New X-Men, Bingo Love

Bingo Love

A graphic novel by Tee Franklin and Jenn St-Onge.  Two high school school fall in love in 1963, are forced apart by their families, then chance upon each other after fifty years.  They’re both married and have kids/grandkids, but make the bold move to divorce and marry each other, pursuing a joy that they’ve denied themselves for far too long.  

It hits all the beats that you’d expect from a romance, but the sexuality (bi) and race (African American) of the female leads lend it significance.  At the same time, it’s nice that Franklin doesn’t make either point a major issue in the story - Hazel and Mari could have been drawn as a white guy and girl and the conflicts would have remained basically intact.  The representation itself is what’s notable here.

I also like that Franklin takes the time to show the effects that Hazel and Mari’s reunion has on their families.  It’s painful and generates really difficult conversations, and she doesn’t skimp on them, while remaining true to her belief that it’s never too late to snap out of something if it doesn’t make you happy, no matter how hard it is.  

I found this on the library shelf, and I’m glad I took the time to read it.     

Would buy: No

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Nice

New X-Men 1-4, 10, 11

Yeah, less interesting this time around.  The squabbling between the New Mutants and the Hellions feels a lot more petty and less rooted in substantive conflict than in the previous New Mutants title that this follows.  Ah well. Past me stopped buying before the end of the first story arc, and present me is fine with that.  I came back for issues ten and eleven because it centered on Prodigy, who I’ve always liked.

David Alleyne has a great power - He’s able to telepathically share the knowledge of those around him, for as long as they remain in close proximity.  Like Peter Petrelli from the show Heroes, but with information instead of powers.  Super cool.

In these last two issues, David is faced with the opportunity to remove the mental blocks that make the knowledge sharing temporary.  What follows is a well done Elseworlds that goes the same way that most stories involving Omega-level intellects go. (Poorly. He loses empathy, sacrifices the individual for the greater good, etc.)

I’m happy to keep these in the collection, but I’m sorry that the focus on Moonstar was de-emphasized from New Mutants.

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: No (Yes for 10, 11)

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Nice.  (Pretty good for 10, 11)