Review: ALL-NEW X-MEN #40
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Artist: Mahmud Asrar
Colorist: Rain Beredo
Letterer: VC’s Cory Petit
Publisher: Marvel Comics
WARNING: THIS REVIEW CONTAINS SPOILERS
After all the craziness the X-Men have endured during The Black Vortex event, All-New X-Men #40 is a quieter issue that shows the team dealing with the repercussions. You may have read on various news outlets that something major is revealed regarding one of the original X-Men. I’ll get to that during my review below. What this issue was originally known for was the introduction of the “Utopians”. A group that writer Brian Michael Bendis has been teasing online for a couple of years.
What I Liked
As I mentioned earlier, after a crossover event, it is nice to see the X-Men digest everything that has happened to them. Some of the fallout from The Black Vortex are Angel is still cosmically-enhanced, Cyclops is back on Earth, and Kitty Pryde stayed in space. The goal after every crossover should be to shake-up the status quo, which Bendis is able to do.
We have the return of Utopia, the former San Francisco home to the X-Men. After the X-Men’s “Schism”, I don’t believe Utopia was ever referenced again. Here we see scavengers looking to make some quick money on any of Utopia’s remaining items. Of course, this being comics, they are met with opposition. But just who is the opposition?
Mahmud Asrar and Rain Beredo nail the art. This is the first comic I’ve seen Beredo color before, but there is not a drop in quality from previous colorists. Backdrops display the sun setting and overcast skies filling the air.
Asrar really shows off his chops during an exchange between Iceman and Jean Grey. This is what has everyone talking. After Iceman makes a flirty comment about Magik, Jean Grey pulls him aside and confronts Bobby about his sexuality. The end result is Bobby admits that he is gay. Not bi-sexual, but gay. What I loved about their exchange was how expressive Asrar illustrated everything. Jean and Bobby are animated, but in a casual conversation sort of way. You can feel the emotions leap off the pages.
Two other X-Men had an emotional moment as well. Angel and X-23 shared their feelings for one another. I wonder if that will be an afterthought when readers and fans look back on this issue.
What I Didn’t Like
Man, does Jean Grey come across as annoying! I can’t stand that she keeps reading people’s minds without their permission. There is such a thing as invasion of privacy. I understand that this is part of young Jean being here in the present and not in full control of her powers. It’s a story of discovery not just for her, but also for her roommates. It doesn’t mean I have to like it.
Summary
I can appreciate that the original X-Men are taking what they’ve learned about their older, future selves and are deciding to make real changes. Besides the Iceman reveal, there is still the matter of the “Utopians” to deal with. This is Bendis’ final issue of All-New X-Men I believe (I could be wrong). And there is Uncanny X-Men #600, which will be Bendis’ last X-Men story. According to Axel Alonso, the ramifications of Iceman being gay will be felt throughout the Marvel universe, and will involve the current-day Iceman.
Rating: 4 out of 5
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
