Issue 134 - Emma Frost - Capes on the Couch

Intro
Background (1:25)
- Emma Frost created by Chris Claremont and John Byrne in X-Men #129 (Jan. 1980)
- Emma Frost born to a wealthy family in Boston, who had lived in the area since the 1600s
- Discovered she had telepathic abilities while in high school, but refused to join the Xavier Institute, and when her manipulative father chose her as his heir, she opted to leave and make her own way
- After attempting to seduce her professor, her family had her sent to the Essex Clinic, where she was drugged and manipulated into attacking the X-Men by Magneto
- Became a stripper for the Hellfire Club, where she made Sebastian Shaw infatuated with her, ending up becoming the White Queen
- Also started a multinational business, Frost International, and started her own school, the Massachusetts Academy, where she recruited young mutants for her own cause
- Was attacked by a time traveler and was in a coma for a year – during that time, most of her students were killed – she was brought out of the coma by an energy surge that caused her consciousness to take over the body of Bobby Drake, aka Iceman #BecauseComics – when she learned what happened to her students, she had a breakdown and realized they were better off with Xavier, who was able to reestablish the connection between her body and mind
- Wracked with guilt, she established her school as Xavier’s School for Gifted Youngsters, and she & Banshee started a new team, Generation X
- After surviving an attack on Genosha, she discovered she had a secondary mutation: the ability to turn her skin to unbreakable diamond – she joins the Xavier Institute, and takes the Stepford Cuckoos under her wing
- Began a “psychic affair” with Scott Summers, who was growing apart from Jean – although Jean tore through her mind and forced her to relive all her guilty episodes from the past, she revealed to Wolverine that she truly loved Scott
- Beast discovered her shattered body, and the investigation revealed that Esme of the Cuckoos convinced another student to shoot her with a diamond bullet – meanwhile, Phoenix-powered Jean reassembled Emma
- After Jean’s death, Emma & Scott begin a real relationship, and are co-headmasters of the Xavier Institute
- Discovered that the Stepford Cuckoos were actually her children, bred from eggs harvested by a doctor years before while she was under the control of the Essex Clinic
- Served as a member of the Cabal alongside Norman Osborn, Loki, Dr. Doom, Namor, and the Hood, only to betray Shaw
- In Avengers vs. X-Men, Emma is one of the Phoenix Five – was one of the last two, with Scott, before he was able to wrest her portion away from her, only to be killed by Xavier
- Inhumans vs. X-Men – after a Terrigen cloud killed Scott, Emma created a psychic projection of him destroying the cloud, after which Black Bolt “killed” the projection – a negotiated peace between the parties ended after Emma incited the X-Men to take action to save their species – Medusa destroyed the cloud, but Emma sent programmed Sentinels after the rest of the Inhumans to seek revenge for Scott’s death
- Currently one of the leaders of Krakoa – named by Xavier & Magneto as the head of trade relations

Issues (7:20)
- Ruby – Relationship with Scott
- Love for mutants, willing to sacrifice all for them regardless of personal impact (19:23)
- Role in Inhumans vs. X-Men, where she ultimately is revealed as the villain (27:17)
Break (44:10)
- Plugs for BetterHelp, Popcorn Psychology, and Chris Claremont
Treatment (45:26)
- In-universe – Focus on putting Emma in diamond form and having her work through things without her psychic abilities
- Out of universe – Work on establishing a rapport with her and determining how to address the various issues and trauma she’s dealt with (47:46)
Skit (feat. Kris of Marvelous Madames) (57:08)
- DOC: Hello Emma, I’m Dr. Issues.
- EMMA: *mentally* And we’re starting off with lies.
- D: *mentally* Excuse me?
- E: That’s not your name and we both know it.
- D: Surely, if you’ve read my mind, you’re also aware of the multiple attempts on my life. Not to mention as a mutant you can appreciate the need for a pseudonym to maintain some level of privacy to protect loved ones. Ms. White Queen. Or is it Black Queen? Or Black King? Or Ice Princess?
- E: Your point is taken. Still, just know that any effort to mislead or lie to me will be swiftly shut down. I do not suffer fools.
- D: Nor would I expect you to. So, what did you change?
- E: Come again?
- D: I’m not gullible. Telepath or not, delving into someone’s mind changes the person in some fundamental way. That’s the point of therapy. You did that to me without regard for my thoughts on the matter…literally. So, I’m asking you, with all candor…what did you change?
- E: I’m not an amateur at this, you know. What I told you is what I sought. *pause* Judging by your facial expression, you don’t believe me.
- D: It’s fascinating. Sometimes, I mirror expressions, mime voices of those who are talking to me…it’s not intentional. I’ve been in some awkward situations because the person thought I was mocking them. Not this time, though. And you know I’m right. Why are you so skeptical of sessions like this?
- E: Because those with my abilities already accomplish what you do hundred-fold, without the baggage of “small talk” getting in the way.
- D: Like a sentience surgeon. I’m glad you’re on that path of logic, because society has determined consent to be a MAJOR hallmark of ethics in every interpersonal undertaking.
- E: Is that what you think I do? Mental assault?
- D: I’m trying to understand. No offense, but, it’s clear that you know how to work a room, regardless of mutant abilities. I’m trying to figure out if it’s your main coping strategy, or a backup plan.
- E: It’s been both.
- D: Can you give an example of each?
- E: Sure. *mentally* I’ll give you a glimpse of one of my best days…*unintelligble speech/sounds* and one of my worst *more unintelligible speech/sounds* So you tell me, doctor. Would you have done anything differently?
- D: *overwhelmed* WHOA. To be honest, I have no idea. I’ve been empathetic before, but that was…truly mimetic….no telemimetic…it’s like you downloaded parts of your memory into my brain and I choose how to live it…this is so bizarre. *clearly in some sort of discomfort* ugh…they both involve Scott. I shouldn’t be surprised.
- E: Is there a problem, doctor? I can assure you, I did nothing to injure your brain.
- D: No, not like that…*snaps fingers* THAT’S WHAT YOU CHANGED!
- E: Oh dear. That was too quick. I expected some sort of opportunity to talk about him at length, without all of the pretense.
- D: That’s my CO-HOST’s view, not mine. I’ll gladly discuss your feelings about him without referencing *clear pain* AAAAGH!
- E: He’s not a dick, got it?!
- D: Got it. The point is, he impacts every aspect of your life, and your love for him affected some…questionable choices. What can I do to help you get to the next stage of your relationship as adults?
- E: Why would there be a next stage? I know he’s loved me. That’s all I need.
- D: And he’s loved another. And you turned his ideals into the grandest effigy I could imagine…all out of spite.
- E: SPITE?! No, having some mental foreplay when you least expect it may have some spite, but not when all of mutant-kind is at stake. It was us or them…and it surely wasn’t going to be us. Not when we’re the next evolution of the species. I’m not the damsel in distress. I’m the diamond in the rough! I can show you, too. *special effect to change form*
- D: Fascinating…and now, the therapy can begin.
- E: What does that mean?
- D: Before now, you had the ultimate “wisdom of the crowds” through your abilities, just picking things up about each person on a whim. Now, when you’re like this, you’re shut off. I don’t think that’s a mistake. Maybe it’s a defense mechanism for you, but I see it as a chance for growth. Tell me, what do you feel right now?
- E: Nothing.
- D: Can you tell by my face what I think?
- E: *pause* You have the same face as when I told you I only looked at one thought in your mind…I should register that as the same, but…it’s so difficult this way.
- D: EXACTLY. Welcome to a new way to build your schema of the world. No mind games…just good old fashioned observation, trial and error. No judgement, no scorecard, just me and you, trying to figure out human interaction. I don’t expect you to stay this way, but do you realize just how magnificent your personal experiences can be if you learn how to warm up your cold side?
- E: There is a rationale to your style. I *pause* think…I like it? *transforms again* That is quite the challenge…definitely worthy of pursuit. Fine, your point stands.
- D: Wait, now I do think Scott is-
- E: Say it and lose yours.
- D: Understood.
- E: Thank you, my dear. Now if you’ll excuse me, I must return to Krakoa. Heaven knows what Logan’s gotten himself up to in the past hour. I shall return.
- D: When shall I –
- E: *mentally* Oh I’ll make it clear. Good day, Doctor.
Ending
- Recommended reading: Generation X (so 90s), Death of X
- Next episodes: Starfire, Children of super villains, Squirrel Girl
- Plugs for social