(The land that logic forgot.)
Comments
Urgh. This is a big old mess, and it doesn't go at anything like the speed it would need to in order to stop my brain demanding answers. How is Magneto controlling the whole city? Why will the upcoming volcanic eruption bring him back to life? Why haven't the priests told anyone else about the coming volcanic apocalypse? How did they manage to build a massive airship in apparent total secrecy, why do flying bat-people need such a thing to escape in the first place, and how come a mere two of them managed (with the power of fucking flight) to escape the slave revolt in order to get on board?
Most importantly, how did Bryne not see the irony in having Magneto scoff at the locals' belief in a magic city when the real explanation is subterranean radiation that makes people unkillable telepaths with no free will?
Piss, as they say, off.
This kind of finger-chewing nonsense is exactly why this book should never have been allowed to live in the 21st century. It's not just the ludicrous plot, either. There's the always uninspired and more than occasionally risible dialogue to deal with, as well, but the main problem is the characterisation of Magneto (who of course starts by recapping the events of UXM #63 to Marvel Girl, who was there). Sure, his win-at-all-costs attitude and willingness to sacrifice thousands of lives at the drop of the hat is entirely consistent with his '60s appearances, but in 2000, after Magneto has become one of the most complex and fascinating anti-heroes Marvel has to offer, shunting him back to this level of one-note villainy is exceptionally silly.
Indeed, I think one might even be able to colour an argument that says it's close to offensive. "I'm a Holocaust survivor so intent on saving my people from the horrors I've experienced that I'll risk becoming that which I hate most" is an intelligent approach to a deeply sensitive topic. "I'm a Holocaust survivor and also a total c***!" is not.
Clues
This issue continues directly from the previous one, and takes place over the course of a few hours.
Date
Wednesday 25th June, 1980.
X-Date
X+2Y+86 to X+2Y+88.
Compression Constant
1 Marvel year = 3.05 standard years.
(Iceman is 31 years old)
 |
| "But I must get to Antarctica!" |
Standout Line
"But I was undone by the smallest of miscalculations. The power of my mutate siren had no effect on her own sex."
I cannot tell you how much I'd love to see Magneto's blackboard at this point.
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