MadCap's Comic Reviews - "X-Men '92 #2"

Last time, in X-Men '92 - the X-Men (consisting of the Cyclops, Jean Grey, Wolverine, Storm, Gambit, Rogue, Beast, and Jubilee and being led by the esteemed Professor X) were introduced as the heroes of the Battleworld province of Westchester, who defeated Magneto and his Brotherhood of Mutants as well as a Sentinel uprising...mostly, at least.  However, the emergence of a facility known as Clear Mountain as an evil mutant rehabilitation center gets the attention of the team.  Led by the enigmatic and definitely not-villain Cassandra Nova, the place seemed entirely legit...until she locked all of the X-Men besides Jubilee into chairs and used psychic mindscrewery.

Oh, and possibly telepathically erased Professor Xavier's brain. And is borne out of the Shadow King.

Y'know, just in case you didn't know who Cassandra Nova was from the 616 continuity and thought that maybe she was just a misguided soul.

And I'm aware that I spelled out the entire plot word for word, but in the interest of being concise, I'll hit the high notes.  Cassandra does a brief analysis of the X-Men Wolverine, Storm, Gambit, and Rogue, trying to figure out ways to deal with them using the images conjured by the Mind Field. Wolverine, she breaks down by having him fight illusory versions of himself from various points along his timeline (with various different costumes being put into the 90s series art style in a really cool way) to show him that no matter how hard it fights, it gets him nowhere and only begets more violence...his claws being reduced to roses as his will being broken as he and the other versions of him hug it out, a caption telling us he's "BSP Approved".

Storm she taunts with insecurities that she lives in Cyclops's shadow, as well as her claustrophobia, deeming that she will be the leader of the "new" X-Men because of her kind and selfless heart. Of course Ororo Munroe, being a complete badass, begins to see through the illusions and realizes that Cassandra is the Shadow King returned. Just when it seems she's breaking down, she breaks out of the slowly shrinking cube of psychic energy, declaring "I am lightning! I am Wind! I. Am. Storm. And I say -- NEVER!"

Seriously, real badass moment.

Shame that she gets taken down on the next page and gets a "BSP Rejected" stamp over the panel.

Gambit and Rogue, meanwhile, have been grouped together and wangst about their respective backstories and how they can never be together, despite Gambit declaring that he loves her...the two resolve to take that chance together, it's romantic and sweet and about to be sealed with a kiss...and then Cassandra shows up looking like her eyes are about to rocket out of their sockets and chides them for having sexual tension so thick you can cut it with air.

For them, she chides them for not being good role models for children (demonstrated with a chibi group of Dazzler, Colossus, Nightcrawler, and others) before leading them into a smackdown fight where she kicks both their asses...including beating down Rogue wearing...Carol Danvers' iconic Ms. Marvel outfit.

Ewwwwwwwww!!!!

But basically, more wills are broken and they're puppeted (literally) into having a vow to wait until marriage, and also being BSP Approved.

Beast, finally, only gets one page where he gets rejected for not being a person.  Because that isn't hilariously racist at all.

Oh, and then Beast reunites with Jubilee, who's had a subplot of finding an astral projection and eventually being led to the "Rejects", mutants that for one reason or another didn't pass Cassandra's test in the Mind Field and were sent below to serve as forced labor stripping Sentinels for the "X-Sentinel" project.

Including Caliban. Anyone remember Caliban? I remember Caliban.

Back at the Mansion, however, the X-Force '92 have arrived.  Cable, Psylocke, Archangel, Bishop, Deadpool, and Domino.  Although the description caption for Deadpool is actually closer to Bishop, and vice-versa, which I think would cause some confusion for new readers...but then everyone knows who Deadpool is by now anyway.

Having gotten a psychic summons from Xavier, they burst down the door of the Mansion and find...Professor Xavier is dead! ...which we knew from the end of Issue #1, but I'll give it a pass since it's new knowledge to the characters.

Like Issue #1, I have no complaints. This is still a pretty good idea overall, I think, and a nice way to get people in on the franchise without burying it in years and years of continuity that would drive someone to Lovecraftian insanity.  Cassandra is a hell of a villain and I actually found myself really enjoying as she deconstructs the flaws of Wolverine and Storm, though I found the approach to dealing with Gambit and Rogue a little ridiculous...but they had to make good on the cover, so I suppose I can't hate it all that much.

I will say, they do have me hooked. I've still got the same interest to see what happens in the next issue, as well as how the entrance of the X-Force will shake things up.  So once again, the MadCap stamp of approval on thi-OH, GOD, WHY DID YOU DO THAT TO MS. MARVEL'S OUTFIT?! WHY?! WHY?!

WHY, MARVEL?! WHY?! MY EYES! THE GOGGLES DO NOTHING!!!!

X-Men '92 #2 is now available from Marvel wherever comic books are sold.

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