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Then there’s more abstract forms of resistance to definition such as Jean refusing her destiny, refusing an enforced maternal role, refusing gender-based hierarchies, all whilst actively contemplating the impact these expectations have on her sense of individual agency. 5/9
He complicates Storm by giving her mixed heritage and a pluralistic experience of different African nations. He portrays Forge as an Indigenous man living outside of tribal culture. Toward the end, he brings in Jubilee, an Asian-American experiencing racism from both sides. 3/9
As the conflict unfolds, Logan does not just take orders, however. He offers suggestions without undermining Kitty’s ultimate authority (as he used to do with Cyclops), even allowing her to override him when necessary. 5/8
And then in this issue Kitty finds herself taking the initiative to support Power Pack after spotting Katie Powers on the news, thus providing a perfect opportunity to test out Kitty’s leadership capacity directly. 3/8
In UXM 195, Claremont adds a further nuance to the Kitty/Logan relationship by portraying his key supporting role in her first go as leader of the team, providing encouragement, support, and modeling deferral to her authority for the rest of the squad. #xmen 1/8
Motivation is usually an underpinning to character but in a fantasy story like UXM Annual 11, where the X-Men glimpse their fondest desires, Claremont can render the subtextual into the textual. Thus, it’s a great character study for the run. #xmen 1/7
Even the ultimate resolution and moral of the story cross the line between vehicle and tenor with the New Mutants accepting Warlock, despite his differences, and despite their reservations (though here the reservations are both supernatural and potentially lethal). 9/10
Forming peer groups, choosing how to define yourself, concealing secrets for fear of being judged, hormonal overdrive, losing oneself in the mob mentality, defying one’s parents, and (inversely) communicating acceptance of friends to one’s father-figure. 8/10
Situating the mutant experience within a more general adolescent experience is thus a little unorthodox and may even have the capacity to break the fourth wall in some ways by calling attention to the artifice of the vehicle. 3/10
In New Mutants #21, Claremont pauses the usual traumatic adventure serial that the franchise is famous for with a “Slumber Party” that briefly overlaps the vehicle and tenor of the fundamental metaphor of the franchise: the surreal horror of adolescence. #xmen #newmutants 1/10