This is the silent issue of X-Treme X-Men in Marvel’s adorably random ‘Nuff Said! marketing fun. From the get-go, let me just stress how much I enjoyed this issue. I found it easy to follow for the most part and Salvador’s artwork delightful. So what the heck did happen anyway?

Gambit races to hunt down his lady love while running into a young lady and her jerk of a honey, where our boy puts him in his place. Rogue (under the whim of Lady Mastermind) attacks her teams thinking they’re Vargas while Red Lotus deals with Shaw.

If Chris did one thing right with this issue, it’s by far the opening scene with Gambit. After seeing the slap mark on the girl’s face, he quickly gets involved, putting himself between her & her guy. While Gambit’s questionably the most amoral X-Men ever, but abusing a female is something he doesn’t stand for. It’s not a Wolverine philosophy for him that women must be protected, but more that they must be respected which probably stems from his more positive female models growing up (Tante Mattie, Mercy, BellaDonna) to his lacking male (JeanLuc, Antiquity, Sinister). Hell, just look at his emotional ties with his teammates; they’re all female. I can’t understand why Claremont seems to fight the notion of adding Remy to the team since he writes him so well. I can’t honestly remember the last time Gambit’s had such first-rate characterization in the cores.

Using Rogue’s outfits to help the reader’s POV was a nice touch. Simply put, if she was in her X-Treme outfit, we’re seeing what she sees. If she’s wearing that pink dress she stole from Japan (which has got to reek something awful, she’s been wearing it for how many days now?) we’re seeing what’s actually going on. Her teammates waste no time counter attacking her, trying to subdue her. Pfft, nice try It’s almost frightening how utterly impossible it was for the team to take her out to think of what would happen if Rogue did succumb to the voice one day and go bonkers.

In a stunning splash page, we see Neal save Davey. Although it may have been more humane to have let him drop so the reader won’t have to deal with the unavoidable “Riley/Buffy” angst sure to come from his relationship with Storm.

His sister Heather’s power come to the rescue and she gains the ability to fly via wings. Now, Heather’s turning out to be the first character with potential Chris has added since his return, but her powers have got to be dealt with. Her power is to “do whatever it takes to save others” but so far she’s only used it to save her own ass. If she should go by a code name to describe her power, let’s call her what she is; Plot Device.

The title of the issue was “Boomerang; What Goes Around Comes Around” and can I get an “amen” from the congregation? At the end of the issue, we’re left with a flirty bit of Gambit & Rogue, no angst in sight. So I dare to dream that after all the years of “Ah love you but Ah don’t trust you” “Fine, den I’ll be up on de roof broodin’” crap, we may be headed in the right direction with their relationship? And then there was that southern comfort kiss which could mean many things. Art mistake from Sal? Illusions from Lady Mastermind from Tessa’s glasses? Rogue actually making progress with her powers from her emotions overriding her logic after seeing her boyfriend alive and well again? Damn you Claremont, you can’t leave us hanging!

But I’ll gladly take this kind of hanging question over “did Emma & Cyke really sleep together” nonsense any day of the week. Bravo Chris & Sal, God forbid you write a comic that delights and entertains than seeing how much you can get away with or using “something that’ll blow fans minds!” gimmicks. Slow and steady wins the race.

And don’t forget to tip your waitress 15%.

-- Sara