Written by Vita Ayala
Art by Paco Medina
Published by Marvel Comics
We don’t find out more about the alien ship that the Young X-Men were trapped in during Carmen/ Gimmick’s flashback. However, we do see a moment where the kids were trying out the technology that replicates the mutant powers they pose as having. But back then, Carmen’s trying out Cherub’s wings, Jay Jay/Daycrawler ’s messing around with a laser blaster that became Cyclops-Lass’ visor, etc.
But Benny Thomas aka Marvel Guy, this issue’s narrator, always stuck with the aerosolized hypnosis device loaded into gauntlets. It makes sense for Benny, a kid with abandonment issues that cropped up around his parents divorcing and his father quickly remarrying while his mother grew distant.
As much as he pushes the world away and claims isolation, he is desperate not to lose anyone close to him.
That sounds like someone for whom the ability to persuade any reaction from anyone would hold strong appeal.
But whereas the previous issue dealt more with topics about becoming and finding one’s identity more internally, this issue focuses more on the kids’ external identities as X-Men fans. But they fail to understand yet that having an affinity for mutants is one thing, but appropriating Mutanthood is another.
Mutanthood is not a costume you can wear.
In that way, Children of the Atom extends the use of the mutant metaphor as a malleable social justice concept. However, it backfires a bit from the standpoint of having two Black members who fail to see they’re no different than their oblivious white peers who may copy Black slang, music and styles without understanding the whys behind it all.
Yes, kids are kids, but you’d think Cherub and Gimmick would know better in that regard because they likely experience being objectified as “interesting” amid a society that systematically oppresses them. At least their prior internal monologues would suggest such an awareness.
Maybe the Young X-Men will get it when they’re finally treated like mutants, by monstrous bigots.
And maybe then Carmen will reveal her secret, of powers she has yet to understand.
