New X-Men #23 is, officially, the final part of "Childhood's End."  In fact, it doesn't read like the final part of anything, so I can only assume it's been selected as the break point for a trade paperback.  Which is interesting in itself, come to think of it, because we don't usually see trade paperbacks end with cliffhangers.

After four issues under this creative team, we've finally got to the point of establishing the new roster.  Since the roster were announced months ago, it doesn't come as much of a surprise.  The interest here ought to come from at least seeing how we get there, but the answer turns out to be rather uninspired.  Emma Frost sticks everyone in the Danger Room and gets them to fight, apparently on the logic that she wants to identify the ones who'll make the best trainee X-Men.

This, unfortunately, turns out to be a classic example of a scene that I don't buy in the slightest.  Emma putting together a team of combat trainees?  Fair enough.  Emma selecting them through some sort of physical test?  I suppose so, for dramatic purposes.  Emma putting everyone in a room and telling them, literally, to knock one another unconscious?  Come off it.  On any reading of the character, Emma's always had more concern for the health of her pupils than that.

And more to the point, why are the kids playing along?  We get a bit of token "Well, I don't know about this" muttering, but nobody seriously objects, let alone refuses to participate.  Isn't anybody alarmed to see their classmates being smashed in the face with a lump of rock?  Or X-23 attacking their friends with claws drawn?

Apparently not, which means we've completely parted company with anything recognisable as human psychology, and thus I lose interest altogether.  I see what they're going for here, but the sledgehammer execution kills it dead.

Rating: C

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