assuming Claremont himself made the change. And wow. I suck just for noticing the change as soon as I saw it. Also, the first appearance of Rachael… no, I’m not telling you what her last name is yet.
Page 6. Wow. Sentinels suck.
Page 8. I like that Wolverine gets pissed about his helmet being chopped in half.
Page 10. Okay I get the phasing powers, but how exactly does Kitty keep her footing over a trap door underneath her?
Page 11. Storm is… protective of Kitty. VERY protective.
Page 13. Seriously, Storm. Why would she make up stuff like this?
Page 15. Shite. Magneto dies off panel, and there goes Franklin Richards.
Page 18. First Mystique, Destiny, Avalanche, and Pyro.
Page 20. Screw being reasonable, Charles. Kelly’s a twit.
Page 21. “Lois” wouldn’t have a last name of “Lane”, would she?
Post Mortem
It’s hard to remember, in this modern age of superhero wonders, just how new and different “Days of Future Past” really was in 1980. Believe it or not, this was the first dystopian future in superhero comics. The first. Ever. Before Dark Knight, before Kingdom Come, before everything. And yes, these two issues accidentally set in motion a series of unfortunate events leading to a precedent of less cool time travel stories in X-Men, but still. Despite Cable and his ickyness, Days of Future Past stands as a monumental moment in X-Men, and general comic book history.
Perhaps more importantly, Days of Future Past was also a big turning point in terms of mutant/human relations within the book itself. With the exception of Steven Lang way back 40 issues ago, Claremont hasn’t focused much on the concepts of racism and bigotry that, to me at least, are so fundamental to doing the X-Men right. You can’t do the X-Men without dealing with them in terms of an oppressed minority group. I’m glad to see it being really brought to the forefront here, and hopefully it’ll stay for a while.
Also, a shout out to the new Brotherhood of Mutants. Especially Destiny and Mystique. Those two rock.
Next Issue! Everybody Dies!
posted by The Amazing Justin Palm! at 7/01/2006 02:53:00 PM
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