The unexplained mutant problem

The general populace of the Marvel Universe do not really like mutants. After all, the X-Men’s tagline says “Sworn to protect a world that hates and fears them” for good reason. The general idea is that mutants are just like ordinary humans until puberty, when they develop superhuman abilities. Ordinary folk dislike this for two reasons: first, the powers can have unpredictable results. Perhaps a mutant might lose control of their powers and blow up a city block. Perhaps they might take advantage of their ability to walk through walls and rob a bank. Second, humans have a natural dislike of anything superior to themselves. Mutants are refered to as the next step in human evolution. Hell, they’re refered to as “Homo Superior”. That’s pretty much rubbing it in the face of the rank and file civilian. 

But this is well-known information. Why break up the Fables countdown for this? I have a problem with the reaction towards mutants in the Marvel Universe. Actually, not so much in that I question the response towards them – that is completely understandable by looking at human nature. Rather, I question the trust thrown towards other super-heroes while all the hate is being lobbied at the X-Men and their kin. To me, it’s a contradiction of opinion that has gone on mostly unquestioned for nearly 50 years. 

Wonder Woman costume could have been a whole lot worse

As fans still gripe about the Wonder Woman redo, I feel that I should remind people that it could have been much, much worse.  Does anyone remember when they tried to sexy up the Invisible Woman?

Nothing screams 'mother of my children' quite like a cleavage-based '4'.

See?  Attempts to revamp a ‘tedious, outdated’ outfit could have been far, far worse.

And it starts

Don’t say I wasn’t optimistic of the ability of Fantastic Four to stay on schedule. So sure, creators Mark Millar and Bryan Hitch weren’t exactly reknowned for their ability to put out Ultimates in a timely matter, but this is Fantastic Four! One of Marvel’s big books!

Okay, so I actually wasn’t too optimistic – so when I saw that issue #557 has slipped a week, I chuckled a bit. Let’s see how close of a schedule they can keep.

Other books I collect seem to be having some scheduling woes as well. Criminal has been pushed back from the end of April to the beginning of June (not its first slide), and I’m not even going to go into Giant Size Astonishing X-Men. It’s still solicited for May 28th. Let’s see if that happens.

What surprised me was that the Powers Encyclopedia seemed to have been pushed up a month, from July 5th to June 4th. Then I realized the July 5th date was 2007. Whoops.

Top and Bottom of the Pile: 8-1-2007

TOP: Uncanny X-Men #489
Tough crowd to beat this week, but Uncanny managed to pull ahead with a mix of good storytelling, excellent art and a twist here and there. Keeping with Fantastic Four’s story with cameos from Human Torch and Thing, the story keeps on task while not allowing the reader to question ‘Well why didn’t they just do that?’ The story is also redefining Professor X’s character after M-Day, the subsequent actions by the government, and the fallout from Vulcan’s rampage, giving him a fresh feel for the first time in who knows how long. That, and it’s got Salvador Larroca on art. ‘Nuff said.

BOTTOM: Fantastic Four #548
Speaking of the FF, this book takes the bottom spot not because it’s bad, but because it’s just…it. This story, much like the one before it, has lacked excitement. Villains hatch plans, heroes fight plans, surprise villain shows up at the end of the issue, only to no doubt be defeated next issue. It’s a straightforward story that feels out of place in post-Civil War Marvel. Plus, it seems that the Black Panther can do no wrong. Period. I do have to give it up to McDuffie for remembering that Klaw got sucked into his own device in New Avengers a while ago.

Rest of the Pile: Justice Society of America #8, New Avengers: Illuminati #4, Thor #2, World War Hulk #3