Let's Talk About the Aftermath of Hellfire Gala 2023 in X-Men #25

[@77mcmarine]

Shadowkat using the scope of her assassin's training, was done beautifully in this issue. And the emotional depth of her actions comes across clearly.

[@onirepublikph1870]

I hope Rogue gets to Firestar first before Shadowkat. Rogue can absorb the memories of Firestar and relay it to Shadowkat.

[@tracyalan7201]

Given that Kate Pride's been through several phases of X-Men and has had some horrific experiences since she was 13, she's survived a great deal that its surprising that she hasn't had the equivalent of PTSD surfaced earlier. I like the section discussing her Jewish/ mutant persecution, which now having the WWII, Mutant Massacre of the Morlocks, Genosha and Krakoa, plus the trauma of losing her father in Genosha, sent to England after the Morlocks, being intangible in space, then unable to use the gates. Kate's pretty much had a pretty traumatic life. Not to mention her failed relationships with Colossus, Pete Wisdom, Bobby, Star Lord. She's actually quite a leader, so having the skills from Logan, Ogun plus all the X-men training, it's Orchis that under estimated how deadly she can be. She's just stating, No mo nice kitty.

[@thomasdewitt9407]

I hope orchis's fall is just as vicious as their attack at the hellfire gala

[@blove88]

This. I'm pulling for the next phase after Fall of X to be titled WAR of X. Krakoa needs to get it back in blood. No sanctimonious nonsense or platitudes. Orchis needs to go down. Violently.

[@vincentfranklin17]

Same for me!

[@stephenmumford9995]

Blerd without Fear consistently gives the best X-Men related new issue commentary available on KZbin. Brilliant analysis!

[@uxm4life94]

I think you guys must never have read a X-men comic in your lives before Krakoa if you all believe that. Otherwise so many inaccuracies and revisionist history.

[@ontariobrockington3101]

Kate Pride has not gone dark, she has gone Judge!🔥💪🏾💯

[@terrancebailey5867]

Just a thought, since cyclops died (in x-men) and was reborn on Krakoa, what if his body was taken by Dr. Stasis and reanimated into his version of the new Captain Krakoa? And the new cyclops has to battle him?

[@diydrivenGA]

Dr. Stasis as a Paramedic just showing up to F with Scott when he's on death's door is a troupe I didn't know I needed to see more often.

[@Katzztar]

16:07 I forgot that Rasputin IV had phasing power from Kate's genes. However, she's not gone through events like Kate has that's pushed her powers ever further. From being stuck in phase to power ups, it's upped Kate's abilites. But Synch literally synchs into a person's power. So it's more than that. Two things pop up in my mind. One - many forget that Kate's state of existence has been altered. After the Morlock Massacre, her natural state of existence was to be intangible and had to concentrate to become solid. By end of vol 1 of Excalibur, that was rarely referred to and she had easier control, it seemed as if she only needed to concentrate to alter her state but did not need to conecntrate to keep it as it's been shown she could stay intangible or solid when asleep. In the recent X-treme X-Men we learned that even in her College days, her natural state was NOT to be tangible. Two- through her history there been times others either mind-swapped with her (that Baron in the Microverse) or possessed her and when they did, they had trouble controlling her powers. She was able to influence the control despite being in another body or someone like Ogun possessing her. So could be that there's a mental aspect to her power that Synch or Rasputin VI aren't able to recreate. Edit= On the mental aspect... In Extreme X-Men (2001) #26 Lady Deasthstrike states " "Her molecular state is so unstable my techs theorize that elements of her mind may reside in other dimensions." This seems proven correct in Black Vortex when she got her cosmic upgrade, she could phase through the mutliverse and become aware of her alternate selves, and knew what they knew.

[@blogsanjay1031]

I noticed kitty saying rasputin probably has a plan. could be that rasputin can go through the gates but is keeping it a secret

[@diydrivenGA]

AYE YO!!! That's some good stuff and great call backs.

[@cataclysmicacedia824]

That might have been her talking about god.@@blogsanjay1031

[@Popcultureguy3000]

It’s so crazy that Kitty Pride swapped minds with one of the toys whose design inspired the look of Emperor Zerg in Toy Story 2 (he’s inspired by the myriad of Darth Vader rip-offs that were created by toy companies in wake of Star Wars success, and Baron Karza was most certainly one of that wave).

[@Katzztar]

@@Popcultureguy3000 Karza.. that's the name! Thanks, all I could remember was "that baron villain the Micronauts fought" lol. Been too long since I read that miniseries. While the mind/body swap between young Kitty & Baron Karza was wild, that wasn't the weirdest thing about that miniseris. Professor X's alt ego was, esp when he was creeping on the Karza-in-Kitty's body. Even going so far as have him/her in a skimpy outfit and was leaning over the bod.

[@noelbernabe8704]

I've often said the only way the public knows a hero is a mutant 80% of the time is if they wear an X on their uniform.

[@jacksondaniels007]

Feels like Days of Future Past & Bishop's time line keeps trying 2 become the present.

[@BaithNa]

Never apologize about getting "political" because the people that complain about it are the ones that need the history lesson the most

[@robertpollard4050]

They also don't get that the X-Men have *always* been political.

[@Logan7281X]

Agreed.

[@Logan7281X]

​@@robertpollard4050 They sure have.

[@RainPhoenixTilla]

​@@robertpollard4050big facts 💯

[@RainPhoenixTilla]

Exactly, but the X men need a good revenge arc

[@jvbelchior134]

seeing what Kate is doing now just shows why cyclops was right

[@juggaloclownpreacher]

I like the Kate pride is becoming the new Magneto in a way. She's a Jewish Survivor of a massacre and not just one massacres but multiple. And you know if Magneto was still alive in the comic books the bad guys would have had a harder time killing them all. Magneto would have never let this go this far.

[@Wezt334]

Oh Nathaniel Essex has kidnapped Scott Summers…no matter the suit he wears on his head the man is obsessed with Scott

[@HouseOfBlerd]

Seeing Kate like this is all the cumulation of everything the mutants have been going through and they are tired. KATE is done being hurt and once you loss everything you have nothing else to lose.

[@monstermoo4191]

I just remembered how much I hate Cipher for not letting Destiny and Mystique handle Moira way back when... 😮‍💨

[@devantebaillou6970]

"Hope you survive the experience" is UNHINGED 😂😂

[@sarkastikleader4708]

They need to do a “ShadowKat kills the Marvel Universe” or something.

[@Katzztar]

On her "Phasing bullets through the Earth", thank you for the box telling what issues those were. I've been searching for that one at 16:16 but never saw it in X-Men Gold and wasn't able to find it. Now I can.

[@Dyvon.dynamo]

Brother, this is why I sub. This is the best commentary I've heard on this issue. From Kamala all the way to Kate, you're on the beats and providing all the nuance of all the context and dressings in the back. These are master class comics right now and this whole era really means something more than just the vapid colors, explosions and gore. That Firestar v Kate is a scary matchup fr 😢

[@acereporter73]

"One of the good ones..." I felt that, brother. I. Felt. THAT.

[@madmatt1964ify]

Your political points are good points. Keep doing your thing brother. I'm here for it!

[@asilva4956]

What i don't like is that they kept Krakoa for almost 4 years now, and then suddenly it's all gone. They were the most powerful group on the planet and suddenly they're powerless and helpless.

[@ginofrancejr555]

If you look at the whole krakoa era of x men its a social commentary masterpiece

[@kirkfarrell3204]

what people are terming “political “ is the EXACT reason i watch your videos first on my subscription list. the ostrich style ( bury your head in the sand until the storm passes) was never featured in a Shaw bros flick… that should speak for itself

[@justinriley]

Loving this new vicious Kate Pryde.

[@Monsterism]

maybe I'm missing something but why is no one mentioning how Dr Stasis looks like Sinister. Surely someone on Orchis would be like hey something fishy is going on.

[@ronniec8218]

Regular Human in the 616 need to be humbled. When will think with all the alien invasions world ending events that the mutants stopped or helped defend against, they would just chill out but nope lol.

[@ronaldomontora2449]

THIS!?!😤😡

[@god-king2164]

House/Power of X, Inferno and this Hellfire Gala has been some of the best written comics in a lot of years. The slow build up to this has been dope as f-ck

[@AdrianMendoza23]

Solid issue. Shadowkat went ham. Great job Ernie.

[@ishryal]

I can see the attack by Shadowkat being a way to amp Firestar's power - so long as she spots Kitty in time. I mean sure, while phased Kitty can't be touched, but if Firestar can burn hot enough so that it would incinerate anything as soon as it came out of phase? That would be a standoff - maybe long enough for Firestar to explain. Plus she can fly, so yeah, the first attack would be critical.

[@buhe1]

In the Ice Man series Romeo told Bobby that they'll no doubt go after Inhumans which makes sense because the originals are a distant cousin of humanity because of a shared ancestor from the evolutionary ladder, that they are truly a separate species to humans unlike mutants, and Orchis can say in propaganda that Nuhumans stopped being humans after the cocoon thing and are not one of them. It was once considered that Kitty might be a Neo, and even though the Neo were perhaps wiped out by the evolutionaries, though there might be some survivors based on a possible preparation after the High Evolutionary's attack which may have worked on their attack when it came to their island they lived in waiting for humanity to wipe themselves out. Like a protective field for example. Kitty was probably spared because she was considered progressing like the mutants, instead of doing nothing but waiting like the rest of the Neo, or maybe her phasing power saved her, but it may be possible that Neos can't use the gates because they're mutants who are genetically different to other mutants. That the gates can't be set for both mutant and Neo at the same time.

[@hardlyacademic2740]

I like this new format. It's sharp, interactive and informative. Keep up the good work.

[@johnnyscifi]

Cyclops is my favourite x-man. Ill die on that hill

[@princexarion8511]

Let's talk about how Shadowkat through a guy and he stayed phased have her powers grown to mental phasing other beings/objects without touching them

[@princexarion8511]

*threw

[@joenuyen6017]

The X-men have felt more like villains to me since abandoning peaceful coexistence. The gala outcome has them on a path of redemption for me

[@theblackestjedi]

I think Orchis is going the way of Mad Jim Jaspers of earth 238 I think, they are going to hunt all super powered people, you have to also remember that after Inferno when Magneto and Charles were hunting down moira or mystique i think, they had came across omega sentinel (her mind overwritten by a version of herself from an alternate possibility through a technological Titan) and nimrod and come to find out that they didn't just hate mutants but humanity as a whole if memory serves me right.

[@t5dagreat]

Kate "Dont call me Kitty" Pryde, canceled Hanukkah on those soldiers! She went Mercy is for the weak on them! I wanna see how the X-Men regroup and bounce back!

[@bmoretone]

I like it when the heroes take the L, but have mutants ever had that moment when they smack the villan or bully to the point where they get that "oh sht" these folk ain't playing? When they punch back and the bully gets that look of I just effed up, ima chill. I can't recall.

[@Katzztar]

It used to happen back in the day(shortly after he joined) when idiots went against Wolverine. That would have been in early to mid-80s. I think there's an issue where they fought some Hellfire goons who thought X-Men were jokes because they held back only to go "oh shi.." when a feral Wolverine starts slashing them.

[@uxm4life94]

In Secret Wars (1984) the bad guys told each other to be "careful around the hairy little one because he's a real case"

[@inistark]

Never knew Shadowkat was this bagasse. She would be unstoppable as a villain.

[@uxm4life94]

When has Captain America NOT been on teams where he's standing shoulder to shoulder with mutants?! He was even side by side with Namor, before Avengers even existed, in WWII!

[@michaeltaylor788]

Yep.

[@blacklite911]

I definitely agree with you about XMen winning. Personally, I knew the L was coming sooner or later because I know comics but the way they dominated the world had to get knocked back a peg. To me, x men is the only series that has these real consequences consistently

[@pedrorabeje4019]

So this was what Wolverine was alluding to when he said back in Joss Whedon's Astonishing X-Men that he didn't want Kitty going all ninja on him.

[@corvustiberius3591]

I more and more appreciate you, and your videos.

[@terrenced7742]

Katherine killing those men was borne out of both her rage at what they'd done to mutants, but also out of necessity for mutant safety, and I thought the way that message was conveyed was done expertly. I'm happy that they showed what she'd become after that fight first instead of picking up right after she fell through the gateway; it made her story much more compelling.

[@TalesFromTheBooth]

BLERD stay on point with the analogies 🔥💯🔥

[@Jurrell1982]

Curious what you think Cyclops' fate is? If he is in fact paralyzed, what do you think the end result will be? He can't be in a wheelchair forever, right? I mean, it's a comic book. Anything is possible.

[@sgpoet47]

AMAZING WORK !! Great analysis

[@andrewmoore8638]

Loved your comparison to story with current and past events in relation to racial oppression and genocide. Don't apologize, because obviously Duggan is using those very real life experiences as the template for this story. In regards to Kate's past issues and current ability to access the gates, I wonder if it goes back to an early 2000s Claremont arc when Kate was kidnapped by The Neo...an offshoot of mutants who claimed she was one of them. He never got to deep dive into it, because the books shifted to match the emerging movie franchise at the time and he was eventually taken off the books. Could her status as a "Neo" with a unique x gene be why she initially couldn't and can now access the gates?

[@SuiteVII]

The big major difference y’all keep missing between super-powered humans like The Human Torch and mutants that humans hate is that the mutants in their lives are children in their neighborhood or weird looking person dating their sister. Like in real life, its not their existence that’s the problem, its their proximity.

[@solonvergara207]

Thanks for the perspective I just feel like we done this before also I don’t have a problem it just felt like X-men disassemble again also do to ms marvel want to see the inhumans again or a savage land event do to the thunderbolts

[@witchdoctorstrong3734]

FIRESTAR BEING BROADCASTED AS A "CANDICE OWEN" IS CRAZY.

[@Mrsierramist1]

The last part of this video is spot on with how people consume media.

[@JasonAndrew1973]

When the resurrection was revealed, I totally bought that normal people that hated them because of nor sharing it.

[@natanpeixoto7460]

10:51 I’m sorry that was so funny I was so confused for a moment LOL

[@ACG0001]

I been a comic fan for 35years...it's always weird when the "hero's" have hellfire galas.

[@johnwright-b2l]

Kitty using the total scope of her training was written well here. But Marvel should write all the anti mutant groups being exterminated.

[@uxm4life94]

The worst anti mutant groups are Apocalypse, Sinister, Selene, Bishop, Casandra Nova, Sabretooth, the Maruuders, Sebastian Shaw, the Hellfire Club and Stryfe. All have been responsible for way more mutant deaths throughout Marvel history than Orchis ever could.

[@billtempleton2870]

Your comments are right on point, as usual.

[@alwavy821]

X-men #25 ShadowKat issue by Gerry Duggan, I find it surprisingly good. Consedering I dropped back in #22.

[@akkakkakekkn]

I'm probably going to get this issue even though I've never been a huge fan of xmen

[@kedwin79]

I’d like to see Apocalypse be the mutant savior in all of this.

[@moonknight101]

what x-men comics you been reading where the x-men always win?

[@stanzaa1458]

Keep em coming

[@vincentfranklin17]

The X-Men will get a good revenge arc, I hope. Orchis needs to pay!

[@danielayiotis5318]

Great pay off to the story that started with HoX PoX. It has me wondering will such a massive plot point need a HoX PoX-size event in the future to resolve it?

[@uxm4life94]

Captain America has always been a Mutant "sympathiser". Anyone who's bothered to actually read classic Marvel between 1961-2012 already knows he's done more to rescue, protect and champion Mutants and their rights than probably any character in Marvel history. This current narrative that he hasn't "done enough" is beyond ignorant.

[@michaeltaylor788]

You got that right.

[@uxm4life94]

@@michaeltaylor788 I don't think any of these newer fans have read a X-men (or Marvel) comic in their lives before Krakoa. Absolutely breathtakingly ignorant narratives being spun

[@DaveKrzeminski]

I think we may get a days of future past kind of story. Just like we got another inferno

[@daemonblackfyre3238]

Can't Dance Owens 🥴🤣

[@koozg7579]

And make it look easy!

[@oneofgodschildren8361]

Shadowcat Wolverine train her in Ninjutsu stealth

[@Ronin_Vector]

I didn't understand what "Mutant Massacre" meant until today. i always assumed it was some sort of cuddle feast with Saberhugs.

[@danacottrell5224]

It would be ironic if the X-Men had to go to the Inhumans for help

[@MrJappy31]

Blerd! Do you really think Rogue actually took out the "real" Moira ? I do not. It was too easy in my opinion.

[@Katzztar]

Moira is more machine now. Rogue tore up the real deal...but being machine now, Moira will rebuild herself.

[@MrJappy31]

@@Katzztar Shadowcat has a unique way of disrupting machinery though...

[@caliken10]

Back in the 70's Mattel sold an action figure called "Big Jim" He was a globetrotting adventurer predating Indiana Jones. I had the set that had a Jeep and a mummy (but not the actual figure) I could see them making a movie of Big Jim but that Matt Mason idea sounds terrible!

[@princexarion8511]

She has to make sure that secret remained

[@c.h.5510]

Karen is the Oracle from the #Matrix

[@blcaesar]

How was in the pit and what happened to them?

[@kwamintaylor4247]

Kitty pryde went full Hunters

[@Freeofbonds]

Yes Kate come back to us. AKA shadow cat!!!

[@jai-one2691]

Now I believe there's a real purpose for Magnito saying don't bring him back. But I have a feeling in the future it will all versions of him, but very unique, very powerful, and very very pissed.

[@emanroll4444]

ForgetMeNot gonna save the day

[@chriscueva1866]

He’s dead but you probably just forgot like everyone else

[@Popcultureguy3000]

Nah, he ded.

[@duanepinkston2983]

cyclops is my favorite character always has been

[@LeLeB37]

So no mention of when Jean Grey is going to come back? Because she always comes back...

[@goredongoredon]

Kate seems like she is being written very interestingly. What happened to Doug Ramesy and Krakoa itself?

[@malicyoung9293]

Yeah, while I found the hellfire gala issue hard to read just like Carter i am loving the current era of x men. Just has that intriguing, apocalyptic days of future past vibe. For decades x men has teased it, and now it's here.

[@neknamirrem6315]

Captain Krakoa is probably bullseye Love your channel btw and your commentary!

[@dominiqueodom3099]

That one picture of Wolverine is just 🔥I personally liked it but I dont get the response people are having. The Xmen are made a hot commodity in the Comics to the Mainstream audience for the First time since maybe the Grant Morrison era,and then the Krakoan Era is drawn out for so long that people have been practically begging them to do something to advance the plot, and now that its going ahead people are saying they want the Krakoan Era drawn out even longer. People with attitudes like that are ruining the pacing of comics. Not a fan of Ms Marvel being a mutant after being the poster child of the Inhumans over the past decade. I also want to see Rogue vs Firestar.

[@Triple_Ho]

Is Firestar as a traitor/spy foreshadowing Moira as a traitor/spy? Moira is playing the ultimate long game because all other alternatives did not work. Never seemed right that Moira just turned on the X-Men & we still haven't seen much from her along with Doug just letting her go. Maybe Doug/Warlock/Krakoa are the only ones who know Moira's plan.

[@redbaron9142]

Shadowkat is in her murder hobo run, and I absolutely loved this when I saw it. Yet it has me sad because this is her second mutant massacre and she is Jewish so it had so much more impact to this whole situation at hand.

[@imanicartwright4463]

I mean, this is literally what happened during the cold war.

[@bigd4998]

She will always be Kitty to me

[@Dantheman0130]

I feel like they ain’t using Rasputin IV to her fullest now that mutants are on the hunt she is literally OP

[@pedrorabeje4019]

Love when you go "political." I'm always here for it!

[@TheEliteX1]

Captain America gives no f's about what people think. Remember this is the same Captain America who used a spoon that he got from a black soldier to eat his lunch in front of everyone else.

[@brandontrammel4581]

Facts

[@idylan1776]

Pirate Pryde is the best Pryde

[@patd9850]

Folks forget that Kate, can not only control her density, but can increase her density as well. She could be as dense as diamond or greater. if she’s wanted too.

[@Katzztar]

That was mainly Ultimates version. Mainstream Kate goes intangible by sliding her molecules between the spaces of the molecules of other objects. I say "was mainly Ultimates" because the more recent X-Men/FF miniseries. Doom influenced Kate and controlled her density: "If you can become lighter than air, why not heavier than stone?" with that Kate became so heavy that she fell through the floor. Sadly, they have not shown this since. I would like them too, as when Ultimates Kitty went super-dense, she had super strength and once bitch-slapped the Thing.

[@wrldofgod6321]

Orchis Vs Children of the Vault…

[@fendisaintlaurent4257]

Kitty can only hold her breath for so long and without oxygen she will surely die. Even if she is phasing. Kitty ain't totally untouchable while phasing either. She has trouble phasing through Metals or materials of extraordinary density like Adamantium and if I am not mistaken Kitty can still be somewhat affected by energy attacks. So she'd better be careful running up on a mutant who emits high powered microwaves. The X-men have weathered far worse than this. They always come back harder. Just keep the Avengers out of it. The X-men doesn't need em. At all.

[@gogglesgrotke8993]

Fire instalment of your commentary brother. Thesis?!?!!!!;++!!;:!?????