X-Treme X-Men: Schism

Rating:
Summary: Vintage Claremont
Review: If you've ever enjoyed any of Chris Claremont's X-men stories, then Schism will not disappoint. It deals with the X-Treme X-Men turning away from their friends to become a sort of mutant police force, to deal with crimes that involve mutants, the sort of crimes normal police forces may not be equipped to handle. The title story is set up as an intriguing mystery, but the most enjoyable part of the story is the tension between the X-men and Emma Frost, former White Queen of the Hellfire club and a current staff member of Charles Xavier's school.

Rating:
Summary: "Schism" collects issues 19-23 & X-Pose 1+2
Review: In June 2003 I returned to reading X-Men comics after a 23-year absence. I admired Mr. Claremont's work back then. However, I can't admire an aspect of his current work. So far as I can tell from the back issues I have of offshoot X-Men teams, "X-Treme X-Men" is the first that tries to make the main team seem morally lacking and the offshoot team the morally correct one.

The first issue gives us a party that includes some of the main X-Men and a funny joke about Storm and Khan from "Invasion". It has a few nods to then-future Morrison New X-Men plots ("Riot at Xavier's" and "Planet X"). However, it also contains a scene where Sage suggests (to Bishop) that Xavier, Jean, and Emma Frost working together could become too dangerous. Sage repeats her reservations later in the book. While the last issue of "Planet X" hasn't come out as I write this, the first four issues & "Riot at Xavier's" show Prof. X paying for his reluctance to rape minds for information. (Yes, Emma's attempted telepathic seduction of Cyclops was unethical, but Jean punishes her in "Assault on Weapon X Plus".) As far as I'm concerned, Sage should be renamed "Fool" because she apparently hasn't tried to find out HOW Cassandra Nova was able to fool those powerful telepaths in NXM "E is for Extinction" and "Imperial". Nor do we see her sit down with Xavier to discuss her concerns.

The two issues of "X-Pose" sandwiched between the pages reprinting issues 19 & 20 are about a planned TV documentary on the X-Men. Mr. Claremont stacks the book in his team's favor by having them meet the two ethical and polite reporters while other X-Men have to deal with the arrogant and rude ones. Warren (Angel/Archangel) appesrs in X-Pose #2. Mr. Claremont has Warren use a less ethical solution to the documentary problem than he could have, which makes the X-Corp look bad. What he has Warren tell Storm about the X-Men is not supported by "New X-Men" (NXM) or "Uncanny X-Men" (UXM). It's not even supported by THIS book's end. It bothers me that Storm doesn't wonder why Warren is being so cold and arrogant to her. It bothers me that she doesn't point out to Warren that he doesn't have the authority to make the ultimatum he gives her. Further, the X-Men are supposed to be family. Storm could have called "Daddy" Xavier to tell him what "brother" Warren did and said and then handed the phone over to Warren. Xavier's behavior when Storm finally calls him (about Emma) does not suggest that he would have blown her off. Xavier's greeting, when they meet again in the flesh, should leave no reader in doubt of his affection for his "daughter". Storm tells her team that Warren's right, the stakes are too high -- so why didn't she call?

"X-Pose" brings up the problem of young mutants who have never met Professor Xavier, let alone been trained by him, and who are perfectly happy to abuse regular humans with their powers. We also meet a theme that will become important in "Schism": mutants can get away with crimes because regular humans can't stop them. According to "Schism", only Storm's splinter group cares about this problem. The main X-Men are too concerned with mutant rights. You need only read Morrison's NXM "Riot at Xavier's" and "Assault on Weapon X Plus" books to know that's ridiculous. Reading NXM "New Worlds" shows that the other X-Men care about helping humans. In Austen's UXM book, "Hope", Xavier hires a regular human as school nurse.

Our problem for "Schism" is a young mutant named Jeffrey who may or may not be a murderer. Mr. Bogan, a very evil man, was apparently controlling Jeffrey before and may or may not have been able to control him while he was at Xavier's. The climactic battle in the Danger Room may or may not have actually happened. Xavier takes Storm's, Bishop's, and Sage's report seriously anyway.

Given what Sage told Storm about Bogan, Ororo acts like an idiot at the end. If you read this book, you might ask yourself why Mr. Claremont didn't have: Prof. X suggest that Jeffrey be tried within Xavier's for his own and the court's safety, OR Storm bother to consider that Jeffrey's horrific personal tragedy probably left him unable to recognize innocents from foes during the fatal incident, OR Storm think that Jeffrey could atone by learning to use his power for rescue operations, OR Prof. X answer Storm more effectively.

On the lighter side, in the reprint of XTX #23, Ororo makes a remark that should amuse readers of NXM "New Worlds" [see the reprint of #132] and there's a mutant female lawyer who had better not have her power triggered by her own blood.

I'd have given the book a higher rating if it didn't denigrate the main X-Men, particularly Warren, X, Jean, and Emma. I think Mr. Claremont should have just had Storm's group remain separate because they're worried that the school and regional X-Corporations are too openly targets.

Rating:
Summary: "Schism" collects issues 19-23 & X-Pose 1+2
Review: In June 2003 I returned to reading X-Men comics after a 23-year absence. I admired Mr. Claremont's work back then. However, I can't admire an aspect of his current work. So far as I can tell from the back issues I have of offshoot X-Men teams, "X-Treme X-Men" is the first that tries to make the main team seem morally lacking and the offshoot team the morally correct one.

The first issue gives us a party that includes some of the main X-Men and a funny joke about Storm and Khan from "Invasion". It has a few nods to then-future Morrison New X-Men plots ("Riot at Xavier's" and "Planet X"). However, it also contains a scene where Sage suggests (to Bishop) that Xavier, Jean, and Emma Frost working together could become too dangerous. Sage repeats her reservations later in the book. While the last issue of "Planet X" hasn't come out as I write this, the first four issues & "Riot at Xavier's" show Prof. X paying for his reluctance to rape minds for information. (Yes, Emma's attempted telepathic seduction of Cyclops was unethical, but Jean punishes her in "Assault on Weapon X Plus".) As far as I'm concerned, Sage should be renamed "Fool" because she apparently hasn't tried to find out HOW Cassandra Nova was able to fool those powerful telepaths in NXM "E is for Extinction" and "Imperial". Nor do we see her sit down with Xavier to discuss her concerns.

The two issues of "X-Pose" sandwiched between the pages reprinting issues 19 & 20 are about a planned TV documentary on the X-Men. Mr. Claremont stacks the book in his team's favor by having them meet the two ethical and polite reporters while other X-Men have to deal with the arrogant and rude ones. Warren (Angel/Archangel) appesrs in X-Pose #2. Mr. Claremont has Warren use a less ethical solution to the documentary problem than he could have, which makes the X-Corp look bad. What he has Warren tell Storm about the X-Men is not supported by "New X-Men" (NXM) or "Uncanny X-Men" (UXM). It's not even supported by THIS book's end. It bothers me that Storm doesn't wonder why Warren is being so cold and arrogant to her. It bothers me that she doesn't point out to Warren that he doesn't have the authority to make the ultimatum he gives her. Further, the X-Men are supposed to be family. Storm could have called "Daddy" Xavier to tell him what "brother" Warren did and said and then handed the phone over to Warren. Xavier's behavior when Storm finally calls him (about Emma) does not suggest that he would have blown her off. Xavier's greeting, when they meet again in the flesh, should leave no reader in doubt of his affection for his "daughter". Storm tells her team that Warren's right, the stakes are too high -- so why didn't she call?

"X-Pose" brings up the problem of young mutants who have never met Professor Xavier, let alone been trained by him, and who are perfectly happy to abuse regular humans with their powers. We also meet a theme that will become important in "Schism": mutants can get away with crimes because regular humans can't stop them. According to "Schism", only Storm's splinter group cares about this problem. The main X-Men are too concerned with mutant rights. You need only read Morrison's NXM "Riot at Xavier's" and "Assault on Weapon X Plus" books to know that's ridiculous. Reading NXM "New Worlds" shows that the other X-Men care about helping humans. In Austen's UXM book, "Hope", Xavier hires a regular human as school nurse.

Our problem for "Schism" is a young mutant named Jeffrey who may or may not be a murderer. Mr. Bogan, a very evil man, was apparently controlling Jeffrey before and may or may not have been able to control him while he was at Xavier's. The climactic battle in the Danger Room may or may not have actually happened. Xavier takes Storm's, Bishop's, and Sage's report seriously anyway.

Given what Sage told Storm about Bogan, Ororo acts like an idiot at the end. If you read this book, you might ask yourself why Mr. Claremont didn't have: Prof. X suggest that Jeffrey be tried within Xavier's for his own and the court's safety, OR Storm bother to consider that Jeffrey's horrific personal tragedy probably left him unable to recognize innocents from foes during the fatal incident, OR Storm think that Jeffrey could atone by learning to use his power for rescue operations, OR Prof. X answer Storm more effectively.

On the lighter side, in the reprint of XTX #23, Ororo makes a remark that should amuse readers of NXM "New Worlds" [see the reprint of #132] and there's a mutant female lawyer who had better not have her power triggered by her own blood.

I'd have given the book a higher rating if it didn't denigrate the main X-Men, particularly Warren, X, Jean, and Emma. I think Mr. Claremont should have just had Storm's group remain separate because they're worried that the school and regional X-Corporations are too openly targets.

Rating:
Summary: Great story, gorgeous art
Review: Schism is definitely one of the best X-Men TPB's and story arc's around. Great continuation from the Invasion storyline. With fast-paced action and intricate mystery, Chris Claremont shines in this beautiful collection, binding together X-Treme X-Men #19-23 and X-Treme X-Pose #1-2. Salvador Larroca's art is second to few. The pencils breathtaking, the color vibrant, this TPB is as pleasing to read as it is to look at. From the interesting detective work of Bishop and Sage, to the exciting fight between Emma Frost and X-Treme X-Men leader Storm, the characters are easy to relate to and definitely draw you into their world. Guest-starring many New and Uncanny X-Men: Phoenix, Nightcrawler, Beast, Archangel, and more. Even fill-in stories, X-Treme X-Pose are well-written from a whole different perspective. Ranson's work on this is spectactular and the quality of the inks and colors are pleasing to the eye. This TPB is definitely something you should pick up if you're a fan of X-Men, or just a fan of great comics in general. If Claremont's writing doesn't do it for you, Larroca's stunning art definitely will. Pick this up ASAP and you won't be sorry!

Rating:
Summary: Great story, gorgeous art
Review: Schism is definitely one of the best X-Men TPB's and story arc's around. Great continuation from the Invasion storyline. With fast-paced action and intricate mystery, Chris Claremont shines in this beautiful collection, binding together X-Treme X-Men #19-23 and X-Treme X-Pose #1-2. Salvador Larroca's art is second to few. The pencils breathtaking, the color vibrant, this TPB is as pleasing to read as it is to look at. From the interesting detective work of Bishop and Sage, to the exciting fight between Emma Frost and X-Treme X-Men leader Storm, the characters are easy to relate to and definitely draw you into their world. Guest-starring many New and Uncanny X-Men: Phoenix, Nightcrawler, Beast, Archangel, and more. Even fill-in stories, X-Treme X-Pose are well-written from a whole different perspective. Ranson's work on this is spectactular and the quality of the inks and colors are pleasing to the eye. This TPB is definitely something you should pick up if you're a fan of X-Men, or just a fan of great comics in general. If Claremont's writing doesn't do it for you, Larroca's stunning art definitely will. Pick this up ASAP and you won't be sorry!