Writer Sean Ryan
Penciler John Timms
Inker Roberto Poggi
Colorist Ruth Redmond
Letterer VC’s Clayton Cowles
No End in Sight Part Three of Three
Nova finally gets involved in this three part saga. He was only on the cover of the Uncanny X-Men Special. I like how each next part is lead into by the final pages of the issue. That makes the transition smoother.
Thanks to this great website, we can follow along :
http://viewcomic.com/nova-special-001-2014/
Issue opens with this new Nova, who I only know from the Ultimate Spider-Man cartoon and I read how he was apparently a friend of Utau, the Watcher. As seen in Original Sin 0.
Nova recognizes Cyclops, and sees that Cyclops still has the helmet on, and his hands cuffed. Could he at least not be on the floor? I, also, get the impression that Cyclops can’t see anything outside of the green glass.
Monark has knocked Cyclops out. He didn’t like a clear leader of men, seeing him not knowing what to do. Never show weakness in front of the hostage! I’m sure that’s a recognized rule, somewhere.
Molark doesn’t know what to do, he just wants this mess to be over with. He wants Nova to speak on his behalf to his employer, who is old and rich.
Nova doesn’t know if he should. He’s only 15 and barely understands Geometry. Which I totally get as it was my worst Math class in High School, though Mr. Huska tried his best.
Nova will talk to the guy but only talk, there will be no use of force.
Meanwhile, Iron Man (still fighting for page time) is picked up by some actual SWORD agents. They start giving him a hard time for not recognizing the new mutant students. Iron Man has decided to quit keeping up on them and their powers a while ago. He makes the awesome observation that there appears to be a new class of students once a year – which is completely true!
Iron Man’s example of Mondo and Skin being a huge threat tells us that he last paid attention during the Generation X days.
Iron Man wants to track the other SWORD ship with their current ship to find out where the mutants are going.
On the planet Atratus lives on. He’s the boss that Monark fears. He has a special lady friend who is buttoning up her shirt. How does she keep her hair like that?
Atratus is an old man, he has clutches and can barely move around on his own. He is in that awkward phase of wanting to do everything himself. It isn’t pretty.
They stop speaking when they hear a ship land, loudly.
Magik and her students get out of the ship. They want Cyclops and Magik look fierce!
Atratus’ lady isn’t thrilled with these trespassers. It is a classic case of assumptions and misunderstandings.
A second ship lands, also loudly. Nova and Monark come out of the second one. We get a fun moment of Nova trying to pronounce Atratus. A-tray-tus? A-trat-us? Monark confirms it is, A-trat-us.
Goldballs recognizes Nova. At least, the uniform and helmet. Nova doesn’t recognize these mutants as X-Men. Which is awkward as he recognized Cyclops just based on his new uniform, so he should at least know who Magik is.
A bunch of people start talking at once. Atratus wants to speak with Monark, Monark wants to tell him the bad news. Irma wants to know if Cyclops is here, Nova confirms that he is. Atratus’ lady (who I wish had a name) wants everyone to stop speaking. I like how she starts counting to five and people are still talking over each other. It is a nice two page sequence.
Just then, and quieter, Iron Man and SWORD agents come out of a third ship. I like how the students are now in their proper uniforms and Goldballs is in his awesome superhero uniform.
Atratus’ security forces start fighting Iron Man and SWORD agents with Nova and the X-Men in the middle of the battlefield.
Atratus goes inside, Nova and Monark follow him.
Magik wants to take her X-Men and go find Cyclops.
Iron Man stops her and wants to arrest Cyclops. Which is silly as he was mind controlled by the Phoenix when he killed Xavier, since when does the hero community hold the hero responsible for his actions when that happens?
I love Magik standing up to Iron Man, he’s nothing to her. Plus, she can totally take him in a fight.
Triage starts losing his mind, which was hinted at in the Iron Man Special.
Magik tells Tempus to freeze everyone. I like how she still gets battle shock, so she needs a leader to remind her of her abilities. I’m all for Magik being Cyclops’ second in command. If not Kitty, then Magik is the next best thing!
Magik grabs Triage. Benjamin, Goldballs and Irma go to Cyclops. Benjamin unlocks the helmet, that had a simple one button control to it.
Magik and Triage have a nice moment together. Ever since he saw a picture of Magik and her New Mutants friends, he has been worried. He doesn’t want to be forgotten one day like those students. Which is a bad example as besides Magma, everyone else is pretty much accounted for.
Sean Ryan really wants us to think about how many X-Kids get replaced every year with a new batch. There are at least two years worth of students who are barely seen anymore. I’m mostly looking at you, Young X-Men.
Cyclops thanks Magik, which I’m glad we got to see him do that. They get in the SWORD ship and take off. I’m sure they ditch it as it must have tracking systems that are hard to get rid of. Plus, once they are back on Earth, Magik can teleport them anywhere.
Meanwhile, inside. Atratus is dead. Apparently he fell off a ladder. What was he doing up on a ladder with a giant battle happening outside?
Issue ends on a bit of a low note now. Monark doesn’t know what to do next. Nova is overwhelmed with how infinite the universe is. Plus, he just saw an old man die for no apparent reason. Nova is pretty shook up.
Issue ends with Iron Man telling Nova to try to enjoy the view.
I wonder if Iron Man, having the X-Men on his mind, and standing next to Nova – remembers that Broo wanted to meet Nova and he told Iron Man that during AvX.
A decent crossover, it didn’t hurt anything and it was enjoyable.
I won’t be buying Iron Man nor Nova (besides issue 18, that has Magik in it) but I don’t think that was the point of the crossover as Sean Ryan doesn’t write either title.
Shadow and Flame with Magik 