This limited series has a lot going for it. It's much more accessible than its mother title, New X-Men, and it's much more focused, with a clear central plotline and a small cast of characters that's much more manageable. We get a strong sense of who these characters are, and there are several striking character designs that engage the eye. But there's something else that will get in the way of the audience's appreciation of the piece, and that's the chaarcter around which the story is revolving. He's so completely distasteful that it's next to impossible for the reader to get on his side, even when he's down and out.
As everyone knows, the X-Men run a school for young mutants, and like any school, all of the students look forward to summer vacation. That holds just as true for telekinetic Julian Keller, AKA Hellion, leader of the Hellions squad. Julian invites his teammates to join him at his parents' mansion in California for the summer, and they readily agree. The promise of fun in the sun hasn't done anything to ease Julian's attitude and bravado, but when his parents -- critical of his trouble-making ways and public revelations of his mutant abilities -- cut him off financially, it really takes the wind of his sails. It also leads him to probe into how his parents became rich so quickly, and the Hellions uncover a weird secret about the Kellers.
Clayton Henry's style suits the youthful nature of the title characters. Mercury and Rockslide look quite cool throughout the book, but more importantly, Henry makes these characters seem like regular teens with irregular lives. Though things take a dark, supernatural turn later on, the overall tone of the art is rather bright, but it's never so bright so as to create the impression this is fluff. The colors are vibrant; I especially love the metallic sheen Quintana brings to Mercury.
The plotting here is ultimately inconsequential, but it's also fun and diverting. The Kingmaker idea is what's driving the story forward, but it's really the characterization that serves as the script's greatest strength and the title's true focus. The writers do an excellent job when it comes to Dust. She's both uncomfortable with what's going on around her and quite confident at the same time, taking charge when nececssary. I like that she feels she belongs among the Hellions despite being so different from her American classmates.
Julian's complete disregard for how others feel is what defines him in this issue, and it doesn't make for an enjoyable character. I realize that this series may be about redeeming this vindictive blowhard, but that doesn't affect my disdain for the protagonist. Furthermore, the writers' attempt to portray Wither as an understandably melancholy soul falls flat. He comes off as whiny, and he doesn't seem to contribute much when it comes to his powers or the inter-personal dynamics of the team. 6/10
