Writer Brian Michael Bendis
Pebciler Stuart Immonen
Inker Wade Von Grawbadger
Colorist Marte Gracia
Letterer VC’s Cory Petit
Battle of the Atom Part Six of Ten
I had to add Immonen’s variant cover with Magik and Hank to my wishlist.
The art team, once again, knocks the layouts out of the park!
The issue opens with a committee trying to convince Dazzler to run for President of the United States.
Which, of course, I take issue with as we all know that Kitty is the first mutant president from Claremont’s The End epic.
They hint that she was an Agent of SHIELD and an Agent of . . ., I wonder what other agencies there are in the future? Probably SWORD.
So much detail in that first double page. We see Future Rogue for the first time. I notice Future Beast has a tail, for the first time. Apparently Jean was already wearing the Lady Xorn outfit. They also already made posters too.
We get treated to a wide panel with a giant cast of characters:
Maria Hill (with eye patch – which I hate, we get it, we get it, all directors need an eye patch, except, they don’t), Captain America, Vision, Storm, Colossus, Kate Pryde (also already in that tacky jumpsuit), Xavier’s grandson, Iceman, Jean, Beast, President Dazzler, Guy wearing jacket with no shirt (bold!), Molly Hayes, Quitin Quire, Some other guy, Cloak and Dagger’s son, Tempus, Not-Iron Man, Jubilee, Kid Gladiator (Man Gladiator?)
From the cover, I see that the son who I want to be Cloak and Dagger’s is wearing Dr. Strange’s Eye of Agamotto, so that explains the red cape too. Shame as I like the idea of Cloak and Dagger being together in the end. Though they have never been a romantic couple.
Dazzler is straight up killed, and she was only the President-Elect! Which means her Vice President-Elect is now the President. Who, I suspect, is responsible – always suspect the VP in fictional worlds.
Though if it was Mystique as Dazzler, who is killed, and they find real Dazzler, would she still be president? Publicly, it will be super easy. Just tell people it was a security issue, and Mystique wad posing as her for the public speech in case something like this happened. Which it did, so good thing! I suspect that isn’t what happens next. I also suspect her running mate was not a mutant, but another old white guy in a suit. I also suspect this is the last we get of the political world of this future, which is a shame.
I like that Madrox was on security, that makes sense. Also, it makes sense that he will completely screw it up. Whoever placed him on that duty, also a suspect! Looks like he was poisoned and not killed by an army of dragons.
That dragon double page spread is beautiful, don’t just “get” that there is a bunch of dragons and turn the page. Look at that page for at least half a minute.
I didn’t see a cute purple space dragon, so I don’t suspect The Flock is behind this?
I read someone online thought it could be Animax, the dame from part one of this story, that would be very clever as we are starting the second half of the story.
Now, we see Magik, Hank and Bobby even more in the future, the Future X-Men’s present.
That splash page of Future Colossus hugging Illyana? My favorite page of the issue. Look how happy they are! Also, don’t forget Present Colossus hates her so much.
Future Colossus also has her soulsword, which he had during the night music died. Did Illyana die not too long ago? Or did she get a happy ending, and not want or need her sword anymore?
Jubilee is going by Wolverine now, I hate that, so stupid. She also has a cut and can’t open her left eye much. But it means Logan is dead, which I like that idea.
Can’t tell if Stange’s child is a son or girl now.
These Proper Future X-Men want their three guest to go back so quickly. The other Future X-Men? Rogue X-Men, they don’t have the right to the name.
Future Iceman is Sir Robert, I like that. He makes a comment about no wonder he couldn’t keep a girlfriend. So I imagine that this is not the future Carmen Drake is from either.
Ice Hulk is an extension of Sir Robert, so is he a double agent? We saw Iceman split himself a bunch in the opening arc of Wolverine and the X-Men, as well as the last good arc of Astonishing X-Men.
Who is in the Not-Iron Man suit? Looks more like Sentinel Man, to me.
When Hank repeats “we are not leaving until you help us” I wish Petit had bold the second time or did something with it, but I added my own tone to it. Changing it from we’re to we are does it too.
Back to present day, Cyclops’ team is back at their base. Angel is not with them, so all three of the original X-Men are with Wolverine’s team.
I like Triage and either Ben or Hijack’s conversation. Must be crazy to be on the sidelines to all if this, and not having the “grown ups” responding to the craziness like it is just another thing to deal with.
Magik has brought the proper Future X-Men to Cyclops.
If it wasn’t for Hank and Bobby at the last quarter of the issue, is would almost not count as an All New X-Men issue (besides the title of the comic, of course).
So Wolverine’s side wanted Hank and Bobby to stay at the school, so when the field team came back, all Original Five will be together again. They are in for a treat once they see they are not there.
The proper Future X-Men have to agree the Original Five have to go back to have the adventures that we know they have. Or at least send back clones to the original timeline to secure those events.
Shadow and Flame with Magik 