X-men Supreme Issue 141: Outer Limits Part 5 is LIVE!

Mark your calendars folks because today is one of those days that’ll go down as a critical moment in the history of X-men Supreme. This fanfiction series has grown and evolved so much over the years, but there are still a handful of defining moments that have helped shape it. Moments like the uprising on Genosha, the election of Senator Robert Kelly, the devastation wrought by the Legacy Virus, the X-men’s first encounter with the Shi’ar, and the departure of Charles Xavier are among those moments. Now, with the final issue of the Outer Limits arc, X-men Supreme is poised to forge another one of those moments.

This isn’t a case where the end of an arc either maintains the status quo or just keeps things from getting too chaotic. There’s a place for stories like that. The X-men saving Dazzler or catching up with old allies like Thunderbird are important towards crafting the overall narrative surrounding this fanfiction series. However, there are times when that narrative needs to be disrupted. It doesn’t always have to be harsh. It’s not like the recent disruptions in the X-men comics, which have led to the deaths of Wolverine, Professor Xavier, Jean Grey, and Cyclops. This disruption is going to impact X-men Supreme in another way.

They’ve been fighting another cosmic battle against an enemy that threatens so much more than human/mutant peace. The Shi’ar Empire, under the tyrannical rule of D’Ken, is prepared to unleash the full power of the M’Krann Crystal on every mind in the universe. This is a war that has been going on for far longer than the X-men have existed. Parts of this war, however, are already tied to them. The M’Krann Crystal was the catalyst that made Jean Grey the host to the Phoenix Force. It also drew the Shi’ar back to Earth, something that they’ve avoided for reasons that aren’t entirely clear yet. Now, with the revelation that Lilandra Neramani is the rightful heir to the Shi’ar throne, the X-men must end this war once and for all.

However, as has been the case in other moments in X-men Supreme, victory will come at a price. The X-men already paid a high price for their victory over the Mutant Liberation Front, which resulted in Polaris losing her life. They’ve endured other losses as well, including their former teammate, Thunderbird. What kind of price will they pay this time? What kind of impact will Outer Limits have on the X-men as a whole? What will this mean for the future of X-men Supreme?

These are all questions that the final issue of Outer Limits is prepared to answer, at least in part. I know I say this a lot, but make no mistake. The impact of this arc will have major ramifications for X-men Supreme moving forward. There have already been developments in this arc that will affect the X-men moving forward. Some will be beneficial. Others will be a bit harder to judge. In any case, the course of X-men Supreme is about to take a major turn. This final issue will be the catalyst. The issues that follow will set a new course for this fanfiction series. So if you only read one issue of X-men Supreme this year, make it this one.

X-men Supreme Issue 141: Outer Limits Part 5

It’s not easy crafting moments like this in X-men Supreme. They take a long time to unfold. It often requires me to set up long-ranged stories that span multiple volumes. Remember, I set up the big revelation that Mystique was Rose back in the Overlord arc in X-men Supreme Volume 2: War Powers. There are other moments I have in the works that have roots in previous volumes. I want these moments to have the kind of impact that X-men fans will appreciate. It’s part of what makes this fanfiction series so vast. As such, I want to make sure these moments are as awesome as possible. To do this, I need help from X-men fans of all kinds. Please send me feedback on the moment that unfolds here in Outer Limits and in other arcs throughout X-men Supreme. Either post it in the issue or contact me directly. Either way is fine and I’m always happy to chat. Until next time, take care and best wishes. Excelsior!

Jack

Twists, Turns, and Burns: Superwoman #2

The following is my review of Superwoman #2, which was posted on PopMatters.com.

We don't like to think about what happens to our beloved toys when they become outdated or obsolete. Most of the time, we're content to forget about them and enjoy our new toys. This happens a lot with characters as well, most of which are clones, time travelers, or visitors from an alternate universe. We expect their presence to become obsolete or unnecessary in most cases. Our expectations with post-Flashpoint Lois Lane are a bit harder to discern.

As with Superman, DC: Rebirth went to great lengths to put a lot of genies back in multiple bottles with Lois Lane. In addition to having another Superman replace the one that died, we also get another version of Lois Lane. She's the classic wife and baby mama of Superman and her story is now part of the overall Superman narrative. This leaves post-Flashpoint Lois Lane in a state of limbo, one she seems to fill by becoming Superwoman.

Unfortunately, her run as a superhero lasts for one issue. It ends quite abruptly. There are chess matches between the Flash and Batman that last longer. Superwoman #1 ends in a way that makes the premise of the series feel like the fine print of a bad user agreement. It gives the impression that post-Flashpoint Lois Lane is obsolete and DC Comics just threw her away the first chance they got. Superwoman #2 attempts create a story around this act, but it's a story built on a shaky, overtly fraudulent foundation.

Post-Flashpoint Lois is basically turned into a catalyst for Lana Lang to become Superwoman. It's not a classic act of "fridging" a female character. Lois Lane isn't murdered or butchered as a means to push Lana's story. She's just cut out of the dynamic, ensuring there's only one Superwoman. The fact that the Superwoman who doesn't have a counterpart from an alternate universe survives is quite telling.

By taking Lois Lane out of the narrative, the tone of Superwoman #2 takes a dramatic shift. It's either callous in that Lois' death quickly becomes a side-note or just flat in that Lana's story fails to be that compelling. To his credit, Phil Jimenez makes a concerted effort to develop that story. It certainly helps that Matt Santorelli's art creates the right tone and ambience. It just never comes off as anything more than a consolation prize.

That story still has elements of mystery and intrigue. Superwoman's first major nemesis is revealed as Lena Luthor. It's a fitting, if not overly standard dynamic. If there's going to be a female Superman operating in the DC universe, then there should be a female Lex Luthor by default. In the spirit of gender equality, it's only fair.

There's also never a sense that Lena Luthor is just a female version of Lex either. She goes out of her way to make that clear to Lex, albeit in a very uncomfortable manner. Then again, that only makes her more worthy of her role. If Superwoman #2 has a strength, it's that it doesn't try to just push female characters into male roles. It lets its female characters be female. It's one of those concepts that shouldn't feel so novel.

Even if Superwoman #2 checks all the boxes in terms of gender dynamics, it fails to check many more. The story quickly becomes choppy and bland. It's less about Superwoman and more about Lana Lang reacting to Lois' death. These reactions are lacking in emotional weight and only serve to put her in a position to fight more monsters. For a character as iconic as Lois Lane, this just comes off as crass.

Lana does get a good assist from her current lover, John "Steel" Irons. He plays the part of a supportive boyfriend, but not much else. He does little to move the story forward or add emotional depth to the situation. He may as well be Lana's personal assistant, who she just happens to be sleeping with. By and large, he just doesn't do enough to make his presence feel relevant.

In principle, there's no reason to doubt that Lana Lang can be a compelling Superwoman. She has the personal connections, the spirit, and the desire to do the job. Within the context of this story, however, her ability to be Superwoman is essentially tied to the fate of Lois Lane. She's not being Superwoman because she feels inclined to use her new powers for the greater good, as Superman would. This story gives the impression that she's embracing this role because of Lois. That excuse may work for Peter Parker, but it doesn't work for Lana Lang.

A big part of Superman's core is that he does the right thing simply because it's the right thing. He doesn't need any other reason. That is the only real reason that matters. Superwoman #1 sets up all the right dynamics to continue that legacy. Superwoman #2 just throws it away, trying to create other reasons that only undermine this ideal.

In the end, the intent of Superwoman #2 is commendable, trying to set Lana Lang up as Superwoman and establishing the necessary factors. The results, however, are shallow and stale. It also gives the impression that post-Flashpoint Lois Lane was a character that DC Comics couldn't wait to get rid of. Now that there's another Lois in place, who perfectly complies the decades-old traditions that dare not be broken, the concept of Lois Lane being Superwoman gets thrown away. It's not just a missed opportunity. It feels downright petty.

The heart and soul of what makes a Superman comic what it is just aren't there. They didn't necessarily die with post-Flashpoint Lois Lane, but there isn't much effort to salvage those elements either. Lana Lang may still develop into a viable Superwoman. She just has a lot of forces working against her and even the strength of Superman may not be enough to overcome them.

Final Score: 4 out of 10

All-New X-men #13: Nuff Said!

Let's face it. We love redemption stories almost as much as we love underdog stories. Why else would Disney be inclined to give is three Mighty Ducks movies? That same part of us that roots for the psycho killer in a slasher movie also wants to see the bad guys redeem themselves. It worked for Return of the Jedi and everything since then has been trying to match it.

Sadly, Kid Apocalypse is no Darth Vader and O5 Iceman is no Neil Patrick Harris. There are no shitty prequels that hint that either of them may be more than just unlucky and under-developed. Kid Apocalypse had a chance to change his fate during Apocalypse Wars. He fucked that up, courtesy of O5 Beast. Now, he's back in the future and still doomed to become the genocidal asshat whose movie failed to out-gross Deadpool. It's a sad state of affairs to say the least, but just because he's screwed doesn't mean O5 Iceman has to share the same fate.

In All-New X-men #13, Kid Apocalypse attempts to cope with his shitty state by doing something awesome. He's going to try and get O5 Iceman laid. What kind of future genocidal madman do such a thing? The awesome kind, that's who.

With help from Idie, Kid Apocalypse sets out on a new mission that probably won't change his future, but it will help his friend get laid so it's not a total loss. They take O5 Iceman to Miami, a very gay-friendly city. I would know. I've yet to find a city that as many gay clubs as they have ass bleaching services. It's like one never-ending Lady Gaga concert. It's basically perfect for O5 Iceman to channel his inner Clay Akin and not have to worry about the Todd Akins of the world.

It's a chance O5 Iceman should be positively giddy over. Hell, he's giddy about most other shit. His entire history with the X-men involves him being an immature little shit. This time, however, he's more nervous than I am when I have to take a sobriety test the day after St. Patrick's Day. It's actually pretty revealing in that it brings out a different side of Bobby Drake. It's one who doesn't come off as a poor man's Spider-Man for once. He even reveals his bad history with dating women. It's probably the most personal he's ever gotten in a comic without being psychically manipulated by Emma Frost.

As nice as it is to see O5 Iceman show a little depth beyond being a half-rate class clown, he doesn't really put much energy into his first gay outing. Despite Idie going out of her way to introduce him to a few open-minded studs, he chickens out faster than vegan at a butcher shop. They manage to make him at least talk to these guys, which is usually not too hard for O5 Iceman. He ends up talking about cheese and McNuggts. It's not nearly as gay as it sounds.

If anything, it's downright forced. For someone who claims to finally be out and proud, he shows the same awkwardness around men as he does with women. I want to have sympathy for him, but as a man who finds Brad Pitt attractive, I can only offer so much.

So if O5 Iceman isn't going to cooperate, Kid Apocalypse is still going to find a way to be awesome. That means he's going to forget about how O5 Beast fucked him over and dance his troubles away in a gay club in Miami. By the horribly skewed standards of the Marvel universe, this is probably the healthiest way I've ever seen a future tyrant deal with his issues.

O5 Iceman can learn a thing or two from Kid Apocalypse. That's right. The future tyrant of the mutant race has valuable lessons for O5 Iceman at this point. That's the state he's in right now. How sad is that? He continues to ignore these lessons and tries to ditch the two awesome friends who are trying desperately to get him laid. Some people are just ungrateful fucks I guess.

He does manage to finally talk to someone in ways that don't involve what kind of fast food he enjoys. He lets Idie and Kid Apocalypse dance their problems away while he brags about his exploits with the X-men to a guy at a bar. I imagine the exploits of a superhero are intriguing to people of every major orientation. It beats listening to someone talk about that time their ex threw lit firecrackers in your car.

Then, just as it seems O5 Iceman is going to have his first Glee moment, he freaks out again. He goes all icy and makes a total fool of himself. I know O5 Iceman has a knack for being foolish, but at least he generally avoids being pathetic while he's at it. He doesn't avoid it this time. I may not be gay, but even I know freaking the fuck out is a dick move.

He ends up running out of the club as quickly as he can and into the back ally, which is stupid because that's how half of all horror movies and 85 percent of all porn, gay or straight, starts out. Lucky for him, he doesn't run into a guy in a hockey mask with a chainsaw. He just runs into a cute guy his age named Romeo. With a name like that, you get the feeling this can only end in tragedy.

It doesn't start out too tragic though. Again, O5 Iceman manages to have a meaningful conversation with a fellow gay guy. This time, he doesn't create a big fucking blizzard to kill everyone else's boners. I guess that counts as progress. They share some awkward man-love stories, none of which involve Ted Haggard or Catholic priests, so they seem to have some healthy similarities. Could this be O5 Iceman's chance to finally get a real taste of quality man love?

Sadly, the mood is ruined when a demon moth creature attacks. No, that's not a metaphor for an impromptu Trump rally. A demon moth creature actually attacks for no reason, out of nowhere, and completely without context. It's as contrived as it sounds.

This is where the story about O5 Iceman's first night out as an open gay guy basically goes to shit. Instead of seeing him go through some actual personal growth, we see him, Idie, and Kid Apocalypse fight a demon moth creature. At a time when the X-men are based in a fucking demon realm, this is like ninjas attacking Jack and Rose on the Titanic. It makes no fucking sense.

It's a bad night for O5 Iceman. It's a bad night for the X-men in general, having to fight another demon moth. There can't be too many ways to make it worse, right? Well, there is one way. How about an appearance by the fucking Racist Xenophobic Slave Owners whose other name I refuse to acknowledge on this blog? Yeah, those fuckers who Marvel keeps trying to push show up because apparently, the first gay guy O5 Iceman connects with happens to be one of them.

While this blog may give other impression, I'm actually a pretty calm and forgiving guy. I try not to get too petty and pissed off over certain people who aren't Fox News anchors. I can only try so much with the Racist Xenophobic Slave-Owners. I'm sorry, but I just can't be reasonable with the Racist Xenophobic Slave-Owners.

Romeo ends up putting down the demon moth in the least entertaining way possible. Turns out he's an empath of sorts and he uses that to calm the damn thing down whereas Wolverine would've just stabbed it. The difference is one is boring as fuck and the other is totally badass, yet Marvel still wonders why nobody likes the Racist Xenophobic Slave-Owners as much as the X-men?

On top of that, Romeo actually busts O5 Iceman's balls and not in a sexy way for attacking the demon moth. Well it's not like the fucking thing tried to hug them when it showed up. What the fuck was he supposed to do? I wish O5 Iceman had pointed that out, but it's too late. Romeo still tries to argue that his kind don't hate mutants. They just can't be bothered to do jack shit about the big fucking cloud that's poisoning them. Really? If that's not hate on some levels, then I'll quit drinking tonight.

So thanks to the Racist Xenophobic Slave-Owners, everything that was interesting about this comic and all the boners it may have inspired are gone. O5 Iceman still gets Roemo's number, but I imagine it's going to be hard building a relationship around someone who rubs elbows with Racist Xenophobic Slave-Owners. Dude, their giant fart cloud is killing his friends and his entire fucking race. I know love is supposed to conquer all, but love has its limits when genocide and legal issues over movie rights come into play.

So...is it awesome?

This comic is bound to piss off every anti-gay, family values, religious asshole from here to Mississippi. I can already here them crying like school girls in a room of spiders saying, "How dare a superhero comic not conform to my bullshit religious values! Now I have to have unpleasant conversations with my children! Why? WHY must I be inconvenienced like this?" It makes Glenn Beck cry. It makes Rick Santorum sick. It makes Mike Huckabee angry. In that sense, this book is a gift to the human race.

As an actual comic, however, it falls somewhat flat and the presence of the Racist Xenophobic Slave-Owners doesn't help. I get that there's some Shakespearean appeal to falling in love with someone from a forbidden society. Hell, the guy's name is Romeo for crying out loud. That appeal ends when one of the families belongs to the Racist Xenophobic Slave-Owners whose fart cloud is poisoning all of Iceman's friends and fellow X-men and they're not doing jack shit about it. But I digress.

Other than fighting a demon creature, O5 Iceman and Romeo don't really don't accomplish much other than being able to form coherent sentences with one another. That's good for a one night stand, gay or straight. It's shitty for pretty much everything beyond that. I like that O5 Iceman gets a chance to play the field, but the fact that the only like-minded stud he could find in Miami was a Racist Xenophobic Slave-Owner is pretty fucked.

Final Score: 4 out of 10

Old Man Logan #11: Nuff Said!

I'm convinced that at least half of the villains in comics are more suicidal than crazy. Seriously, who picks a fight with the Hulk, Iron Man, and Captain America without having a death wish of some sorts? For those who pick a fight with Wolverine, I'd say they've taken several steps beyond suicidal. I think they've entered in this twisted death fetish territory that even the most depraved forms of German porn would never entertain.

One might think that picking a fight with an older, grayer, crankier version of Wolverine would be safer. I'd argue that's even more fucked up because it means they're just fighting a version of Wolverine who gives far fewer fucks. That's the only way I can make sense of Sohei and the Silent Order, who are the latest deranged ninjas with a death wish. They spent the last issue giving Old Man Logan a lot of reasons to honor their death wish. Old Man Logan #11 gives him a chance to make use of those reasons. I don't usually encourage these kinds of death wishes, but let's face it. These motherfuckers are asking for it.

They spent last issue kicking Old Man Logan down a well because they seem to think pissing him off is a good strategy for some reason. Yeah, these fuckers have that big a death wish. There's none of that throw-a-man-in-a-well-and-see-what-happens shit here. Old Man Logan is good and pissed now. That means everyone in the Silent Order is about to have their death wish granted, which I guess makes Old Man Logan their new favorite genie not voiced by Robin Williams.

I know I say this with every review, but some shit is worth repeating beyond the point of annoyance. Andrea Sorrentino's art is perfect for this kind of reckless, bloody brutality. Granted, this fight isn't nearly as brutal as some of the other insanely violent shit this series has shown, but that's like saying a Playboy centerfold's breasts aren't as big as Pam Anderson's. It's a matter of scope and context is what I'm saying.

The brutality is there. The blood is there. It's still not enough for Old Man Logan's taste though. Sure, beating the shit out of ninjas is like masturbation. It never gets old. At his age, though, he sometimes needs help and there aren't any pills that can help him at this point, although I'm sure Pfizer is working on something as I write this. So Old Man Logan does the next best thing. He frees Lady Deathstrike, who the Silent Order used as bait.

Understandably, Lady Deathstrike hates being bait. She hates it more than she hates Logan so she willingly teams up with him to beat the shit out of a bunch of ninjas. That, or she's just really horny. I really can't tell with her. It's actually a bigger deal than simply lending a hand because just a few issues back, Lady Deathstrike tried to hunt down Old Man Logan and kill him, as she tends to do with any version of Wolverine. Now, she's helping him kick the shit out of ninjas. Not saying this counts as an olive branch or anything, but there's just something wonderfully fitting about that.

As this series has done so effectively before, it mixes the brutality of the present with the dystopian shit storm of the past, primarily in Old Man Logan's world. We got another glimpse into that past in the previous issue when Old Man Logan tried to get his new wife, Maureen, away from supervillain shit storm he inadvertently helped create. So they try to hide out in Japan and then ninjas attack. That's basically how every one of Logan's trips to Japan have gone since the Frank Miller/Chris Claremont era. You really expected it to be different?

On this latest ill-advised trip, he clashes with his world's version of the Silent Order. It's not much different than the mainline Marvel universe's version. They still have a fucked up death wish. To his credit, Old Man Logan restrains the natural urge to maim ninjas so the Silent Order captures him. He then meets their creepy bald leader, who reminds me too much of Leslie Chow from the Hangover movies. He's about as intimidating shaved squirrel, but he seems to have a fondness for collecting artifacts from dead heroes so you know he's got to get his ass kicked.

The Mr. Chow wannabe also happens to have superpowers because I guess that's a prerequisite for a secret order of ninjas. Those powers involve reading minds and since he doesn't have red hair, I guess that means Old Man Logan won't be inclined to fuck him. The feeling ends up being mutual because when the guy reads Old Man Logan's mind, he sees just how much he fucked himself over.

It makes for a nice little montage of how shit played out for Old Man Logan in his world. It really isn't all that different from anyone who followed Wolverine up to 2005, that special time when nobody took Donald Trump seriously and nobody had seen Anthony Weiner's penis. The only difference is he ended up slaughtering every hero in the Marvel universe.

That's right. He killed every one of Earth's mightiest heroes. Does this guy really think a bunch of ninjas will protect him? Now he knows just how fucked he is. It's just a matter of Old Man Logan making sure Maureen isn't scarred for life by the brutality that follows.

That brutality of the past perfectly mirrors the brutality we get in the present. The same secret order of ninjas still think they can take down a guy who butchered every hero in the Marvel universe. Maybe they really think they can, but can they do that and deal with a pissed off Lady Deathstrike? Again, there are death wishes and then there's just plain fucking stupid.

The brutality and blood is still as entertaining as ever. This time, Lady Deathstrike gets a chance to be obscenely brutal and for once, I can't help but cheer her on. It's usually hard to cheer for a murdering female cyborg who isn't a character in anime porn. Lady Deathstrike makes it easier here, once again reminding the Silent Order that she doesn't like being bait and she likes stabbing those who don't respect her preferences. She's almost a feminist icon in this context when you think about it.

Feminists should probably keep their panties on though. While Lady Deathstrike does get her chance to maim a bunch of men who don't respect her, Sohei still ends up kicking her ass so I guess those same feminists can go back to protesting the evils of the patriarchy. While this is probably going to get my balls busted by some radical types, this is kind of necessary for the story. Sohei only used Deathstrike to get to Old Man Logan. That's who he wants to fight. That's who he wants to have deliver his death wish. The man has his preferences too. Do they not deserve respect as well?

I think both genders can respect the added brutality that follows. Whereas the earlier brutality was all about quantity, thanks to hordes of ninjas, this round is all about quality. It's Sohei versus Old Man Logan, a creepy masked ninja type versus a guy who stabs those types to death. It's not quite as lopsided as it sounds. Sohei is fighting a somewhat dated version of Logan here so he gets in a few shots. That still doesn't do much other than piss Old Man Logan off even more. I guess if he really does have a death wish, this is just a better way of ensuring it. You can say a lot about creepy ninja types like him, but you can't say he does shit half-assed.

As fun and as brutal as this fight is, Jeff Lemire actually goes the extra distance as well to make clear he isn't half-assing this either. During the gloriously brutal battle, Sohei reveals something that's been overlooked to this point, namely why the fuck the Silent Order went out of their way to lure in Old Man Logan in the first place. It's not just because they have a fucked up death wish. These guys have other reasons it seems, although at this point, they're probably secondary.

Sohei claims that the Silent Order has monks who can see the future of their organization. It's like having spoilers before going into a Star Wars movie. It ensures they won't be too shocked or disappointed by what they encounter, even if it does make shit more bland. However, in addition to all sorts of movie spoilers, these same monks foresee the glorious rise of their organization being interrupted by Old Man Logan. Then again, does it really take much foresight to sense that Old Man Logan will instinctively maim any ninja organization that grows too powerful?

While it's not exactly an Akira Kurasowa film, it does provide some context for the Silent Order. They're not just a band of generic ninjas that can't help but put themselves in front of Wolverine's claws. They do actually have an agenda, which is more than 85 percent of most stories involving ninjas can claim. It's a nice bonus that really shouldn't be a bonus in the first place, but it works in that it makes Old Man Logan's desire to stab ninjas a bit more reasonable.

With this knowledge in mind, Sohei does his best to take down Old Man Logan. We also see in a few quick flashbacks that he fails miserably in Old Man Logan's world and he didn't even have Lady Deathstrike's help in that world. So what hope does he have here? The battle starts getting a bit more lopsided until that creepy Mr. Chow guy shows up again. Apparently, he exists in this world too. Except at this point, he's younger, shorter, and a lot more creepier. It's really the only way to make creepy bald men more creepier. Turn them into equally creepy children. Why else would they have made multiple sequels to Children of the Corn?

So...is it awesome?

It has Old Man Logan fighting ninjas in both the present and the past in the bloodiest, most brutal way possible. How can that NOT be awesome? Seriously, you'd have to exercise Cleveland Brown level incompetence to fuck that up. Jeff Lemire doesn't make that effort in Old Man Logan #11. He just has Old Man Logan beat the shit out of a bunch of ninjas, granting them their bullshit death wish in the process. It's both badass and polite when you think about it.

It's not all mindless brutality either, although that certainly doesn't hurt. Lemire actually goes out of his way to give some depth to the Silent Order. He stops short of crafting a story on par with a Final Fantasy game, but it at least gives a valid reason for Sohei wanting to kill Old Man Logan, even if that reason doesn't make it any less a death wish. Valid reasons are rare in a story full of rampant bloody brutality. They're not always necessary, but then again icing isn't always necessary on a brownie. It just makes something that's already awesome even better. For a series like Old Man Logan, that's saying something.

Final Score: 8 out of 10

X-men Supreme Issue 141: Outer Limits Part 5 PREVIEW!

Big moments lead to big changes. Big changes lead to upheavals. Upheavals lead to new conflicts. That’s how the X-men Supreme fanfiction series has evolved over the years. Small moments lead to big changes. Sometimes it happens quickly. Sometimes it takes time. There have been many changes with Genosha alone. It began with Magneto leading an invasion of the country in Uprising. He then took control of it in Overlord, only to lose control (and his mind) in Time Bomb. Genosha still factors heavily on the landscape of X-men Supreme, but it all started with that one big moment during Uprising.

The X-men encountered something similar with the Shi’ar. It began way back in X-men Volume 3: War Powers. In X-men Supreme Issue 46: Paradise Mystery, Cyclops and Wolverine uncovered a crashed Shi’ar ship that hinted at an alien agenda. That agenda has unfolded gradually over the course of multiple volumes, but it’s only here in X-men Supreme Volume 6: Liberation Decimation that the scope and scale of that agenda finally unfolds.

Unbeknownst to the rest of the world in X-men Supreme, there’s an alien war going on with the Shi’ar Empire. For years, it has been at the mercy of D’ken, a cruel and ruthless tyrant who came to power in a harsh, warlike culture that values strength through war. In the X-men comics and cartoons, there’s not much depth to D’ken. I knew that if I was going to use him in X-men Supreme, I needed to dig a little deeper. Now, as the X-men confront him in the waning moments of the Outer Limits arc, the full scope and scale of his plan is revealed.

D’ken may be a tyrant, but he’s also very much a result of endless war and hatred. In this fanfiction series, he’s just seen one too many bloody clashes. He’s so broken and hardened that no amount of bloodshed phases him. No amount of cruelty is too excessive. In many respects, he is the ultimate byproduct of all the hate and conflict that the X-men fight to prevent. If the X-men fail, then someone like D’ken is the result.

The stakes literally couldn’t be higher. Outer Limits is poised to become one of the biggest arcs to date for the X-men Supreme fanfiction series. It’s an arc that will have long-lasting impacts moving forward. However, that all assumes the X-men will be able to stop D’ken from usurping the minds of every sentient being in the universe. With the power of the M’krann Crystal and the entire Shi’ar Empire at his disposal, that’s easier said than done. So this final issue of Outer Limits is not one you’ll want to miss. As always, I’ve prepared a preview of the final showdown in this cosmic conflict.

“Are you ready, Jean?”

“Yes…I’m ready,” she said upon parting from Cyclops.

“Do what you have to do,” he told her, “I’ll be with you every step of the way.”

“As will I,” said Professor Xavier, “Now hurry! The crystal is destabilizing rapidly!”

Having made her fateful choice, Phoenix turned away from her lover and her mentor. She pushed aside all lingering fear as she approached the glowing crystal. Its energy kept radiating at an increasingly volatile pace. This energy soon mixed with her white flames, causing them to grow to a level that soon engulfed the shining structure. As her flames grew, she slowly rose up. In the process her body took on a new fiery form. Using this form, she entered the crystal. Within moments, it changed colors. It became bright orange, as if it was on fire.

The powerful relic was undergoing a great change. Cyclops and Xavier could feel it. The X-men and the Imperial Guard felt it as well. The massive conduits feeding into the crystal sparked erratically. Power lines were severed and lights flickered as the energy within the chamber swirled rapidly. It was as if the energy the crystal was radiating was turning around. The white flames of the Phoenix swirled with this energy, engulfing the M’krann Crystal in a column of cosmic grandeur. The only one not taken by this sight was D’ken.

“YOU ARROGANT HUMANS!” he exclaimed, “YOU’VE KILLED US ALL! SHE’S UPSET THE POWER FLOW! SHE’LL RIP THE ENTIRE UNIVERSE APART!”

“She knows what she’s doing,” said Cyclops, never taking his eyes off the crystal, “She’s cleaning up your mess whether you like it or not.”

“NO! I WON’T ALLOW IT!” seethed the Emperor.

D’ken finally wrestled free from Mastermind’s grip, kicking him the head shoving him off like the feeble old human he was. Now free, he set his sights on reclaiming what he worked so hard to attain.

“IMPERIAL GUARD, HEED MY CALL! COME TO ME! SLAY THESE HUMANS AND HELP ME EXTRACT THE PHOENIX FORCE!”

Down below on the lower levels, Gladiator heard this order. He along with Starbolt, Smasher, Hussar, Flashfire, Neutron, and Oracle were obligated to fulfill it. They turned back towards the X-men, who were prepared to fight again.

“Seriously? You’re going to listen to that psychotic nut job?” scoffed Rogue.

“You heard what the Phoenix said! You must let her do this!” urged Storm.

“What your friend says does not matter. We only heed the emperor,” said Hussar.

“No matter what we think, we must obey D’ken,” said Neutron.

“Even if it means risking the entire universe? If so that’s pretty bloody stupid,” said Psylocke.

“Our loyalty is absolute,” said Gladiator, clenching his fists in frustration, “We must listen to the emperor.”

“Guess that means it’s time for round two!” snarled Wolverine.

The X-men were prepared to fight the Imperial Guard once more. They had to keep them away from the crystal so Phoenix could work. Wolverine drew his claws and prepared to deliver the first blow. Then a new presence entered the chamber and stopped everything.

“Halt!” said the commanding voice of Lilandra Neramani, “By the order of the Shi’ar Imperium, you are to stand down immediately!”

“Whoa…Miss Neremani is cutting this close,” said Iceman.

“Does this mean what I think it means?” asked Colossus.

“What are you humans babbling about? Who dares mock the authority of our emperor?” said Smasher as he and the other guardsmen turned around.

“I dare! As is my right under the bylaws of the royal bloodline!” she said strongly, “Moreover, I have something that officially usurps the authority of D’ken.”

Lilandra boldly stepped into the chamber, walking with a poise worthy of an empress. Behind her emerged Beast and an army of Warlock drones, each heavily armed and ready for battle. However, they did not fire a single shot. Instead, Beast casually walked up behind Lilandra and handed her a decorative metal scepter. It had golden feathers at the top and a string of Shi’ar symbols lining the sides. When she held it up, the Imperial Guard immediately fell back.

“The Staff of the Majestrix!” gasped Oracle, “She wields it!”

“That’s what it looks like? Remy’s seen fancier jewelry at Mardi Gras,” said Gambit.

“Be kind, X-men. This relic that we went to such lengths to retrieve is of great importance,” explained Beast, “Now that Lilandra wields it, the reign of D’ken is officially over.”

“It should not be possible!” said Starbolt, “The Staff is linked to the emperor! No one, even a blood relative, should be able to even lift it!”

“The Staff of the Majestrix is capable of processing much more than who wears the crown,” Beast went on, “Written in it are the bylaws of the Shi’ar Imperium. These laws are as old as the empire itself. It has noticed the actions D’ken has recently undertaken.”

“As such it made the decision long ago. It needed only a piece of the bloodline to make it official,” added Lilandra, “I am that piece. The Staff has accepted me. As such, I am now the rightful ruler of the Shi’ar Empire. You know what that entails.”

The Imperial Guard exchanged glances. This was an unforeseen move, yet it came as a relief in some ways. They too had seen D’ken’s tyranny inflict untold damage on their empire. Their loyalty prevented them from ever having any second thoughts. Now a new empress had ascended. This meant their obligations to D’ken were nullified.

“What is thy bidding, my empress?” said Gladiator as he loyally knelt before her.

“Damn! So much for round two,” said Wolverine as he withdrew his claws.

“You’ll pick another fight soon enough, Wolverine,” teased Storm.

“I think we’ve all had enough fighting. It stops today!” said Lilandra firmly, “You can begin the rebuilding process by standing aside and letting the Phoenix Force undo the damage wrought by my brother.”

“If that is your wish, then so be it,” said Oracle as she and the others knelt as well.

The X-men let out a sigh of relief. They would no longer have to oppose the Imperial Guard. It meant they could catch their breath, if only briefly. The end of D’ken’s madness was not yet complete.

“The antennas on both worlds are malfunctioning on every possible level,” said Beast as he joined up with the X-men, “May I assume D’ken’s efforts were thwarted?”

“Our brains out melting through our ears, so I guess that part has been stopped,” said Shadowcat, “But it’s not over yet! We’ve still got a cosmic-level problem on our hands.”

“And we can’t do anything to help at this point,” added Rogue, “It’s all on Jean’s shoulders now. Best we can do is watch and hope.”

“And without popcorn no less,” said Iceman.

Everyone turned their gaze back to the M’krann Crystal. Now that the Imperial Guard were under Lilandra’s rule, D’ken was utterly out of resources. His bold ambition to end all conflict was over. He saw Lilandra enter from below. When his Imperial Guard knelt to her it was like being punched in the gut. He had nothing with which to fight.

“My own blood…betraying me once again!” seethed D’ken, “DAMN YOU, LILANDRA! DAMN YOU ALL!”

“I’d behave if I were you. I don’t think your people will rally behind you after what you’ve put them through,” said Professor Xavier.

“If you’re lucky, they’ll still have a world to rebuild once the Phoenix Force is finished,” said Cyclops.

There’s a lot at stake here. There are a lot of personal and practical upheavals to deal with. At the very least, these upheavals don’t involve sterilization plots or time travelers. That alone should give X-men Supreme some appeal to X-men fans. I know I joke about that a lot these days, but it’s no laughing matter for many X-men fans. The current comics have killed off some of the X-men’s greatest characters and gone to great lengths to marginalize the X-men from the greater Marvel universe. I want X-men Supreme to act as a reprieve of sorts and I want to make it as awesome as possible. As such, I strongly encourage reviews and feedback. Please take the time to contact me with your remarks or post your comments directly in the issue. I’m always happy to chat. Until next time, take care and best wishes. Excelsior

Jack