by Matt Fraction (writer), Terry Dodson (artist)
The Story: Hope hates Cyke for maybe killing her dad. Utopia starts exploding. The X-Men battle Nimrods on the streets of San Francisco. X-Force arrives in the future and finds out, yep, it blows. Then they decide, screw it, let’s just kill everybody. The Avengers and the Fantastic Four show up to help, but that don’t really work out.
What’s Good: Fraction redeems himself with this chapter of Second Coming by delivering a near perfect script as we enter the third and final act of the crossover. Whereas the writer has had problems with keeping characterization consistent in the past, especially with characters from other titles, here he gets everybody almost right and the story’s breakneck pace benefits from the lack of distraction. (Okay, Archangel acts a bit of a wuss, but I’ll chalk that up to stress for now.) One point that Fraction seems intent on spotlighting is that Hope is, despite years of military training and being on the run, still a teenager, prone to a teenager’s angst and mood swings. While that doesn’t always fit with her pre-established character, it works well here as she flips her lid when she discovers that Cyclops has sent her father-figure, Cable, on a suicide mission into the future. This is exactly how a young person would react in such a situation, and the scene is strengthened by this portrayal of Hope. Another benefit of the script is the injection of some humor into the proceedings. While the storyline has succeeded primarily on its unrelenting direness and desperate, last stand-like tone, a little humor never hurt anyone. If anything, it serves to make the serious scenes more weighty. Dr. Nemesis’ reply to Mr. Fantastic’s appraisal, Cable’s first thought to the odds stacked against them in the future, and possibly the only time that I have ever liked the character of Fantomex. “Ha Ha. That film was stupid.” Indeed. Notable mentions go to raising the stakes by bringing in the Fantastic Four and the Avengers, the Professor’s peace with Scott, the “red sky” battles of the Bay Area, and the allusion to Days of Future Past. All admirably visualized by the Dodsons.
What’s Not So Good: Nitpickery all around: As mentioned before, Archangel reacts to a future where he, and everyone he knows, has been eradicated by screaming a bloody tantrum as if he were a small child. Really? Isn’t this, like, the hundredth future he’s been to where mutants were wiped out? You’d think it’d be old hat to him by now. “Oh, we’re all dead? Ho hum. Call me when we end up in a future where we’re all happy and eating chocolate sundaes, thanks. Now that’d be something to yell about.” Moving on, how is the Golden Gate Bridge standing? In previous chapters, the Dome literally cut through the Bay Bridge and everything else in its path, yet here it seems to phase through the GG Bridge peacefully. Actually, the entire GG Bridge was covered by the Dome in Chapter 8, but whatever. Finally, how the heck does the White Queen keep her outfit so white?! It’s freaking spotless and she’s standing in the middle of a destroyed island nation with dust and debris everywhere! Even her white cape is pristine.
Conclusion: Despite the jokes, this issue was great. Action, comedy, dire straits, super-hero cameos, explosions, killer robots, time travel, good-looking heroes and heroines in tight spandex. For three measly bucks, this could all be yours. Why do we even go to the movies anymore?
Grade: B+
-Joe Lopez
Filed under: Marvel Comics Tagged: | Archangel, Cable, Comic Book Reviews, Cyclops, Hope, Matt Fraction, Second Coming, Terry Dodson, Uncanny X-Men, Uncanny X-Men #525, Uncanny X-Men #525 review, Weekly Comic Book Review, X-Men, X-Men: Second Coming
If I were you, I’d start with the Messiah Complex TPB or HC. There’s some pertinent collections (House of M, Endangered Species) that came before, but Messiah Complex is a good place to start with for the current X-men stories. Then you can follow into Manifest Destiny. X-Men/Dark Avengers: Utopia TPB after that, and also the X-Force/Cable: Messiah War Collection mighty be worth your time to further set you up for Second Coming. There’s other current stuff that’s worth a read in the X-Men universe (mainly the X-Force stuff is fun) and, of course, plenty older collections I can recommend but this will hold you, I’m sure. Enjoy!
Thanks man! What i ment to ask was what issue second comming starts with, but this was just as helpful, ahaha
Ha, woops. I misunderstood, Tanner. Well, Second Coming starts with the appropriately-titled X-Men: Second Coming #1. It’s a one-shot special that came out a couple months ago.
Tanner, let me second what Joe says. I never really read X-Men despite liking the characters, purely because it was too much of a headache keeping all the different books, incarnations and continuities straight. So far, I’m loving it, especially the fact that it crosses over books; gives you a nice sample of the different writers and artists.
I just icked up the Manifest Destiny HC, hopefully after that I can start with this run. Which issue did it start on? (PS- thanks for answering all of my questions, it’s much appreciated)
Hey Tanner, Second Coming is definitely a good place to jump in on the X-Men. It’s one of the better stories of the last few years. There is some knowledge that would make the story resonate better, but it’s still a great read. If you want some recommendations on trade paperbacks of where you might benefit from starting from, let me know and I’d love to direct you to them.
I’d love that! thanks a bunch! Do you happen to know about the latest issue of Captain America? I posted the same question on that review but no one has replied yet. thanks a bunch, man.
hah, nevermind, that’s been answered.
Hey there, is this a good spot to jump on with x-men?