This week we go to class with X-Men United #2 and take a walk through the cosmology of the Marvel Universe with Storm: Earth’s Mightiest Mutant #3. Get in your seats, because class is now in session.
X-Men United #2
Cover Art by Stefano Caselli
Writer: Eve L. Ewing
Artist: Tiago Palma
Color Artist: Brian Reber
Letterer: VC’s Joe Sabino
Following last month’s explosive cliffhanger, X-Men United #2 features Emma and company at Graymatter Lane realizing they must quickly shore up their defenses and find allies if they are to defy the long and troubled history of mutants being together. However, in pursuit of allies, the X-Men find themselves in a trap across time itself.
After last month’s mixed bag that was X-Men United #1, I was a bit unsure on how this series was going to play out. I can say that the second issue has addressed some of my concerns, but other problems persist.
Let’s start with the good. I think Eve Ewing’s ability to capture Emma Frost and Kitty Pryde’s voices continue to be a highlight of the book. Take for example the core of the issue: Scott and Emma’s relationship. Ewing explores the strained dynamic between them as they are now on contrasting paths for mutant rights. You can feel their frustration as both are resigned to the fact that the other will not see their point of view. Ewing still presents Scott as a bit of a jerk here but there is less focus on trying to build a new schism they keep trying to do. I don’t mind Cyclops as a jerk. I am just glad he feels less cartoonish.
Ewing does something interesting in this issue and that’s put Kitty and Magneto together. The two characters have a long, and at times, choppy history, but they pair well. Their very brief discussion is a real strength of the issue, and I would love to see Ewing write more Magneto.
Now, for the bad. For all the good of the characterization, the plot of the issue being set-up for the first arc, which deals with Captain America and the events of Truth: Red, White, and Black, is a weird choice for a flagship X-Men book. Not to say that it’s a bad idea, and I am certain Ewing can pull it off. I figured they would do more with new mutants like the first issue set up, but I guess not.
The art by Tiago Palma is a bit better here than the previous issue as you can see the artist starting to come into form with the characters. The character acting and page layouts are far more successful, for instance. Palma conveys the frustration and resignation into Scott and Emma effectively and in a way that doesn’t require much text. That said some of the stiffness I noted in the last issue is still here. A lot of the characters feel posed and not in true movement.
My other issues with the series overall still haven’t been addressed. While I feel like the school of the mind is a novel way to get around the school concept that Marvel keeps pushing but the fans keep resisting. The novelty of it all is undercut by the fact that this school is in the mind still feels a bit too cute. There hasn’t really been any real advantage to it being in the mental world instead of reality. It’s like this was originally written with the school being a physical place but changed last minute to be in the mind. Now, Palma is obviously doing a more unfinished look on the edges of the Graymatter Lane scenes to convey they are in the mindscape that is slowly building out the world as the characters move into it. The laws of physics largely work the same as reality, and Palma doesn’t do much with the surreal concept beyond the panel borders.
At the end of the day, X-Men United #2 is an improvement over the last issue, but the series continues to disappoint me. There are nuggets of great ideas and fantastic moments throughout, but those moments make me that much more frustrated. If you told me this book was touted as a flagship book, I wouldn’t believe it. Sure it has a flagship writer capable of the task, they are paired with an artist who is just not ready for primetime. Not to say Palma is a bad artist, but they are just not the right fit here.
Final Verdict: Pass
The Rundown
- Storm: Earth’s Mightiest Mutant #3
Storm Earth’s Mightiest Mutant #3 - I was a skeptic, but I am now a believer in the good word. And that good word is Storm! I am still largely not a fan of the increased focused on the cosmology and theology of the Marvel universe in my Storm comic, but this issue proved to me that I need to trust writer Murewa Ayodele. They are operating on a whole other level when it comes to this book. We get to see a Storm who is conflicted and dog-gone tired of all these gods. This comic runs on vibes and I think that may be the best way to do a comic like this. There are themes of death and destiny running throughout the issue and Ayodele does wonders with it. Storm is indeed the best character to put through this journey. The art by Federica Mancin is equally fantastic in this tale of the strange and bizarre. The size and scope of the story is not too big for Mancin as they continue to nail it. One page may feature the impelled corpse of the Greek Titan Cronos and the next have Storm evading the Raptor, an entity that turns powerful beings into building blocks for the Wall. You know the Source Wall. You know the Jack Kirby creation for DC Comics. This comic rules. I love it. It’s thoughtful, action-packed, and funny. More of this, please.
Can’t wait for next week’s books? Catch up with past editions of the Rundown!
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