ICYMI! X-Men #34: Who’s Afraid of a Shadowcat?

We are officially one month away from the current Krakoan era, and as the X-teams are scrambling to tie up any loose ends before the next era begins, Duggan and Joshua Cassara are no exception to this rule. Unfortunately we don’t have the time or space to get answers to all of the lingering plots. Like Jean using her telepathy to coerce Lorna to join the X-Men, or some closure on some what happened to Synch and Laura. Or how Firestar was grossly under used in during her time on the team. So many questions that will probably never be addressed. Will this penultimate issue before we see the landmark 700th issue (legacy 699 right here) set the stage for the big showdown?

To say Gerry Duggan is rushing this issue would be an understatement. The story is at breakneck speed, with some great moments. Like every panel with M.O.D.O,K. Instantly made the page all that more delightful. Not every chapter had the same kind of charm, and self awareness. Duggan’s dropping off basically shoutouts to the events going on elsewhere, but Marvel shot itself in the foot because having those little yellow boxes for kids who aren’t familiar with all of this lore. It’s causing Duggan to waste a lot of time just mentioning the events that are happening in the rest of the city, as well as the the other teams.

Duggan’s Kitty comes across callous towards Caliban, who had just gone through a traumatic experience while he was a captive for ORCHIS. It’s understandable that she’s under a great deal of stress, but that’s just not Kitty. Then after everything she’s done, she’s ready to call it quits. It just doesn’t add up. Not only that, it negates all of the character development that Garry’s put a lot of blood, sweat and tears into making Kitty one of the best leaders in the franchise. To have her just throw it in as they get ready to save not only the mutants, but also the entire world. It’s a shame.