X-Men

Magneto #1

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Magneto #1Over the years Magneto has been many things: super-villain, teacher, victim, wanderer, savior, and enemy to all human-kind. With Magneto #1 writer and artist find a new path for old warrior who has left Cyclops‘ camp and begun a journey of his own seeking out those who have harmed mutants and exacting revenge.

Far more low-key than usual, this version of the character does his best to stay off the radar of various government agencies like S.H.I.E.L.D. while performing his own kind of brutal justice. Although his power-set is still limited the character seems far more in control of his powers than we saw in Uncanny X-Men as he has no trouble in taking out an entire police station and an Omega Prime Sentinel left in the world to target those just like him.

I’ll admit I’d have preferred the character to stay with Cyclops rather than becoming the vagabond vigilante we see here. However, it’s certainly an intriguing set-up and offers a variety of stories to be told in the coming months. Worth a look.

[Marvel, $3.99]

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Uncanny X-Men #18

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Uncanny X-Men #18Uncanny X-Men #18 feels a little off from the get-go. Because of other storylines the series hasn’t had a chance to reincorporate (or even acknowledge) the rest of the time-displaced X-Men who have joined Cyclops‘ team (other than Angel who joined months ago) and now the entire group is missing the entire issue is an attempt to play catch-up to events that have been going on for a couple of months now.

What Uncanny X-Men #18 delivers is a flashback to Kitty Pryde confronting Cyclops (with the intention of murdering him) and eventually leading the time-displaced X-Men to Cyclops’ new school (before she left with them all to head into space to rescue Jean Grey).

Although awkward (seriously, this issue should have taken place at least two months ago) it does deliver some interesting moments between Cyclops and his younger self and Jean Grey. If you’ve been waiting for the issue that reincorporates the rest of the X-Men this is it… but only kinda because in the present they are all off-world. For fans.

[Marvel, $3.99]

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Guardians of the Galaxy #12

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Guardians of the Galaxy #12“The Trial of Jean Grey” continues as the Guardians of the Galaxy, Starjammers, and band of time-displaced X-Men make their way to the Shi’ar homeworld as Jean Grey‘s trial for the crimes an older version of herself committed while under the control of the Phoneix Force begins.

No big movement is made in the overall storyline as the heroes only arrive planetside (and the trial begins) as the issue comes to a close. However, Guardians of the Galaxy #12 does have some nice character moments between Cyclops and his father, as well as X-23 comforting the leader of the X-Men after a very long day. We also get Jean Grey finally seeing the evidence of the Phoneix’s destruction for the first time.

With two more issues to the arc it will be interesting to see how the writers resolve the conflict. Will the heroes simply rescue Ms. Grey, will Gladiator be forced to admit the woman he’s judging isn’t the same one who committed the atrocities, or will the intervention of an outside force (Jason? The Phoenix?) tip the scales? Worth a look.

[Marvel, $3.99]

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Amazing X-Men #4

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Amazing X-Men #4The reunions continue as Nightcrawler talks some sense into an out-of-control Beast and gathers the rest of the team including saving Iceman and Firestar (who between the two of the literally froze and then burned down Hell), and rescues Northstar and Wolverine from the icy wastes (finally bringing Logan and Kurt together again).

Inter-cut with flashbacks of Nightcrawler with his various teammates, the latest issue continues to deliver with fan-friendly scenes while building to the story’s climax. With the reunions finished and team reassembled, Amazing X-Men sets up next month’s conclusion of its opening arc featuring the X-Men vs. a band of demon-mutant pirates with the fate of all creation at stake. Sounds fun, don’t it?

Along with the various reunions writer Jason Aaron reveals the origin of the Bamfs and lays the groundwork for the possible cost of Nightcrawler’s current heroism which may have serious repercussions for the still-dead hero and his teammates very soon. Worth a look.

[Marvel, $3.99]

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Uncanny X-Men #17

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Uncanny X-Men #17Dropped off in the middle of nowhere in a bizarre locale by Magik, the young X-Men (Tempus, Fabio, Celeste, Irma, Phoebe, Benjamin Deeds, Triage, Hijack) are put to the test in a field training exercise to determine both their survival instincts and their ability to follow orders and work together to stay alive. Although the entire group makes it back home in one piece, the casual disregard for Cyclops‘ explicit orders means (for now) that one member of the team is no longer an X-Man.

I’ve got to say I’m not altogether happy with the set-up of this issue as Cyclops throws the unprepared recruits into a dangerous situation without the control of a Danger Room scenario. Although they each perform well in surviving the bizarre super-evolutionary town in Montana, they nearly get taken in by S.H.I.E.L.D. thanks to Hijack’s cellphone leading the heroes right to them. And I’m not exactly buying the idea that this is the last we’ve seen of Hijack whose skills are far too valuable not to see him return after he’s “learned his lesson” (if that’s even why he was truly let go). Worth a look.

[Marvel, $3.99]

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