“Messiah Complex” (part 3)
Writer: Peter David
Artist: Scot Eaton
Publisher: Marvel Comics
So for the first time in about three or four years, I am super-excited about the X-Men. By that I mean the two traditional X-books, Uncanny X-Men and X-Men. I’ve always loved the X-Men and I’ve always followed them, just the past few years I’ve been a bit lost. However, books like X-Men: First Class and X-23 have been more than enough to satisfy my X-needs. But now of course, there is the “Messiah Complex”. Centered around the first mutant born since Scarlett Witch uttered the words, “No More Mutants.” While it’s quite obvious that this story is focused on the Summers family, speculation to the identity of the baby is running wild. Is it Nathan Dayspring Summers Askani’Son a.k.a. Cable? Is it Nathan Grey a.k.a. X-Man? Time will tell but my hopes are that Marvel gives Cable a bit of a revamp. Thus far, in terms of the way the story is being handled, it reminds me of “The Sinestro Corps War” - there is the main topic and each writer branches off respectively from there and will eventually come back together. In fact, “Messiah Complex” is shaping up to be another prime example of how to do crossover events.
There’s a lot happening in this issue but Peter David manages to keep everything separate and clear to avoid confusion. The primary focus is on Madrox and Layla Miller’s mission assigned to them in the previous issue of Uncanny X-Men. But Peter David does a great service to the man who is essentially the focus of this crossover; Cyclops. In my review of Astonishing X-Men #23, I stated that Cyclops has made his way back to “leader” status. Once again, he’s confident, strong and holds a commanding presence in every panel. Whether it is the influence of Emma Frost in his life or writers who actually respect him, Cyclops is a major player in this crossover. This issue contains two very significant plot and character developments involving Cyclops.
The first development is clear, in his return to a much more confident leader role; Cyclops is waging a war against the mutant-killing Purifiers. Not only because of what happened in his home state of Alaska, but also because Cyclops is taking on a more “Professor X-type” role in terms of mutant-kind. He’s standing up for his species, for the first time, he’s not all uptight about upholding the safety and well-being of only humans. I think this is partially the result of there being so few mutants left and partially of the massacre in Alaska. Either way, Cyclops is putting his own kind on the same level or even before the humans, something he often does not do. He’s also become very decisive and wise. The writers behind the crossover have wisely shown Cyclops as a master strategist, in this issue he recruits Rictor, who lost his powers on M-Day, to infiltrate the Purifiers. What Rictor finds is startling, but what is more important is that Cyclops has to keep his eye on him in case of potential brainwashing.
The second major development involving Cyclops plays right into the theory that the baby being sought out is indeed Cable or X-Man. Cyclops is the ultimate father figure to the X-Men these days. This is clear and very obvious during a well-written scene between Cyclops and the New X-Men. The younger mutants want to help out and feel that they are not appreciated, and Cyclops acts and handles the situation as any father would. He even hits one of the kids with an optic blast showing some tough love acting as both a leader and a father figure. Maybe I am thinking too much into all of this, but when you consider the Cable and X-Man theories, it’s rather obvious to see the way Cyclops is acting. What’s also interesting is that Emma Frost hasn’t played a huge role yet, keep in mind that she is not the mother to Cable or X-Man, Jean Grey is. Well, okay, a Jean Grey clone is Cable’s mother but let’s hope that if the baby is Cable, that little detail gets a bit of a ret-con.
I focus a great deal on Cyclops because he is indeed my favorite X-Man and possibly the most key player in this crossover. The actual X-Factor part of this book is very well done as well. Madrox and Layla have gone to visit the classic X-tech support guy, Forge. Now usually when Time Travel comes into play, especially with the X-Men, I tend to need at least 10 hours of sleep, a bottle of aspirins, four to five Mountain Dews and complete silence to keep track of the gazillion timelines that have come and gone over the years. However, I really like what Peter David and the Messiah Complex team has done here. Forge clarifies that after M-Day, all potential futures involving mutants ceased to exist. However, since M-Day, he has noticed that the current timeline has branched into two separate futures. I hope it stays at only two for now because not only is it easier to follow, but the story potential is fantastic. I absolutely love the plan Forge comes up with for Madrox. Send two dupes to each timeline to seek out information. The dupes will then essentially self-destruct and the information they discover will magically appear in Madrox’ head. Seems simple enough, too bad that little know it all brat Layla Miller has to spoil it all and jumped into the future. Poor Madrox, everyone plays him as easily as a video game. Either way, I absolutely love this direction and the greater potential this issue has created for this crossover.
The artwork across the board for this crossover has been stellar and Scot Eaton is no exception. Eation has a style similar to Mike Perkins and Steve Epting over on Captain America. It’s got an aura of edge and noir to it that really stands out. I think Eaton’s work is fantastic and his style is definitely perfect for this issue, title and basically for Marvel as a whole.
This is yet another strong chapter of “Messiah Complex”. I’m absolutely hooked as the story-telling is strong and the possibilities for what can happen are seemingly endless. Now that time travel is involved, I have no doubt we will see Bishop, who is said to have a prominent role in this event, as well as other mutants and characters from different futures. This, of course, does not rule out Cable or X-Man either.
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