Rogue #7

"Forget Me Not" Part One

Writer: Tony Bedard Artists: Karl Moline(p), Rick Maygar(i), Transparency Digital(c) Publisher: Marvel

I can’t believe I’m buying another X-Men book. Don’t get me wrong I like the X-Men, but they are a team I can and have lived without for years.

My first encounter with Rogue was in an Avengers Annual where readers learn the fate, though not a final one, of Carol Danvers also known as Ms. Marvel. Rogue had permanently gained Carol’s powers and tossed her off the Golden Gate Bridge. Spider-Woman rescued Carol and took her back to the Avengers. The team and Spider-Woman faced off against the new Brotherhood of Evil in a neoclassic bout illustrated by Michael Golden and written by Chris Claremont.

Like many of Marvel’s characters, Rogue changed sides. Due to the absorption of the pure goodness left within Rom the Spaceknight, Rogue tastes decency and finds that she enjoys the flavor. That may be a direct quote form Bill Mantlo’s story. In any case it’s close.

Now, I had absolutely no interest in Rogue. None whatsoever. The last time I saw her in any spotlighted form was when Binary also known as Carol Danvers smacked Rogue literally to the moon. Perhaps, not the moon, but Rogue definitely reached escape velocity.

What really made me try this issue, though I appreciate the honesty of Marvel stating that this is one out of six in a storyarc, was the presence of Tony Bedard and Karl Moline, the creative team behind Crossgen’s Route 666. Moline also was the extraordinary then unknown artist balancing out the genius of Joss Whedon behind Fray, available from Dark Horse.

Bedard opens the book through an engrossing episode, which without exposition explains the powers and the somewhat shady history of the title character—a powerful female character I may add, which also drew my attention. The dialogue between Rogue and Darla in this scene also exhibits a deftness and natural type of small talk that leads painlessly to the central plot point.

Somebody has claimed that Rogue, Sunfire and Mystique once operated for the Yakuza and blabbed this information to the media; they have backed up this information with an "undoctored" photo depicting the trio. The only problem is that Rogue does not remember this episode in her life. Needless to say The Avengers as in Steed and Emma Peel episode title "Forget-Me-Not" applies.

After seeing the photo, Darla immediately rises to Rogue’s defense and also allows Bedard the opportunity to evade the typical "Mutant Go Home!" attitude that the Marvel Universe seems to foster all the time. Yes, this would happen in the real world were there mutants, but honestly, must we see it all the time? Furthermore, he foreshadows Darla’s actions through the opening narrative.

Bedard cuts next to Japan where Sunfire is about to take drastic measures facilitated by his cousin the Silver Samurai. Bedard though does not overstay his welcome in Sunfire’s abode. He quickly connects the scenes briskly and plausibly and weaves a more unified pace—something that has become a rarity in comics thanks to decompressionist gobbledy-gook. Put aside Bedard’s skill at comic book pacing for a moment. Let’s face it. It’s just cool to see Silver Samurai again. This wonderful loon in his stupendous suit of whacky armor has been the thorn in the side of Spider-Man and the Black Widow for years. Linking him to Sunfire is a clever move and allows him to break his chain of anticipated defeat—’cause, baby, you’re just not in Pete’s or Natasha’s League, and I’ll bet you still ache from the time she slammed the Champions aircar into your back.

Turning our attention back to Rogue, the white striped brunette finds herself hoping for a peaceful journey to the Land of the Rising Sun, but an X-Men villain in the employ of the Silver Samurai has other plans. Don’t worry, Bedard in the book early on reveals that the Samurai is still a loon and a baddie. The real mastermind behind this scheme has yet to be revealed, and I don’t think the character will turn out to be Jean Loring. Readers therefore should be in for a fun ride.

This is the first I have seen Karl Moline illustrate an established character, and his version of Rogue pretty much matches my memories of her. Moline makes her very much his own through the frenetic action that he displayed a flair for in his previous work. He also handles her more subtler moments ably which is a boon given the more passive nature of her power which Bedard treats almost like diffusion. Moline makes Samurai an imposing figure and gives much humanity to the often cocksure Sunfire. As for the X-Men villain of this piece, I really couldn’t say that I know the character, but Moline makes her violence and technique very easy to understand. He also puts the cute in a pleasant little moppet who contrasts nicely the intrigue and the pyrotechnics of the issue.

About the only qualm I have about the story is the classification of Sunfire, Mystique and Rogue as "terrorists" and the uneasy blend of real world agencies like Homeland Security and the Marvel Universe. Come on. Really? Terrorists? Mystique, Sunfire and Rogue were super-villains. Say it with me. Super-villains.