Review: X-MEN #6

Writer:  Brian Wood
Penciler:  David Lopez
Inkers:  Cam Smith w/ Terry Pallot
Colorists:  Laura Martin w/ Matt Milla
Letterer:  VC’s Joe Caramagna

These last few chapters of Battle of the Atom (or BOTA for short) have been full of revelations.  After finding out about the presence of the “real” future X-Men, we’re given even more surprises.

X-Men under Brian Wood has been the female-centered X-book.  Even with Battle of the Atom taking place, Wood manages to still focus on his cast of X-Men like Jubilee, her adopted baby Shogo, Rachel Grey, Storm and Psylocke.

What I Liked

It’s a testament to Wood that his book can crossover with BOTA yet still stay true to its identity.  Wood is able to progress the main story, but still give his cast of characters time in the spotlight.

The revelations!  This event has been full of them.  I will not go into spoilers, but we have a few surprises here.  From the cover its obvious to see something happens to Wolverine.  We also learn the identities of two new players in this saga.

It’s good to have Jubilee back in the X-Men fold.  Some would find her an odd choice to have her be the center for this book, but Wood is doing a great job with her.  She has matured from her early yellow rain jacket days.

I also have to mention the speed at which BOTA is taking place.  Even though its crossing over into four books and two bookends, we get a new chapter a week.

What I Didn’t Like

I don’t want to knock David Lopez because he is a talented artist.  He seems to be best illustrating characterization.  I felt his action panels lacked energy.  The fight panels came across as wooden.

Summary

Battle of the Atom keeps speeding along.  Since we have passed the halfway point, more surprises are on the horizon.  More future X-Men have entered the fray, and we start to learn that the first group of future X-Men might not be who they say they are.  But why do they want the original X-Men to go back to the past?  We still have that to find out.

This review is written in partnership with Pop Culture Network.  They can be found at their website http://www.popculturenetwork.com/

Timdogg

#ComicBookChronicles @CBChron founder. Editor-in-Chief of @thekliqnation. Comic book reviewer, podcaster #RABBLERABBLE