Loners 4 - Thoughts/Comments?

[C.B.Cebulski]

Already getting a lot of feedback on this issue in other places. What'd you all think?

[scouser]

Straight to the point is she really a lesbian? Because that really :o me!

[Raydawggie]

Two girls in the MU with Rainbow powers, and both might be gay? Not subtle with the symbolism, are we? :)

Seriously, I loved this issue. Probably my favorite of the four.

[Dermie]

The possibly lesbian thing was actually hinted at back when the team appeared in RUNAWAYS--there was a slightly flirty moment between her and Karolina, while the rest of their teammates were fighting.
While I think it is great that there might be another gay or bisexual hero in the MU, I'm slightly disappointed because I was looking forward to her and Ricochet hooking up. I wonder if he and Mattie might get together instead?

This issue was a really good spotlight for Julie, and I enjoyed the tiny cameo by her sister Katie.

I'm really enjoying the Mickey/Chris relationship; it was definately a surprise to me, but I think they are fun together.

And I'm glad that Nekra gets to make another appearance--she is a fun villain, and I'm looking forward to her rematch with the group!

[Starleafgirl]

Well, I just wanted to express much love for the Phil-P...Hollow moment in issue #4. I only browsed the rest of the issue thusfar, so I'll write here again if I come up with any more meaningful feedback. :)

[bennymatthewtaylor]

Lovely. Although how many of these people are registered? I dimly recall someone claiming they were all registered last month but here now in 4, it seemed problematic for Julie and Ricochet... Or was that just about being concerned about being under aged? She did fight on Captain America's side in the Civil War(Please don't ask me to reference that, it was said by a news anchor on a TV screen in some comic during the war to paint a landscape.) ...Though how can they be registered without receiving the correct "training" at that bootcamp? Surely fear of being turned into hounds or a gestapo thought police was the primary motivation propelling agitation against that ass Tony Stark?

...So you can register and then retire which abrogates the requirement to be properly trained or being forced into unconscionable militaryish engagements under threat of overworldly imprisonment?

[Starleafgirl]

Um, as far as I know, C.B. has mentioned off-hand that they're all registered, but then someone else on the Runaways board mentioned speculation that Julie implies she isn't registered. And what about Phil? When he said "they're all registered," was it just a slip of the tongue that he didn't include himself or is he not registered?

Well, I guess we'll find out. Sorry this post probably wasn't very helpful, but I was trying to help. Now you know as much as I do, anyhow, lol.

EDIT: Or did he say "retired" ? Meh, you can look it up as easily as I could. See ya. ;D

[Dermie]

Um, as far as I know, C.B. has mentioned off-hand that they're all registered, but then someone else on the Runaways board mentioned speculation that Julie implies she isn't registered. And what about Phil? When he said "they're all registered," was it just a slip of the tongue that he didn't include himself or is he not registered?

Phil doesn't have powers, and he no longer has a costume, so there is no reason for him to register. Mickey would probably have to be registered though, since she still has the Turbo suit.

[Guirk the Thudner]

I love the shit out of this book. Let Whedon's Runaways get all the attention, but this is the true continuation of the series. Runaways was about adults not being who you thought they were. This series is about being twenty-something and finding out the world isn't really what you make it. It is what it is and you have to cope. It sucks and is beautiful and it goes on.

Really, really good stuff.

[Starleafgirl]

Having read a review that tears this issue apart, I thought I'd repost my response to the review, just because now I've read the entire issue (which I liked, btw) and it contains me mustering up some criticism, lol.

I thought Loners #4 did a better job of going where it intended to go and saying what it had to say on its topic than the last one. As much as I was over-the-moon to be reading Penance/Hollow again, the whole point of it, the whole story, overall, felt sort of... disjointed and not really making the point it meant to (except at the very end)? As much as I like Phil and Hollow, issue #4 with Julie did a better job of staying on topic.

Maybe I like it so much just because it's not your typical "let's fly in and save the day, oo, let's stick an explosion in there too, just for the hell of it" book. I really, really don't mind the high exposition and "talkiness" of it, which seems to be others' criticisms (that, and some plotholes).

Sure, the Julie plot seemed too cliche even to me when the director tried to collect on those "fringe benefits," but I don't mind all that much because I care far more for the Phil-Hollow plot than hers. On the plus side, I like how Julie blasted him, heh.

My main criticism on this issue: a lack of progression on the other subplots. But at least there were hints. And I could understand that you'd (C.B.) need to cut other stuff down to fit in everything you wanted to for the Julie plot. Geez, even my criticism isn't that harsh. Ah, well.

I mean, I like the series' issues, despite having just read yet another (shockingly) bad review of an issue. And most of the characters, flawed as they are and certainly not your typical A-listers in spandex and capes, have grown on me. Even though I only bought this series for Penance. I mean, Hollow.

What am I trying to say here... I like it, but I think I can see where others who don't like it are coming from. Oy, maybe I should just stop reading reviews. I mean, on one hand, they force me to think about what I'm reading more critically, but on the other hand, I end up reading bad things about something I like. Well, there you have it, my thoughts on Loners #4.

I still have faith that you'll be able to put the various subplots together into a cohesive whole in issues #5 and #6. ;)

[Daniel K.]

While I think it is great that there might be another gay or bisexual hero in the MU, I'm slightly disappointed because I was looking forward to her and Ricochet hooking up.

I really was too, and while I also think it's great to represent all aspects of life in comics, it kind of feels odd that both Karolina and Julie have nearly the same powers and might both be lesbians. I'm hoping that her "secret" is something out of left field, just because it seems so predictable where this is heading right now.

All things considered, still a really great issue. Definitely enjoying this series to death.

[Dermie]

I really was too, and while I also think it's great to represent all aspects of life in comics, it kind of feels odd that both Karolina and Julie have nearly the same powers and might both be lesbians.

Nearly the same powers? Both of them fly with rainbow light effects...but other than that, what is the same about their powers? Karolina projects energy blasts, generates force fields, etc. I thought Julie could just fly?

[Starleafgirl]

Julie has a healing factor. Um. Flying. Blast power. I dunno what else, honestly, but from the looks of issue #4, it looks like she doesn't either. :no:

[Daniel K.]

Nearly the same powers? Both of them fly with rainbow light effects...but other than that, what is the same about their powers? Karolina projects energy blasts, generates force fields, etc. I thought Julie could just fly?

Okay, visually their powers are pretty close. I just went on wikipedia and apparently Julie has flight and apparently teleportation.

[bennymatthewtaylor]

The possibly lesbian thing was actually hinted at back when the team appeared in RUNAWAYS--there was a slightly flirty moment between her and Karolina, while the rest of their teammates were fighting.
While I think it is great that there might be another gay or bisexual hero in the MU, I'm slightly disappointed because I was looking forward to her and Ricochet hooking up.

that was never going to happen. He's just the rebound guy.

[Starleafgirl]

"rebound," haha. :)

[C.B.Cebulski]

By the way, Starleafgirl, I remember you asking somewhere if Penny's slight color change will be addressed and it will be, in issue 5.

Thanks for you continued comments!

Take care,
C.B.

[Starleafgirl]

By the way, Starleafgirl, I remember you asking somewhere if Penny's slight color change will be addressed and it will be, in issue 5.

Oh, how nice! Thanks for letting me know. :) After all that time in Generation X, I was beginning to think an explanation or at least acknowledgement was too much to ask for. :blah: Hehe. :cool:

*pauses* Wait, addressed how? Oh noes, she's a Skrull. Hehe. Just kidding. Well, we'll see. :cool:

[Aspiring Fanatic]

I'm loving this series! :) I love how 'normal' these characters are. I mean, they're portrayed as people with their own personal problems, albeit combined with the fact of who they were (are), which adds an element that just boosts the 'human factor' to a new level. The interaction between characters has been awesome. As for this particular issue, I was thoroughly enthralled. The question of registration and sexual preference added just enough intrigue to bring the reader back for more, not to mention Nekra's return on the last page. ;)

I must admit that the similarities between Julie and Karolina (The Runaways) was a bit of a disappointment, but after realizing that it was mostly just in the way that they are presented and not that they actually have the exact same powers and whatnot, I was okay with it.

I'm very interested to see where the whole Phil/Hollow thing goes, most of all, but am looking forward to seeing how things work out for all of them in general. Overall, it's an awesome story, and I've enjoyed it thoroughly. It would be one I'd read regularly were it to become an ongoing series, for sure! :)

[Faded]

By the way, Starleafgirl, I remember you asking somewhere if Penny's slight color change will be addressed and it will be, in issue 5.

Thanks for you continued comments!

Take care,
C.B.

Awww, that's awesome! I initially was put off by her initial color, I didn't know there was a story behind it!

[Starleafgirl]

Awww, that's awesome! I initially was put off by her initial color, I didn't know there was a story behind it!

Lol, well... I have faith that C.B. had (or subsequently created?) a reason for the initial color (which wasn't really close to anything she'd been before) and the subsequent change to her classic red skin and blue eyes, but sadly no explanation made it into issue #5 (unless the red of Namie, a fellow lab rat, is related to the red of Penance's skin). Even though I say "classic," I went through the first few issues of Generation X and realized I'd forgotten she was pink at first, but she's famous for her red.

Maybe she was pink at first because she was in poor health (having spent years in captivity as Emplate's main food source) and turned red when she got better in the positive, caring environment of Generation X and, similiarly, purple-ish until she "got better" around Phil and the other Loners, thus turning red.

Weirder things have been applied to the character. People aren't even sure if she's really a mutant or not... I'm hoping she was a mutant that Emplate got his hands on and then imprisoned his sister inside of her using his dark magics.

Sigh. Waiting for #6 is hard. At least they'll have a holiday story in December. Hope C.B.'s pitch for a second mini gets picked up!