X-Factor #147 - "Bashed!"

Writer: Joseph Harris    Pencils: Mike Miller    Inks: Nghia Lam

   I dunno how I feel about what seems to be a retcon of Shard's age making her highschool age. Granted it makes sense that she acts older coming from her time, but it still seems wrong. I mean how old does that make Bishop then? Anyway this issue focuses on Shard helping out a kid who can bend his thumb down to his wrist. The two both experience discrimination of the anti-mutant kind even though one really isn't a mutant.

   I just couldn't get into this issue. Joseph Harris does excellent dialogue but the story just doesn't work for me. He writes, as far as I've read, issues about mutants as people instead of superheroes. In theory that seems like something you'd want, but it feels like I've read or watched or heard this story too many times before. Social pariah bumps into other social pariah and then they turn on eachother at the end. All very tragic but just not especially interesting to read. One panel that I really like though, was Shard fingering her "M" (mutant) tattoo while talking about her future. Nice and subtle.

   The art, however, is really nice. Miller really should get his own series. I think after one or two issues he'd have any characters down cold. Its always nice to see a new artist with his own look, and Miller definetly has it. His use of shadows is especially good. In a few years I think we'll be seeing a lot of him. Or so I hope.

"Kevin, believe me... mutants around here... they got it pretty easy compared to where I come from." - Shard, X-Factor #147

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