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NEW X-MEN #123
"Testament"
Recommended (8/10)
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Marvel Comics
Writer: Grant Morrison
Pencils: Ethan Van Sciver & Tom Derenick
Inkss: Tim Townshend, Danny Miki, Scott Hanna & Sandu Florea
Colors: Hi-Fi Design
Letters: Comicraft
Editor: Mark Powers
Price: $2.25 US/$3.75 CAN |
It's interesting to note the similarities between what was once the edgier Ultimate X-Men and Morrison's New X-Men. Both are addressing the idea of how mutants would affect the real
world, rather than simply using mutation as a shortcut to providing origins for
powers, and both are presenting the X-Men as more active and forward-thinking
than most super-heroes. In addition, both are using familiar story elements but
in a completely new context, and neither one seems able to maintain any kind of
artistic flow without constant guest artists. However, what the books have most
strongly in common, at least for me, is the effect of renewing my interest in
the mutants of the Marvel universe and the potential for stories the characters
have.
One of the best ideas to come out of the X-Men movie (a strong influence on all the
revamped X-Men titles) was that of Xavier's as more of a school than it has
previously been presented as. Morrison in particular has run with that idea,
introducing a variety of background students and positioning Emma Frost, fresh
from her stint as headmistress to Generation X, as the headmistress of the
Xavier Institute. The result is a variety of interesting potential supporting
characters and colorful background, as well as an expansion of the X-Men's role
beyond simply being a fighting force. Having the team go public has also been a
nice change, as it forces the team into a public relations/philosophical
defining role as well as that of a super-hero team.
This issue focuses largely on
those other roles, with an impressive press conference that shows reaction from
the humans they talk to, a nice change from the "banging your head against a
wall" school of anti-mutant paranoia that has marked the last twenty years or so
of this book. There are also some interesting character dynamics developing
between Emma and the various cast members, with moments between Jean, Hank and
Wolverine all providing some insight into how she interacts with the team. Of
course, the physical side of the team hasn't been ignored either, and the story
ends with a cliffhanger that promises some impressive action in the next issue.
Though I'm enjoying Van Sciver's work on this book in general, and I enjoy Tom Derenick's work on Nightside, I couldn't help feeling a bit disappointed in
their artwork after the last two issues of incredible work by Frank Quitely.
Where Van Sciver and Derenick shine this issue, though, is in backgrounds, from
the lush wooded landscape of the Xavier Institute to the high-tech surroundings
of the lab under the school or the Shi'ar ship. Credit should also go to Hi-Fi
for an incredibly detailed coloring job on all that foliage; the first page
alone must have taken a long time to get right.
There's a lot going on in New X-Men right now, as Cassandra Nova's multi-level plan begins to go into effect, just as the X-Men are reaching out to the outside world and trying to acclimate their students to the school. I'm honestly a little worried that Morrison's story may go off the rails, as his JLA arcs had a tendency to do, but so far I'm enjoying
the title immensely.
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