As everyone probably knows by now, Astonishing X-Men #50 is the penultimate issue before mutant Northstar and his manager boyfriend Kyle tie the knot. Since I've never read an issue of Astonishing X-Men, I figured it was best to pick up the title and get a head start on the whole marriage thing. Overall, it's a strong issue (due in large part to Marjorie Liu's excellent scripting) with few plot points to bog down new readers. Without further adieu here are my five favorite things:
[SPOILERS AHEAD. You have been warned.]
#5 Gambit Gives Good Relationship Advice
Next up, "How to Get Them Girls, Mon Ami: A Guide to Winning Over Anyone by Remy "Gambit" LeBeau." Who knew he was the wise one of the bunch?
#4 The Villain Is So Scary It Makes Mutants Cry
Some type of mind-controlling evil-doer has forced the Marauders into Hunger Games-style duels to the death. Blockbuster narrowly escapes, but the horrors he has witnessed is too much to bear.
#3 Warbird
A cross between New Gods' Big Barda and Thor, Warbird is a Shi'ar warrior whose back story I'm unfamiliar with, but love her fish-out-of-water characterization. If Liu wrote a series about Warbird's cross-country trip with another team member, I would totally buy it and hand out copies to my friends.
#2 The Freaky Iceman Arachno-Monster
Iceman, probably possessed by the as-yet-unseen villain, attacks Northstar after Northstar is lured into the villain's base of operations. It's a jumbo-sized terror.
#1 Kyle Says No
There's a reason Kyle runs Northstar's media empire. As much as he loves Northstar, Kyle knows he shouldn't jump into marriage with him. But if I do have one complaint about the issue, it's that #51 will probably conclude this storyline with a "Northstar, I do love you so much and was terrified that you were going to be eaten by the Iceman monster. Let's get married because I don't want to lose you and have to go through this again." Or something to that effect. Why does everyone always have to be put through this trial before realizing they should have just said yes in the first place?
Did you read Astonishing X-Men #50? Leave your favorite things in the comment section!
