Off the Rack: X-Men Forever “LONG OVERDUE” Edition #5
Yes I am behind, very behind. No. Worse than very behind, for what it is worth I am sorry. Over the next couple of weeks I will post a new “Off the Rack: X-Men Forever Edition” until I am caught back up. Okay, so we agree I have a lot to get you caught up on, so let me get right to it.
This issue is the final part of this opening X-Men Forever story arc. So the big battle (or not very big battle) between the Consortium and the X-Men happens for about half the issue. After the fight, the “Evil” Storm (remember she killed Wolverine) flees the X-Men. The X-Men discover they are in one of the Consortium warehouses and are about to search the crates inside, when SHIELD shows up and tells the X-Men that they will take over from this point on.
We finally get to see the fate of Fabian Cortez, remember him from the first issue? Well in a very short scene we see SHIELD agents tell Nick Fury that a transport ship with Cortez in it has gone missing, and on the next page we see SHIELD agents hand him off to the Consortium soldiers in Northern Africa.
When the X-Men come home, Beast reveals that Lil Ororo and “Evil” Storm are exact genetic copies of each other. Beast also admits that while doing research he wandered into Professor Xavier’s old data files. These are files dating back to when he first became paralyzed. Beast unveils the shocking information he has found and that it’s a secret Professor X’s has kept for years. Professor X tells his X-Men the truth, the truth that mutants seem to eventually “burn out” and die. The more mutants use their powers the less is left to sustain their lives. Which they try to explain is why Magneto “burned out” during the original X-Men #1-#3 stories back in the early 1990’s. The X-Men are upset with this news and the fact they have been told lies all this time by Professor X. Nick Fury interrupts and tells the X-Men that somethings in life are hard, and despite the lies they have done good and saved the world many times, and for that reason alone they should continue on doing good as the X-Men.
The last pages of the book the X-Men mourn the loss of Wolverine and think about their future. Scott confronts Jean about her feelings for Wolverine. She admits she loves him and they too seem to agree that their relationship is over. Near the end Cyclops convinces the others that they should stay together and continue to make the world a better place. Ahhwww a happy ending.
A simple breakdown of the issue would be as follows:
Page 1-6: Storm is surrounded by the Consortium Troops. Lil Ororo, Gambit, Rogue and Nightcrawler fight another group of Consortium Troops.
Page 6-12: Cyclops, Jean, Shadowcat, and Sabretooth enter the scene and attack the Consortium Troops holding Storm. They all fight the Consortium and beat them, Storm kills one of the troops and flees the scene. The X-Men raid their building and are about to open the crates they found inside, when SHIELD shows up and dismisses them.
Pages 13: Nick Fury and SHIELD are seen fortifying Xavier’s Mansion. A Shield Agent tells Fury that the transport containing Fabian Cortez has gone messing.
Pages 14: The missing SHIELD Transport drops Fabian Cortez off in Northern Africa, Consortium soldiers pick him up. Cortez is confused.
Pages 15-20: Everyone comes home to the mansion. Beast confirms that Lil Ororo is the exact match of the Storm that betrayed the team. Beast also tells the X-Men that he got into Professor Xavier data files and found out that all mutants will likely die young. Professor X admits the data to be true, the more mutants use their powers the less is left to sustain their lives.
Pages 21-22: X-Men hold a very private memorial service for Wolverine. Jean admits she loved him and it looks like Scott and Jean are over. Scott asks the other X-Men to continue on fighting the good fight.
So after five issues we learn in the X-Men Forever Claremont-verse version of the X-Men that; Jean Grey really loved Wolverine more than ever before, mutants can and will “burn out” and likely die young, there is at least one faction in SHIELD working hand and hand with the Consortium, no one cares or wants to care about how and where this Lil’ Ororo came to be even though Gambit obviously knew about her before, Scott and Jean are no more, Sabretooth is Wolverine’s father and is now blind, Shadowcat has one of Wolverine’s claws in her forearm and its functions properly, Wolverine is dead, and finally the writing direction is abysmal.
What this book needs is a good old fashion Chris Claremont softball game. “No!” you scream. Well, it’s coming, but you will have to wait until next issue for that. See you next week for” Off the Rack: X-Men Forever Edition #6”.
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