Sunday, January 20, 2013

All-New X-Men #6

Writer Brian Bendis is the master of the slow rollout, as he takes months to cover the same ground comics once needed 15 pages to tell.

That's not an altogether bad thing, because it allows him time and space to dig down into personal stories and give the reader more insights into the mind and motivations of different characters.

For example, here we're six issues into the All-New X-Men, and we're still slowly piecing together the new life of the original teenage version of the team (Cyclops, Marvel Girl, Beast, Angel and Iceman), now relocated (if that's the right word) from the past to the present.

They're trying to adjust (and understand) a world where Professor Xavier's dream about peace between humans and mutants seems to be in complete ruins.

Even more troubling is the future they face - Jean is dead, Scott is the most hated man on Earth (well, almost), Hank is a furry monster, and even Iceman and the Angel have serious changes to contend with.

This issue focuses on Jean and Scott - she's trying to cope with her new telepathic powers, and he's trying to understand this new world.

The story features clever, funny dialogue, some great twists and some touching moments.

I like the artwork by David Marquez, although some of the page layouts are a bit hard to follow - some spill across two pages, but it's not always obvious. But that's a minor complaint - his character designs are strong and his action sequences are sharp.

This series may be taking its sweet time, but so far, it's been a fun ride. Works for me!

Grade: A-

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