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Australian philosopher, literary critic, legal scholar, and professional writer. Based in Newcastle, NSW. My latest books are THE TYRANNY OF OPINION: CONFORMITY AND THE FUTURE OF LIBERALISM (2019); AT THE DAWN OF A GREAT TRANSITION: THE QUESTION OF RADICAL ENHANCEMENT (2021); and HOW WE BECAME POST-LIBERAL: THE RISE AND FALL OF TOLERATION (2024).

Thursday, August 19, 2010

X-Men: Legacy # 239 - why is Rogue so pissed off?

On another note, I'm intrigued by this scene from the forthcoming X-Men: Legacy #239. Rogue sure looks pissed off with Magneto about something. I wonder what (I can think of several good reasons she might have, given their past, but it'll probably turn out to be something else entirely). Magneto responds by looking ... what? Thoughtful? Contrite? Amused? Bemused? As opposed to, say, killing her, which has been his more usual response to opposition over the years. I'll have to pick up this issue, if only to find out what's actually going on here when the context and dialogue are provided.

Bear in mind that these characters are somewhat different from their equivalents in the movies. You can click on the image to expand it, of course. It's one of several online to illustrate an interview with Mike Carey about X-Men Legacy - over here.

6 comments:

Blake Stacey said...

The background in the first panel has a very post-manga "subjective motion" look to it. Cf. p. 221 of Scott McCloud's Making Comics.

Russell Blackford said...

Good point. I like Clay Mann's artwork with these characters - and the effortless way the first couple of panels portray things half as if looking over Erik's shoulder/half as he sees it. Then we see him from her viewpoint. In the last panel, we step back from them both, and she seems to have calmed down already. All neatly executed. Some of the other artwork published with the interview is lovely and intelligent, with cool perspectives that make points of their own.

But what has Erik said to make Rogue this angry, given how much she's put up with from him in the past without ever losing her cool quite like this?

My only guess is that, after their latest situation helping each other in combat, he's somehow belittled her skills, like suggesting that she's helpless against powerful enemies without him around to protect her. That's the kind of dumb thing he'd say, even though he's so intellectually smart, and for someone as fiercely independent as Rogue it would be like a red rag to a bull.

But who knows? I suppose it'll turn out to be something completely different. To date, Mike Carey has been brilliant in his X-Men scripting, so I'm hoping this issue of Legacy will be interesting.

Russell Blackford said...

lol, I'm turning into such a fanboy for Mike Carey and Clay Mann.

J. J. Ramsey said...

Is it me, or does the Magneto in that comic page look vaguely like you?

Russell Blackford said...

Except I don't have those magnificent eyebrows.

Russell Blackford said...

We now have our answer - and it's a good one.

I haven't got my hands on a copy yet, but apparently, Rogue and Magneto have an argument in which he wants her to abuse (as she sees it) her powers ... and he brings up about the most hot-button possible subject with her to press his point. And no, it's not their one-time near-romance in the Savage Land or the fact that they're still sexually attracted to each other, or anything of the kind. It's more sensitive than that.