Astonishing X-men #51
Jun. 23rd, 2012 08:19 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
stormkeeper_lovedorisBehind the cut, my take on The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly about Astonishing X-men #51, the issue where Northstar (who I will refer to as “JP” for Jean Paul) marries his b-friend Kyle.
Please remember this disclaimer – I don’t follow the comics at all. Some of my comments might seem like they are written by someone who has only watched X-men TV shows and movies, and barely ever dabbled in the comics. Because they are.
The good:
- Hank as the officiator! I just love the idea. Have always loved the idea of Hank being friends with JP (and Bobby). One of the best things in the issue.
- JP and Bobby being friends at the beginning! And Bobby did a bang-up job on decorations for the wedding. I have to accept that JP and Bobby aren’t a couple in canon, but at least they are friends.
- JP and his sister getting along well, his sister acting normal. Also, I feel dismay when I see women wearing impossibly high heels, but they had Jeanne Marie in flats and she looked great!
- Also, I haven’t seen this mentioned much in fandom, but yay for JP and Kyle being an interracial couple! You gotta give it to Marvel. A same-sex, interracial marriage. Awesome.
- Wolverine also being there and being supportive. Cool.
- In fact, it was great to see all sorts of superheroes across Marvel-land there: X-men, Avengers, and Alpha Flight. Not following the comics though, I had no idea who many of the people were. But I was cheered to see Jubilee, Storm, Rogue, and Gambit, in addition to those I mentioned above.
- Rogue’s wondering of whether or not her moms would/should have gotten married. That was nice to have a nod to Mystique/Destiny, and Rogue verbalizing that she was raised by a same-sex couple.
- And the moment with Storm and Wolverine at the end, being chummy with each other and talking about dancing, was very sweet. Even though it is a bummer that she’s married to
someone else now.
- The cover is nice. I believe there were two different versions published. One of them has snapshots of various Marvel weddings over the years (including – sniff! - Jean and Scott). It’s nice to see JP and Kyle’s among them.
The bad:
- I won’t cry over spilled milk anymore, but one last time I will say that I wish it was Bobby they were pairing JP with, not Kyle.
- Not being too familiar with Kyle and JP’s relationship, I have to say that after reading this issue, it’s clear that neither man is really ready to get married. If one of them isn’t having doubts on any given page, than the other is. Cold feet are normal, but both guys seemed to have worse than just regular butterflies.
- Missing in action: Professor X, Cyclops, and Jean. (Is she dead again? Are all three of them dead? Like at the end of X-3?)
- I was sad that none of the pairings I like are active now, apparently. Rogue and Gambit – not together. Storm and Wolverine – Storm is married to someone else. And like I said, no sign of Jean and Scott.
- It was kinda funny that many of the guests wore their uniforms instead of getting dressed up. Was that done so we’d be more likely to recognize them? Probably was a good thing; I’d never have recognized, say, the members of Alpha Flight without their uniforms.
- As others have pointed out, JP is Canadian and same-sex marriage has been legal in Canada for a while. But, hey, most Americans don’t care about Canada, JP is an X-man now and the X-men are located in New York which just recently legalized same-sex marriage. So it’s timely now I guess.
The ugly:
- Maybe the writers wanted to toss in some controversy, as Warbird tells JP she can’t attend the wedding as she does not “recognize the validity of the ceremony vows”. I am good with Marvel addressing the fact that same-sex marriage is controversial, but – not knowing much about Warbird – her decision was so bad. Even if you disagree with it, you need to be there for your friend. (Especially given that he asked her nicely despite her objections – kudos to him, by the way, for not blowing up as the JP of old would have). Based on my limited knowledge of the Shi’ar I had thought they didn’t have so much prejudice in their society. On the other hand, I was okay with Puck and Havoc being at the wedding but talking about being a bit uncomfortable. I actually thought it was good dialog to have.
Please remember this disclaimer – I don’t follow the comics at all. Some of my comments might seem like they are written by someone who has only watched X-men TV shows and movies, and barely ever dabbled in the comics. Because they are.
The good:
- Hank as the officiator! I just love the idea. Have always loved the idea of Hank being friends with JP (and Bobby). One of the best things in the issue.
- JP and Bobby being friends at the beginning! And Bobby did a bang-up job on decorations for the wedding. I have to accept that JP and Bobby aren’t a couple in canon, but at least they are friends.
- JP and his sister getting along well, his sister acting normal. Also, I feel dismay when I see women wearing impossibly high heels, but they had Jeanne Marie in flats and she looked great!
- Also, I haven’t seen this mentioned much in fandom, but yay for JP and Kyle being an interracial couple! You gotta give it to Marvel. A same-sex, interracial marriage. Awesome.
- Wolverine also being there and being supportive. Cool.
- In fact, it was great to see all sorts of superheroes across Marvel-land there: X-men, Avengers, and Alpha Flight. Not following the comics though, I had no idea who many of the people were. But I was cheered to see Jubilee, Storm, Rogue, and Gambit, in addition to those I mentioned above.
- Rogue’s wondering of whether or not her moms would/should have gotten married. That was nice to have a nod to Mystique/Destiny, and Rogue verbalizing that she was raised by a same-sex couple.
- And the moment with Storm and Wolverine at the end, being chummy with each other and talking about dancing, was very sweet. Even though it is a bummer that she’s married to
someone else now.
- The cover is nice. I believe there were two different versions published. One of them has snapshots of various Marvel weddings over the years (including – sniff! - Jean and Scott). It’s nice to see JP and Kyle’s among them.
The bad:
- I won’t cry over spilled milk anymore, but one last time I will say that I wish it was Bobby they were pairing JP with, not Kyle.
- Not being too familiar with Kyle and JP’s relationship, I have to say that after reading this issue, it’s clear that neither man is really ready to get married. If one of them isn’t having doubts on any given page, than the other is. Cold feet are normal, but both guys seemed to have worse than just regular butterflies.
- Missing in action: Professor X, Cyclops, and Jean. (Is she dead again? Are all three of them dead? Like at the end of X-3?)
- I was sad that none of the pairings I like are active now, apparently. Rogue and Gambit – not together. Storm and Wolverine – Storm is married to someone else. And like I said, no sign of Jean and Scott.
- It was kinda funny that many of the guests wore their uniforms instead of getting dressed up. Was that done so we’d be more likely to recognize them? Probably was a good thing; I’d never have recognized, say, the members of Alpha Flight without their uniforms.
- As others have pointed out, JP is Canadian and same-sex marriage has been legal in Canada for a while. But, hey, most Americans don’t care about Canada, JP is an X-man now and the X-men are located in New York which just recently legalized same-sex marriage. So it’s timely now I guess.
The ugly:
- Maybe the writers wanted to toss in some controversy, as Warbird tells JP she can’t attend the wedding as she does not “recognize the validity of the ceremony vows”. I am good with Marvel addressing the fact that same-sex marriage is controversial, but – not knowing much about Warbird – her decision was so bad. Even if you disagree with it, you need to be there for your friend. (Especially given that he asked her nicely despite her objections – kudos to him, by the way, for not blowing up as the JP of old would have). Based on my limited knowledge of the Shi’ar I had thought they didn’t have so much prejudice in their society. On the other hand, I was okay with Puck and Havoc being at the wedding but talking about being a bit uncomfortable. I actually thought it was good dialog to have.
