Astonishing X-Men (2004) #50: Everything Is In Danger

Get ready for a rollercoaster of emotions. After taking romantic advice from Bobby and Remy (worse decisions probably have been made, I guess), Northstar decides he needs to do something special for Kyle, to save the distance between them, to relieve their conflict and the fact that both their lifes are at constant risk. Obviously, Jean-Paul should ask Kyle to marry him.

The tension of this scene is visually magnificient, with each panel showing less and less background and people, till we see only the city landscape and Jean-Paul holding the ring. Then, the city just disappears and we see Kyle’s reaction over a blank background, which is one of the best character moments of this run because of both his (rational, as expected) response and the perfectly drawn expressions on his face.

Then, we get a mirrored big scale version of this conflict. Beginning with another team scene (it was definitively teased in the X-team-pose Dustin Weaver & Rachelle Rosenberg cover) that is effectively funny, filled with sarcasm (what a pleasure it is to have Bobby and Remy on the same team!) and that honestly works as a comedic relief, both for the Jean-Paul/Kyle scene and what’s next to come. Massive killing of secondary characters is not reserved for 2019 X-Men, and one could argue this is one of these times that the emotional impact of it (even if they’re nothing sort of heroes) is not weighted enough. Still, this shock doesn’t comes as something easy or forgettable, since it places us back to Northstar dealing with his shame, his trauma, his fears, and it never leaves during the rest of this issue.

Those scenes with Jean-Paul and the beautifully brushed sky are just amazingly emotional. And they carry us from there till the end, seeing Jean-Paul face his own mind-controlled teammates, including a monstrous Bobby. And choosing to save Kyle. And choosing love. But at what price?