Writer Kieron Gillen

Penciler Terry Dodson

Inker Rachel Dodson

Colorist Justin Ponsor

Letterer VC’s Joe Caramagna

Cover Dated June 2011

Breaking Point, Part Two of Four

This is the final back issue I was able to buy from Kelly’s Komix in Great Falls, Montana, I had a twenty dollar budget, as I couldn’t tell if my wife was going to give me more of budget.  Our son, Walker Dennis, was pretty much running around the store, he was only sixteen months at the time and always looking for a chance to run about any location.  So I had a pretty tight timeframe of searching for comics.  With this issue, I now own all four chapters of this storyline.

That’s a pretty great cast of characters above – plus there are only seven so that rule of thumb is still respected.  Kitty Pryde, Cyclops, Emma Frost, Wolverine,  Namor, Magneto and even, Colossus.  That’s pretty A-List there.

This is only part two, so the previous issue mainly dealt with setting up the overall plot.  There was a warship from Breakworld, coming to Earth – Agent Brand of SWORD (whatever happened to her, she was all over the place, for quite some time) called the X-Men to intercept the ship.  That issue ended with Kruun, the former warlord of Breakword – and who Colossus in an awesome scene, ripped off his arm, has come to Earth, asking for Asylum for the rest of the refugees of the planet.

There is an ad for Thor, coming to theaters on June 6, 2011.  Can’t believe it has been four years since that film came out.

I want to say that this was an odd time for me, like I barely remember reading the issues and I was in a weird headspace, like I was reading but not super enjoying it and the issues were not leaving much of an impression on me.

Decomissioned Breakword Flagship Resplendent Celestial Slaughter.  Docked.  The Peak.  Orbital Headquarters of SWORD.  Peak Meeting Room XIV.  Topic : Breakworld Refugees.  In the meeting room is – Agent Brand / Sydren / Cyclops / Emma Frost / Kruun / Haleena.  Kruun doesn’t know how to go about being a diplomat.  It is a new language to them.  They came in a warship, as they don’t have anything else, and they didn’t signal their arrival, as they didn’t know that was necessary.  Haleena isn’t any more skilled.  Kruun suspects that Brand wants them to beg, but he refuses.

Haleena had a vision that Earth would take them in, and apparently, she and Kruun are a couple.  Cyclops asks the question, what happened to Breakworld.  Kruun explains that there is constant fighting and the planet is no longer what it use to be.  Brand makes some flippant comments and Kruun doesn’t care for her tone, he wants, no – he demands – refuge.

Cyclops asks the other important question, why is he there?  The United Nations are still divided on if Utopia is a proper nation, or not, which is silly.  Brand has some leeway, so if Cyclops wants the refugees, he can have them.  If the Breakworlders revolt, she will just wipe the entire island out.  There is a great moment when Emma mocks Sydren, which is great.  That poor guy can’t catch a break.  In one panel, Cyclops decides to test out the peace idea.

Utopia.  Island Home of the X-Men.  Emma mocks Scott, she wonders if he fed the stray cats of Anchorage, Alaska.  Magneto, also isn’t thrilled, Utopia is for mutants, by mutants.

There is an house ad for Fear Itself, Book Two – Blitzkrieg USA, it came out in May 2011.  All I really remember of the main event, is that Winter Soldier was killed in one of the first issues and then, was back alive by the end of it.

Scott feels responsible, as they are refugees because of the X-Men.  Well, like Emma states, they did fire a moon-sized bullet at Earth.  Good thing Shadowcat was there to save all of us!  Not only that, but they brought the X-Men to them.  Scott isn’t sure what they even eat.  Probably rocks, as they are hardcore!

Kitty isn’t thrilled to have this many Breakworlders around her.  Kitty decides the best way to start building a community, is to be interested and listening.  Oh, Shadowcat, you truly are the heir to Xavier’s dream!

They listen to several stories.

The last one calls Colossus, Powerlord.  The person is willing to rip off his own arm, if that is what the Russian wants.

Kruun shows up, he calls Kitty “Colossus’ mate” which is going too far!  Kruun suspects the true power couple have plans to parade his people around the island and laughing at them.  Kitty has no plans to laugh at anyone, she only wants to help.  Kruun tells her that helping is the same as laughing.

Haleena reveals the rest of her vision, that they were taken in but they have no future on the planet.  Which is, essentially, true – as I don’t believe they have been seen since.

Kitty tries to explain how there is always hope.  Colossus is fine with the refugees being on Utopia, he hates Kruun, and how he benefited from all of the death and breaking of wills.

Kruun explains how they brought Colossus back from the dead.  Which is a story that Whedon didn’t even really hint at.  Kruun keeps making a point that “they didn’t have hospitals” which seems to be the line from the Whedon run, that really stuck with Gillen.

See that only left panel on the image above?  Try reading that again?  Is it me, or is that some not great explaining of a concept?  To bring back Colossus, five slaves had to give their lives.  Or rather, their life energy, so you could survive the process but these five didn’t, as they didn’t want to live with the shame.  Being part of the process, at all, is to be one of the lowest of the low.

A would be hero decides to do a sneak attack – assassin style – but Kruun prevents the attack.

There is an ad for four collectible Slurpee cups featuring Thor characters.  Two are decent – Thor & Loki – and I imagine those who got the Destroyer & Lorelei cups.  Did Natalie Portman decline on the invitation?  These were only available at a 7 Eleven, which I don’t believe I’ve ever lived in a city that had one of those.  Sort of like how Circle K isn’t in Montana, at all.

Kruun is mostly upset with the younger guy, because of the sneak attack from behind.  Heleena, and apparently this is her first appearance – which is pretty cool – is proud of Kruun for saying “I’m sorry” to Colossus for the attempted assassination.

Kitty and Colossus walk away, as they can only listen to so much nonsense.

Kruun does recognize that Colossus was the death nail in Breakworld but it was his own actions that brought them to Earth.

There is a house ad for X-Men Legacy 250 – featuring the cast of Magneto, Rogue, Gambit, Frenzy, Xavier and David Haller.

Heleena, and those like her, are called – Augurs.  Heleena and Kruun would never have met before, as he would never have looked at a lowly augur before.

Magneto approaches the couple, he wants to know how the metal of Breakworld works.  Afterall, it was Magneto who brought Kitty back to Earth, and he has been (apparently) trying to figure out the metal.

The X-Labs, Utopia.  Madison Jeffries hints that Doctor Nemesis wouldn’t like a stranger being in his lab.  He calls Magneto “Mags” which Magneto doesn’t miss a second to inform him that Magneto is not amused with that nickname.

Magneto asks if technology or magic is the trick to working with the metal.  Kruun reveals that “magic” isn’t a word they know – which is odd as I thought they had placed magical protection against the bullet, so they must know about it.  Instead, they just call working with the metal as “weapons” such as, making weapons, I imagine.

There is a house ad for Uncanny X-Force 11, the team going up against Age of Apocalypse characters!  They keep referecing “MMXI” the year of the X-Men – which I feel like it really wasn’t.

With the little amount of the metal, Kruun makes a weapon that hones reflexes – mostly, used by children.  With more metal, he could make more impressive items.  Magneto states that there is so much debris all over the state, he just needs thirty minutes.  Since he open the bullet on Utopia, wouldn’t most of the metal be on the island?  Or just he just fling the bullet away once Kitty was out?

Magneto leaves and Kruun quickly takes out Madison Jeffries, from behind!  Kruun throws up a bag and inside are five vials.  Magneto came back in twenty eight minutes.  While fighting Magneto, we learn that the vials have the mutant cure in them.

On Breakworld, they have an expression “revenge is a dish best served, swift” as he ties Magneto up, next to Madison Jeffries.  The issue ends with Kruun brandishing a decent sized dagger.

Pretty good issue!