“People like her, mutants like ourselves . . . if we don’t stand up to defend them, who will?!” Uncanny X-Men #244 came out in 1989 and was well received for being one of the most memorable issues of the series. It was memorable because in this issue, the X-Women take a break from heroics and have an unforgettable ladies’ night. This was written by one of X-Men’s legendary writers of all time, Chris Claremont.
The story revolves around the X-Men’s current female members: Ororo Munroe aka the goddess of weather Storm; Alison Blaire aka the former pop star Dazzler; Betsy Braddock aka the telepathic witch Psylocke; the reformed power-pilfering villainess Rogue; and, in her very first appearance, a young mutant who can shoot pyrotechnics from her hands named Jubilee. In their base in Outback Australia, tensions are brewing as Rogue deals with her psychic connection with Carol Danvers, the Avenger whose powers she absorbed. Dazzler suggests that the ladies have a night out and some fun for a change. They are teleported from the Outback all the way to a mall in Hollywood where, unbeknownst to them, a young mutant named Jubilee needs help as a group of mutant hunters called M-Squad try to abduct her for displaying her mutants powers to the public in exchange for money. As the X-Ladies try on new clothes, put on makeup, and go clubbing, they are alarmed about the impending danger that Jubilee is about to face in the hands of those mutants hunters.
I love this issue of Uncanny X-Men because it is different from almost every typical X-Men story with a serious tone and a heavy theme. This story is mostly all about the X-Ladies having the fun that they deserve after constantly trying to save mutantkind and the world. Not only are the panels beautifully drawn by veteran artist Marc Silvestri, but the story was also beautifully written. It has a very light tone and simple plot and conflict. As for the literary devices used by the writer Chris Claremont, we can see a lot of figurative language used by the narrator.
I highly recommend this to everyone, especially to comic book fans and those readers who prefer a fun, light-hearted story with just the right amount of superhero action. This story also showcases women’s empowerment and camaraderie among a group of oppressed people, which the X-Men represent.
Get the book! Uncanny X-Men #244 by Chris Claremont and Marc Silvestri is included in Volume 1 of an X-Men omnibus collection published in 2011, which you can check out at the Queens Public Library.
About the author This review is by Miguel Frias.
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