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Welcome back, superhero enthusiasts, 1990s culture enthusiasts, X-Men fans and comic book collectors! Today we revisit the Marvel Comics shared universe through one of the many tales of the X-Men 2099 monthly series.
After 17 issues read, it is clear that the futuristic X-Men were destined to be separated from each other before getting back together against all odds. By having the team in disarray and the members separated with different situations that affected them, it provided the comic book creators opportunities to really develop each member extensively while expanding the lore of Marvel 2099 in creative ways. After seventeen issues, Skullfire has transformed into a more reasonable person who aligned himself with Shakti closely. Meanstreak meanwhile went to Las Vegas with Halloween Jack to do something that could alter the city seriously. Krystalin in California is on a quest to find her kidnapped brother.
With those details laid down, here is a look back at X-Men 2099 #18, published by Marvel Comics in 1995 with a story written by John Francis Moore and drawn by Ron Lim.
Early story
The story begins in Berkeley where Krystalin and her companion visit a ruined part of the city. She is told that it is best for them to turn around but Krystalin insists on finding the Free Radicals who are responsible for kidnapping her brother Zak. As they walk further, they both fall into a trap door only to find themselves in a very dark wind tunnel which caused their fall to slow down. After landing on the floor, gas is suddenly pumped on them. A very bright light followed which disoriented them both. A man and woman appear to take them in. Krystalin decides to fight and find her brother.
Meanwhile in the mountains of New Mexico, three intruders appeared inside a secret laboratory while Shakti struggles to sleep. The intruders analyze Zhao’s attempt to make analogs of the original 20th century X-Men members which ended in failure. One of them thinks that Shakti has finally halted and reversed the deterioration. Using technology, they have the three fossilized bodies teleported to the Theater of Pain.
Shakti, who has been unable to sleep, senses the presence of a mutant inside the laboratory…
Quality
As expected, this comic book continues the tales of the previous issue, specifically Krystalin’s quest and Halloween Jack’s takeover of Las Vegas. Things, however, turned for the weird and the wild.
Krystalin’s quest for her kidnapped brother Zack led her to facing off with the Free Radicals, a group of freaks composed of scientists who have been waging guerilla war against governmental and corporate oppression. Elements of politics were mixed into the narrative of Krystalin’s tale as it brings back memories of radicalized groups in America who engaged in crime, political activism and terrorism during the rule of President Richard Nixon (for insight, click here). As expected, Krystalin finds herself on a huge disadvantage and her will to get her brother (a highly prominent part of the Panthers) back really got tested here.
As for the other important tale, Halloween Jack (assisted by Meanstreak) pushed forward with his insane intention to take over the Synge casino and bring down the syndicate while Desdemona Synge is helpless. This tale easily reminds me of the Las Vegas legacy of crime, particularly with the establishment of businesses owned by gangsters many decades ago. As Marvel 2099 has a strong anti-corporate message (which confirms the Leftist bias and philosophies with Marvel Comics and creators during the 1990s), the boundary that separated good and evil got blurred away in this tale. While Halloween Jack believes he is doing something good and significant by bringing down the Synge empire and changing Las Vegas, he does not realize he himself is evil and is executing a plan of one evil force replacing the current evil force. This should remind you about the Black Panthers, the Palestinian terrorists, the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement and other wicked forces of the world who see themselves as liberators and went to the extremes with violence and coercion.
Along the way, Meanstreak assists Halloween Jack without any hesitation which made him a pawn of evil. As such, Meanstreak’s character and moral standing got compromised a lot which makes his membership of the X-Men questionable.
Indeed, there is a lot of symbolism in the tales of Krystalin and Halloween Jack here and the undeniable thing is that John Francis Moore implemented a good amount of depth within.
Conclusion
X-Men 2099 #18 (1995) is clearly an attempt to shake the foundation of the series itself. Las Vegas has always been a key location since the beginning, and the Synge empire was the original enemy of the futuristic X-Men. Even as the mentioned two tales resulted in the weird and the wild, the creators succeeded in ensuring a cohesive read.
Overall, X-Men 2099 #18 (1995) is recommended.
+++++
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