Artists: Brandon Peterson (Penciller) , Brandon Peterson (Inker) , Kieron Gillen (Writer)
6 Comments - 550 Views - 10 Likes
Artwork Details
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DescriptionDeath of a Phalanx of One - STRAIN 264THETA - “This is not our finest hour”In comic chronology, before the Phalanx Covenant took place, Sinister captured an alien (Strain 264THETA) known as the Phalanx and heavily experimented on it. This alien strain came to Earth to share the gift of togetherness. His experiments left this alien deadly and “infertile” so to speak. Quote from Gillen’s masterful storytelling through the perspective of this thought to be invasive alien of this single issue storyline (Uncanny X-Men #4, March 2012): “I realized what the white monster had done. He had sliced away the best part of me. I could absorb metal and flesh, but not create the communion. He had tested my capacity to form a hive mind to destruction. He had left me a eunuch, a mute, forever alone.” This alien, now free years well after the Phalanx Covenant, attempts to grow and build a Babel Spire to reach out to his now soon realized extinct race. This triggers S.W.O.R.D. and they assign the X-Men to handle (eradicate) this situation. The Phalanx realizing his call for union with his brothers is unanswered and takes down his defenses, and lets the X-Men destroy him once and for all. This page (oversized 13.75” x 21”) showcases the X-Men (so many fun characters heroically standing together) combining their powers to overload and destroy the Phalanx entity (Strain 264THETA). He dies exploding alone and Storm makes note that “This is not our finest hour” after pondering his attempt at communication to her earlier about knowing what he knows, that they didn’t understand, wondering if they (the X-Men) could ever understand. It’s a beautifully sad story of an invasive, now deadly alien (due to Sinister’s experiments, leaving it’s absorption of new hosts dead instead of linking to hive mind togetherness) making one last attempt at survival, failing and dying through it’s perspective. Kieron Gillen’s storytelling along with Brandon Peterson’s guest-star return to drawing X-Men again for this issue is emotionally packed, and perfectly matched. I’ve enjoyed seeing Peterson’s work, especially in the 90’s with his work on the X-Men vol #2 #22 Psylocke/Betsy and Revanche/Kwannon story. So glad to have a Psylocke of my own from his hands, beautifully featured front and center on this half splash page. And to also get a Unstoppable Colossus in my collection is beyond X-citing, along with a collection of the full team heroically posed together after their “happy” victory, also featuring Namor, Hope, Cyclops, Magneto, Storm, Danger and Magik. The Phalanx storyline is one I am very drawn to for nostalgia as it was some of my earliest X books and X-family crossover that I read and animated series that I watched in my youth. Seeing it in animation on the X-MEN ANIMATED series in the 90’s (I have a cel from the Phalanx Covenant episode featuring Warlock, Magneto and Beast), and reading it in the Uncanny X-Men books, first full appearance in issue #312 (I am fortunate to have a page from that issue featuring some Phalanx getting out of control after being beat down by some humans) and the Covenant storyline X-crossover (see my X-Factor #106 page from the Phalanx Saga as Prof X and Nightcrawler deal with it). I may have to add another page from the X-crossover soon, if they continue to cross my path, as I do fully enjoy absorbing them into my collection. Social/Sharing |
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F M
Member Since 2005
1 - Posted on 4/11/2023
Brando has gone a long way since his early days on Uncanny.
Byron B
Member Since 2018
1 - Posted on 4/11/2023
Nice splash panel and cool lineup. Love how the team overlap the other panels. Definitely frame/wall worthy.
K Gearon
Member Since 2011
1 - Posted on 4/13/2023
Killer detail up top with that explosion AND a full team splash?! Yessir, I can dig it. Congrats, James!
Bill J
Member Since 2009
1 - Posted on 4/20/2023
Gorgeous UXM page! Love the group portrait in the bottom panel, especially the Storm and Cyclops figures. Stunning work by Brandon Peterson!
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