Though Uncanny X-Men still isn't among my favorite X-titles right now, I'm amazed at how much more focused and enjoyable it has become since Austen took over the writing. This issue is a standalone that introduces a new member to the team (bet you'll never guess, given the cover) but it also has a little bit of continuing subplots going on. In fact, it almost feels like an old school Claremont book, albeit with subplots that don't feel quite as long-running. It doesn't look like one of those old school books, however, as Sean Phillips provides the art, and while that's usually a good thing, his work here looks rushed and sketchy, nowhere near the quality he's capable of. In addition, Austen's story is a little too forced at times, pushing the readers where it wants them to go. It's not a perfect book by any means... but it's got potential.
The rumor mill has it that Quicksilver was Austen's original choice, but that he's being used by Morrison, and so Austen had to make do with a secondary choice. Whether it's true or not, Northstar fills the role Quicksilver does (arrogant speedster) with the added benefit of a hot-button social issue to explore: He's gay... you might not have heard about that, Marvel's been really subtle in their presentation of it... and yeah, that's sarcasm. Northstar is actually a better choice, as he's not got quite the same amount of convoluted and largely uninteresting history, and subtle differences like a love of money and a prior athletic career give him some interesting aspects to explore.
This issue is largely about exploring Northstar, and given that he's a character I don't usually care for, I have to credit Austen for making me care. The emotional cost of this story is a bit heavy-handed, but it's a neat idea, and a good use of the "heroes don't always win" story. Northstar's change over the course of the story, leading to his new role in the team, is well-executed and heartfelt. In addition, the banter between him and the rest of the team, while unusually familiar given how rarely he's been seen on-page with them in previous continuity, is also a lot of fun.
There's also a little bit of continuity, presumably carrying over from Casey's run, which makes the book a little less accessible at times but could be leading somewhere interesting. Stacy X, who I liked on first appearance but have grown to hate with each successive one, suffers a change this issue that may give her a more interesting look and should at least explore her ill-defined powers and personality a little more.
On art chores, Sean Phillips fills in for regular penciller (if such a term actually applies to the X-books anymore) Ron Garney, and I'm surprised to admit that I'm disappointed. Phillips did downright phenomenal work on Wildcats with Casey, and I'm looking forward to Sleeper with Ed Brubaker, but he seems not to fit in with the tone this book has adopted. There's a lack of definition and inconsistency in most of the characters that makes them look like quick sketches rather than finished drawings. This is most notable with inhuman characters like Nightcrawler and Stacy X, but none of them come off looking particularly great. The storytelling is solid enough to get the point across, but the art looks... well, ugly.
