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Welcome to the 146th edition of the Uncanny X-Piles, where we give you our thoughts on the week’s worth of X-Men books!

The X-Piles 
Numbers next to each title are the cumulative ranking of the latest issue out of a total of 40. Numbers in parentheses indicate the previous issue’s rating. Blue indicates a raise in the chart from last issue; red indicates a drop; green indicates the book stayed put.

1. All-New X-Men: 36 (36)

2. Uncanny X-Men: 35 (31)

3. X-Men: 34 (21)

4. Savage Wolverine: 33 (23)

5. Wolverine and the X-Men: 30 (30)

6. Uncanny Avengers: 30 (28)

7. Cable & X-Force: 30 (19)

8. Astonishing X-Men: 28 (30)

9. Uncanny X-Force: 22 (14)

10. Wolverine : 17 (19)

11. X-Factor: 16 (20)

12. Gambit: 8 (25)

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Cable & X-Force #10
Writer: Dennis Hopeless
Artist: Salvador Larroca

Really not sure what it is about this title because one moment it’s a snorefest and the next it’s an absolute fun comic ride! This issue falls into the latter category as Hopeless has the Uncanny Avengers show up to take down Cable and his crew. Even the characters that usually make me roll my eyes (Forge & Hope) made for some decent moments this issue. Though the real payoff this issue was seeing Blaquesmith and hints that he’s got a lot more to do with what’s been going on.

This book’s visuals have always been strong thanks to Larroca and D’armata. From start to finish there’s really nothing to complain about while going from panel to panel. Each one is filled with something awesome from Blaquesmith blasting Hope to the A-Team van chasing Havok! Sounds weird but you’ve got to read this one and just enjoy the fun!

There’s a shift with this issue and it’s a positive one at that. It delivers with everything that should make a comic fun and for once I’m very impressed with this title. Definitely worth it and keep your fingers crossed that Hopeless keeps up the momentum!

Cover: 7/10 Writing: 7/10 Art: 8/10 Relevance: 8/10 TOTAL: 30/40

Uncanny Avengers #9
Writer: Rick Remender
Artist: Daniel AcuÒa

The Four Horsemen of Death are coming!

As the murder of Archangel and the child Apocalypse still weighs heavily on Wolverineís conscience, that truth is finally revealed to Steve Rogers who confronts Logan about it while tension between the Uncanny Avengers team threatens to boils over.

Teammate tension is what Rick Remender is a master at building. Heís basically following the same formula that made his run on Uncanny X-Force so good. He has Captain America confronting Login about murder, Thor stepping up to admit his guilt about losing Jarnbjorn, Rogue and Scarlet Witch continue to be at each otherís throats as the nigh-extinction of the mutant race at the hands of the latter is never far from anyoneís mind.

In his conversation with Immortus, Steve Rogers was warned that once divided, all is lost. We can only assume that he was talking about the team which means that as it stands, the stakes are at an all time high. Will the Uncanny Avengers be able to set aside their differences and do what needs to be done? Are they ready to face the Apocalypse Twins and their new Horsemen?

Daniel AcuÒa handled the pencils and colors beautifully in this issue. Iím not always a fan of his work, but I do really enjoy his panel layouts and the way he tells a story visually. A personal favorite here is the Steve Rogers/Immortus convo, followed by the cave break-out scene when Wonder Man shows up and does his “Superman” thing.

John Cassaday phones in a generic cover that doesnít have much to do with the awesomeness found inside this book.

The bottom line is that Uncanny Avengers #9 offers a lot for readers to absorb and enjoy. This is a key issue in the Apocalypse Twins saga that shouldnít be missed.-SG

Cover: 4/10 Writing: 10/10 Art: 8/10 Relevance: 8/10 TOTAL: 30/40

X-Factor #258
Writer: Peter David
Artists: Neil Edwards & Carmen Carnero

The end of X-Factor is nigh and Peter David is revisiting all his old haunts before he says goodbye.

Perhaps one of my favorite side-characters in PAD’s run has been the wayward dupe John Maddox. He is the only dupe of Jamie Madrox that has been given autonomy after Jamie discovered that John was an Episcopal priest and a family man. Some of the best stories in this run have featured John Maddox, so it’s nice that PAD has decided to return to the character. As an Episcopal priest myself, I have always been drawn to John and have even had conversations with PAD about how well he’s been written.

However, the thoughtfulness with which John was handled in the past doesn’t seem to make it into this issue. The story begins with two guys shooting up John’s congregation during services. Having known clergy who have had that violence happen in their churches, I can tell you that I was strongly disappointed with how PAD made John react. After the incident, he’s happily talking to his wife, grateful they weren’t in the congregation, rather than mourning his flock. Perhaps it was a mishandling of the art duties, but I felt that this was really poorly done.

Despite John’s inclusion, the issue really centers on Rahne Sinclair as she struggles with what to do with herself after the death of Tier. PAD has written Rahne much better in the past, and she seems to also lack a sense of sorrow that her character is known for. In the end, she decides to become a deacon, which I would love to see. (FYI: the discernment process for a deacon is quite long, especially since Rahne isn’t Episcopalian.)

The art really hinders this issue in every possible way. Panels range from confusing to downright silly, like the one where Rahne is hugging a polar bear. It’s just bizarre. Neil Edwards usually is pretty good, but this issue really struggled.

I hate to say it, but I think the end of X-Factor is really deserving. It’s time to move on to something new. –JJ

Jeff Jackson
jeff@comicattack.net
@FrJeffJackson

Infinite Speech
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SpidermanGeek
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