Over in the C-list books, Rogue continues "Forget-Me-Not." 

In theory this story is apparently leading to some big important change for Rogue, in what sounds like a desperate attempt to get some attention for the floundering title.  At the moment, it's less than clear where that's going to come from.  The general impression is of Rogue standing politely on the sidelines and watching a Sunfire story.

Mind you, if it was an issue of Sunfire, it'd be a pretty decent one.  The Silver Samurai has had his memory of the last few years wiped, thus justifying his decision to return to villainy.  It's not that he doesn't know what happened.  He just doesn't actually remember any of it personally, so he doesn't feel any emotional connection to it.  Sunfire starts off naturally bemused about the Samurai's change of attitude, and then gets to do his bad-ass Japanese superhero routine. 

Rogue tails around wishing she could do something other than absorb memories, so that she could play a more active role in the plot.  Or more accurately, I suspect, the writer wishes she could do something else, but he's stuck with her the way she is.  I'm increasingly convinced that resetting her to her basic mutant power and nothing else was a mistake, at least if they're going to use her as a recurring character.  Her gimmick becomes awfully repetitive after a while, especially when there's nothing else for her to do.

Derec Donovan provides guest art.  It's much like his work on Jubilee - nice clear storytelling, but sometimes he goes over the top with inappropriate comedy at moments which don't call for them.  More good than bad, though.

An odd little story, this.  I'm interested in where it's going, and I'm enjoying the plot, but not because of Rogue herself.  She feels like a marginalised guest star in her own book.  And I suspect that that isn't through any failing on the part of the writers, so much as the character's chronic unsuitability for the role.

Rating: B+

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