All-New X-Men #17 Review – D’AWWWWWWW
All-New X-Men #17 is part of the Inhumans vs. X-Men cross-over currently going on, and before I read this issue, I read all of the released books for IvX. I am so glad I did, because now this issue makes a whole world of more sense than it ever would without it. In fact, all of the issues of Uncanny X-Men that confused me now make complete sense. I both love and hate Marvel for it. I would have been completely clueless as to why the X-Men were attacking the inhumans’ city of New Attilan without it. I would have half understood, but not completely.
Fortunately, for those who aren’t reading IvX, the main focus is hardly on this attack. Instead, it’s about Bobby Drake and his new-found relationship with an inhuman. Bobby is in love with—I kid you not about the name—Romeo, and he’s having his own little Romeo and Juliet situation as well. As he returns from another lovely date with his love, the rest of the OG X-Men are waiting for him, telling him that the mutants are going to attack New Attilan, which is Romeo’s home.
To say that Bobby is NOT on board with this plan is putting it lightly.
Most of the book consists of flashbacks of Bobby and Romeo’s dates. It’s a very sweet, teenage romance. It’s also very sad that it appears to end tragically with this war brewing between the two factions of super-powered beings.
Or does it? Love does trump hate, or in this case, anger. The X-Men don’t hate the inhumans at all; they just want them to sit quietly and let the mutants destroy the terrigen cloud sweeping the globe. They honestly don’t want to kill anybody.
But they do want young Iceman to tag along and show his mutant support. Bobby agrees to go, but he can’t stop following his heart. The panel below is a full-page panel, and it’s sickeningly sweet.
Look at Romeo…melting Bobby’s icy exterior.
I’m on the X-Men’s side in this debate, but I didn’t want this couple to break up. Although is it weird that young Bobby is gay but older Bobby isn’t? Or is he closeted? Hmmmmm…
Our Rating: Yep
Author: Dennis Hopeless
Artists: Mark Bagley, Andrew Hennessy, and Nolan Woodard
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Publish Date: 01/18/2017
Acquired via Purchase
