New X-Men #46 Messiah Complex chapter 12

[Romelacca]

Written by Kyle/Yost
Pencils by Ramos

The artwork is beautiful. Ramos really fits this book. I wouldn't mind seeing him stay with this book. If you haven't been reading the Messiah Complex then you haven't been reading one of the best stories coming out of Marvel. I know.... I know.... it's one cross-over from Marvel after another one. House of M, Annihilation, Civil War, Planet Hulk, and World War Hulk. Now with this cross-over I wasn't going to write any reviews until I got the last issue but with only one issue left if hasn't been a let down. These are like the old stories of the X-Men I grew up with. You had great character development, heartfelt stories, and Cable with a big-@$$ gun. For you haters out their Cable is still the man and this story has brought him back to his roots. I know there is one more issue to go and Marvel has been letting you down on the last issue lately but this book has a different feel. It feels like Planet Hulk did when it ended. You knew something was on the horizon. It doesn't feel like Civil War when Captain America will never surrender but then he did in issue 7. I still say he is a Skrull. The X-Men needed to have a new book and for those that walked away from the title this is a great jump on point. If you are a Gambit fan the boy is back. I makes a lot of sense to me why he chose to work with Sinister. If you are a Mystique fan I think see needs to do a little less worrying for Rogue and more for her biological son Nightcrawler. I am very curious to see the direction of X-Force will take after this book, especially with Wolverine as their leader.

My Thoughts: Highly Recommended
Rating: 8 out of 10 of my fingers liked this book.

[blehbeh]

The best and most exciting issue of Messiah Complex so far.

And unless anyone can think of another example, this felt like most bloody, graphically violent X-Men comic ever published.

[ryanrhome]

This was just great...this whole crossover has been excellent and so far the ending has yet to disappoint. I love the freakin free-for-all that has developed on Muir Island. I didn't expect, but was quite happy to see, when the X-Men and X-Factor busted through the roof to help X-Force take out the Marauders/Acolytes. I was a little scared that since I was sooo pleased with the first 10 chapters that the final three would not be as good, but with only one left to go, I can say that it definitely better.
What i'm excited to do is to read the first 12 chapters right before I read the last one next week so i get the full effect of the crossover combined with the very first impression of the finale.

[11ball]

This was just great...this whole crossover has been excellent and so far the ending has yet to disappoint. I love the freakin free-for-all that has developed on Muir Island. I didn't expect, but was quite happy to see, when the X-Men and X-Factor busted through the roof to help X-Force take out the Marauders/Acolytes. I was a little scared that since I was sooo pleased with the first 10 chapters that the final three would not be as good, but with only one left to go, I can say that it definitely better.
What i'm excited to do is to read the first 12 chapters right before I read the last one next week so i get the full effect of the crossover combined with the very first impression of the finale.
I pretty much echo your sentiments. The whole crossover has been really, really great, especially for us X-Men fans who have been following the book for 15 years and more. I jumped on X-men comics back in 1993 and have a near complete run of Uncanny since issue #281 and let me tell you that Messiah Complex is a huge, great throwback to the big mega crossovers like X-Cutioners Song and Fatal Attractions--but better. (well, better than X-Cutioner's Song but not quite as classic as Fatal Attractions) There's a part in the previous chapter where Cable is chatting with Xavier. Cable says:

C: Remember when everyone thought I tried to kill you?
Xavier: Which time?
C: The first time. When Stryfe was...
X: ...impersonating you. Yes, I remember.
C: Good times, huh.

Good times indeed, and Messiah Complex has been littered with great moments like that thoughout the whole crossover. I too am currently re-reading the twelve issues in eager anticipation of the finale. In fact, X-men #207 may have been the most impatiently I have waited for an issue of X-men in a long, long time.

My only real negative with the series has been David Finch's covers. Aside from Uncanny #493 (with Cable holding the baby) none of the covers have been remotely interesting and they're mostly just generic team pose layouts or fight covers. (I thought Finch's covers for World War Hulk were equally awful and bland.) I don't know what Marvel sees in Finch, really. His artwork reminds me of bad Image stuff from the early 90's--over-exaggerated and over-muscled poses, way, way, WAY, too much cross-hatching, and artwork that "looks cool" over telling a story. Can't Marvel find a guy like James Jean or J.G. Jones to do covers? Even Michael Turner--who I feel is a little over-exposed with cover work (but his covers for Identity Crisis were classic)--would have been way better than Finch. Cover art is just one of those things that I think the Distinguished Competition does much better than Marvel.

The interiors though, I've been pleased with. I agree with the criticism that the switch to Ramos and Bachalo after the issues pencilled by Tan and Eaton is jarring, but I grew up on reading Joe Mad on X-Men so Ramos' style reads fine to me and frankly, Chris Bachalo has been drawing the X-men pretty much since the mid-'90's so I'm well used to seeing his art grace the pages of X-Men.

Messiah Complex has otherwise been really great so far (and I don't think Bishop is an outright traitor--there's surprises left in store I feel in regards to that angle) and I'm dying to see what happens in the finale.

[barrylincoln]

I'm in the camp that agrees this is a great crossover. One of the best crossovers we've seen in X-Men history. That said, this issue in particular I've found more enjoyable than the previous issues of New X-men in this crossover. The build-up has scaled up dramatically, and the battle royale between x-men, marauders and acolytes has been drawn very well. I'm one of those that really likes Ramos and Bachalo. Ramos can put a ton of X-Men on a panel without it seeming too cramped. Unfortunately, I've been told this is the last issue of New X-men. I believe the solicitations have listed Young X-men to be following soon, but there will be a different creative team and I'm sure a different direction. When I spoke with Ramos a Wizard World, he'd said after New X-men ends that he would be pencilling Runaways next, but couldn't say when exactly. Kyle and Yost of course will be following this with X-Force.

Really looking forward to next week's finale.

[Kusanagi]

If you are a Gambit fan the boy is back.
I makes a lot of sense to me why he chose to work with Sinister.

I still want to see a writer adress the whole Horseman thing,
how Remy changed back and all that jazz.

For this issue, Ramos+Gambit, damn, the man draws the cajun like no other.
Same goes for Cable btw.
Awesome issue, and i'm psyched for the conclusion.:D