Basement X

Anyone else pick this up last week?

I have to say, I was rather surprised at how small of an issue it was for a 3.99 comic. Lately they've felt like I was getting some extra story at Marvel for the increased price but this was definitely not the case.

Overall, I enjoyed the story. I'm already sold on the team as most of the characters are ones I've enjoyed for awhile, like Thor, Havok, Rogue, and Wolverine.

However, some of the actions were a bit surprising. The choice in leadership for the upcoming team kind of surprised me, and I'm sure it won't necessarily be the solid exact leader of the team on every mission.

Rogue's interaction with Scarlet Witch was somewhat surprising. I didn't expect her to go off that way, and it felt like a big divergence from her character under the pen of Mike Cary and Christos Gage from the last few years. Of all people to be forgiving of past actions on this team, you'd expect it to be Rogue. But her vengeance filled words and demonizing of Wanda surprised me.

Overall, the ending really shocked and surprised me. I didn't see that coming and have to say that page really sold me on finishing this story at least. It reminded me a lot of Astonishing X-Men under Whedon and Cassaday. I liked it.

One question though: I've been out of the loop with Captain America and major Avengers stories for awhile. Were those characters who attacked Rogue & Wanda someone we've met somewhere else or brand new? I had never seen them before and wasn't sure who they were.

Have to say I'll buy the book again. Really hoping we get more of a story next issue and that it continues to move along at a fast pace. That's what will keep me on this book. Also hoping to find out if that was really Avalanche because if so I'm disappointed that happened to him.

I was very disappointed in Rogue and Scarlet Witch's interaction. Rogue was not acting like herself at all.

I hope it wasn't Avalanche but it really doesn't surprise me, Marvel doesn't care about unused villains anymore.

And the finale....well, that kinda pissed me off. Usually Marvel hasn't gone and mutilated corpses, but obviously now they don't care.

I'll stick with the title for a bit to see how it works out, but it may be a book I solely download instead.

Ok, so Here they may be SPOILERS








I did see it as despoiling at the end, but I saw that more as a motivating force for the heroes to go after him. And not just the Uncanny Avengers but the rest of the X-Men possibly also. That definitely seems like something those characters won't be ok with just having the Avengers take care of. Storm, Kitty, Hank.. they would wan to be a part of that I would imagine. So when word gets out I imagine we'll have a W&TX/Uncanny Avengers meet up probably.

I haven't read it, but from the sounds of it, the X-characters on the teamseem at least arguable. Two former terrorists and... well, Wolverine? What about Iceman and Storm, for starters?


I can't believe I just said that. I HATE Storm.

The funny thing is, Cap tells Havok he's perfect because he has a perfect track record with no black marks. I'm fairly certain Havok has been branded an extremest at the least if not a terrorist.

Yes, he has. He was one of the two I was referring to. The other one being Rogue, for whom it's completely out of character to judge someone else for things they've done in the past.

Also, Havok's going to lead a team with Cap, Iron Man, Thor and Wolverine on it? Sure.

Yeah I knew who you meant. I just meant that I thought the same while reading it. And I definitely agree with Rogue. Her dialogue is very out of character.

As for Alex leading a team made up of Cap, Thor, Logan, and others? I don't see it. He's just going to defer to Cap, as will the others. I get Cap wanting a mutant to lead the team to show there's nothing to fear and I do think Havok is a good leader, but his leadership isn't quite the Cap level this team would need.

Ironically, Cyclops might very well be the leader this team needs. If any mutant, he is by far the most suitable to lead a team. Except that PR-wise this might be a disaster.

When was Havok a terrorist?
Also, Hawkeye, Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver were all bad guys before they joined Avengers in #16 so it's not like it's out of tradition.

UXM in the 90's Havok was a terrorist... I think.

Maybe around this time?

"After the Age of Apocalypse event, Havok accidentally destroyed a dam and was forced back into his old containment suit. After new members Wild Child, Shard and Mystique were introduced to the team, Havok fought Random and was captured by the Dark Beast. He was brainwashed into serving Dark Beast and Onslaught. He broke free of the brainwashing, but used it as an opportunity to infiltrate the enemy and recreated a version of the Brotherhood of Mutants. He succeeded in defeating Dark Beast and attempted to mend fences with his former X-Factor teammates, specifically Polaris and Multiple Man (the man who had died had been a Madrox duplicate)."

This makes me want to read all of X-Factor. Now that I finished reading the last 7 years of Iron Man, maybe my next project will be original 0-149 of X-Factor. Always wanted to read that...

I'm not debating former criminals being Avengers necessarily, I'm more debating the dialogue being used to describe them. Cap saying Havok has a perfect track record, Rogue claiming Scarlet Witch shouldn't be around because of her actions. Those don't exactly fit with past stories told in the Marvel Universe, the latter only because of who is saying it. Rogue is the last person who should be throwing stones in the 'past actions' house.

Plus, it was Scarlet Witch who helped defeat the Phoenix as that was the only power Hope could emulate that worked. So if not for Scarlet Witch, the Phoenix would never have been defeated. Rogue had no problem working with Wanda then, why automatically afterward?

You do not want to read the Howard Mackie X-Factor. You are a nice human being. You do not deserve that kind of punishment.

I haven't read UA but I agree with the sentiment that Rogue passing judgment on someone's past actions seems strange given her history. The whole Cap/Havok thing, yeah, little weird also.

I happily passed.

Oh boy, issue 2 is already going to be 2 weeks late...

Nice job on the flagship title there.

Guess Cassady is the reason it's late? I didn't see any reason given in the article.

It's already late? Seriously? This title was really winning me over at concept and characters, but the handling of the characters turned me off, and now this? it's looking like a chopping block title already.