Astonishing X-Men (2004) #62-65: The Queer Sadness Of Bobby Drake

As you might have noticed, I have skipped the X-Termination issues of this run in my reviews. And you might wonder, paraphrasing one of my kind editors Matt Meyers, however would fans survive without being bilked to buy superfluous tie-ins? Without the wonderful beauty of sadistically cutting stories through the middle to showcase an always lifechanging, always multiverse-threatening storylines? Well, I say you’re doing just fine without reading it. On top of that, it barely connects with this arc; the tragedy of Bobby and the oh-so–many not fulfilling (ex) girlfriends.

Liu proves herself a master of storytelling and character depth while Walta draws just the most beautiful detailed shots whether that be character’s faces, snow-covered cities, or even shots of the earth as seen from the universe. The representation of Bobby’s depression through that panel-covering snow and all the multiple thrilling narrative changes is excellent, including the always challenging and unexpected Mystique, characterized here as we best love her. I personally must confess I wasn’t sold on the covers by Phil Noto (especially the secondary character ones), cause even if precious works of art that reflect the issue’s theme, they felt too emotionless sometimes.

While I ultimately think the general idea of this arc is too ambitious for the time dedicated and pacing, I like that where it stems from, too much to let it pass. Bobby repeats once and again a phrase about all his ex-girlfriends: “I feel like I’m only a friend”. None of them actually consider him less emotionally or have less strong emotions about him. In the end, as those lonely beautifully pages show, it’s just him and his need to be seen.

Bobby feels connection is not possible, he feels his romantic relationships were fake, and he feels isolated in a way that reminds him of how his father rejects him for “not being enough of a man”. I like what this says about repressed queerness (and I use this word cause I don’t feel like Bobby is set up to be either bi or gay here, but both are certainly plausible and strongly implied,). I like that by the end he breaks up with Kitty. I like what’s settled here for Bobby. And I like that this was already almost made in the 90s, when Scott Lobdell basically wrote him a coming out story that never materialized in Uncanny X-Men #318. I’ll always remember him as the uncomfortable shy character that hid behind a clown attitude, even when it made him a jerk, while at the same time being more comfortable around women than any of his other teammates, just not very healthy in a romantic way and hiding, always hiding. Bobby has always been queer, and yes, his coming out was badly executed by Bendis years later. But this is Bobby. This incredible solitude and depth is him. I can’t help but wonder, reading these pages, why a coming out didn’t follow up in this run, or maybe that was the plan?