A Nice Break
I can't help but contrast this issue to the burial of Illyana Rasputin. The earlier issue dealt with death, especially that of a young and close friend to the X-Men. The death was a tragedy. The funeral is marred by Magneto's presence. It is a reminder that crap can happen in any situation. That's all well and good, but the issue came across as tacky.
Our current issue, however, is Marvel getting it right. There is no fighting and no threat being discussed. This issue simply takes time out for a momentous occasion. The emotions of the various parties are perfectly rendered. Narrated by Professor X (who else could give us the thoughts of the others, hmm?), we take a walk through the preparations by the parents, bride and groom, and various guests. The wedding means more than just two lives coming together; this wedding embraces a future (Cable and Phoenix) and buries the past (Madelyne Pryor).
There are moments of levity: Gambit and Rogue claiming their bridal prizes. The shine-through, however, are the moments of sincerity. The vows are nice, the thoughts the Professor can extricate are heart-felt, and the last dance is perfectly scripted. Yes, the dialogue can get tedious, but what about attending a wedding isn't? Some comics are five-star worthy for reality changing plots. This one is worth of five stars because it is simply done right.
