Mr & Mrs X #9: The Sum of All Fears

Art: The stunning Terry and Rachel Dodson cover showcases all of Rogue’s signature outfits and phases, without actually overemphasising any of the more iconic ones. The 90’s Jim Lee is in the background and the less popular orange outfit is more prominent. This creates a more balanced view for me and doesn’t hide any of the more…inglorious choices in favor of other versions, such as the Savage Land sensation. My only issue is the eye color. Blue for Carol, green for Rogue.
But that was a minor niggle at best. And although this issue was a full on Rogue history lesson it was Gambit’s opening segment of the story that held most interest for me. Firstly I’ve never seen his powers utilised like that with the glass, which was an imaginative one and the actualisation was ingenious and unique. Oscar Bazaldua’s visualisation of his acrobatics were also a treat. And I loved the way he just effortlessly displayed his craft, breaking in to get the prize that he was sent for by Spiral. Plus the resulting shock at the revelation of what it was. This also seemed to be news to Spiral herself and I for one was expecting Ginny, that this would be the hold Mojo had over her. I was a little disappointed to see it wasn’t, but that soon went away as I realised even Spiral was unsure of what Gambit was talking about. More intrigue.
We did also get a throwback to the machines Mojo has used in the past, as we see Rogue held captive on his slave device. Meanwhile the visual of Rogue in her earliest form was also interesting. Even showing her as a villain Oscar managed to keep his own style. And the depiction kind of reminded me of the statement made by Jeremiah in Unbreakable about hero/villain comparisons. Remember when she first appeared she was drawn looking like an old crone, then it was decided to make her a teenager and so the look changed. But here she still looks more appealing, even when depicted as being less than heroic.
Writing: But most intriguing of all in regards to Rogue was the way Kelly kept things fluid and current while connecting with the various touchstones of the past. From the birth of her burgeoning powers and Cody, the fateful day that irrevocably changed the lives of both her and Carol, the traumatic events of Uncanny X-Men #236 in Genosha, the beginnings of the romance with Remy, right up to her time as an Avenger and absorbing Wonder Man. All of it pivotal in causing and increasing her fear which is what handicaps her control.
Story/Characters: And while she goes on her own journey of self discovery Gambit is not without his own dilemma in the unfolding plot. Finding the Mojoverse slaves and realising there are bigger consequences to things than just him and his personal issues is going some way to exploring his own personal growth as a character. Something that rarely ever gets touched upon, even within his own solo series, and is something that has hampered his characters development before now.
Similarly Rogue’s new development has set the stage for something great in the future for her and there is finally no one better or more fitting to be by her side than Gambit while all this is going on. Up to now there has been some small sense of doubt and lack of confidence from both. To a lesser degree than in the past, but still there under the surface nonetheless. Here I sense finally they both have come to a conclusion and are on the same page. And it looks great from here. This is no more obvious than in this clever little bit of full circle scripting that went on. With the opening scene with Gambit linking to the final act and Rogue’s statement to him, it seems we have a new status reset for them both fully in synch.
This whole series has been instrumental in placing both characters under the microscope and analysing their personalities. Overall the whole team of Kelly, Oscar, letterer Joe Sabino and colorist Frank D’Armata have rewritten the fate of these two from the ground up. Whatever comes of the finale of this arc I am all for it. And I hope it brings them back to Earth fully recovered and capable of taking part in the bigger scheme of the X-Men at last.