Review: All-New X-Men #14
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Penciler: Stuart Immonen
Inker: Wade Von Grawbadger
Colorist: Marte Garcia
Letterer: VC’s Cory Petit
Last time we left off in All-New X-Men, the X-Men had tracked down Mystique’s team and foiled her plans of obtaining Hydra island. During the fight, it appeared Jean Grey had been taken over by the Phoenix Force. Were the X-Men able to deal with Mystique and the Phoenix all at the same time? Even with hardly any training, the original X-Men were able to hold their own.
What I Liked
We finally get to see the original X-Men from the past in action (and not against Danger Room Sentinels) and they did a great job of holding their own. I loved seeing the team work together, and even come out victorious.
I was never a constant reader of Brian Michael Bendis’ Avengers run, but he is hitting it out of the park on All-New X-Men. Bendis layers each issue with so much characterization. The plot is always moving and things have not remained stagnant.
Stuart Immonen and Marte Garcia have to be named together as a fantastic art duo. It’s easy to sing praise upon Immonen, but we have to remember that Garcia’s colors help this book stand out to me as the cream of the crop in the Marvel NOW!.
With Jean Grey and Lady Mastermind involved, there is a lot of deception to be found. Iceman’s solution to this literally gave me a “laugh out loud” moment.
What I Didn’t Like
While I really enjoyed this issue, I’ll nitpick on a few small items. I know Jean Grey winds up being one of the world’s strongest telepaths, but she is maximizing her novice mind very quickly. You would think that as many times as Mystique and Sabretooth have encountered telepaths, they would have some sort of psi-shields in place to combat the intrusion to their brains.
Plus, Mystique and Sabretooth are busy villains nowadays. They’re stealing money in All-New X-Men while also being teachers at the Hellfire Academy over in Wolverine and the X-Men. It would help continuity if their agendas in both books intertwined.
The panels in the last page also seemed abrupt. It ties into what happened in the beginning of the story, but I thought more explanation could have been added. Perhaps an extra panel or two could have helped.
Summary
It seems All-New X-Men #14 is the end of this arc involving the X-Men vs Mystique. I’m sure she will return as a threat in the not-too-distant-future. In fact, Mystique should be involved in the Battle of the Atom X-Men crossover event. We’re getting very close to finding out the ramifications of the original X-Men being here in the present.
As for this issue, we get action and some laughs all rolled into one enjoyable book
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
