Welcome back ComicAttackers and X-fans to this week’s edition of the All-New Uncanny X-Piles where a handful of our merriest mutant loving reviewers have dropped by once again to regale you with their thoughts on that one X-Title that has impacted them the most, be it good or bad, from last week’s releases. Infinite Speech is away auditioning to be the next Human Torch’s stunt double, but keep reading, true believers, to discover what The Comic Book Clergyman and SpidermanGeek have to say about your favorite Marvel mutants’ adventures of the week and don’t forget to leave a comment to tell us what YOU think!
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Uncanny Avengers #20
Writer: Rick Remender
Artist: Daniel Acuña
Maybe it’s because X-Men: Days of Future Past has got me all giddy, but for the first time since this alternate future story began, I really enjoyed an issue of Uncanny Avengers.
This is the part where the tide is starting to turn. The deck is stacked against Havok and his partnership with Kang and the Chronos Corps. Magneto, Cyclops, Storm, and a host of other mutants are there to take them down. Yet, in a classic X-Men moment, Cyclops turns and helps his brother, which gives Alex enough of a bump to continue gathering the Avengers Unity Squad to go back in time and fix the wrongs that Eimin has done.
This issue is fun because Remender seems to enjoy pairing up characters for a good fight. Psylocke takes on Magistrate Braddock, her alternate self; Cable takes on Stryfe; Spider-Woman from Earth X takes on Daken…it’s just fun to watch it happen. Wolverine and Sunfire return to the fold as well, and have some great moments.
Story-wise, this was just solid Remender storytelling, taking classic X-Men tropes and making them feel fresh.
My only complaint about this story is Acuña’s art. He’s just not my favorite artist. His art feels distant to me, too ethereal, so in my mind the panels are just not grounded. His colors look so washed out that many of these intense moments just feel flat to me. This whole series has suffered from art problems, and Acuña doesn’t make it better. A story like this deserves a bigger pop.
Despite the art, I’m still on-board and can’t wait to see what happens when the Unity Squad goes back in time to correct the future. –JJ
Rating: 6.5/10
Wolverine #7
Writer: Paul Cornell
Artist: Gerardo Sandoval
The Madripoor Job, Part Two. Things unravel for Wolverine in this issue as the truth comes out, but even after seven issues in, I still can’t get a grasp on what exactly is going on with this series. For one thing, Wolverine spends most of this issue getting his butt saved by other people. Is that what he’s the best at doing now? Being the damsel in distress? Even after what could have been a cool moment of Logan fighting alternate versions of himself, another character steps in to ruin the fun.
Aside from a couple of well written panels where Pinch calls out Wolverine about his current state and predicament, I am of the opinion that Paul Cornell doesn’t write a Wolverine that I can see myself giving a damn about. I also don’t care for the supporting cast he’s created and as much as I feel like MI-13 is underutilized, their presence seems forced and all they managed to do on more than one occasion was to swoop in and get Logan out of a jam. So if you want to read a book about Wolverine failing at everything, then I guess you’ve come to the right place.
On the art front, that cover by Ryan Stegman is absolutely stellar. We don’t get to see enough cool artwork involving Wolverine in his Patch persona. As for the interiors, Gerardo Sandoval is an extremely capable artist who is obviously heavily influenced by guys like Joe Mad and Roger Cruz. There’s a bit of an overuse of half and full page panels that contain very little dialogue or narration, and that kind of speeds up the reading pace too much for my taste. You will get through this book very quickly, but if you catch yourself and slow down just enough to enjoy the artwork, you’ll be doing yourself a favor. David Curiel does a supreme job on the colors too.
The bottom line is that I personally am not a fan of Paul Cornell’s take on the Wolverine character and that’s been true since he launched the previous volume of this title. So if you are enjoying what’s being done with Logan, then I’ll share Infinite Speech’s sentiment and say that I’m happy for you as well. Though, other than the artwork, I see nothing original or appealing about this issue. –SMG
Rating: 4/10
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What did you think about this week’s X-books? Let us know below! You can check out more X-Piles right here!
infinitespeech@comicattack.net – @InfiniteSpeech
jeff@comicattack.net – @FrJeffJackson
spidermangeek@comicattack.net – @SpidermanGeek
I GOT THE STUNT DOUBLE GIG!! However it’s for Sue Storm…not Johnny. Go figure.
Wolverine is a character who has been cooler everywhere except his own title far too many times. This one is a prime example of one of those moments. Or maybe we’re just “Wolverined” out?