Punch Up: “To Me My ❌-Men”
Chapter Twenty:
1984
June, 1984, Uncanny X-Men 185 by Romita Jr, Green, Glynis, Orzechowski, Claremont + Nocenti & Sanderson
Mixtape track: I'm On Fire by Bruce Springsteen
Chapter 20 of “to me my ❌-Men,” in which once upon a time Mystique and Destiny had a daughter, and by Forge’s hand, she is spared, as Storm becomes all she needs be.
Previously on “to me my ❌-men,” A slumber party becomes a better recruitment event than an academy dance. Storm has facilitated the context for healing that resulted in celebration, thus a slumber party. Forge steals Rom space knight ‘s intellectual property, and repurposed it for tec to find and depower his own people, at the behest of his government, the all mighty dollar, and ego. His contacts are high government officials, Val and Raven (Mystique undercover to liberate their people). Rogue struggles with the realisations that violated Carol and in doing so Rogue is sometimes not herself, but Carol. Last we saw Scott & Maddy are surviving marital bliss.
Some of these issues I have had since the 80’s. My first non-back issue of Uncanny is still a ways away (No. 208), but I did start tracking down back issues soon after. That noted, a bunch I have read in other formats, but not all. It has been a mystery, the actual context of some critical comments for Rogue, Ororo, and Forge. We kinda got a better understanding of Carol and Rogue, though I still couldn’t be bothered to read that context properly. But, for example, I haven’t read 185. I simply didn’t know, and after a while didn’t care enough. But thanks to being at this stage in my life with resources enough to barely pull this off, we turn the page.
Pentagon meeting, with Val present. The subject is Rogue.
Gyrich is presenting.
The case against is rot with misinformation. He makes a leap to the conclusion that Rogue has been secretly a member of the ❌-Men all along, allowing for an operation that whipped government records of all mentions of ❌-Men and mutants in general. A foreshadowing moment in the context of erasure and ❌-Men. He also assumes the Brotherhood and ❌-Men are working together, and keeps to the notion that they have been since the beginning. And then of course there is that she killed a Nick Fury SHIELD AGENT and helped the escape of an unidentified operative (the actual murder, as we actually saw).
And then he presents Forge’s weapon.
At which point Raven (mutant Mystique AKA Rogue’s Mom) busts in and she and Gyrich are about to get into it over control of Forge’s gun. Val tries to mediate. Raven believes it is still in research phase and is under her purview.
The Oval Office has elected to authorize Gyrich. Meaning this guy:
To me it matters not only when these comics take place, but also that the context of public figures should be aligned with our reality and the story. I don’t mind the fuzzy math of Superheroes, because I enjoy the Blonde Phantom Rule, the multiverse, creator cameos, and all this fun stuff, but it falls apart when you remix the grounding elements, like Ronny is the Prez, this is 1984, and that they penciled that building that way, because that’s the bar down the corner where they envisioned it happening, because that’s their local watering hole. Reagan appears as himself in these comics. Let’s be clear, he authorised this in the Marvel Universe. And I know we are debating per usual where the buck stops, but I still say as I did at 9 in 1984, the buck stops at his desk. Of course I was talking about a context more tangible in our reality. I hadn’t read No. 208 yet, and I just read No. 185 page three now.
It’s one thing to literally miss information, as in, I didn’t have this issue. And now I do. I was missing context and a familiarity with a moment, and some art. It is entirely different to take it and then blend it and call it the same thing. I think that has been what I found so repulsive when the ❌-Men cartoons and films showed up. It took me a life’s journey to accept and at times enjoy the reality of the on-ramp and off-ramp that includes all these other versions of events. The origin of my acceptance in part is the reality, we simply didn’t have access to every issue from the beginning. And frankly, the Marvel offices struggled to keep it all aligned. And I know the creators were not consumers of their entire line of product and they did not always get on and talk it through. So we all can and should be forgiven for having our version of the events. I am simply still holding onto the version I hold most dear here and sharing my thoughts and joy.
This my friends is what a Midlife Crisis* looks like.
Faith No More’s
Everything is Ruined
*f a k e
Rachel and Chuck lounging as they do a session, not exactly how my Dad would have done it, but sure…oh and definitely Ororo would not be busting in. There simply has not been enough focus or attentiveness to what Rogue has been going through. Chuck has been absent, and is really only here for Jean, and she died…only now is he interested and present, cause there another young redhead with telepathy to help. So Rogue who is also Carol has run off. And Ororo who is now managing Morlocks, New Mutants, and her own teammates, simply can’t do it all. I mean, two are missing and nobody seems to even notice. But thankfully this one left a note, and they have clues that she should have been supported.
Oh Rachel didn’t know of a Rogue in her timeline.
Rachel is left to her own devices, and finds Scott’s number in Alaska. She clearly had a close relationship with her parents, and doesn’t know why a Scott Summers would be in Alaska. Which is actually shocking. That’s his place!
Fuck She couldn’t speak, he called her a crank and Madelyne is in the background. He hangs up and Rachel simply looses it having heard her Dad’s voice and dismissiveness.
“d a d d y!”
“m o m!”
Which means she kinda sounds like Jean too!
The Brothers Hood of Evil Mutants Base of Operations under Mystique’s leadership.
Irené (Destiny) and Raven (Mystique) having that conversation only concerns mothers can have. With the added wrinkle of mutation and a wavering timeline. Should adult Rogue have agency? Should the mothers take away her power, to protect her from the pain of power? Which choice is correct? We can look at the future, only “perceptions have become jumbled- - as if the very time itself has been rent asunder.” Whelp, Rachel’s presence is being felt.
The military operation to track Rogue is underway. SHIELD is distracted by focusing on Dire Wraiths in the pages of Rom. Heck yeah, I am wondering if I should have tracked down Rom No. 60…by Steve Ditko. Also, assuming SHIELD blows it.
Forge’s tracker doesn’t have the range, but because Rogue is part Carol, she is essentially the only human, mutant, alien and the Avengers have tec to track alien humans, with distance.
Forge is pissed, as Raven reveals the news in Dallas.
Oh, she’s a hologram. They have hologram video chat. We don’t have that and it is the 21st Century. Bunk!
He is worried it could kill Rogue. He gets in a jet and calls Ronny directly.
Caldecott County, Mississippi on the banks of the river, Rogue is preparing for the swimsuit issue.
Honestly the page is fun, a bit of light: “YAHHOOOOOOOO!!”
The boys on the tug boat don’t mind at all.
Rogue clearly enjoys the moments when she can ware next to nothing. Especially in the heat. But in general too. She can’t get away with it when around folks. Storm shows and Rogue has to remind her not to accidentally brush up against her. Despite having taken her powers before, through physical contact.
This is the spot where she kissed Cody Robbins and the boy “keeled over.”
Then she had his thoughts in her head.
They are hashing things out. Rogue feels there has been no progress with her power control. Storm calls them friends and wonders what else they can do. Rogue is like, you were the last to want me around. And Storm is like, well sure, Carol was a friend. Rogue is like, well I wish hadn’t done that, and also get real.
Rogue points out now she is living with something…two people in her head.
Ororo asks if she trusts her, and Rogue is like who can trust me?!
Rogue admits Logan offering to be effected by her powers saved Rogue’s life through healing. Storm is offering to touch, so Rogue can see her perspective. A huge risk.
They admit they are both scared and then touch.
Rogue is getting the download on what it is like to connected to the weather. She feels excited and joyful.
The lack of trauma, the willingness of Ororo in the exchange means the memories are not present yet.
As Rogue resists temptation for more contact she shot with Forges weapon by Gyrich and Val’s team. Rogue now has been effected by the blast on a power level, but there is a latent effect of Ororo’s psyche is now presenting.
And the powers are back, but now Rogue has regained control is back and they are helping save the tugboat that was eyeing Rogue.
Forge is flying in.
They are setting the gun to full power. Forge pushes Gyrich as he fires. It misses Rogue and hits Storm. Her body sends out an energy blast that destroys the boat.
Forge rescues her body from the water.
And now is in Gyrich’s grill.
The place is ablaze.
The Dire Wraiths are present and they have eyed Forge’s weapon…one that is much like the one used against them. Forge must die!!!
Next: Life Death I
