X-STATIX #18 marks the end of the six-part "Back from the Dead" storyline. Originally, the story was supposed to be about the late Princess Diana (Princess Di) coming back from the dead to join the team of mutant celebrities, X-Statix. A lot of comic fans found the idea distasteful, and they believed that Marvel was pandering for publicity. Some controversy ensued from useless media outlets, as if there were not enough war, starvation, poverty, and general malaise available for general commentary.
Of course, Marvel forced Milligan and Allred to rewrite and redraw. The revisions aren't why the storyline ends rather weakly, as the last chapter is mostly a revenge story with a slight riff on the film, THE RING. It's comeuppance ending is typically super hero.
No, what makes the final chapter weak is that it didn't need an ending or a finale (at least, not the kind it got) although the creators were obviously working towards closure. As a commentary on pop culture, the media, and the pop life, it didn't need to end. The ethereal beast that is popularity just keeps going on and never really ends.
[DRECK, DULL, READABLE, PRETTY GOOD, EXCELLENT]
