Astonishing X-Men Annual: A Tribute to the North

Another year, another x-men annual, and this time it was all Northstar..or rather Kyle.

The happy couple are fresh from their wedding and ready for the honeymoon, but when do things ever go right for X-Men couples?

The issue see's Kyle coming to terms with what becoming a member of the X-men's extended family really means, as he questions his own ability to cope and whether or not he's just a liability to dear old Northstar.
But hey! this is an annual so there's happiness to be had, and after some arse kicking and words of wisdom from Wolverine, everything is A OK.

But for me this wasn't the real gem. I forgave the fact that this issue was ridiculously overpriced and short because of the Alpha Flight reprint.
Whilst the artwork  nearly blinded me as the cross hatches tried to devour my soul, the story itself - Northstar de-closeting - was pretty damn awesome.

This was some pretty bold messaging for a comic to be printing at that time, and I applaud it. I love the way that it doesn't dwell on the fact that Northstar is coming out, but more on the judgement and misconceptions about homosexuality as it almost attempts to re-educate.

What would doom do?
He'd fish out all the Latverian pennies he's been squirreling away for the winter months and grab this issue. If not to see Gambit's terrible bluff at a game of Bourre (what's that when it's at home?), then to read about a comics attempt to address a real issue and make a real difference. boom.