The X-Men have experienced a Schism, and the Regenesis has come; Cyclops leads a group of mutants who fight to prevent the extinction of their race, while Wolverine has opened a new school for 'gifted youngsters;' one group based on an island state off California, one group back in Westchester, New York.
In Uncanny X-Men (2011) #1, Cyclops introduces his "Extinction Team," featuring Magneto, Storm, Emma, Danger, Namor, Hope, Colossus, and Magik. As the characters and (most) readers are aware, most of the roster has experience as a super-villain; Magneto, Emma, Namor, and Danger were all introduced as villains, Colossus has recently become the Juggernaut, his sister is a demon sorceress, and, though Hope is young, is in all likelihood some incarnation of the Dark Phoenix. The team's mission statement, to defend the welfare of the few over others, is clearly at odds with Xavier's Dream. All of these elements are skillfully employed and considered in Gillen's rhetoric; Storm's heroism shines through in challenging Cyclops' motives and disillusioning Magneto's grandeur. It's great to see her character reemerge, having been dormant for nearly decades, and I can't wait to see where Gillen takes her. Let's not forget Claremont's 1980's X-Men, in which, under (mohawk) Storm's leadership, the X-Men are based in Australia and fight for essentially the same purpose; to thwart those who would finish mutantkind off. The dynamic of Gillen's X-Men team is fantastic, and Pacheco's art is stunning. Despite the ever-increasing complex nature of the X-franchise, this is a book that readers of any experience can enjoy for relationships and exposition of power between truly monumental characters.
A bit of a different feel
For all its accomplishments, its one weakness lies with the villain. Mister Sinister, who made his entrance in the 1980's with perhaps the most incredible and impacting scheme of X-canon since its conception in 1963 (Mutant Massacre, cloning the Phoenix), has suddenly lost any sense of grandeur in this installment. Typically illustrated in all-enveloping shadow and with an air of omnipotent reserve, Sinister is illustrated as a bright vaudevillian, melodramatic in his announcement of the oh-so-sinister plot to brainwash the citizens of San Francisco to become his followers? Didn't Mastermind's daughter do this years ago, only to be thwarted by Scott and Emma alone? His only authority comes from his manipulation of a Celestial, an imposing android, hundreds of feet tall, hailing from a race that judges whether or not to annihilate entire planets for their sinfulness (introduced in 1980's X-Factor, an episode Scott seems to have forgotten?) Sure, Sinister's ability to manipulate one of these guys has potential, as they birthed the only man Sinister's shown any subversion to and a villain who threatens to affect the Apocalypse, but the cliffhanger relies on an amusement park themed 'SinisterVille' over any threat of a Judgement Day. So, as excited as I am about Scott's Extinction Team, Sinister's schemes truly pale in comparison. We'll see where it goes.
A bit of a different feel
For all its accomplishments, its one weakness lies with the villain. Mister Sinister, who made his entrance in the 1980's with perhaps the most incredible and impacting scheme of X-canon since its conception in 1963 (Mutant Massacre, cloning the Phoenix), has suddenly lost any sense of grandeur in this installment. Typically illustrated in all-enveloping shadow and with an air of omnipotent reserve, Sinister is illustrated as a bright vaudevillian, melodramatic in his announcement of the oh-so-sinister plot to brainwash the citizens of San Francisco to become his followers? Didn't Mastermind's daughter do this years ago, only to be thwarted by Scott and Emma alone? His only authority comes from his manipulation of a Celestial, an imposing android, hundreds of feet tall, hailing from a race that judges whether or not to annihilate entire planets for their sinfulness (introduced in 1980's X-Factor, an episode Scott seems to have forgotten?) Sure, Sinister's ability to manipulate one of these guys has potential, as they birthed the only man Sinister's shown any subversion to and a villain who threatens to affect the Apocalypse, but the cliffhanger relies on an amusement park themed 'SinisterVille' over any threat of a Judgement Day. So, as excited as I am about Scott's Extinction Team, Sinister's schemes truly pale in comparison. We'll see where it goes.
Wolverine and The X-Men #1, by Jason Aaron and Chris Bachalo-- truly a fiasco. The opening scene between Xavier and Logan sets the scene, as the two goad each other about the difficulties of running a school. Xavier is traditionally painful, but that’s part of his character. Instead of being a foil, though, Logan and him eat each other up. Kitty’s just as bad, and Bachalo’s art bolsters the vexation of the reading experience. They (and the reader) rely on Beast to salvage the mess, but Aaron flattens even his eccentric personality. The villain, a 12-year old boy who has somehow managed to usurp leadership of the Hellfire Club, announces his aim to ruin Logan’s school and drives away as the Institute crashes down. Personally, this doesn’t leave me dying to find out how or why. I just wanted to see all the mutants who left Utopia carving out a new path; I don’t want to read Aaron’s droll satire of superhuman banter. His comedy routine frankly does not work, and really makes a fool of any mutant who followed Logan to New York.
Diegetically, that is, within the Marvel U, I can’t follow Team Cyclops. His platform for mutant proliferation does not serve Xavier’s dream, and is inherently selfish. These are mutant heroes in that they fulfill only the virtues of mutant culture. Wolverine and his school, however, represent heroes of a greater breadth, concerned with growth and maturity over personal livelihood. They idealize the lifestyle in which the youth can be educated and grow in relative peace, as opposed to the militaristic agenda Cyclops is hung up on. They pay respects to the dreams of Xavier and the late Jean Grey, who (barring a few relapses) pour body and soul into the welfare of greater humanity. However, based on the reading experience delivered by Marvel’s writing teams, I just can’t follow Team Wolverine.
Final verdict: Buy Gillen’s Uncanny, Boycott Aaron’s garbage
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