Maybe I misspoke. Perhaps writer was the wrong choice of words. Editor? Editor-in-Chief? Whatever. … I am a discerning fan, and I was so disappointed in the run of Uncanny X-Men after issue no. 279 that, in my mind, I say that the Shadow King really won in issue 280, and that everybody died, rather than actually consider the abominations that followed to be part of continuity.

In the '90s, with some significant exceptions, artists tried to make every page look like a poster. I think those sideways two-page spashes were especially bad. I think the writing really stunk. I was embarrassed for the characters I enjoyed, because they had to go through all this. It was really torture to read. So I wish, one way or the other, time could be turned back to issue 279, and things could be done right this time.

Why put Professor X back in a wheelchair (or hover/glider, or whatever)? Why kill off the Hellfire Club and the Hellions? Why stop the New Mutants from reuniting after Louise Simonson had desconstructed the group? *SIGH!*

As I said, Alan Davis' Excalibur was good (his artwork is so beautiful), as was Peter David's X-Factor. X-Men 2099 was a good read too. But most of what followed Uncanny X-Men #280 is just too painful to read to a discerning fan who had enjoyed most of what had come before.

* * *

Why so many groups, because with over 50 good and/or ambivalent mutants, there would be no room for them in just one story.

* * *

Were Claremont's stories what mutant stories should be? I loved the character development more than I did the central conflict of each issue. There could be an issue without a fight and I would still enjoy the character interaction. … Besides, I think Mojo is funny.

* * *

Too me, jump is still a type of publication, like an annual. And that addresses one of my other concerns with modern comics. It's hard to appreciate an artist's line-work with how over-colored these titles are. A few years ago I saw, but didn't buy, some titles called rough-cut. These titles really showed the nice line-art these artist were doing, they weren't buried under layers and layers of color.

-- Joe M. (age 55)

Anarchy and Chaos are the natural state of the human race. Civilization is unnatural. It is a whim of circumstance. And Chaos must always ultimately triumph.