Uncanny X-Men #504

The Uncanny X-Men spent decades ruling the top of the sales charts.

From the team's re-invention in the mid-'70s by Len Wein and Dave Cockrun, to the heights achieved by Chris Claremont, John Byrne and Cockrum (along with many other artists), the X-Men has been the sales champ.

In recent years the title has slipped a bit, despite inspiring three hit movies (two of which were actually good). There are many reasons for that slippage. The comic grew into a series of "X" books, including X-Factor, X-Force, Excalibur, New Mutants, Generation X and on and on. That diluted the brand and left the original title lost in a sea of mutants.

Another reason is the overwhelming number of characters a reader must sort through, the confusing array of continuity and myriad plots that only the most devoted fan can keep straight.

But the most important reason the book declined is a simple one: for years, the stories just weren't very good (though there were exceptions). Marvel finally made an effort to correct the problem by offering the title to one of its best writers, Ed Brubaker. Surprisingly, he wasn't quite able to turn it around, and after co-writing several issues of the comic with Matt Fraction, the title (beginning with the latest issue) is entirely in Fraction's care.

The other smart move the editors have made is to turn the art over to two excellent teams: Greg Land and Jay Leisten and, in this issue, Terry and Rachel Dodson. Both specialize in drawing sexy women, and they also are terrific at handling action scenes.

The story that's been unfolding since issue #500 has been encouraging, as the comic set up a new, more streamlined status quo for the team. Now they make their home in San Francisco, which has become a haven for mutants - although their high profile has also, quite predictably, made them a target for those forces who hate them.

The X-Men are pitted against the Hellfire Club, and in this issue we see the mysterious new leader of that team recruiting powerful allies. We also see other plots being set up that seem to indicate the return of some old foes.

So does this mean the X-Men are enjoying a new renaissance? It's still a bit early to tell, but so far, the book is looking (and reading) better than it has in a long time. At this point, I'm willing to settle for that.

Grade: B+