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“I’m going to be an X-Man.”
#XMenVote #FrenzyFaction https://t.co/9ZeJNpW6fd
...times been driven by proving her worth & power in the shadow of Brian, the decision to forgo the cameras (especially in a place that has already name-dropped Captain Britain once), further cements this growing theme.
Only through each other's strength do the X-Men actually...
..echoes of Ororo's absorbed psyched. Here, there's no such doubt. It's up to her.
Instead, the doubts & fears about the hero's call belong entirely to Ali.
Throughout her appearances across the Run (in both UXM & NM), Ali's heroism was often driven by the optics of heroism...
...his landing on a British Rail line presents some issues as Longshot (astutely, and most himbo-ly) points out the presence of an oncoming train.
The two teammates represent the passengers' best chances for survival, leaving Ali and Betsy behind to deal with a recovered Cain.
...another assault on their towering foe.
This time, their collaboration yields better results, with Longshot providing a distraction for Rogue to siphon off some of Cain's strength. (Rogue *loves* kissing closeted queer men).
She throws the villain far out of the town, but...
...mistakes (and likely a little smug that the other X-Men have also now had their butts handed to them by Cain) chastises the X-Men for doing the opposite of their plan.
Longshot's nebulously defined "good luck" keeps him alive another day, and the team regroups to make yet...
...teamwork.
Rogue, Betsy, and Longshot's solo attempts–despite how absolutely bad ass Betts looks driving a box truck into Cain–fail, seemingly leaving Longshot buried for dead under an *entire* building Cain as throne the sorta-mutant's way.
Ali, quick to learn from her...
..team recommits to their assault on Juggernaut. This time, however, they'll take him on together.
Except, hugs and tears a well internalized lesson do not make, so the team's initial attempt to take on Cain together looks a lot more like "together, apart" than it does actual...
...the team's embrace merits its own thread, but is a clever means of re-explaining her powerset (a la Shooter) and ability to connect in short form.
The former member of Ali's Rogues' gallery chastises the newly minted X-Man for trying to recoil away from the team, and the...
..marginalized identity the mutants have been given.
Ali's ability to pause in the terror of the moment is an incredible hallmark of growth & her meditative tuning into the sounds of nature empowers her enough to reunite with the team.
The image of Rogue standing just beyond...