Thursday, December 28, 2017

Phoenix Resurrection #1 (of 5)

    I hated when they killed off Jean Grey / Marvel Girl / Phoenix (choose your favorite name) in
X-Men #137. (Admittedly, it happened in a terrific story.)

   I was happy when Marvel brought her back from the dead a few years later (even if the method used took an effort to suspend one's disbelief).

   Then they killed her again. And she has stayed that way for more than a dozen years.

   Finally they're bringing her back, and I couldn't be happier. As one of Marvel's first female heroes, along with the Invisible Girl (now Invisible Woman) and the Wasp, she deserves a major spot in Marvel's continuity - not the grave.

    (Interesting to note that all three of those heroes have been largely removed from continuity in recent years. What the heck, Marvel?)

   This story finds the X-Men investigating a mutant-related phenomenon, one loaded with mystery, as characters once dead now appear to be alive and well. Or are they?

    If that's not confusing enough, the final sequence will have you scratching your head - but answers will have to wait for future issues.

   The series is well served by the terrific art by Lenil Francis Yu and Gerry Alanguilan.

   The jury's still out on the script by Matthew Rosenburg, because the issue is all about setting up mysteries - but none are resolved. Yet.

   Of course, I almost don't care how they're doing it - I'm just happy to have the real Jean Grey back on the team. Hopefully the rest of the series will live up to the promise of the first issue.

   Now, and Sue and Jan...

Grade: A-

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