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X-Men: Legacy #220 [Review]

Posted on January 25, 2009 by Walt

Salvage (part one)

Writer: Mike Carey
Penciller: Scot Eaton
Inker: Andrew Hennessy
Colorist: Frank D’Armata
Cover: Lee Bermejo
Publisher: Marvel Comics

This issue continue’s Xavier’s quest for self-understanding via reconnecting with those who have played important roles in his life–or who have otherwise been significantly impacted by his own existence in their lives.

We open with a flashback to events during the Secret Invasion…than transition to Xavier and Gambit over a meal as they discuss where they’re headed and what they expect will come of seeking out Rogue. (Rogue made it clear awhile back she didn’t want Gambit following her and wants nothing to do with Xavier). We’re given a glimpse of what Rogue is up to these days in a ghost town where she and other X-Men apparently had once taken residence. While there, she is approached by a stranger supposedly looking to study the history of the town…but as Rogue quickly discovers, appearances can be quite deceiving. The issue ends with a revelation of who the stranger is, why she sought Rogue, and a vaguely familiar kind of cliffhanger as Xavier and Gambit are en route.

The art on this issue is good stuff…not only does it simply fit and serve the story, but I actually like this depiction of Xavier, Gambit, and Rogue visually. No complaints on this aspect of the issue.

Story-wise, it feels like we’re FINALLY getting somewhere with this book. Part of my initial interest a year or so ago in this title was that it’d basically feature Xavier, Gambit, and Rogue. This year later I’ve nearly lost interest in the waiting and the promised premise finally seems about to come about. The characters all come across as in-character with what’s been recently established.

This issue seems to have left out creator credits. The cover tells us that “Carey / Eaton / Hennessy” are to be associated with this issue. The interior features no credits–I had to go to Marvel’s website to research what creators were involved with the issue, and that’s assuming the site is accurate to this final product.

All in all, if you’re interested in the current Gambit/Rogue dynamic with Xavier, this seems a decent enough point to jump in, or to come back if you’ve lapsed for lack of the promised characters. The Xavier-tracking-down-old-acquaintances-to-find-himself is getting a bit old at this point…it remains to be seen how long that element drives the title and if it’ll be a point that’s beaten to death before resolution.

You could do far worse than this title–and as this X-book seems to be playing outside the stuff tied to Dark Reign and whatnot, it’s a chance to read a mainstream Marvel book without being subjected to that branding.

Story: 7/10
Art: 8/10
Whole: 7.5/10

Filed under: Comic Reviews 2009, MARVEL, Marvel Universe, X-Men: Legacy | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment »

X-Men: Legacy #218 [Review]

Posted on November 23, 2008 by Walt

Original Sin part four

Writer: Mike Carey
Penciller: Scott Eaton
Inker: Andrew Hennessy
Colorists: Jason Keith with Brian Reber
Letterer: VC’s Cory Petit
Production: Joe Sabino
Assistant Editor: Daniel Ketchum
Editor: Nick Lowe
Cover: Mike Deodato
Publisher: Marvel Comics

Wolverine and Professor Xavier infiltrate the place Daken is being held, and a battle erupts between them and Sebastian Shaw with Miss Sinister…Daken caught in the middle.

The story is at once simple and somewhat boring. I don’t care about Daken, I knew nothing of the character prior to this Original Sin story. I do not like the way Marvel (in general) seems to be shoehorning so much crap into the past of their characters, casting a 180 on how they were viewed for the last three to four decades.

It’s fairly interesting seeing Wolverine and Xavier interact–I have long enjoyed their dynamic, as Wolverine struggles to be his own person, and almost grudgingly respects the professor–the man who helped him reclaim his humanity. This story suggests that a certain amount of Wolverine’s memory loss was actually caused by Xavier himself all those years ago–that Wolverine joined the X-Men intent upon killing Xavier, and I just don’t buy that. I have never found the Hellfire Club interesting, nor do I care one bit about their internal political maneuvering…I just don’t find it engaging at all.

The art of the issue is the best part–it’s pretty good, and I actually like the way Xavier and Wolverine are depicted. No real complaint visually…or at least, any visual complaint would have to do (Daken) with a story element I disagree with.

You could probably do much worse than this issue…but if you’re not interested in Daken-Son-of-Wolverine, and you’re not already following this Original Sin story, you’re just as well skipping this issue and coming back when X-Men Legacy is its own story again.

Story: 6/10
Art: 8/10
Whole: 7/10

Filed under: Comic Reviews 2008, MARVEL, X-Men: Legacy | Tagged: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , | Leave a comment »

X-Men: Legacy #216 [review]

Posted on September 24, 2008 by Walt

Walkthrough, Part 2 of 2

Writer: Mike Carey
Penciller: Phil Briones
Inker: Scott Hanna
Colorists: Brian Reber and Raul Trevino
Letterer: VC’s Cory Petit
Production: Joe Sabino
Assistant Editors: Will Panzo and Daniel Ketchum
Editor: Nick Lowe
Executive Editor: Axel Alonso
Editor in Chief: Joe Quesada
Publisher: Dan Buckley
Cover: Salvador Larroca

This issue yet again reminds me that it is possible to have a very enjoyable story that is steeped in continuity. We open with Emma Frost holding sway over Xavier–she’d lurked in Cyclops’ mind, and when Xavier interacted with Cyclops, he also got her. She proceeds to lead Xavier through a review of some of the key moments in which he has seemingly abused his power…while she seeks to determine if there’s any remnant of Mr. Sinister lurking within this mighty mutant mind.

Looks at recruiting Henry McCoy, responding to Rogue’s first coming to him, and Scott Summers reacting to the defeat at Krakoa are three of multiple power-abuses Xavier is confronted with–these times that he “played God” with other living people, means to the end being all the justification he’d required.

Carey’s writing here seems spot-on. Whatever history the characters have had, I find his Scott and Emma to be quite believable, and I greatly enjoy the way he has Xavier “re-discovering” all these fragments of his past–which we as readers are shown as flashbacks. Carey picks out moments key to what makes–or made–Xavier WHO he is (or was, or will be again). Through this, we see how past events are stil relevant in the present, and in general get to take this journey of self re-discovery WITH Xavier.

The art also works very well….I like the way the characters look. I’m not left in confusion as to what’s going on visually; the art works right alongside the writing. That I recognize several of the flashbacks is great: while perhaps from a different camera-angle than the original, there’s a consistency that I almost wouldn’t expect these days.

This is the second of a two-chapter story, and so in and of itself unlikely to be a good jump-on point unless one looks simply to jump into the deep end and flail like crazy to find one’s bearings. With some context of the last couple years of X-stories, one wouldn’t be too badly off pairing this issue with the previous s a single go. As a continuing reader, this is another strong issue in what has come to be my favorite–and only–X-title to read each month.

Story: 8/10
Art: 8/10
Whole: 8/10

Filed under: Comic Reviews 2008, MARVEL, X-Men: Legacy | Tagged: , | Leave a comment »

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