Monday 25 July 2011

UXM #52: "Twilight Of The Mutants!"


("It's two doors down from the boulingerie")

Comments

It's Erik the Red!  The Marvel universe's go-to disguise for undercover mutants.

This is his first appearance, though.  It's strange to think how at this point no-one has any idea that he's merely an alias.  And if they did, the issue puts at least a little effort into implying that he might be Iceman, since he's the only X-Man not involved in "Operation: Twilight."

That's a smart move, actually.  So too is the fact that the story doesn't drag out the reveal of who Erik is.  What most impressed me, though, was Erik's opening line upon breaching Magneto's base: "Perhaps.. you have never read that most practical recipe for roast chicken which begins... First, catch a chicken!"  Erik is specifically referring himself to a chicken, one issue after Bobby called Scott exactly that.  It's a brilliant nod to what's coming, even though that little clue is kind of muddled by Erik's ability to fire bolts of yellow energy from his fingertips (it's never explained how Cyclops was able to do that).

Of course, all of the team's precisely timed strategy comes undone when Iceman rushes in at the last minute.  It makes one wonder why Cyclops pulled him off "the case" for being emotionally attached to Polaris, when it would clearly have made more sense to bench him for being a total bleeding idiot.

He does come good in the end, though, persuading Polaris she's not Magneto's daughter.  Man, remember back when that was true?  Good times...

Clues

This issue takes place over a single day.

Date

Friday 16th May, 1980.

X-Date

X+777.

Compression Constant

1 Marvel year = 2.51 standard years.

(Iceman is 35 years old.)

"I kid you not!"

Contemporary Events

Paul McCartney releases McCartney II to a baffled public.

Standout Line

"Now how about some more muscular therapy... at the Friskoteque?!"  I have no idea where Polaris thinks the friskoteque is, or how it's liable to aid Bobby in his recovery, but all I can say to him is: Godspeed.

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