By: Jason Aaron (writer), Pepe Larraz (artist), Matt Milla (color artist)
The Story: Maria Hill proves she has no appreciation for anything awesome in comics, forcing Wolverine to turn to Carlos Danger.
The Review: I’ll say this for Jason Aaron, he’s very good at writing beginnings. And so, in the vein of Wolverine and the X-Men #1, this issue sets the stage for what seems to be the next and final season of this title.
This book is only twenty-pages long, but it feels massive. While some of that may be the psychological effect of having a preview attached to the back, it’s hard to deny that Aaron gets mileage out of this issue. Wolverine and his staff now know that S.H.I.E.L.D. has Sentinels and they are not pleased, but Maria Hill isn’t exactly pleased with their part in Battle of the Atom, either. While critics of Wolverine and the X-Men might point to the jokey tone of the series, not incorrectly, Aaron does a well above average job of channeling his trademark humor into the drama of the scene and, in fact, the entire issue.
Amid this backdrop, Broo takes a pair of new students on a tour of the Jean Grey School. It’s hardly the first time that Aaron has used this device, but it’s easily one of the best. The school definitely feels different since the last time we saw it. It feels like the start of a new semester. Honestly, it doesn’t really make a lot of sense when that would have happened, but it’s just what the book has needed.
Broo’s evident glee, Eye Boy’s newfound confidence, the formation of a sports team, each adds character and wonder to the school. And did I hear Idie say something not about how she’s a monster? What a lovely surprise! The school just feels noticeably more alive and fleshed out in this issue than it has in months.
That said, it does bear mentioning that Aaron’s writing suffers when he’s separated from the school. Though they’re a distinct minority, the scenes focused on S.H.I.E.L.D. don’t have the same magic. It’s an odd disparity that gets even odder when you consider that the issue ably handles the same characters when they’re sharing the scene with the X-Men.
The art is a mixed bag. Pepe Larraz shows great skill in drawing the students and his work in the atrium is probably the strongest in the issue, but some of the teachers don’t hold up as well. Beast looks like an amalgamation of the worst qualities of each of his forms and Wolverine looks like the Owl. Perhaps it bodes ill that the worst looking character in this issue of Wolverine and the X-Men is Wolverine. Though many other characters improve over the course of the issue, Logan never quite looks himself.
But while things start poorly, with some of the worst art that the issue has to offer, there is plenty of beautiful work. Larraz knows how to use Broo’s design to best express his enthusiasm and, oddly enough, draws an especially nice version of Eye Boy. There’s also a gorgeous panel of Iceman that Marvel should definitely keep in mind. The characters’ motions and the page layouts are both dynamic and the art does a fine job of keeping up with the nonstop energy of Aaron’s dialogue.
It really is strange to think that the artistic team remains consistent throughout this entire issue because the difference between the sharp angles of the first page and the soft curves of the final few is really quite astonishing.
The Conclusion: Though it’s sad to hear that this series will be ending, it seems that Jason Aaron wants to give us the Jean Grey School that we imagined before he’s done. And in that he succeeds. The school and its inhabitants are vibrant and full of a welcome energy, but Aaron isn’t satisfied until he’s set up two intelligent and fascinating plots as well.
Though the art has some noticeable missteps, it suits the story well and certain pages are real gems.
Aaron has not always lived up to the fine beginnings that he’s crafted and I can’t imagine that I’ll look back on this issue fondly if its potential is wasted, but on its own it’s a wonderful and energizing start to the home stretch of this title.
Grade: B
-Noah Sharma