Let's talk X-Men. Well, X-books, anyway. Both of these are essentially fulfilling the same role of passing the time between a previous arc and upcoming Second Coming tie-ins. Speaking of Second Coming, I'll likely not be reviewing each individual issue, but rather taking it in blocks of perhaps four or so issues.
X-Men Legacy 234
This issue is notable in that it's the first that really seems to focus on the "new direction" this book is supposed to be taking (which is to say, Rogue). At least, I assume it is, though it's still not really clear to me if it's just going to be about Rogue, or if it's supposed to be a Young/New X-Men replacement. At any rate, this one's about Rogue and how she gets around. Okay, that's sexist and unfair, but seriously, this issue's a little more soap opera heavy than your typical comic book. A plot contrivance requires Rogue to sap some of the Stepford Cuckoos' telepathic powers for the day. This complicates her encounters with the various romantic figures in her life; she has a heart to heart with Gambit, makes out with Magneto, and possibly catches some awkward stray thoughts from Iceman. She also finds time to help Indra start reconciling his moral beliefs and the nature of his powers. Though I'm honestly not sure how I'm supposed to feel about the whole situation, it seems to me that convincing a young man to dismiss pacifism and become comfortable with violence is a little irresponsible.
Basically, if you like Rogue and all that drama that comes with her, you'll likely enjoy this comic. If not, you're probably not going to find this particular outing very meaningful. Even the art's not much to write home about.
X-Factor 203
Another filler issue, this one featuring Strong Guy and Monet St. Croix. We're actually thrown into the middle of the story, as Monet has somehow been kidnapped and Strong Guy is hitting up the local drug kingpin in Generic South American Country for information on her whereabouts. As it turns out Monet and her father are being held captive by Baron Mordo, who wants to make use of Monet's Penance form in much the same way her brother Empath did, using her as a source of some vague life energy. Strong Guy dukes it out with some golems but apparently not before Mordo can successfully restore himself with Monet's help. And that's pretty much where this issue ends. It's not a bad story, but there's no indication that it's going to be continued in the next issue (which is supposedly a Second Coming tie-in), so we're basically left with a story with no beginning and no end. Art's pretty decent, though Strong Guys hands appear comically small next to his giant arms, even for a character for whom this tends to be typical. I did enjoy the Baron Mordo cameo, and I hope it implies a guest appearance by Dr. Strange in the near future. I guess what I'm saying is that the merit of this particular story will depend on whether it's successfully concluded in an upcoming issue or if it's ultimately tossed aside for the sake of Second Coming.
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