Astonishing #13-24 and Messiah Complex [potential spoilerz]
Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2008 12:03 pm
Apologies if this has already been covered elsewhere, but I was thinking last night about where to place Astonishing v3 #13-24...
Marvel has stated several times that that whole arc occurs "now" -- that it can't occur any earlier than the publication date of the final issue, and we'll all understand why once we read it. Combine that with the in-story and promotional statements that not every character comes back from the X-Men's trip to space, and we can infer that the character that isn't returning is currently appearing in other books. Therefore, the arc can't be placed before those books.
However, these statements were all released before "Messiah Complex". At this point, with the mansion destroyed and the X-Men disbanded, it looks very unlikely indeed that Astonishing #13-24 can occur afterwards.
So -- working on the assumption that #13-24 occur prior to Messiah Complex, and that one character doesn't return -- which characters from that arc did NOT appear in Messiah Complex?
The answers are Kitty Pryde and Lockheed.
Kitty last appeared in X-Men #204 and New X-Men #43 -- and Messiah Complex started up in X-Men #205 and New X-Men #44. So, assuming that Kitty doesn't return from the Astonishing arc, forcing us to place this story between those issues -- can it be done?
Well, there's a fine break point between NXM #43-44, but we'll have to crowbar a gap into X-Men #204. As it reads, the X-Men (plus Kitty) go from debating the fallout of X-Men #200-203, immediately to a scene in the sickbay where Blindfold and the equipment react to the birth of the new mutant baby.
Blindfold's been in the sickbay since X-Men #202 -- and yet she appears up and around in Astonishing #13-18. So if we're to place Astonishing between pages of X-Men #204, we'll have to assume that she got better, then relapsed or was injured again in an unrelated incident. This, to me, is not a difficult assumption -- after all, she's just lying there on the cot in sickbay in the closing pages of #204 -- she's not hooked up to any medical equipment. Maybe she came in with Iceman to visit Cannonball, and just wanted to lie down for a minute.
So, with a little effort, a gap can be made between pp.18-19 of X-Men #204.
Now, that almost works. However, Astonishing #13 presents some problems. A lot of references are dropped that Astonishing #12 was very recent (it's the New X-Men's "first time" back in the Danger Room since #12, for example). Rockslide is shown in his original human-shaped rock-form (not the current "chunks of rubble" look he's been sporting for some time). Anole is shown with two human arms. And Maria Hill is the Director of SHIELD.
Ugh. To use the X-Men book as a yardstick, the Danger storyline from Aston #7-12 was first referenced in X-Men #171. And here we are trying to place #13-24 between pages of X-Men #204. THIRTY-FOUR issues of X-Men have passed, while only twelve of Astonishing have come out. Yikes.
I suggest we find a gap in Astonishing #13 -- lop the issue in half, and toss the half with all those dated references WAY back in the past. Wolvie makes a reference to "a lotta students gone", so we can probably place this just post-Decimation. And the rest of #13, plus all of #14-24, can be placed between those pages of X-Men #204.
I see a likely spot on p.17 of Aston #13, between panels 1-2. That's the end of the Maria Hill scene, and the beginning of the "Kitty sleeps with Colossus" sene (thanks for that image, Joss) that leads right into the bulk of #13-24.
The only problem I see with dividing the issue up this way is that Anole and Pixie are seen a few times after that point, each in their old looks (i.e. Pixie with the pink hair and face makeup, Anole with two human arms). But these are one-panel glimpses, and can be written off as art errors.
So, what does everyone think?
A quick breakdown of my suggestions:
Astonishing #7-12
X-Men #171-176 - Aston #12 referenced
House of M: the Day After - Decimation
X-Men #177-179 - immediate fallout from Decimation
Astonishing #13 p.1 to p.17 panel 1 - Decimation referenced, students in old looks, Maria Hill in charge of SHIELD
X-Men #180-203 - many changes, including new looks for students, Tony Stark taking over SHIELD
X-Men #204 pp.1-18 - Blindfold in sickbay, Kitty still around
Astonishing #13 p.17 panel 2-end
Astonishing #14-24 - Blindfold recovered, some students seen in old looks in brief one-panel art errors, mansion still standing
Giant-Size Astonishing #1 - Kitty doesn't return?
X-Men #204 pp.19-end - Blindfold back in sickbay or visiting, no sign of Kitty, mutant baby born
Messiah Complex - mansion destroyed, no sign of Kitty
Thoughts?
-Jeph!
Marvel has stated several times that that whole arc occurs "now" -- that it can't occur any earlier than the publication date of the final issue, and we'll all understand why once we read it. Combine that with the in-story and promotional statements that not every character comes back from the X-Men's trip to space, and we can infer that the character that isn't returning is currently appearing in other books. Therefore, the arc can't be placed before those books.
However, these statements were all released before "Messiah Complex". At this point, with the mansion destroyed and the X-Men disbanded, it looks very unlikely indeed that Astonishing #13-24 can occur afterwards.
So -- working on the assumption that #13-24 occur prior to Messiah Complex, and that one character doesn't return -- which characters from that arc did NOT appear in Messiah Complex?
The answers are Kitty Pryde and Lockheed.
Kitty last appeared in X-Men #204 and New X-Men #43 -- and Messiah Complex started up in X-Men #205 and New X-Men #44. So, assuming that Kitty doesn't return from the Astonishing arc, forcing us to place this story between those issues -- can it be done?
Well, there's a fine break point between NXM #43-44, but we'll have to crowbar a gap into X-Men #204. As it reads, the X-Men (plus Kitty) go from debating the fallout of X-Men #200-203, immediately to a scene in the sickbay where Blindfold and the equipment react to the birth of the new mutant baby.
Blindfold's been in the sickbay since X-Men #202 -- and yet she appears up and around in Astonishing #13-18. So if we're to place Astonishing between pages of X-Men #204, we'll have to assume that she got better, then relapsed or was injured again in an unrelated incident. This, to me, is not a difficult assumption -- after all, she's just lying there on the cot in sickbay in the closing pages of #204 -- she's not hooked up to any medical equipment. Maybe she came in with Iceman to visit Cannonball, and just wanted to lie down for a minute.
So, with a little effort, a gap can be made between pp.18-19 of X-Men #204.
Now, that almost works. However, Astonishing #13 presents some problems. A lot of references are dropped that Astonishing #12 was very recent (it's the New X-Men's "first time" back in the Danger Room since #12, for example). Rockslide is shown in his original human-shaped rock-form (not the current "chunks of rubble" look he's been sporting for some time). Anole is shown with two human arms. And Maria Hill is the Director of SHIELD.
Ugh. To use the X-Men book as a yardstick, the Danger storyline from Aston #7-12 was first referenced in X-Men #171. And here we are trying to place #13-24 between pages of X-Men #204. THIRTY-FOUR issues of X-Men have passed, while only twelve of Astonishing have come out. Yikes.
I suggest we find a gap in Astonishing #13 -- lop the issue in half, and toss the half with all those dated references WAY back in the past. Wolvie makes a reference to "a lotta students gone", so we can probably place this just post-Decimation. And the rest of #13, plus all of #14-24, can be placed between those pages of X-Men #204.
I see a likely spot on p.17 of Aston #13, between panels 1-2. That's the end of the Maria Hill scene, and the beginning of the "Kitty sleeps with Colossus" sene (thanks for that image, Joss) that leads right into the bulk of #13-24.
The only problem I see with dividing the issue up this way is that Anole and Pixie are seen a few times after that point, each in their old looks (i.e. Pixie with the pink hair and face makeup, Anole with two human arms). But these are one-panel glimpses, and can be written off as art errors.
So, what does everyone think?
A quick breakdown of my suggestions:
Astonishing #7-12
X-Men #171-176 - Aston #12 referenced
House of M: the Day After - Decimation
X-Men #177-179 - immediate fallout from Decimation
Astonishing #13 p.1 to p.17 panel 1 - Decimation referenced, students in old looks, Maria Hill in charge of SHIELD
X-Men #180-203 - many changes, including new looks for students, Tony Stark taking over SHIELD
X-Men #204 pp.1-18 - Blindfold in sickbay, Kitty still around
Astonishing #13 p.17 panel 2-end
Astonishing #14-24 - Blindfold recovered, some students seen in old looks in brief one-panel art errors, mansion still standing
Giant-Size Astonishing #1 - Kitty doesn't return?
X-Men #204 pp.19-end - Blindfold back in sickbay or visiting, no sign of Kitty, mutant baby born
Messiah Complex - mansion destroyed, no sign of Kitty
Thoughts?
-Jeph!