X-Statix # 21

[Rowsdower]

Writer: Peter Milligan
Pencils & Colors: The Allreds
Inks: Craine

The Basic Premise: This is part one of "The Good and the Famous" X-Statix vs. Avengers arc. Without giving away too much, it turns out that Doop was apparently kidnapped by some Russian terrorists who are turning him into a superweapon. The X-Statix reluctantly turn to the Avengers for help in sorting out the problem. I won't give away the ending, but it's generally a set-up for the "battle" issues to come.

What's Good: The art by Allred is fantastic as always. For those of you who like your old school pencils, this is pure gold. Craine is a decent inker for Allred; it looks as good to me as when Allred inks his own stuff. It's great to see his take on the Avengers (including Cap, Thor, Ant-Man, Iron Man, Scarlet Witch, and Hawkeye).

Milligan sets up the story here and it is vaguely reminiscent of the set-up in Avengers/JLA. But as with everything else in Milligan's X-Statix, it's a little weirder (grosser?) than hunting down the cosmic cube or a power lantern. And if you read the story, one of the "locales" is going to be a treat to see Allred render.

What's Not So Good: This issue suffers from some of the problems that the series has recently had: The pacing of the plot feels a little rushed (although I understand Milligan needed to set up the premise) and it causes the characters' temperaments to seem a little skewed.

Overall, I give it a B. And I have high hopes for the remaining "fight" issues.

[gOgIver]

I really liked this issue. I thought the colors were above average and the way the Avengers were drawn, esp. Iron Man, looked great. If this were to be the last story line, it seems like it would be a great finish. Wasp was on the cover but not in the book though:( Anyway, I dug it and thought it was paced just fine.:)

I give it a "B"

[evilive72]

Having just gotten into X-Statix, I really liked this issue. I Like the interaction between the teams.

It kind of sucks if I just got into the book and it is gone after this arc.

My grade = A

[The 'Nam]

Originally posted by evilive72
Having just gotten into X-Statix, I really liked this issue. I Like the interaction between the teams.

It kind of sucks if I just got into the book and it is gone after this arc.

My grade = A

is there rumors of it being cancelled? i havent heard them. this is by far Milligans best work. although, i preferred his X-force to x-statix. when the title was changed, it seemed like the quality stepped down a bit.

[MatthewSmith]

All I know is that Doop is gonna kick Thor's ass.

[Woody]

I think its awesome that this storyline is a straight up riff on 'Avengers vs Defenders" (the teams splitting up to fight each other in different parts of the world to get all the parts of an object) And its even better that they allude to the Issues they're modeling it after.

I dropped Xstatics just before the Princess Di arc and decided to pick this one up ona whim, and I'm really glad I did.

[gOgIver]

Originally posted by The 'Nam
is there rumors of it being cancelled? i havent heard them. this is by far Milligans best work. although, i preferred his X-force to x-statix. when the title was changed, it seemed like the quality stepped down a bit.

Here is a link where Allred thinks this arc "would be the perfect swan song for X-Statix."


Hellooo! (http://www.comicscommunity.com/boards/allred/?read=10354)

[The 'Nam]

Originally posted by gOgIver
Here is a link where Allred thinks this arc "would be the perfect swan song for X-Statix."


Hellooo! (http://www.comicscommunity.com/boards/allred/?read=10354)

no!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:



hm.......but this is coming from Mike Allred. if you ask me, i think the various fill-ins have all done a pretty good job, so maybe Milligan will keep the book.

[gOgIver]

I just looked at the top 300 for March and it does not look good. Venom was canceled and it was #80. X-Statix came in at #95. We will know by next month if there is a solicit for #26.

[The 'Nam]

Originally posted by gOgIver
I just looked at the top 300 for March and it does not look good. Venom was canceled and it was #80. X-Statix came in at #95. We will know by next month if there is a solicit for #26.

waitamonute: venom was cancelled? i never heard that one either.... im finishing the current arc, then dropping it. it was becoming a chore to read through. im not surprised at all it was cancelled.
so, they are gonna finish the upcoming arc with 2 venoms, arent they?

and its too bad X-statix is getting cancelled more than likely. it was a great great book. hopefully the new MK title will draw in a few more readers. but maybe now we can see Allred on a more mainstream book. i think he would be the perfect fit for a book like Spectacular Spidey.

[gOgIver]

Originally posted by The 'Nam
waitamonute: venom was cancelled? i never heard that one either.... im finishing the current arc, then dropping it. it was becoming a chore to read through. im not surprised at all it was cancelled.
so, they are gonna finish the upcoming arc with 2 venoms, arent they?

and its too bad X-statix is getting cancelled more than likely. it was a great great book. hopefully the new MK title will draw in a few more readers. but maybe now we can see Allred on a more mainstream book. i think he would be the perfect fit for a book like Spectacular Spidey.

Hey, I use that expression "chore to read" too!!!:) RJ gave the Venom chop the green light this week. WOODPECKER FALLS (http://www.comicbookresources.com/columns/?column=13)

I know there is a Venom/Carnage mini coming up soon ($3.50 each for 4 issues:eek: )

[The 'Nam]

Originally posted by gOgIver
Hey, I use that expression "chore to read" too!!!:) RJ gave the Venom chop the green light this week. WOODPECKER FALLS (http://www.comicbookresources.com/columns/?column=13)

I know there is a Venom/Carnage mini coming up soon ($3.50 each for 4 issues:eek: )

hmmm....cant say im disappointed......

[GhettoRebel]

The sad part is there are somewhere around 600 monthly books out there and MArvel and DC dominate the top 100 and they aren't satisfied.....

On to X-Statix though. A good read, I will finsh out the arc. Cant say I was impressed enough to pick up the book regularly though.

I give it a C+

[Somniator]

Originally posted by The 'Nam
no!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:mad: :mad: :mad: :mad:



hm.......but this is coming from Mike Allred. if you ask me, i think the various fill-ins have all done a pretty good job, so maybe Milligan will keep the book.

Hmm, I must say that the book has always been lacklustre, in my opinion, when Allred isn't drawing.

Then again, I actually wouldn't be too sad to see the book go. After the brilliance of the X-Force run, and the early part of X-Statix, this book seems to me to have been in steady decline. Since around the introduction of El Guapo, and the movie storyline, it's just got weaker and weaker. I didn't even buy the "Back from the dead" storyline, and "The Cure" was disappointing too. If there was a chance Milligan could inject some new life into it, I'd like to see it carry on. But I'd rather it stopped while still quite good, rather than deteriorate further and further...

[JK Parkin]

Originally posted by Somniator
After the brilliance of the X-Force run, and the early part of X-Statix, this book seems to me to have been in steady decline. Since around the introduction of El Guapo, and the movie storyline, it's just got weaker and weaker. I didn't even buy the "Back from the dead" storyline, and "The Cure" was disappointing too. If there was a chance Milligan could inject some new life into it, I'd like to see it carry on. But I'd rather it stopped while still quite good, rather than deteriorate further and further...

I agree with a lot of what you're saying, Somniator. The book doesn't seem as fresh as it once did, and recent stories haven't been as character-focused as they have been in the past. The dialogue used to be a lot more fun, too.

The Back from the Dead storyline was horrible; I wish I hadn't bought it. The Cure was better, but I was really hoping things would pick back up with this latest issue. I'd probably give it a C-, at best.

[Xaraan]

I liked it.

Kind of a weird premise, but not weird for X-Statix.

Looking forward to seeing these guys fight.

[The 'Nam]

i didnt buy the Back from the Dead story either; this is the first issue ive gotten since #11 i believe. so what exactly were they curing Vivisector of?

and did Phat die in 'Back from the Dead"?

[Somniator]

Originally posted by The 'Nam
i didnt buy the Back from the Dead story either; this is the first issue ive gotten since #11 i believe. so what exactly were they curing Vivisector of?

and did Phat die in 'Back from the Dead"?

In "The Cure", the Vivisector cured himself of his mutation, a mad scientist became the new Vivisector, and promptly died. And Vivisector got his powers back.

And yeah, Phat died in BFTD (I got that much from flicking through it in the store), as did El Guapo, I think (after having lost his legs at one point). But it just seems to me that the only reason Phat was killed off was to maintain the book's high mortality rate. With the original team and Edie, it worked. With Phat, it just seems unnecessary - and I think it's upset the balance of the book somewhat.

I like Pete Milligan a lot, but all of a sudden I get the impression that having done some great things with this book he's suddenly completely unsure of where he wants to take it.

[Drew_Atreides]

X-Statix is literally the ONLY book i collect regularly, anymore..

I'd be quite quite disappointed if she were cancelled...Heck, i'll probably quit Comics altogether..


I guess i've gone easy on "Back from the Dead" because of how much hacking and monkeying around at the last second Milligan and Allred had to pull off when they were told to drop the Lady Di bit at the last minute....

Seems like the guys haven't exactly been able to get themselves back into the "Groove" since then, but i have high hopes for the Avengers arc (which, darnit, i couldn't get as my comicshop sold out!)

[Somniator]

Originally posted by Drew_Atreides

I guess i've gone easy on "Back from the Dead" because of how much hacking and monkeying around at the last second Milligan and Allred had to pull off when they were told to drop the Lady Di bit at the last minute....



Well, this is true. Without it being Diana, the story really couldn't work as it was meant to; but it was too late for them to pull it. That lapse in quality was understandable (and the reason why I avoided the arc), but it's not as if the dropoff was sudden - the book, in my opinion, just hadn't been as downright unmissable for the months leading up to that arc as it had been back when it started.