Iceman #2: Skating on Thin Ice

It seems that coupled with the ‘buddy movie’ set up of last issue this is now beginning to look more like Sina Grace being caught out and trying to find new things for Bobby to do and less like a follow on from the previous series, or even an attempt to tie up any loose ends left dangling by it’s early cancellation. The reunion of Emma and Bobby was inspired and has been a long time coming, but the payoff was a little lacklustre for me. While there was a nod to the fact Emma knew all along about his sexuality, it was all slightly brushed over to get to the crux of the dilemma.
Similarly, given the delicate subject matter of Christian’s attempted suicide, conversion therapy, and the eventual patricide we finally find Christian has committed I would have expected a little more gravity to the story. There is always going to be the need for levity in a book revolving around Iceman, it IS Iceman after all. But the balance was a little off and the final repercussions were similarly lax for killing Winston Frost. It was ever so slightly disturbing to see that Christian escapes any reprisals or judgment for murder, and that’s on Emma and Bobby both! Although for her it’s par for the course given she once hid the murder of her sister Adrienne, he was a little too unquestioning of her decision to take Christian under her wing so wholeheartedly and not even argue against it. Perhaps he knows her enough to not even try, but I think Bobby would at least say something or even make a mental note to inform the rest of the X-Men.
However, there was a lot more to be grateful for here as, despite the lack of seriousness regarding the plot details, the humor itself wasn’t overplayed but on the whole in keeping with the main character. For instance the constant references to the disparity between his background and wealth and that of the Frost’s. Also Bobby’s little joke about looking at online dating apps while Emma has a handy projection playing in the car. And the icing on the cake was his requesting that Emma prove to Kitty her motives weren’t nefarious by showing some sign of weakness, which was by far the funniest moment in the book. Both the Bobby being the one to think of it as a reasonable method of Emma explaining in the first place to avoid a long drawn out discussion with Kitty and the visual itself, with the inspired use of the curlers and t-shirt. I can almost see “Cyclops was right” being replaced as the go-to merchandising opportunity.
W. Scott Forbes gives us a truly beautiful cover here, which deserved full marks and implied far more gravitas and impact than was fully carried off in the story inside and really carried the issue. As for the internal art itself, Federico Blee managed the coloring very well, especially with the muted palette of the grisly discovery of the body and the stark brightness that was the journey into Ice Land. Speaking of which, nice touch having Kitty win a giant stuffed dragon for Colossus. Whereas the overall art didn’t exactly blow me away, it did perform the task of relaying the narrative well enough for me. Nathan Stockman does very well on the main panels and set pieces, delivering sufficient drama with the meeting between Emma and Bobby and their drive up and arrival at the mansion, but some interim panels are a little haphazard and rushed looking. It’s like he focused on several of the main shots that inform the ongoing plot but neglected to fill in the linking scenes. Although the panel layout of their confronting Christian flowed well and kept the plot moving admirably. And on a personal note I gleeped a little when seeing X-Baby, as weirdly it was something I’d wondered about in an offhand way a month ago and so seeing it almost image perfect to my imagination was a geeky moment I will gladly hold my hand up to. I did also like the image of Emma at the mercy of Christian in the mindscape, finally admitting to her failures as well as earlier explaining the previous confrontation with her father to Bobby as an overlay of the present day scene as the scenery rushes by in a blur, which injects the need for urgency while also furnishing the plot, these are the areas Nathan excels in.
It was also nice to see Kitty and Bobby’s friendship continue to evolve beyond their past relationship. The ex-girlfriend of a recently outed gay man is sometimes his staunchest ally and defender and her over protectiveness didn’t stop at threatening Emma. By the way, how DID she manage to make it there so quick from the school back in Central Park? I had thought for a while Emma had transferred them to the Astral Plane but it was clear she just mind controlled him to her car. And again as she later sent several text messages checking he was okay. Either that or her feelings for Emma may have had more to do with her motivation. Whatever the reason, it’s touching to see all the same. As well as Dazzler getting a new single. Although Bobby seriously needs some reassessment of his dating apps.
And characterization overall was both interestingly insightful and in-depth enough, utilizing the parental pressures of all the players in the drama, ensuring Bobby’s personality and background are both touched on by way of comparison to that of another person he is helping. Much the same way as in the very first Iceman miniseries waaaaaay back in the 80’s, where again his relationship with his parents was the focus of the story and he gained his own perspective after meeting Marge (secretly a cosmic entity called Mirage) and the destructive relationship she had with her father. And so here the plot itself is totally organic in that Emma calls on Bobby, not only because of their own shared history but also because his personal family issues would help give Christian some perspective on how all families are complex.
Despite the pressure put on him by William and Maddy, Bobby is clearly a stronger more well-adjusted individual for his issues, despite the lack of wealth in comparison to Christian, who had much the same baggage and yet didn’t fare as well. And it also seems now that Emma is the most level headed of her family too since her two sisters have also previously been twisted into craven characters by their own father. It may be that it isn’t such a bad thing he is removed from the scene after all. But then Christian also didn’t have to contend with once traveling back in time to witness his father being killed as Bobby did. Yes, that too happened in the first Iceman miniseries, which was released barely two months prior to Back to the Future. And finally the revelation of Christians power being much in line with his siblings. All the Frost children seem to have that cerebral thing going on. Which warrants thinking about in the future. Where this will lead him now that he is under his younger sisters control is anyone’s guess.

COMING NEXT: ICEMAN AND HIS AMAZING FRIENDS! Guest-starring Spider-Man and Firestar! Iceman is on a blind date…but what’s a super hero date without a mad villain to crash it? What’s Iceman to do but call…his Amazing Friends?!
Iceman #3 On Sale 17th November 2018!