All New XMen #36 Review

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All New X-Men #36, Angel, Beast, Brian Michael Bendis, Doctor Doom, Iceman, Jean Grey, Mahmud Asrar, Marte Gracia, Marvel Comics, Miles Morales, Original X-Men, Ultimate Spider-Man, Ultimate X-Men, X-23, X-Men

All New X-Men #36

Review by Paul Bowler

The teenage original X-Men’s adventure in the Ultimate Universe draws to a close in All New X-Men #36, as the X-Men from both universes and the Ultimate Spider-Man, Miles Morales, battle Doctor Doom in his Latverian castle. Following the Ultimate Doctor Doom’s devastating counterattack, the X-Men must find a way to strike back against Doom, before the Ultimate X-Men can help the original X-Men return to their own universe.

All New X-Men #36 opens with Doom victorious, with Miles, the original X-Men, and the Ultimate X-Men all knocked unconscious after Doom’s explosive attack. With the announcement that Brian Michael Bendis would soon be ending his run on both of his X-Men titles in May with the renumbered giant-sized Uncanny X-Men #600, together with all of Marvel’s recent Secret Wars news, the original X-Men’s jaunt to the Ultimate Universe in All New X-Men feels even more significant now than when it began. While the plot meandered a bit at first, but Bendis soon got everything back on track, providing us with some great character moments along the way, and he brings this storyline to a relatively satisfying, if somewhat rushed, conclusion with this issue.

Of all the X-Men books, All New X-Men has still constantly remained my favourite. Brian Michael Bendis has such a grasp on all these characters, he writes them perfectly, and this issue is no exception. From the moment Doom’s initial sense of victory begins to crumble after Jean cleverly gives her team-mates time to recover, this issue sees the original X-Men and Ultimate X-Men working together in the most innovative way imaginable to defeat Doom. The battle might be quick, but it’s certainly eventful, and I particularly liked how Beast left a farewell gift for Doctor Doom – especially fitting really considering how Hank was drugged, brainwashed and then forced by Doom to assist with his attempts in discovering a way between the universes.

Mahmud Asrar’s art really brings out the best elements of Bendis’ storyline. The characters and their expressions are all well defined, with virtually all the X-Men and Ultimate X-Men getting a chance to shine. We are treated to some spectacular looking splash pages, the fight with Doctor Doom is handled really well, and our glimpses through the portals into the other dimensions offers some extremely interesting concepts for us to ponder over. Marte Gracia’s colors are excellent; the tones used are bold and striking, enhancing the action as well as the quieter more emotionally driven moments towards the climax of the issue. There are plenty of fun scenes as well: the banter between the two Icemen is great, Miles also discovers how unfair mind-reading can be, and Jean really should’ve known better than to read Tony Stark’s mind.

It is only really during the final stages, where the X-Men have tracked down the young Mutant girl, Carmen that this issue begins to feel a little rushed. When this storyline began the original X-Men were trying to help a new Mutant, the young girl, Carmen, who subsequently lost control of her powers and transported them all to the Ultimate Universe. Now after everything the original X-Men, Miles, and the Ultimate X-Men have been through together, events wrap up very quickly, and the hurried conclusion feels a little bit abrupt as Bendis’ script races towards the finish line to send the original X-Men back to their universe.

So, as All New X-Men #36 concludes the original X-Men’s dimension hopping trip to the Ultimate Universe, we are left with a somewhat ominous coda for the next issue. Overall, this storyline has been quite enjoyable, although not as good as previous arcs, nevertheless All New X-Men #36 still provides a fitting closing chapter for this story, and it will be interesting to see what’s in store next for the original X-Men as Jean Grey’s training continues.

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All New XMen #29 Review

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All New X-Men, All New X-Men #29 review, Angel, Brian Michael Bendis, Cyclops, Future Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, Iceman, Jean Grey, Marte Gracia, Marvel Comcis, Original X-Men, Stuart Immonen, X-Men

All New X-Men #29

Review by Paul Bowler

The Future Brotherhood of Evil Mutants is back, led by the progeny of Charles Xavier and Mystique. The original X-Men, together with new teammate X-23, and their leader, Professor Kitty Pryde, had just returned to Cyclops’ New Xavier School on Earth following their adventure in space with the Guardians of the Galaxy and the Starjammers to rescue Jean Grey from the Shi’ar – afterwards the young Cyclops then decided to leave the X-Men and remain with his father, Corsair. The Brotherhood infiltrated the school and took over the Stepford Sisters Hive Mind to attack the X-Men and the mindscape of Jean Grey. Now, as Jean’s psychic battle with the son of Xavier intensifies, X-23 gets her chance to strike back…

All New X-Men #29 is an astonishingly brilliant issue from Brian Michael Bendis. The return of the Future Brotherhood has made for a really exciting storyline, every element of the time travelling plot that Bendis has weaved into the narrative achieves an uncanny synergy with the sheer audacity of the multiple paradoxes and quandaries it generates. Heaven only knows what all this is doing to the time stream, it certainly makes a great story though, and the way Bendis manages to bring it all together this issue is amazing.

I really liked how Jean manages to turn the tables on the son of Xavier in this issue. Everything spins out from last issues cliff-hanger, when Jean began to fight back with her new psychic power levels, and gave X-23 her chance to ambush Xavier. X-23’s savage attack on the son of Xavier is enough to break his influences over the X-Men and the Future Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, except for his brother Raze, who quickly rushes in to fight X-23. The stunning art of Stuart Immonen, together with inker Wade Von Grawbadger, and with colorists Marte Gracia and Jason Keith on this issue, make the big action set piece that follows, with its elaborate two-page spreads and big sash pages, about as breathtaking and exciting as anything we’ve ever seen in this title.

There is also a great dynamic forming between the original X-Men and the present day X-Men now, with the adult Cyclops and Emma Frost keeping Jean focused during her mindscape battle with Xavier’s son, while Kitty Pryde and Magik lead the rest of the X-Men into battle. I also thought the fight between X-23 and Raze was really good, it was savage and brutal, and they both seem fairly evenly matched.

We also learn more about the Future Brotherhood, including the full extent of Xavier’s control over them, and there is a rather unsettling discovery about Xorn as well. The psychic confrontation on the mindscape between Xavier and Jean cleverly uses bold colors to define the combatant’s abilities, with icy blue tones highlighting the attacks by Xavier’s son, while Jean’s new power set manifests within vivid hues of pink and violet.

There are some really good scenes for the adult Cyclops and Emma Frost over the course of this issue, especially for Cyclops, as he points out to the value of the lessons the All New X-Men have learned on this day. Brian Michael Bendis manages once more to skilfully address the issue of Original X-Men’s inability to return to their own time, balancing it perfectly with the way the Future Brotherhood has been manipulated by Xavier’s son, effectively forming a time warping coda with the future events witnessed last issue as the Brotherhood plotted the X-Men’s downfall.

All New X-Men #29 is a highly enjoyable and action packed issue. With all its time twisting surprises this issue will be one to read a few times to pick up all the nuances that Bendis has included, and I expect, like me, you’ll probably agree with Iceman when he says that time travel gives him a headache if you think about it too much! Finally, last word goes to that stunning cover by Immonen, Grawbadger, and Gracia, featuring Angel riding a motorbike. Well, it certainly provides a great conclusion to this story with the Future Brotherhood, and if next issues teaser image is anything to go by, it seems that romance could soon be in the air.

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All New X-Men #17 Review

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All New X-Men, All New X-Men #17, Battle of the Atom, Battle of the Atom part 6, Beast, Brian Michael Bendis, Colossus, Cyclops, Iceman, Jean Grey, Magik, Marvel Comics, Stuart Immonen, Uncanny X-Men

All New X-Men #17

Review by Paul Bowler

 

A team of X-Men from the future have arrived in the present, claming the original X-Men must return to their own time, or the world will be doomed. Not wanting to go back, the young Jean Grey and Cyclops go on the run. They make their way to Utopia and seek help from the adult Cyclops and the Uncanny X-Men, but the modern-day and future X-Men track them down. However, Magik is suspicious and takes young Beast and Iceman with her to the future, where they discover it is actually a pleasant world and meet a completely different team of X-Men…

The opening moments of All New X-Men #17 offers a tantalising glimpse of future events for the X-men, where one of the most joyous moments imaginable for mutantkind goes tragically, and horribly wrong. Brian Michael Bendis superbly scripted storyline for Battle of the Atom continues to impress, and Stuart Immonen’s art gives these momentous events a cinematic quality that further enhances the scope and scale of these early scenes.

Its clear now that the future X-Men who travelled back in time to get the original X-Men to return home are not quite who they said they were. As we rejoin Magik, Hank, and Bobby, who have arrived in the future only to find themselves standing in front of a pristine looking Jean Grey School guarded by Sentinels and another team of X-Men.

So now we have not three, but four teams of X-Men to contend with, and it would seem that the future is not as horrific as the present-day X-Men have been led to believe. These X-Men are apparently the real deal, and claim they have nothing to do with the other X-Men who returned to the past. We get some great interactions between the present X-Men and the new future X-Men, as Illyana is reunited with Colossus, and a hilarious moment where young Iceman meets a wizard Iceman and asks him about the Ice-Hulk running around in the present with the “Evil X-Men”. Bobby’s reaction to everything is always great fun, especially here, and the expression on his face is priceless.

The future X-Men are reluctant to discuss future events when Illyana presses them for more information, and say that Magik, Beast, and Iceman should return to their own time immediately without any knowledge of what is to come.

We are now just over the halfway mark for the crossover event, this sixth instalment of Battle of the Atom is full of inventive twists, and it leaves you wondering exactly what Brian Michael Bendis is going to do next. The time travel element of this storyline makes it a compelling and exciting read, especially after this issues ends with the Uncanny X-Men returning to their secret school only to find they have some unexpected guests.

All New X-Men #17 effectively sets the scene for bringing the various teams from each time period together, presumably leading to a humongous clash between X-Men past, preset, and future as Battle of the Atom builds towards its final chapters.

All New XMen #13 Review

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All New X-Men, All New X-Men #13, Brian Michael Bendis, Cyclops, Havok, Iceman, Jean Grey, Kitty, Marvel Comics, Mystique, Stuart Immonen, The Original X-Men, Uncanny Avengers, Wolverine, X-Men

All New X-Men #13

Review by Paul Bowler

[Contains Spoilers]

Jean Grey continues to struggle with her newly awakened telepathic powers and the knowledge she has gained of the future, while her team mates wonder if Angel’s defection to the adult Cyclops’ rival team will be permanent. To complicate matters further Mystique, Sabertooth, and Lady Mastermind have been using the X-Men’s identities to conduct a series of high-profile robberies. The young X-Men later encountered the Uncanny Avengers and Scott met his brother Alex. Together with Wolverine and Kitty, the teenage X-Men set out to find Mystique and clear their name, but first they need to find out exactly what she intends to do with all the money.

All New X-Men #13 opens in spectacular fashion, with a jaw-dropping sneak peak at the issues closing moments, before turning the clock back six hours to show the events leading up to this momentous event. The original X-Men accompany Wolverine and Kitty to Resilient International in Seattle, where Jean uses her psychic powers to hide their presence so they can investigate the scene of the robbery. Wolverine picks ups Sabertooth’s scent just as Jean’s concentration falters, they are discovered, but Iceman shields them with an ice barrier so they can escape.

However, it is after they resume their search for Mystique where the young X-Men hear the speech Havok made earlier in the day, along with Kitty’s response to it, and the story she recounts about her first experience of racism that proves to be the real highlight of the issue. Brian Michael Bendis skilfully addresses this issue as the original X-Men discuss Warren’s departure, allowing Jean and Scott to share a quite moment together, before they ask Kitty‘s opinion about Havok’s speech. It a superb piece of writing by Bendis, where Kitty tells a story from her teenage years – about an anti-semitic comment a boy made without knowing she was Jewish – that draws a stark contrast with her own heartbreaking experience and Alex’s statement that the “M” word represents everything he hates. Kitty is proud to be Jewish and proud to be a Mutant, and although Alex Summers speech is a well intentioned attempt to smooth over the damage to human / mutant relations in the wake of what his brother did in AvX, its certainly clear that Kitty doesn’t feel that she, or anyone, should ever have to shy away from telling people who they are in the way that Havok‘s speech implies.

Its moments like this that makes All New X-Men such a rewarding experience. Brian Michael Bendis has such a grasp on these characters, Kitty’s passionate speech not only highlights the differences between what the X-Men and the Uncanny Avengers are trying to achieve, but it also shows the inner strength that Kitty possesses – and makes you realise just how Havok’s speech could actually end up being incredibly counter productive. A page of this speech, which originally took place in Uncanny Avengers #5, is reprinted at the end of this issue – serving to create a synergy between the two books while placing their opposing views into context against the backdrop of these events.

The art by Stuart Immonen really brings this scene to life, he captures the reactions of the Original X-Men to Kitty’s response to Havok’s speech perfectly, and this is probably some of the finest work he has done of the series to date. While the colours might not be quite on par with Marte Gracia’s work, Rain Beredo has still done a great job with this issue, and he manages to maintain the consistency and tone of the previous instalments.

There are some really funny moments involving Iceman this issue, especially after he discovers that Tony Stark is actually Iron Man, and later when he asks Logan if his mutant name is Hound Dog as he attempts to detect Sabertooth’s scent at Resilient International.

We also get learn to what Mystique has planned for the all money her new Brotherhood have stolen, when  Madame Hydra and the Silver Samurai arrive for a meeting with Raven, Sabertooth, and Lady Mastermind. It seems that Madame Hydra has control of something that Mystique wants, namely the island called Madrpoor, and Raven offers her the money the Brotherhood have stolen so she can buy this centrepiece of vice and criminality.

All New X-Men #13 races to a dramatic conclusion as the Original X-Men disobey orders to join Wolverine and Kitty in gate crashing Mystique’s meeting with Hydra, offering Lady Mastermind the perfect opportunity to take revenge on Jean Grey for destroying her family and driving her father mad by seemingly reaching into Jean’s mind and triggering her apparent manifestation of the Phoenix Force. Whether this shocking turn of events is actually real, possibly caused by some bizarre time travelling paradox, or just another one of Lady Mastermind’s illusions remains to be seen, but it certainly provides an exciting cliff-hanger.

This is another fantastic issue by Brian Michael Bendis, his writing has made All New X-Men one of the best comics around, and the art by Stuart Immonen is absolutely incredible. I always look forward to reading All New X-Men, and this issue is one of the best ever.

All New XMen #9 Review

Tags

All New X-Men, Angel, Brian Michael Bendis, Cyclops, Iceman, Jean Grey, Kitty Pryde, Marvel Comics, Marvel Now, Mystique, Original X-Men, Sabertooth, Sentinels, Stuart Immonen, The Beast, X-Men

All New X-Men #9

Review by Paul Bowler

 

After encountering his future self, Warren helped his metal winged counterpart defend Avengers Tower from an attack by Hydra, but after witnessing both Angel’s in action the Avengers decide to return with them to the school where the Beast explains the situation to Captain America. When the Avengers leave Angel breaks into Hank’s lab, determined to return to his own time. The young Jean Grey intervenes, shocking everyone when she uses her newfound telepathic powers to forcibly alter Warren’s mind and make him stay.

The original X-Men face one of their toughest challenges yet in All New X-Men #9 when Kitty decides its time for their first training session in the Danger Room. With the exercise set against the backdrop of Times Square, the young X-Men struggle to cope as they find themselves attacked by the Sentinels. After her students fail to work together as a team, Kitty ends the training programme, and encourages them to discuss how they went wrong.

As they head for their next class, Jean telepathically pries into Scott’s mind, and asks him who Mystique is. Kitty is horrified that Scott didn’t tell them about Mystique, but he refuses to discuss it, and storms out of the room.

Meanwhile a Maria Hill arrives at The Raft by helicopter with a new prisoner for the Ryker’s Maximum Security Installation, the Mutant known as Sabertooth! Once inside the facility Sabertooth breaks free of his shackles and tears the guars apart, leaving Mystique free to sheds the disguise of Maria Hill and release Lady Mastermind from her cell. Mystique has a proposal for Regan, one that involves using their extraordinary powers to get rich!

Back at The Jean Grey School of Higher Learning the young Angel questions the Beast about why there is no sign of the mutant genocide he told them about. Hank explains how hopes the presence of the original X-Men will make this eras Scott Summers see reason, that he brought them here to avert a disaster, not to witness a mutant genocide. However, the school day is suddenly brought to an abrupt end, when some surprise visitors materialise outside…

All New X-Men #9 is another outstanding character driven piece by Brian Michael Bendis. I really like the dynamic that Bendis has built up between Kitty and the original X-Men. She has forged a great relationship with her students, helping them learn from their mistakes, and it’s good to see Kitty addressing the way Jean has been abusing her telepathic powers. When it emerges that Cyclops has been approached by Mystique it leaves everyone stunned, especially as he refuses to talk about it, leaving us wondering exactly what he intends to do next. One of the best aspects of All New X-Men is the way Bendis has taken the time to allow the story to evolve at a natural pace, although it might by a bit too wordy and slow for some, I feel its one of this books strongest points.

We also discover more about Mystique’s plans, and that her agenda involves more than simply manipulating the young Scott Summers doubts about his mission. The way Mystique organizes Lady Mastermind’s escape from The Raft with Sabertooth is brutal in its simplicity, as Sabertooth quickly disposes of the guards, leaving Mystique free to make a deal with Regan that will enable them all to become extremely rich.

It’s also nice to see Angel finally getting to play a more active role, after being effectively sidelined for the most part, his conversation with the Beast in his lab offers us a greater insight into the reasoning behind Hank‘s actions. The way that Beast makes Warren realise how events could unfold if he hadn’t acted is truly inspired. Faced with only two possible outcomes, Hank sought out a third, and in doing so he believes that the shock of seeing original X-Men will bring Scott Summers to his senses and end his call for a mutant revolution.

All New X-Men #9 features the return of Stuart Immonen to the series with some incredible action set-pieces as the original X-Men take on the Sentinels in Times Square. This spectacular sequence is the highlight of the issue, the Sentinels look amazing, and it’s great to see the original X-Men going up against them. Immonen is also equally adept at the quieter moments that punctuate the action, perfectly capturing every emotional beat and facial expression, particularly when Kitty and Jean clash over the way she keeps sneaking a look at everyone’s thoughts.

Together with Bendis’ time warping storyline and Immonen’s stunning art, All New X-Men continues to build on its original premise, and with yet another fantastic cliff-hanger it remains one of my favourite titles from Marvel Now.

All New XMen #8 Review

Tags

All New X-Men, Angel, Avengers, Avengers Tower, Brian Michael Bendis, Cyclops, David Marquez, Hydra, Iceman, Jean Grey, Marvel Comics, Marvel Now, Original X-Men, Scott Summers, The Beast, Warren Worthington III, Wolverine, X-Men

All New X-Men #8

Review by Paul Bowler

 

The adventures of the original X-Men continue to be as enthralling as ever in All New X-Men #8 when the young Warren Worthington III finally encounters his future self. He takes to the sky with this metal winged Angel of the future, trying to keep up with his present day counterpart, but their flight is cut short when they notice Avengers Tower being attack by Hydra. The winged Mutants swoop from the sky to defend Avengers Tower, keeping Hydra’s forces at bay with their combined speed and agility, before the Avengers arrive to lend a hand.

When the Avengers find themselves confronted with the bizarre sight of two Angels, they return with the Mutants to the Jean Grey School of Higher Learning where the Beast does his best to explain to Captain America why the original X-Men are currently residing in the present – even though their presence could be potentially jeopardising to the space time continuum. Before the Beast can finish explaining, the Avengers are left dumfounded when the young Scott Summers intervenes and assures Captain America that he intends to make up for everything his future self has done.

Satisfied that the Beast has the situation under control, Captain America and the Avengers take their leave, but moments later an alarm sound from Hank’s lab. They rush to the lab where the young Angel is trying to activate the Time Cube so he can return to his own time. Warren’s team mates try to get him to calm down, but he refuses and says he wants to leave and go home, unaware that Jean Grey is about to intervene and change his mind for him…

All New X-Men #8 is another amazing issue in Brian Michael Bendis’ time warping saga of the Original X-Men’s exploits in the present day. It’s been a long time coming, but this issue Bendis finally throws the spotlight on Angel, who has had the most difficult time coping with his visit to the future. The way he interacts with his future counterpart is skilfully handled by Bendis, who shows that Angel is just as agile as his future self, and more than capable of handling himself in the fight with Hydra.

The scenes where the two Angels are flying together are beautifully realized by David Marquez, his art captures the glorious freedom that comes with the power of flight, and leaves us giddy with excitement as they swoop in to attack Hydra’s forces. Here the differences between the two Angels becomes even more apparent, with the youthful Warren proving to equally as adept in combat as his metal winged self. Their fighting styles stand in marked contrast to each other, yet together they make a formidable team, and it’s great to see the bemused look on the Avengers faces when they realize they are looking at two Angels from different time zones.

The young Scott Summers also makes a scene stealing entrance when he interrupts Captain America and the Beast, quickly defusing the tension in his own inimitable way, utilizing his natural leaderships skills in a way that gives both teams cause to sit up and take notice – even Wolverine seems impressed.

One of my favourite moments is where Beast is trying to explain what’s happened to Captain America, while just out of earshot, Iceman and Kitty Pryde hilariously mimic the seriousness of their conversation. Iceman’s take on what Captain America might be saying is absolutely hilarious, and as for Kitty’s “blah blah, blah” rendition of Hank McCoy’s incomprehensible techno babble, well, that is simply priceless. It’s writing like this by Brian Michael Bendis that makes All New X-Men so endearing and special.

However, it’s not all played for laughs. The scene were Warren decides to return to his own time is one of the pivotal moments in All New X-Men #8. His angry outburst leaves his team mates reeling when he states that his future would be safer if he had nothing to do with them anymore. It’s a great character moment for Angel. Right from the outset, The Original X-Men have failed to acknowledge any of Warren’s concerns about their trip to the future, it was clear he was having a hard time coping, so it was inevitable something like this was going to happen sooner or later.

What is really astounding about this issue is the way Jean Grey uses telepathy to alter Warren’s thoughts to make him stay. This blatant abuse of Jean’s newfound powers is quite shocking, and it offers a wealth of possibilities for Brian Michael Bendis to explore in the issue ahead. With its engaging plot and superb characterization, All New X-Men #8 is another thrilling issue by Bendis and Marquez, and remains one of the best X-Titles around at the moment.

All New XMen #7 Review

Tags

All New X-Men, Brian Michael Bendis, Cyclops, David Marquez, Iceman, Jean Grey, Marvel Comics, Marvel Girl, Marvel Now, Mystique, Original X-Men, Scott Summers, Wolverine

All New X-Men #7

Review by Paul Bowler

Having travelled into the future, the young Scott Summers is having a tough time coming to terms with the fact that he is destined to become the murderer of Professor X and the instigator of a mutant civil war. Deciding that he needs some time away from the Jean Grey School of Higher Leaning to gather his thoughts, Scott takes Wolverine’s motorbike and sets off, but he finds that the future is not as clear cut as he first realized. Wolverine tracks him down but Cyclops blasts him with his optic beams, using the opportunity to give Wolverine the slip and head for Manhattan.

Cyclops arrives as a bank where the assistant takes him to his safe deposit box, but one of the staff members recognises him and alerts security. As he attempts to leave Wolverine catches up with him in the foyer of the Bank, and he uses his Avengers ID Card to persuade the security guards to let them leave the building. In an alleyway Wolverine suddenly changes into Mystique, she leads Scott away and dupes him into telling her what has happened at the school. She tries to persuade him that the school turned its back on Xavier’s dream, that he should go back and close it down, before confronting his older self and shutting him down as well.

After Mystique has left Wolverine shows up in his jeep to give Cyclops a lift back to the school, unaware of the poisonous lies the shape shifter has been telling Scott, while Kitty places her new students on a vigorous exercise regime. Wolverine and Scott return, as Logan leaves Storm in charge of things, Scott walks over to Jean and gives her a very special invitation…

All New X-Men #7 is another fine issue from Brian Michael Bendis, who continues to elevate this tale to new heights with the addition of Mystique. I really like how the young Scott Summers is finding his feet in his own future, the scene where he checks out the contents of his safe deposit box in the bank are really good. The objects inside, the wedding invitation in particular, really illustrate how cleverly Bendis has been in bringing the original X-Men into the future. It’s as if Scott is rediscovering himself as he dons the ruby quarts glasses stored in the box, looking through memories that might never even exist if his mission to save his future self from himself goes wrong.

Mystique is one of my favourite Villain’s, the way she uses her powers to mimic Wolverine are really funny, and she proves to be at her manipulative best as she plants some telling seeds of doubt in Scott’s mind. David Marquez is on fine form as he continues to stand in for Stuart Immonen, there may not be any big action sequences, but the quiet moments between Scott and Mystique are really captivating and draw you into the story. It was also great fun to see Kitty squaring up to Iceman when he doesn’t want to take part in her exercise class, their banter is hilarious, and she quickly shows him who is boss when she throws him to the ground.

All New X-Men #7 is a great issue, the pace may be a tad slower than previous issues, but the last few moments as Scott gives Jean the wedding invitation he found in the safety deposit box are brilliant. He then walks away before she can say anything, leaving her to silently come to terms with the fact that one day they might become husband and wife.

All New XMen #5 Review

Tags

All New X-Men, Angel, Brian Michael Bendis, Cyclops, Hank McCoy, Iceman, Jean Grey, Marvel Comics, Marvel Girl, Marvel Now, Original X-Men, Scott Summers, Stuart Immonen, The Beast, Wolverine, X-Men

All New X-Men #5

Review by Paul Bowler

While the young Hank McCoy works tirelessly to find a cure for the Beast’s life-threatening Next-Generation Mutation, he enlists the help of Jean Grey’s newly emerging telepathic powers to connect them all psychically while he tends to his future self’s physical form. After discovering a link between the Beast’s condition and the formula he once used to alter his own mutation, which occurred in the classic anthology series Amazing Adventures #11 (1972), Hank McCoy begins to work on finding the flaw in the Beast’s original formula.

In Texas the Student who found out he was a Mutant when the X-Men clashed last issue finds his life has been turned upside down by the media frenzy it caused. Benjamin Deeds has been kicked out of school for no apparent reason other than being a Mutant, and he soon finds that his friends are not prepared to stand up for him either. As he leaves the campus Benjamin is greeted by Cyclops who offers him to the chance to join his team of X-Men and learn how to use his powers. When Benjamin agrees, Cyclops calls Illyana to teleport them to the Weapon X Facility – where Scott is building The New Charles Xavier School for the Gifted.

Back at the Jean Grey School for Higher Learning preparations are underway in the lab, while Hank and Headmistress Kitty Pryde work on the formula, the Beast and Jean Grey continue to talk psychically. When the Beast tries to discuss Jean’s opinions on the future, particularly what Scott has done, she surprises him by asking him to show her the full extent of everything that will happen to her during her extraordinary life with the X-Men. As Jean reels from the experience, Kitty leads her outside, leaving Hank to administer the remedy he’s formulated to save the Beast.

Some time later, as both generations of X-Men gather outside the School, an argument between Wolverine and the teenage Scott Summers is interrupted when the young Hank McCoy leads the Beast outside. His mutation has been stabilized and he is recovering quickly. As the Beast’s friends gather around him he suggests that its time for the Original X-Men to return to their own time, but Jean Grey refuses, having seen what the future holds for them all she is determined to make things right before they return to the past. The Original X-Men take a vote and decide to stay and finish what they’ve started, with Kitty Pride volunteering to serve as their mentor.

With Hank McCoy’s life hanging in the balance, All New X-Men #5 sees Jean Grey take centre stage in Brian Michael Bendis’ superlative time travel saga. The telepathic conference inside the Beast’s mind is full of Bendis’ trademark dialogue, veering effortlessly between the slapstick banter of the McCoy’s search for a cure and Hank‘s quiet interlude with Jean as they discuss the possible ramifications of tampering with the timeline. It seems Jean’s telepathic powers shouldn’t have developed for at least another year, a fact which neither of them can fully explain, however is does pose some intriguing possibilities that I’m sure Bendis will reveal in time.

The work by Stuart Immonenon All New X-Men has been nothing short of astounding. I defy anyone not to be blown away by the moment Hank allows Jean to see the entirety of her timeline. Here you are plunged into a kaleidoscopic whirlpool of fragmented images: Jean’s early years as Marvel Girl, her transformation into Phoenix, then ultimately from Black Queen to Dark Phoenix, Inferno and X-Factor, her feelings for Wolverine, and the path that will inexorably spirals towards Scott Summers and a future twisted by the man she thought she’d love forever.

Talking of Scott Summers, he is still busy recruiting for his New Charles Xavier School for the Gifted. He manages to persuade the young Mutant in Texas who got caught in the battle between the two teams of X-Men to join him. It’s almost as if Scott sees something of himself in Benjamin Deeds, however he still has a long way to go to make amends for what he did as part of the Phoenix Five – a fact that Benjamin astutely reminds him of. The new school Cyclops is building is slowly taking shape in the old Weapon X Facility, and its going to be interesting to learn more about these new Mutants and their abilities over the coming months.

When the Beast’s condition is stabilized it looks like everyone expects the Original X-Men to return to their own time, once again Bendis keeps us on the back foot when Jean stubbornly refuses to leave until she is satisfied they have accomplished their mission – to prevent Scott Summers from destroying everything they stand for. Jean may be dressed as a student, but her personality seems to be evolving in keeping with her powers – just as her costume changed into her Marvel Girl outfit during her telepathic link with the Beast. She takes charge here like an adult, rallying her peers to join her, stating that Professor X can easily mind wipe them all when they return, even silencing Wolverine’s doubts with a few choice words from the heart.

Ignoring Angel’s concerns, The Original X-Men take a vote and decide to stay. Realizing that this is the chance she has been waiting for to honour Xavier’s memory, Kitty appoints herself as the teenage X-Men’s mentor while they reside in this time period. As the young Beast jokes that maybe they should call her Professor K, it’s intriguing to note that Warren is the only one to address the fact that his future self is missing. But before we can ponder on this the young Scott Summers tries to talk to Jean, but she recoils from his touch and tells him to leave her alone before walking away with her head bowed.

All New X-Men #5 is another really exciting issue, full of cracking dialogue and great character moments. I’m really pleased the Original X-Men are sticking around for the foreseeable future, it’s been great fun seeing the two generations working together, and I can’t wait the see the fallout from this issues shock ending.

All New XMen #4 Review

Tags

All New X-Men, Brian Michael Bendis, Classic X-Men, Cyclops, Hank McCoy, Iceman, Jean Grey, Marvel Comics, Marvel Now, Storm, Stuart Immonen, The Beast, Wolverine, X-Men

All New X-Men #4

Review by Paul Bowler

Having set up home inside the disused Weapon X facility Cyclops decided to rescue Emma Frost from captivity while she was being transported by road from San Francisco. However when Magneto’s power fails Cyclops opens fire, and his optic blasts almost obliterates the military convoy. Now that she is free Emma turns on Scott for leaving her to be captured by the authorities. Realizing that the Phoenix Force has somehow affected their mutations, the former members of the Phoenix Five have to find an away to work together again to realize Scott‘s plan, even though relations between them have never been more strained.

Cyclops and his team discover a new Mutant called Benjamin with mimicking powers at a University in Texas, but they are intercepted at the scene by the Original X-Men who have travelled into the future at the behest of seriously ill Beast to try and make Cyclops see reason and bring his Mutant revolution to an end.

All New X-Men #5 opens with the confrontation we have been waiting for ever since Bendis and Immonen launched this series, a face off between the original X-Men and Cyclops! The tense standoff is brilliantly played as the Children of the Atom are shocked to see Cyclops standing side by side with Magneto, their sworn enemy, but nothing can quite prepare Jean Grey for the thoughts she picks up from the future version of Scott Summers. This is Brian Michael Bendis as his very best, the telepathic wave of tumultuous emotions and memories from two timelines come together with devastating consequences as Marvel Girl lashes out in disgust telekinetically when she realizes what Scott’s future self has done, dislodging Cyclops visor and inadvertently unleashing his optic blasts.

The two Cyclops face each other, optic blasts locked in combat, but Scott’s younger self is unable to withstand the onslaught. As both men struggle to recover, Magneto calls for Magik’s help, attacking Iceman before Illyana teleports them to Weapon X where they have hidden two new Mutants: the Australian time manipulator Eva Bell and the healer from Michigan – Christopher Muse.

While Emma Frost contemplates the reasons behind the young X-Men’s return, the Original Team takes the Blackbird back to The Jean Grey School for Higher Learning and find Kitty Pryde and Iceman keeping vigil over the Beast as they try to contact Reed Richards for help. But when they are unable to contact him Hank McCoy’s condition suddenly deteriorates and he suffers a cardiac arrest!

Every page of Stuart Immonen’s incredible artwork makes Bendis’ story flow as seamlessly as its mind-bending time travel concept. The big action set-pieces are superbly inked by Wade Von Grawbadger, with every scene beautifully enhanced by Marte Gracia’s colours. All New X-Men #4 is bursting at the temporal seams with standout moments: Jean Grey’s horror at reliving the murder of Professor X in Scott’s mind is almost palpable, as is Jean’s struggle to block out the concerned thoughts of her team mates when they rest on a flat top mountain in Colorado, but it is Emma Frost’s estranged relationship with Scott that suffers the most as spectre of Jean Grey looms large in their lives once more.

Brian Michael Bendis still has a lot of fun with the time travel concepts, offering up a brilliant scene where Kitty blames Iceman for giving Beast the idea of “letting Summers see what he has become” and inadvertently setting in motion one of the greatest paradoxes the Marvel Universe has ever known. It’s really funny how Bobby reacts to his younger self, always screaming whenever he walks into at room, unnerved by the fact that continually finds himself looking at himself. There is also a priceless moment when the Original X-Men return to the School in the stolen Blackbird and brusquely take charge of the situation and race to hep The Beast, completely ignoring Storm and Wolverine along with their simultaneous declaration of authority.

All New X-Men #4 is by far one of the best Marvel Now titles around. Bendis and Immonen have crafted an ingeniously fan pleasing storyline that has injected a wealth of new possibilities to quickly become something very special indeed.

All New XMen #2 Review

Tags

All New X-Men, Angel, Brian Michael Bendis, Cyclops, Hank McCoy, Iceman, Jean Grey, Marvel Comics, Marvel Now, Next-Generation Mutation, Original X-Men, Scott Summers, Stuart Immonen, Wolverine, X-Men

All New X-Men #2

Review by Paul Bowler

Having travelled back in time Hank McCoy persuades the Original X-Men to return with him to the future, hoping they will be able to prevent Cyclops from bringing about a Mutant Apocalypse that could engulf them all. The young X-Men emerge from the Time Cube in front of The Jean Grey School for Higher Learning to be confronted with a with their future selves. Unable to hide the pain of his Next-Generation Mutation any longer, The Beast collapses and is taken to the infirmary. While the X-Men look after Hank, the young members of the original X-Men are left to marvel at the changes to the school and their discoveries about the future. After Jean telepathically subdues Wolverine they see a news report about Cyclops on TV and decide to carry out their mission anyway, ignoring the possible dangers their intervention might cause to the space-time continuum, and stealing a Black Bird before jetting off to confront Cyclops.

All New X-Men #2 sees Brian Michael Bendis on top form as the Original X-Men take their first tentative steps into the future. This is a fun issue that will leave X-Men fans with a big silly smile on their face as they watch the original team interacting with the strange new world they find themselves in. One of the most hilarious moments is when Iceman comes face to face with himself, and the ease at which the young Jean Grey sends Logan to sleep when he’s lecturing them is priceless!

The humour is skilfully handled by Bendis, it never detracts form the plot, and some of the best moments come when Hank is trying to get the original team to come back with him to the future. Here the comedy is tempered with some genuinely touching scenes, particularly when Hank inadvertently reveals Jean will be able to read minds, then later when he tells them how Cyclops has already killed Professor X in the future.

It’s also surprising just how quickly these “little” X-Men (as Wolverine labels them) begin to adapt to their surrounding. Their training may be rough around the edges, but they easily take out Wolverine when he attacks them when they arrive outside the school – presumably because he detected Scott’s scent and thought the school was under attack. They also cope well with their new foreknowledge: Jean seems positively flippant about being dead in the future and dating a homicidal mutant terrorist, Hank McCoy steps in to help treat his fuzzy future self, Scott is determined to uphold Xavier’s dream, while Bobby enjoys the novelty of widescreen TV, only Warren seems to be uncomfortable and suggests that maybe they should return to their own time.

Stuart Immonen’s art is astounding, every scene bursts with detail and energy, perfectly realizing the different generations of the X-Men and striking just the right balance between the humour and some key emotional beats. The youthful exuberance and innocence of the original X-Men is like a breath of fresh air as they breeze into the present, a scene that is encapsulated brilliantly in a stunning two page spread by Immonen when the young X-Men materialize outside the school and look up in awe at the wondrous things the future has in store for them.

Two issues in and I’m hooked. All New X-Men has a brilliant premise, one that I’m sure Bendis and Immonen have only just begun to explore. The time travel elements, if you consider the catastrophic paradoxes that could result from the X-Men crossing over their own time lines, are a little hard to get your head around. Hell, you’d probably go and lock yourself in Hank McCoy’s lab and never come out if you think about it too much!

All New X-Men #2 is fantastic fun and one of the best Marvel Now titles I have had the pleasure to read so far.