The Gist of It: Argh... Great issue, but yet another one I haven't actually READ all the way through. You'll find that I haven't read most of the old issues all the way through because I only got them to see Freedom Force. ^^; Sooo, this "gist of it" is really gonna be more like "BH moments". Okay. With THAT said! This issue opens in Georgetown at Freedom Force's nifty house. Val Cooper (presidential assistant responsible for Freedom Force's creation) introduces two new recruits to Freedom Force: Frank Bohannan (Crimson Commando) and Louis Hamilton (Stonewall), World War II veterans turned vigilantes. Mystique regards them with skepticism (saying "Just what we need, a pair of over-the-hill, second-string, retread, World War II 'heroes'."), as their last recruit sent by Val ended up turning on them. Pyro looks cute because I like him and says "Sorta makes one wonder which side you're on, y'know?" which serves no purpose in the summary other than that I like him. :P

Anywho, the Freedom Force boys kinda tease the new recruits annnnd such, spawning one of my favorite lines: "Y'ask me, Boss, my old Gran in Woolamaloo could take these two." "Man, Pyro, you Aussies think yore Gran'ma's can take anybody! I ain't never met a whole country... had such an attitude." (Pyro an' Blobsie :P See! Unlike in their first appearance, they kinda almost get along now!) Whee! And thus, Blob attempts to knock Stonewall over, but only ends up falling and landing on his favorite chair, thus breaking it. Crimson Commando then acts generally cocky, overestimating his position in Freedom Force, so Pyro sets him in his place (kinda) by making a flame servant of Commando to light his cigarette and telling Commando "You want a place with us, you EARN it." Hehe! He's so cute!

Er, meanwhile, Spiral's meditating or something, and she senses an intruder on their property. She 'ports out to "teach him a lesson" annnnd... cut to: their backyard!! Avalanche!! XD He's in a pair of overalls and tending to his garden *giggle*. I think it's neat to see FF acting like normal people. Anywho, he's kinda cheating with his gardening, using his powers to flatten the land a little and says "A nudge here, a furrow there, should take care of any problems with erosion." I dunno why I like that line. It amuses me. Anyway, he notices a really fast moving body and... it thus knocked over by the intruder who, sorry kiddies, is NOT Pietro :P

The intruder's caught by Spiral ("Sorry, Charlie. You'll haveta move LOTS faster'n that to catch me-- AIEAEIAEIII!" (no really, that's what it says when Spiral knocks him over) and turns out to be none other thaaaan... SUPER SABRE! Who's almost beheaded! Like always! Heheh. Commando stops Spiral from killing Super Sabre, who then joins Freedom Force. Mystique calls him an arrogant little man, and is then interrupted by Destiny screaming inside of the house. She rushes to help her honey, and asks her what's wrong. Destiny explains that she was peeking into their daughter Rogue's timeline, and saw that there was no future for her or the X-Men... Oooh, foreboding :D Then there's a lot of crap with punk Storm, Forge, then stuff with the X-Men training, and then stuff with Medelyne Pryor and Alex running around in swim trunks, sneakers, and a head band. O.o I just NOW realized that was Alex! Oh, then there's more stuff with Storm and Forge...

BH Moments: Uh... That whole summary *points up* Up until the Storm and Forge stuff :P

Characterization: This is a good ish for characterization. It shows Commando's arrogant personality, Pyro's fairly good natured cockiness and how he feels you have to earn your place on the team, Avalanche enjoying his spare time with... uh, his garden, Blob being himself... I really really like this one. :D

My Opinion: *giggle* The sideburns! The horrible, horrible sideburns from UXM 141 are GONE!!! XD And the retro-I-dressed-in-the-dark outfit is also gone!! XD Johnny actually looks like a normal human being in civvies!! And I like his red suit outfit... it makes him look like a spiffy writer guy. :D For some reason, though, Blob's not in civvies... Hm. I guess he likes his spandex. Oh! And I think the Avalanche scene is cute, when he's all "Doo dee doo... Garden!" And it shows the GEEZERS!!! I love the geezers!! XD I might be their only fan, though... but, c'mon! How can you NOT love Super Sabre?! He's like... Pietro in 50 years!

Rating (out of 5): 5! I'd give it more than that if I could... I just REALLY like this issue.

Art Rating (out of 5): Uh... probably a 4. The art really isn't smashing or anything compared to stuff nowadays, but for it's time, it's really good. Uh, maybe I'm biased because they actually drew Pyro well. :D

BH Babble:

: I look human again!! XD
: And kinda cute-- *is smacked by Pietro* Agg! Sorry!
: Does Super Sabre remind you of anybody...?
: *stare at Pietro*
: What? What?!