I’m reading this issue because people have posted things online that show Polaris with a meaningful role. I may not read future issues. My status with Marvel until certain things happen is only reading stuff Lorna is in.

There’s too much stuttering and ellipses in the beginning. It’s distracting. I say this as someone who’s abused them way too much with my own writing in the past.

Fun banter between characters is good. Adds more of a sense of atmosphere, that there’s more to the characters than just whatever story is taking place.

The talk about Forearm is a promising suggestion that good stories don’t have to come from big epic fights, they can come from “less epic” fights and other areas.

With Senator Ashton Allen, it seems like there’s an understanding of how important dealing with politics is for the franchise even as the script riffs on it.

“We can give them normal lives.” “This guy. I may have to fly away if I can’t control my temper, Betsy.” And now I’m hearing ‘Farmer Refuted’ from Hamilton in my head.

Guy that attacks Bishop has me thinking of goons from Dark Knight Returns.

As Jean meets with Storm, I find myself thinking this is a scene where Polaris could have very easily shown up too. Since, y’know, Lorna was Jean’s closest female friend before Storm. And Marvel has yet to actually let Lorna interact with any version of Jean in any meaningful way for a long time now. Same issue as how Lorna didn’t spend any time with teen Jean and teen Iceman on Blue, and didn’t get any scenes with Iceman after he came out.

Armor and Anole banter seems to be noting that the writers (at least) realize Marvel has a bad habit of introducing characters and then completely abandoning them. Glad they’re aware and doing things with some characters to deal with that ongoing problem. Waiting for that to apply to Polaris, rather than Marvel doing nothing, or doing something but undermining it for myriad reasons.

I have a little more more to say, for the Polaris and X-23 scene that’s been shared by others. Before I do, though, I want to actually post the scene and the script pages tied to it. If there was more Lorna, I’d be selective on what I post. 

Okay, thoughts now.

I liked this scene Lorna was in. It’s fun, it demonstrates she has value, and it allows her to have great banter with X-23. Or, to put it another way, another female character. I’ve felt very strongly lately that Lorna’s best chance of being written well and respectfully is if she’s interacting with other female characters. I feel this scene was more proof to the point. Short as it was, her use mattered for her rather than for the benefit of another character, and the two women got equal respect.

Also, of course, I’m glad she’s wearing her iconic costume for this scene.

Adding SFX to the black panel was a good call. Lack of SFX would’ve implied silence, I think.

If it seems like I should be more excited than I am, it’s because I’m guarded. I’ve gotten used to a pattern from Marvel where moments like this are a precursor to Lorna getting thrown into limbo for two years, or used exclusively to promote Havok, or whatever else happens. I’ll start sounding excited when Lorna gets a solo, mini, oneshot or team book she leads and Marvel’s giving her a real chance for once while she has it.

And with that, we’ll see if I have a reason to read the next issue or if this ends up being all I read of it.