X-Cutioner's Song, Part II
Here is what I really love about this issue: Stories like this get rushed all the time. This one, however, seems to be the right way to pull a bunch of plot lines together. This arc took over a year to lay its foundation and only three issues to drop bombs on the X-Universe. Cable's true parents; Tolliver's true identity; who Askani is and was and will be; Mr. Sinister's machinations with Cable; Stryfe's true nature. Epic.
This amount of plot could typically be handled in some hackneyed way where the writer simply tries to throw it all together and then move on too quickly. Nicieza does a fantastic job making sure that he has a plausible reasons that people learn certain truths and in the time that it happens. There isn't much "between the panels" that has to go on so there is little assumption as to what is actually happening. The revelations are well-paced and don't overwhelm the reader despite being pretty substantial in nature.
The art is also exceptional. As chaotic the plots are, Aron Wiesenfeld finds great ways to portray the action. The art is quasi-Liefeldian (ooh, sexy word) but the layouts more than make up for Jean Grey's broken spine and the plethora of menacing grins. Swirling energy and conversations are handled ably.
My one hang up is that Nicieza gets a bit wordy with the megalomaniac. I guess that is part of a megalomaniac's character, but it just hearkened to days reading Louise Simenson's New Mutants run.
Other than this small point, this issue is why I love the Cable mythos. And, while this arc is essential for reading about Cable, it certainly is not place to jump in and read out of curiosity. This complex storyline is competently successful in adding to the rich history for Cable and his family.