Writer Brian Michael Bendis

Penciler Chris Bachalo

Inkers Tim Townsend, Mark Irwin, Jaime Mendoza, Victor Olazaba and Al Vey

Colorist Marte Gracia

Letterer VC’s Joe Caramagna

Battle of the Atom Part Four of Ten

Okay, I know I just wrote this about the last part, but this is my new favorite issue of the year.

Amazing writing, fantastic art, maybe not a whole lot of action, but plenty of characterization.

Definitely helps that Bachalo is back on art and Kitty has a great moment here.

Issue opens with Maria Hill stating that she hates Beast, as he is always ruining everything.

Mystique still as Dazzler, this time, no hint that is the case.  Hopefully somewhere in Bendis’ notes is “reveal Mystique as Dazzler before leaving, don’t be like Claremont with his dangling plot threads”

I like that the SHIELD database for Beast is not current.

Hopefully the X-Men don’t blow up the moon.  We need that thing.  If it does happen, someone needs to make a Mr. Show reference, besides me.

So SHIELD is the international spy organization, SWORD is the space organization, ARMOR is the inter-dimensional organization, what is the time organization?  I can’t think of one, shoot, it is harder than you think to come up with acronyms.

Odd how much the Cuckoos are coming at Jean, as they seemed okay during the issues where Angel switched sides.

Wished we got more of a reunion scene of the Original Three, just goes to show that Angel was really the odd man out.

Great use of the hive mind, and it sets up an awesome reveal down the line.  As this is Jean’s memory, they don’t know who Lady Xorn is, and it pays off spectacularly.

Emma’s reaction to both future Deadpool and Lady Xorn is pretty terrific.

Scott remembers Molly when Logan didn’t, point for Cyclops.

Has anyone called Future Bobby Ice Hulk yet?  Or did Cyclops just name him that?  I want to type that Bobby probably did already.  I guess it is the obvious name for him.

Magik references she had met the Future X-Men, but we haven’t seen that yet.  I know one of the upcoming issues tells that story, I’m excited about that.

The Cuckoos are little scene stealers this issue.

You don’t ever enter Illyana’s mind, ever.  I don’t like her being written that scary, as she has a light side, but no one on this team is a friend of her’s, so she is in a constant state of having her guard up and living her image.  Hopefully she can start having fun again, soon.  Just feel bad for her.

I really like that Angel keeps harping on the fact that he’s been wanting them to go back to their time.  And he knows what is in store for him ish.  He knows something bad.

I also like that Tempus asks if any of the new class was part of the Future X-Men.

Jean and young Scott ask for help and we cut to the other side.

 Is there a story reason for Kitty and Rachel to be on their knees?  I know the art reason, is to stage more characters into the panel.

Kitty standing up for her students is awesome, and that speech is even better!

Storm really comes off poor here.  Especially bringing up Professor Xavier’s death.  No one was talking about it, or hinting at it, but she uses it gas the excuse to belittle Kitty’s stance.  So odd, I know Storm is thinking about Xavier, as his would-be grandson is standing there, and her brain is trying to figure out who the mother could be.

Kate and Rachel actually spoke to each other!  Kate seems to feel like she can speak freely to Rachel.

Yenta means gossipy or meddlesome, had to look it up.  That is one of the cool things of Bendis writing Kitty, he can have her bust out some Jewish in her.  That little moment, you can tell that Kitty needs a friend who is also Jewush, so she can speak with more Yiddish expressions.

Though I really don’t like Kitty saying she is not a big fan of herself, that makes me feel sad for her.  She should, as we all should, be our biggest fans.  If we don’t celebrate us, no one will.

Maybe she made that up to garner some sympathy votes.

Logan holds his line of how he also wanted to send the Original Five back as soon as they got here.

Why Beast didn’t just put an automatic retrieval system on them, I will never understand.

Bachalo really knows his craft.  I want to say that he usually makes the exact middle of the comic have a great layout.  Ten panel grid with Xavier linking the two.  Maybe he rarely does it, but I feel like it happens as much as it doesn’t.  I like how Ice Hulk is looking around, haming it up in the middle two panels.

Kitty threatens that she is willing to make a choice, that no one will like.  Then Storm belittles Kitty some more, in the very next panel!

Kitty should have shoryuken Storm right there.   Kitty is going to straight up switch sides, I bet.  Hopefully she takes Rachel with her.  This also adds to my theory that Marvel is trying to turn Storm heel, they are just doing it slowly.

Feel a little bad about Benjamin still being useless over with the Uncanny team.  Is he going to be the next Mystique, or is he going to be next to die, as he is the most undevelop member of the team.

I like the implied friendship Warren and Triage have.

Hijack looks good in his X jacket.

Cyclops has decided to help Jean and Scott.  Emma and Magneto could hate this decision so much more.  Implying that he only wants to spend time with his second wife and younger idealized version of himself.

Lady Xorn freezes everyone in place, which reminds me of the films, as that is Xavier’s go to move.

That final page is awesome beyond words!

Emma versus Older Jean

I don’t know about the message boards, but I’m loving it.