Punch Up: “To Me My ❌-Men”
Chapter Twenty-Three:
1984-1985
October, November, & December, 1984, AND January, 1985 Kitty Pryde and Wolverine 3-6 by Milgrom, G. Wein, Orzechowski, Claremont, + Louise & Nocenti
Mixtape Tracks: I Feel for You by Chaka Khan, Procreation by Celtic Frost, I Want to Know What Love Is by Foreigner, & You Talk Too Much by Run DMC
Chapter 23 in “to me my ❌-Men,” as it was 40 years ago, Kitty Pryde and Wolverine doesn’t fit the vibe and quality, but we keep it, because we care about them two.
Previously on “to me my ❌-Men,” sees Stan Lee possessed by an alien, and then events unravel into a meeting that has everyone crying. Absent, Logan and Kitty. And so, we pick up in Japan where we last left them.
Logan is in the middle of a monologue about the paradox of his comfort zone being the Wild West of Canada, but his heart is in the city of the future, Tokyo, while a not so sneaky Yukio gets closer every panel. It’s fun.
The remix of Wolverine by Claremont and Miller is really reductive and lacking in Claremont & Milgrom’s hands.
He steals her “gotcha” line and then kisses her. Well, I am annoyed.
What is his Mariko status? The flirt. Also, I am still pulling for Yukio and Ororo. Actually more right now. The Forge bit is to messy for my taste.
Ask and you will get an answer. He still loves Mariko.
Logan tells Yukio what’s up with Kitty, and she is celebrating Kitty’s rebellious acts.
Yukio is helping by doing some investigative work.
Logan is meeting at temple and is now under attack.
These ARE fun pages. Kitty as the devil ninja is kicking Logan’s arse. I just happen to know, I could do a better job than Al. Which honestly, still seems crazy to me. But I think I am at the point now. I wasn’t when I was applying for these types of gigs in the 90’s though. Not even slightly close. Al a pro. This just happens to be to large a limelight.
Logan ends up in an ally with newspapers. Adding to the establishment of a familiar setting for those who battle The Hand.
Yukio is in the offices…and stealing their drink. Gosh I love her. That last panel is an Archie style gotcha. I would LOVE cartooning this…maybe I should do a parody?!
Kitty’s Dad is passed out and Shumai has Yukio.
She tosses him out a window and tries to save him from falling many stories.
Oh she is pumping him for information, then Kitty’s Dad distracts long enough for Yukio to be the one going over the edge.
Now Dad’s going too and they are saved by window cleaning…the physics of this scene are absurd…even for comics.
Logan is tracking Kitty in one of the better pages here.
Some fun with trains and cars and chasing.
Logan saves the Ninja from the train and then the ninja looses their mask, revealing Kitty, and so she stabs him. Epic, for this comic.
This is comical (don’t love that term…also, cartoony), but here we are. Cliff driving by Yukio. Dad back seat driving. A hurt Logan in the back too. And a tied up Kitty. Would any of this actually happen with these characters?!
They end up on the side of cliff outside the car fighting. Yukio gets the upper hand on Kitty. They make it to a Yoshida stronghold.
Somehow Logan gets Kitty to become herself after some sleep.
They have a meal and there is a story that is shared that is too dumb to get into.
Logan and Kitty train like Karate Kid.
The Chuck Logan call happens that leads up to the ❌-Men meeting last chapter.
Logan is upset about Storm.
So the snow training goes sideways.
We get an inappropriate hot tub scene.
Kinda cool Kitty leaving page.
Side note: GoBots Ad…for what seems like a a few days, GoBots were amazing. That’s it. That’s the note. Kitty in ninja gear coming through the desk at Shigematsu is one of the better illustrations.
She phases down to the underground pit of her ninja gear and into a new costume. One that becomes iconic.
The next page she looks at her reflection and it is a nice page too.
Yukio, Logan and Dad are hanging. It’s awkward.
Mariko makes her appearance…as a boss.
She has her own weird hot tub scene.
The odd throuple takes a flight, I guess to get Kitty.
We had that throuple in Vermont with Thor & HildeSif
Ogūn is after Kitty, but she is ready.
Kitty saves Mariko and the kid with her. She and Ogūn fight. She names herself Shadowcat. Logan shows up as she looses the upper hand.
Ogūn slips away.
The cast of this comic are there fighting until, Kitty phases and Logan gos through her and puts his claws in Ogūn. Akiko the girl is safe, Dad admits what he did, happy ending blah blah blah…ice cream Sunday.
Joe Ruby & Ken Spears Scooby-Doo
Next: Thor & BillSif
