Lilandra and the crew: everyone already has a life here

Lilandra and the crew: everyone already has a life here Lilandra cannot be reduced to the person who takes Xavier away from the X-Men. Her political situation is one of the reasons the Starjammers are in danger in the first place. When she and Charles discuss their futures in Uncanny X-Men #174, both have obligations pulling them in different directions. Lilandra has people depending on her in the struggle against Deathbird. Xavier has the school. Their relationship does not make either responsibility disappear. That helps explain the tension once he is actually living among the Starjammers. Charles may be looking toward Earth, but the people around him are trying to survive the conflict in front of them. Lilandra has something to lose if he leaves. So does the crew. Corsair, Hepzibah, Raza and Ch’od remain the established group through these changes. The newer arrivals add to a functioning crew rather than replacing it. That is worth remembering when the familiar Earth characters naturally draw most of our attention. New Mutants #50 makes the conditions of their lives particularly clear. They are looking for supplies and weapons when Illyana’s arrival pulls Xavier into action. The ship needs practical things. The crew needs to make arrangements. Even in a story with teleportation, telepathy and stellar energy, somebody still has to keep the operation going. This is also why the Starjammers remain more than an occasional ride for the X-Men. Their willingness to help has a cost to people who have their own enemies and commitments. Being friends with Charles does not turn their lives into a waiting room until he is ready to return home. The stronger these connections become, the harder it is for anyone aboard to make a decision that affects only themselves.