Dark X-Men (2010) written by Paul Cornell, Art by Leonard Kirk



There are too many comics out there, such an inundation of creativity.  A lot is pulp, but some standout.  What has nostalgic appeal is finding that gem buried in the heap.  Brings back memories, for example late 1980's, as a teenager rummaging through a city waste dump (nothing more fun then smashing things apart, dumps have a plethora of junk to smash) - finding a ripped up comic.  It was Frank Millers Daredevil run, from the early 80s, the full collection in one publication, which focused on his Elektra's character and the psychopathic Bullseye character evolving into the DD lore.  The comic was dirty, had pages ripped and missing.  But I loved it.  Perfect.  Hard boiled styled writing with über violence, gritty art - found on a dump site.  To me, that is part of nostalgic memories worth savoring.  Just recently I passed a second hand book shop, they had a comic box, with collection of random comics.  I picked up the Dark X-Men written by Paul Cornell, art by Leonard Kirk (his parents were Star Trek fans?), published way back in 2010.  Which I guess in comic years that would make it old, right? Anyway it was fucking wild. The background of the story obviously was connected to an ongoing saga elsewhere in the Marvel (publisher) Universe, but there was just something about the characters, the way they were written.  All of them neurotic with mental health issues - accept for Mystique who is a opportunistic super-powered woman with a bomb in her head (planted by Norman Osbourne), as a psychiatrist helps profiles them, at the same time a slew of characters interacting in violent encounters, mostly around the characters Nate Grey (omnipotent being - good guy) and Norman Osbourne (A master player with no real powers but only his will power - bad guy).  A lot of convoluted concepts, if you were unfamiliar with the overall connection to the broader story you would be lost.  Still, some great weirdness in Cornell's writing (note: mass of psychics all bound together to form a massive brain), sending the Dark X-Men into Norman Osborne's warped subconsciousness (he is nut) so they can control the Green Goblin (his psychopathic alta ego).  Cornell's idea for a superhero story, which is sending neurotic 'superheroes' into a madman's brain so they can keep his 'other psychotic' personalty at bay, is a superb concept. 

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My superhero universe (Amazon ebooks):

The Chaos Synidcate

and

The Chaos Syndicate: Ad Extremus

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