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That parallel informs the scene here, leading the reader to hope a similar miracle is comiring – Claremont and Byrne seize that hope and let it linger on extensively to create a sense of anticipation for the moment of uplift that the reader craves. And then Gladiator emerges. 3/7
In the fateful climax of UXM 137, the X-Men find themselves fighting the Shi’ar Royal Guard for the life of Jean. During the battle, Claremont & Byrne expertly use a conflict between Colossus and Gladiator to symbolize the impossible: the X-Men aren’t going to win. #xmen 1/7
Relatedly, of course, the simple presence of Uatu, delivering both the prologue and epilogue of the story, signals the cosmic importance of the events depicted in the issue, as if a great piece of the Marvel canon was being told in that moment….which turned out to be true. 6/6
Finally, there is a bit of melancholy to the decision that reflects a desire to regress to a simpler time. Jean feels the world closing in around her, and she knows she has gone too far. That desperation to undo the recent past manifests in her costume choice. 4/6
It also signifies Jean’s desire to escape from the Phoenix by refusing her more recent costume. At the same time, choosing a costume at all showcases her commitment to heroism – she is determined to overcome this challenge, to fight for herself as herself. 3/6
This differentiation of colour is used to establish the contrasting individuality of each X-Man and thus the varying spectrum of lives affected by Jean in one wary or another as they contemplate the battle to come and their respective fears going into it. 3/8
It also, however, reflects sexual maturity, a major theme of the Dark Phoenix Saga in general, with particular emphasis on cultural restrictions on women’s sexual pleasure. Thus, a series of sexualizing scenes help to keep that theme forefront in the finale. 7/10
When Storm thrusts her hand in the sky in a dramatic gesture, the balloons are wedged apart, creating a sense of her movement and the power behind it. When Uatu shows up on a screen, the balloons squish against the edges, creating a sense of bursting in and surprise. 6/10
Then, Kurt teaches Daniel to juggle. It’s a lengthy sequence, which can feel jarring between the weighty emotions & life-and-death stakes that bracket it. But the sequence is lengthy for a reason—because it’s where Claremont signposts this as a story about storytelling. 8/11