From: caw@gtech.com (Christopher A. White)
Subject: Re: X-Factor #85
Organization: GTECH Corporation, West Greenwich, RI
Date: Thu, 24 Dec 1992 17:40:00 GMT

In article <72087@cup.portal.com> Peter_A_David@cup.portal.com writes:
>All I was trying to put across is that there's a lot on Lorna's mind,
>but she's someone who tends to keep herself wrapped very tight...especially
>since her mind was taken over.  It's made her gunshy about letting anyone
>know what she's thinking about...just as, for example, a woman who has been
>sexually assaulted doesn't immediately hit the dating circuit again with
>no problems.  The key to what's going on in Lorna's mind is when she's
>saying, all in a rush, "I'm *not* afraid to take chances, etc.".  *That* is
>what is really on her mind...the idea of letting down her guard with people.
>The weight thing is merely a manifestation of that.

It seemed to me, also, that she is on very unsure footing with Alex. Since
her mind was taken over, they really have not been totally comfortable with
each other. Although it has been getting better, they still seem to have an
issue with absolute trust (kinda typical of everyone in this group). 

As a result of felling unsure, she is comparing herself to the other females
around her. The only place where she might be "defficient" is in the realm
of weight. She has nothing to fear intellectually or super-poweredly from
either Val or Rahne; but since she is unsure about herself she cannot 
accept that she is just as good as they are. She will, therefore, 
manufacture a deficiency in her own mind. In this case, weight. 

>It's also combined with all these women I know who have terrific bodies, but
>instead announce that they're cows.  Women in the Marvel universe seem 
>curiously disinterested in their physical appearance.  They always have 
>terrific bodies, they are always perfectly made-up...and I know so many women
>who are *not* like that, that I thought it would be refreshing to make
>Lorna atypical of the Standard Marvel Female.

I have always believed that a woman was truly beautiful if and only if she
was comfortable with herself. The reaction of the women you mentioned is
a predictable reaction of someone living in competition with an unseen,
undefined, unbeatable opponent. It would be ridiculous to assumee that
someone with superpowers would be above such typical (and "mundane")
reactions. It is refreshing to see heroes who's problems are so 
identifiable to "norms." It seems that the typical comic book character
has either no problems or MONGO problems.

I think it would be interesting to see each of them over the next few
years go through some standard therapy to deal with these issues. All of
their problems are well known and treatable syndromes.

Pietro just needs a healthy dose of Zig Ziglar.

Guido is fairly well adjusted unless he can *never* allow *anyone* close
to him to know about his pain. Otherwise, I'd put him in a normal range.

Alex needs a bit more philosophy. Maybe Taoism (everything is what it
should be - comparing it to something else is *counter-productive*).

Rahne needs more intense therapy, but a steady program should produce 
good measurable results.

Jamie needs intense therapy also, but should also see a steady string
of positive results.

Val, as mentioned, needs sensitivity training (and a major clue).


BTW, was it just me, or did others get a bit confused by the bubble 
colorations during Rahne's session? It seemed that a couple of them were
off.

>PAD


Topher (waiting for "Singin' in the Rahne")
-- 
 Christopher A. White                    | "Perfection is not optional."
 caw@gtech.com                           | 
 GTech Corporation, West Greenwich, RI   | from: Rules for sociopathic
 The opinions expressed are mine alone   |       obsessive-compulsives
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