COMIC BOOK REVIEW: Mr & Mrs X #1 (Something Borrowed, Something...)

LOVE & MARRIAGE PART 1! Welcome to Remy Etienne and Anna Marie LeBeau’s first day of marriage. From the start this couple have faced all kinds of drama, including Remy’s then wife Belladonna, the Antarctic incident and even more recently a couples retreat. But can they overcome an entire galaxy in jeopardy and the Shi’ar Imperial Guard interrupting their honeymoon? Gasp in wonder as you witness the tantalizing tale of a modern marriage…X-MEN STYLE!

MR & MRS X #1

Writer: Kelly Thompson
Pencils: Oscar Bazaldua
Colors: Frank D’Armata
Letters: VC’s Joe Sabino
Cover: Terry Dodson (A,C,F)
Variant Covers: J. Scott Campbell & Sabine Rich (B, Virgin Cover E), Skottie Young (D), Humberto Ramos & Edgar Delgado (G), Lucio Parrillo (H), Tyler Kirkham (I,J,K), Mike Mayhew (L)
Publisher: Marvel Comics

What You Need to Know:

Gambit & Rogue become Remy Etienne & Anna Marie LeBeau…Finally!

What You’ll Find Out:

Beginning with a dual narrative we find Rogue’s heart finally being captured by Gambit as a Shi’ar ‘bug’ cruiser becomes snared by an Imperial starship. Followed by some traditional wedding fun of finding the ‘something old, something new, something borrowed’… we get the something blue AND the traditional wedding gatecrasher all in one as Raven shows up. And after some awkward looks and a mom/daughter chat, all seems well.

On to the honeymoon and after a discrete length of time we join our wedded couple as they discuss her weakness for being tickled and what to do with the rest of their time off, just as the decision is taken out of their hands. In true Gambit style, he doesn’t appreciate the call to responsibility and also true to form Rogue makes the adult decision and takes the call. After explaining that of course she knew where they were, Kitty informs them that they are the only ones close enough to deal with a threat, due to teleporters being either on other missions or nowhere to be found (those pesky teleporters are hard to pin down) before Gambit gives Kitty an eyeful, ensuring the conversation is most assuredly over.

And so they go off to the location they are given, in order to find their contact, a supposed old friend and also the mysterious package they are to collect. As they arrive to find Cerise under arrest, the pair are suddenly under attack from none other than the Shi’ar Imperial Guard, with Astra holding the sought after package.

Immediately battle is joined and as the pair go into action Rogue comes into contact with Astra and to her own shock she phases out of the ship with the package. As Flashfire attempts to subdue Gambit, assuring him they don’t want to kill them but mean to secure the package at all costs, Gambit reminds him Rogue has the package and is out in space and although she is strong she won’t be able to survive for long out there. But even as they watch and much to Gambit’s shock, Rogue simply disappears. As Rogue herself comes round she asks Gambit where she is and gets a very surprising answer.
Let the fun begin…

What Just Happened?

Art: Terry Dodson’s cover captures the emotion of the couple perfectly. Remy finally gets the girl and couldn’t be happier and Anna Marie is ever his equal and has him completely in her thrall and the two look so perfectly at ease in each others company and are clearly a power couple to envy. With some other truly standout variant covers from the likes of J. Scott Campbell, Skottie Young, Humberto Ramos, Lucio Parrillo, Tyler Kirkham and Mike Mayhew we are truly spoilt for choice with the first issue. Inside art too and from the outset at the wedding Oscar Bazaldua (Spiderman, Star Wars: Rogue One) gave us an excellent kickstart here. And I said in my article about the wedding issue that Mystique would show up and she DID. Not only did she show up but she did it in style. Only the mother of the bride could attempt to upstage the bride with a dramatic entrance. And only a shape changer could make herself look the same age as her daughter. In my opinion, this was not a mistake in the art but a deliberate insight into the mentality of Mystique. Looking all demure and coquettish with those Bambi eyes, to try and disarm the X-Men and allow her free passage into the gathering. And to top it off mirroring the features to her own foster daughter to remind the X-Men of her links to her and play on the emotion. After all her only other option was to video message, as her Foxx persona was already not a success last time. Frank D’Armata colors on the change of Mystique from her Brand disguise to her own form was spot on and all through the story was spectacular also. And overall the art showcasing two separate yet linked incidents from the first kiss of the happy couple to the doomed craft, which will come into play later, was also a great touch. Truly explosive.

Only two things puzzle me here. How and why did Mystique show up for the wedding of her daughter, when no one knew it was going to happen until the last minute? I know it’s been a long separation in real time between this and X-Men Gold #30 but even that is a stretch. And when we see the Shi’ar ship attack the bug cruiser it shoots off a lifepod, but later Gambit and Rogue come up on the bug cruiser again and find it intact with all aboard? These are minor issues though and outdone by the rest of what is on show. The whole wedding shindig was perfect and visual characterization was spot on. From Ororo calming Remy as Laura snagged his hair in an attempt to smarten him up, Illyana helping look for the power dampening collar (thanks for expanding on that Kelly) all the way up to Jubilee taking charge of the regulation ‘something old, something new’ tradition and tearing up when Betsy gives Anna her earrings, everyone looked perfect. Also the shot of Rogue looking out of the window in space to the vastness of the world in front of her spoke volumes of what she is actually thinking, as she clearly wonders about the possibilities ahead of her in a way she has never been able to before. The subtext in all of these images is a perfect example of how a picture can paint a thousand words.

Writing: Fans have been clamoring for this since the 90’s with the Chris Claremont/Jim Lee run and so it’s a grand payoff for those who have waited so long and Kelly Thompson (Hawkeye, Rogue & Gambit) delivers a solid tale of the happenings both during and after X-Men Gold #30. Bridging the gap from the day after, we now join them in space as Gambit literally gives Rogue the whole world. And some well deserved and anticipated passion. If Kelly continues with this mature approach to their relationship I think we are on to a winner. The cheeky joking about their relationship and “you and me boundaries” while fighting the Imperial Guard was also funny and at the same time insightful. And on the heels of their recent miniseries, this is a great title to see them together in. Both have had several solo outings (Rogue 20 issues and Gambit 50 overall) and I can see this working well. IF the impetus is kept up. And I see no reason why it shouldn’t be, as long as Kelly is attached. She has shown a remarkable knack for making the couple far more genuine and believable than many other writers have been able to show, ever since the first meeting between these two lovebirds, which has been the true cause of their on/off relationship. I loved the mom/daughter chat too, how LONG have we needed this moment to be done right? The addition of Pixie and her sentiment as well, makes total sense seeing as it mirrors perfectly the Danger Room scene back in Rogue & Gambit #1, when Remy shows up and sweeps Rogue off her feet. Not to mention Illyana’s “TMI” comment and all of the supporting cast at the wedding making small talk and arguing about who’s ‘team’ they are on, it was all very heart-warming and funny, poor Kurt.

Characters: The appearance of Cerise totally stole the show for me here. More so than even Raven and Wade showing up, this was the addition I was NOT expecting and though she didn’t utter a single word I loved it and I’m hoping we get to see her in action next issue and can’t wait to see her face off against Technet again when they appear. And maybe a reaction from Kurt. Pretty PLEEEEEASE Kelly? The Shi’ar showing up was also spot on. It wouldn’t be a space saga without them and the team of Flashfire, Warstar, Hussar, Manta, and Astra was perfect. Even in their original outfits, they didn’t seem at all outdated, but splendidly apt. The two lead characters are perfect here in ways that hasn’t been shown in a long time. He radiates confidence but has the inner doubt, she, on the other hand, is a core of iron strong determination housed in an outer shell of cautious optimism. It goes to show that written well they CAN work and manage to make a go of things and they show a remarkable maturity that is needed in an x-relationship….we don’t often get to see that lately, in many ways. As for Gambit’s accent, it reads a lot more genuine and authentic than I’ve seen in so many years and not at all stereotypical and cringe-worthy. His dialogue, physical cues, and reactions were also very realistic and organic for the character. His obvious annoyance at Kitty for interrupting their honeymoon and his overprotective attitude toward Rogue during the Shi’ar attack shows he still has that edge of worry. Though he seemingly lives a charmed life, he is always waiting for the other shoe to drop and worries that he can have it all snatched away from him at a moments notice, which brings out that petulant childish streak, a perfect compliment for Rogue’s sassy strong-willed and more confident personality.

Overall: This issue alone goes to show that marriages CAN work in comics, especially in Marvel. It’s just that writers seem not to know how to handle them and write them in a positive light. And this has been borne out by recent comments of fans, even the ones who have wanted this for so many years, who have been saying it won’t last. Which proves that comic writers have been handling relationships and marriages in too formulaic a way over the years, if even those who WANT it to work don’t in their heart of hearts believe it CAN. Not every marriage is filled with doubt and insecurity, some are very complimentary, supportive, grown up and mutually understanding. And this one is off to a great start, with the two having each other’s back and knowing instinctively that their partner is on their side. And so I want to go on record as saying I’d like to see this workout and serve as an example of how to do a couples comic, because I truly believe it CAN. A strong and great issue overall and I’m hoping #2 is just as stunning.

Rating: 9/10

Final Thought: Cannot be happier with the guest appearances, Gambits new mother in law, Rogues almost-sister-in-law Cerise and even Rogue’s ‘ex’ Deadpool, that’s sure to shake things up some.

COMING NEXT…