Uncanny X-Men #600

   A bit overdue (but welcome just the same) is issue #600 of the original X-Men title, now bearing the Uncanny X-Men label.

   It could also be promoted as writer Brian Michael Bendis' swan song, as it wraps up his run on the X-Men books - and he's certainly left his mark.

   The issue is a hodgepodge of different styles and stories as we check on with assorted characters. It also forms around an attempt to confront the Beast with his recent (shall we say) lapses in judgment.

   We get some closure, a few reunions, some revelations about Iceman and his gayness, and a rather odd closing scene that doesn't make much sense.

   So it's fun if rather lightweight issue, padded a bit by a black-and-white reprint of a rare solo Iceman story.

    The art is all over the place, with some striking sequences, and others that are a bit of a mess.

   You really get the sense that, rather than being a truly special issue, this is just an extended farewell from Bendis, without much effort to set up the incoming team(s).
 
   Still it's been good run with some clever bits (and some oddities, too) - if the shifting art styles don'e both you, then check it out.

Grade: B+

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Uncanny X-Men #35

   As the Uncanny X-Men series winds down toward issue #600 (which somehow follows #35 - let's call it Marvel Math), I can't decide if it's winding up to a big finish or just running out of steam.

   The series got a fresh start when writer Brian Michael Bendis took over, changing the lineup and the basic concept, as we followed the attempts by Cyclops to find a new approach for young mutants - more of a rebellion than Professor Xavier's peaceful attempts.

   So he recruited an all-new team and started their training - but now Cyclops is out of the picture, so his recruits are trying to find their own direction.

   Naturally, they start their own super-team and take on the bad guys (both mutant and non). They gain immediate acceptance, but then a surprising problem arises.

    It all just feels phony and drummed up, not a natural progression of the experience for these characters. And at the end, they're right back where they started - sadder but perhaps wiser, but not different.

   Perhaps next issue (and the big number jump) will clear it up - or perhaps we'll see more of the biggest enemy this title has faced for some time now: the status quo.

Grade: B-

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Uncanny X-Men #34

   The Uncanny X-Men seem to be playing catch-up.

   While the rest of the Marvel Universe is submerged in the Secret Wars event, the X-types are still in their original universe, strabbaging along,  dealing with some unresolved issues.

   Here we have the Dazzler (sporting an odd new look) seeking her revenge on Mystique, who kidnapped and impersonated Dazzler.

    And... that's about the size of it for this issue. It's loaded with the usual sharp and funny dialogue by Brian Michael Bendis, and clean, stylized art by Kris Anka - all building toward the upcoming issue #600.

   Maybe then the team will be allowed to join the Secret War.

Grade: B+

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Uncanny X-Men #33

   The Uncanny X-Men title often gets weighed down with heavy, grim events and activities - so it's a delight when an issue is dedicated to a more upbeat topic.

   This issue delivers, as it focuses on Magik "kidnapping" her friend Kitty Pryde. They take a trip to Monster Island, home to most of Marvel's classic creatures from the late '50s / early '60s monster comics (they were all the rage at the time).

   The reason for the visit: a rescue mission. Somewhere on the island, a mutant needs their help. But where is the mutant and what powers does he or she possess? And can they survive an attack by a small army of giant brutes?

   That's all part of the fun, and writer Brian Michael Bendis and artist Kris Anka seem to be having a blast.

   It's infectious, and as a result this issue is mighty entertaining. It's built like a classic X-Men story (high praise, indeed).

   More like this, please.

Grade: A-

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Uncanny X-Men #32

   As we draw to the end of writer Brian Michael Bendis' run on Uncanny X-Men (and All-New X-Men), we start seeing signs that he's wrapping up some loose ends.

   In this Cyclops-centric issue, that motion is captured in a heart-to-heart discussion between Scott Summers and his brother Alex (Havok).

   It's a low-key issue (though there are some fireworks as Cyclops prepares to shut down his School for Mutants), as he confronts his actions since the death of Professor Xavier - a death he may have caused.

    The issue lets us see the human side of the team of mutants, and settles some long-simmering issues.

   Best of all, it's loaded with some actual humor - something we don't see enough of in this series.

   Hopefully it's not too late to redeem Cyke (and restore Prof. X). But that may be asking for too much.

   (What's another resurrection between friends?)

Grade: A-

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Uncanny X-Men #31

   What a cop-out.

   As near as I can tell, writer Brian Michael Bendis arrived at this issue of Uncanny X-Men and realized he had painted himself into a corner - so he cheated.

   Which is to say, he used a lame, underhanded trick to fix the unfixable problem.

   Oh, it wasn't Deux Ex Machina (where God shows up and fixes it all), and it wasn't a dream or an imaginary story - but neither one of those guesses is far from the mark.

   The Chris Bachalo art is remarkably good, especially considering its covered by seven different inkers, but it can't make up for the bitter taste of the story.

   On the plus side, the ending of the story changes the status quo for this series, and it'll be interesting to see where it goes from here.

   Hopefully.

   (Oh, and that cover? That doesn't happen anywhere in this issue. Just thought you should know.)

Grade: C

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Uncanny X-Men #30

   Death has become a standard feature in comics these days, but even a jaded long-time reader like your pal Chuck was surprised at the toll in this issue of Uncanny X-Men.

   It continues the story of a new mutant whose power levels are beyond belief - and worse, he's really not in control of his abilities.

   So death and destruction surrounds him, as attempts are made by both humans and mutants to bring him under control.

   The violence that erupts is shocking, and leads to even more surprising events - and to its credit, the story doesn't take the easy way out. At least, not yet.

   There is a time-travel element to the story - a mutant whose power allows her to travel through time - and that brings another interesting angle to the story by Brian Michael Bendis.

   The art is by Chris Bachalo (working with five inkers), and it's quite good - dynamic, unique and fresh.

   I've complained for some time now that there are too many mutants under the X-Men umbrella - but bumping some off doesn't seem like the best solution to the problem.

Grade: A-

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Uncanny X-Men #28

   Last issue Cyclops and the Uncanny X-Men confronted an impossibly powerful (and out of control) mutant.

    This issue, guess what happens?

   The same thing.

   I know decompressed storylines are all the rage (and a special favorite of writer Brian Michael Bendis), but COME ON!

   Look, just read this review again. That's what happens here.

   The only difference is that the art in this issue is by Kris Anka (the cover attributes it to Bachalo, but that's wrong). The art feels rushed and flat - not up to Bachalo's usual stylings.

   The rule is simple for all-powerful characters: by the end of the story they have to either die or go far away.

   Eventually, we'll see where this series is going - but be ready to be patient.

Grade: B

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Uncanny X-Men #27

   I've never been a big fan of all-powerful characters - including the Beyonder and Q (to name the two that immediately come to mind).

   (Do I need to mention that Beyonder was the big bad in the original Secret Wars maxi-series, and Q was practically a regular on Star Trek: The Next Generation?)

   The problem with characters who are too powerful is: you can only stop them by tricking them or reasoning with them. They can only stop themselves.

   So I'm not entirely thrilled to see just such a character introduced in Uncanny X-Men. Matthew Malloy is a mutant whose incredible powers were suppressed by Charles Xavier - and now, his powers running wild, he seems to be a threat to everyone - human and mutant alike.

   The writing by Brian Michael Bendis is sharp as always, and the art by Chris Bachalo is excellent - his storytelling is clear and his layouts are dynamic.

   So basically I'm on the fence here - the story is well executed and has some interesting insights for Cyclops and his recent possession by the Phoenix Force - but I still don't like all-powerful characters.

   We'll see if the ending of this story changes my mind.

Grade: B+

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Uncanny X-Men #25

    For writer Brian Michael Bendis' run on both Uncanny X-Men and All-New X-Men, the idea seems to be to get back to basics. (This is, I think, a very good idea.)

   So we have one book dedicated to the original (All-New) team of X-Men, brought through time to the present, and we have another book dedicated to the newest version of the team.

   One of the standard stories from the book's early day was investigating new mutants, and trying to help or recruit tham.

   And that's the story we're getting here, as Professor Charles Xavier reveals his darkest secret, courtesy of his hologram image delivering his last will and testament.

   It relates a sad tale from the early days of the X-Men. It's all about a boy who develops incredibly destructive powers, and proves to be too much for even Professor X to manage.

   It promises to be a major challenge for the team - and it brings together some of the modern-day X-Men characters who need to talk things out. (Or, since this is Marvel, fight things out.)

   The art is modern, but the story feels like more of a throwback to the glory days of this series. Here's hoping for more of the same!

Grade: A-

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Uncanny X-Men #23

   I think I should have reviewed the last issue of Uncanny X-Men. It was loaded with all kinds of action, spectacle and the grand conclusion to a long-running mystery.

   This issue promises a lot - namely, the reading of the Last Will and Testament of Charles Xavier (who, amazingly, is still dead). 

   But that doesn't happen (though we do find out that the will exists).

   The issue is mostly a chance to check on on a few dangling sub-plots: the Dazzler's search for revenge, some apologies for past infractions, and the appearance of a (potentially) deadly new mutant.

   So, unless you're a diehard fan, you could probably skip this one. (Of course, now that new mutant will be the next Wolverine, and you'll all hate me for waving this one off. 

   But I'm willing to take that chance.

Grade: C+

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Uncanny X-Men #20

   If you're going to be a fan of writer Brian Michael Bendis, then you have to accept the fact that his stories often spool out very slowly, taking months and months to get to the heart of the matter.

    Thus it is that we're 20 issues into this series and we're just now - maybe - getting to the heart of the secret behind the attacks on Scott (Cyclops) Summers' version of the Uncanny X-Men.

   Since the series began, SHIELD has been hunting for Cyclops - and at the same time, the X-Men have been fighting off attacks by ever-more-powerful Sentinels, the giant robots that track mutants.

   We may finally be seeing the source for those attacks - and it's quite a surprise (assuming it's not a false lead).

   As always, the art by Chris Bachalo (with six different inkers) is loaded with striking images and clever designs - and the storytelling on this issue is much improved.

   So has it been worth the wait? I can't render a final judgment on that until the conclusion. In many ways the story has been building nicely, but I admit the this one is straining my patience. Hopefully the finale will make it all worthwhile.

Grade: B+

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Uncanny X-Men #14

   (Before we get to the review - observant readers of this humble blog will note that your pal Chuck missed yesterday's post. Sorry, I was under the weather - business is back to normal today. A couple of my friends were worried about me - when I miss a post, they fear the worst. Not to worry - I'm fine, I was just being a lameo.)

   Writer Brian Michael Bendis has a good sense for when to take a break from the normal strum and drang and allow for some decompression - and even comedy.

   The latter is especially rare in the world of the Uncanny X-Men, so dedicating an issue to exploring the unusual abilities of a single young mutant is a bit of a surprise.

   Especially since that mutant's abilities are kinda... weak.

   At least on the surface.

   Benjamin Deeds (mutant name yet to be determined) has the abilities of the movie character Zelig. In that Woody Allen movie (a faux documentary), the title character takes on the appearance and attitudes of those he's around, making him something of a chameleon.

   Under the guidance of Emma Frost, we see him learn more about his powers in a fun romp that has him on the run from the law and in very deep with Marvel's ultimate law enforcers.

   The art by Chris Bachalo is perfect for this, with a great sense of fun, joy and energy on display.

   But with all that... it's really just a slightly-above-average issue. We don't know enough about the new character to care that much, and his powers are - frankly - dull. Perhaps Bendis and Bachalo will prove me wrong, but so far, I'm not convinced.

Grade: B-

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Uncanny X-Men #12

   It's amazing what a difference writer Brian Michael Bendis has made to the X-Men titles.

   Before he took over, the series was all over the map, with an overwhelming number of mutants, concepts unfocused, stories rambling - it was virtually impenetrable.

   Bendis took control of the Uncanny X-Men title and focused it on the renegade team led by Cyclops and their battle to protect mutants. He created the title All-New X-Men and used it to bring the original team through time into the present, creating an upbeat series (mostly) that focuses on how the team has changed since its original appearance.

   There have been clashes along the way, but it all seems to be coming to a head with the current event, "Battle of the Atom."

   The question it raises is: should the original team return to its place in the past? The debate's been divided - but a new voice is chiming in - namely, a team of X-Men who have traveled from the future to warn the original X-Men that they must return to the past or face dire consequences.

   Their appearance - and the lineup of older versions of familiar faces (which I won't spoil for you) - make this event a romp and a lot of fun.

   With lots of twists (and more on the way), terrific art, serious consequences to events, and a dandy cliffhanger, this series is delivering the goods. Highly recommended!

Grade: A

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Uncanny X-Men #8

Every series has a "down" issue now and then - one that wraps up the stories in the previous issues and sets up the next story.

The only problem is that nothing much happens in that issue.

And that's what we have in this issue of Uncanny X-Men. One new mutant quits the team, Magneto and Cyclops discuss their problems (which reminds me... that scene on the cover? Doesn't happen in this issue). Another mutant is discovered and recruited.

And that's about it.

Of course, as you'd expect, it features some sharp, funny dialogue by writer Brian Michael Bendis, and terrific, unique art by Chris Bachalo with inks by Tim Townsend. (I think Bachalo's art benefits from working with a single inker, instead of the numerous hands who have been working on recent issues.)

But otherwise it's just a placeholder for the next round of adventures.

Grade: B

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Uncanny X-Men #5

I'll give this issue of Uncanny X-Men credit - I didn't see that coming.

Up to this point in the series, the focus has been on Cyclops establishing an alternative school for mutants. We've been meeting the team, learning about their powers and personalities - that sort of thing.

So this issue takes us over into left field as it focuses on the mysterious Magik, who combines mutant teleportation abilities with mystic powers and control over the dimension Limbo.

It's a bit of whiplash as we veer away from mutant and superhero action and into mystic battles, demons and the dark arts.

It gets us back to the earliest incarnation of Magik as created by Chris Claremont - a dark, mysterious character with a capacity for both good... and evil.

Kudos to writer Brian Michael Bendis for bringing that character back to prominence after too long an absence.

The art for this issue is by Frazer Irving, and it has a strong, dark style that's perfect for the story - and I like his take on a certain classic villain.

So not the usual mutant outing - but a good, surprising story about a character finally getting her moment back in the spotlight.

I like it!

Grade: A-

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Uncanny X-Men #4

On the one hand, I appreciate that writer Brian Michael Bendis is managing to weave the Uncanny X-Men comic in so well with the All-New X-Men title. (Mostly.)

But this issue feels like a bit of overkill as it includes the same scenes and the same dialogue (though from a different perspective) as the last issue of All-New.

The team led by Cyclops is recruiting at the Wolverine-led school for young mutants - and you can imagine how well that goes over.

It's a fast-paced and breezy tale with some humor, an interesting conversation between Emma Frost and her "apprentices," and some interesting developments for Magik.

As always, it features great dialogue and a fair dollop of humor.

The art by Chris Bachalo and a small army of inkers is quite good, with some outstanding page layouts and character reactions.

The only complaint is the final page, which spoils the "shocking surprise" teased at the end of the last issue of "All-New" - but that's a small quibble.

I really didn't expect to like this title, since it focuses on some of the more suspect mutants around (including Magneto, Cyclops and Emma Frost), but so far it's been compelling and entertaining.

Here's hoping for more of the same!

Grade: A-

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Uncanny X-Men #2

Chris Bachalo is such an interesting artist, and his art runs the range between wonderful and inventive to confusing and muddled.

For example, the opening to this issue of Uncanny X-Men features a woman deep in thought. The problem being, I had no idea who she was. (That's her on the cover.)

She looks young, so I thought it might be Magik. The body language seemed to mark her as Rogue - but the hair color was wrong. She's showing quite a bit of cleavage, but she's dressed all in black. Could it be Emma Frost?

That was the correct answer - but I didn't know until I waded through the stacks of thought balloons (actually captions - I think thought balloons are an endangered species).

It shouldn't be such a battle to figure out who the characters are - but maybe it's just me. (Magneto - without his helmet - also look just like Professor X, by the way.) Perhaps it's because of the army of inkers working on the comic - there's some inconsistency there.

At any rate, the issue, written by Brian Bendis, is mostly about organizing matters - the new Xavier School for Mutants (now located in a secret base), the new students who have been recruited, and a traitor in the midst of the new team.

It's not a bad issue (aside from my silly art complaints), but nothing really happens until the last page - so you might just want to wait for the next issue, when all heck promises to break loose.

Grade: B-

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Uncanny X-Men #1

Setting aside the silliness of yet another first issue for the Uncanny X-Men, this is shaping up to be the darkest of the three X-Books I read (the other two are All-New X-Men and Wolverine and the X-Men).

While "All-New" focuses on the original teen X-Men who've been brought to the present day, and "Wolvie" revolves around the Jean Grey School for Gifted Students, this comic - apparently - will follow the X-Men team being formed by the renegade Scott Summers, who everyone has decided is some kind of monster.

(I still call BS on that whole story - he was under the mind control of a malevolent force - the Phoenix - something every single hero has experienced, many of them more than once.)

The story starts with an interesting mystery, as an unidentified informant meets with SHIELD to reveal the dangers being posed by Cyclops. The last-page revelation of that individual is well done (though also a bit of a cheat).

The story by Brian Bendis is otherwise pretty predictable, with lots of building-shattering battles going on - but there are also some good character moments.

The art by Chris Bachalo is quite good. I like his art a lot, but I have to admit that there are some pages that are brilliant, and a few that I don't really understand at all. But when he's on, the art is amazing.

So it's a solid start for this "new" series - but since it's essentially focusing on the "bad guys" in the X-family, it has a challenging road ahead of it to see if it can hang onto its audience.

Grade: B+

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