Rogue’s adventure in the Savage Land is revisited in the appropriately titled Rogue: The Savage Land #1 this week. It’s a setting and story that puts friend and foe together as Magneto and Rogue must work together in one of the most dangerous places on Earth. But why must this story be told? We’ll find out as gaps are filled in, and the adventure is further fleshed out here!
When it comes to ’90s superhero costumes that only lasted briefly yet remain iconic, Rogue’s torn costume has to be in the top three. This is partly due to Jim Lee’s influence, but the torn costume is a good example of the heyday of the male gaze being a driving force in comic book art. And now, that costume and the period in which Rogue wore it is getting a miniseries! There’s far more to it than a costume, however, as Uncanny X-Men #269 and #274-275 also had her holding her own with her powers temporarily lost due to the villain Zaladane.
Let’s be clear: there’s plenty for writer Tim Seeley to mine in this era of X-Men, and the costume isn’t just about the male gaze, though it is a facet of it. The costume also conveys the primal survival theme of the arc, which can be seen in this first issue. Imagine being as powerful as Rogue, and your powers are on the fritz, but now you’re facing dinosaurs at any moment. Seeley and artist Zulema Scotto Lavina capture that danger quite well in the opening of the issue.
It’s also worth noting there are opportunities to sexualize Rogue, and the creative team doesn’t do that here. They’re respectful and that is admirable in this modern era of comics.
Iconic.
Credit: Marvel
Something else captured well is how lonely Rogue is in this story, but also in general. In a key montage, drawn beautifully by Lavina, we see all her friends sitting amongst her in a cave she’s hiding out in. It’s a reminder of her state of mind, and maybe will lead into a potential romance with Magneto.
Although it won’t be confusing for folks familiar with the three-issue arc this is based on, I did find myself confused when Ms. Marvel shows up, and then magically, Rogue is in Magneto’s hideout. This happens in just two panels, which was actually a cliffhanger to Uncanny X-Men #269 but comes off as confusing here.
As far as first issues go, this issue also does a lot to set up the story, which, for those familiar, will make the content a bit lacking overall. There’s a clear desire to flesh out scenes and make the events more robust, but at the starting gate there’s only so much done before “To Be Continued” shows up on the corner of a page. I’m optimistic the series will draw out why it must be told, but so far it’s limited to setup.
Rogue: The Savage Land #1 revisits a beloved era of X-Men with emotional depth and striking visuals, but its reliance on setup and confusing transitions may leave some readers wanting more. While it shows promise for future issues, this debut feels like a prologue rather than a fully realized chapter.
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