Amazing X-Men #1
Writer: Jason Aaron
Penciler: Ed McGuiness
Inker: Dexter Vines
Colors: Marte Gracia
Review by Joey Braccino
The aptly titled “Quest for Nightcrawler” kicks off in Amazing X-Men #1!!!
Once you get past the inevitable “why couldn’t this story play out in Wolverine & The X-Men?”,Amazing X-Men #1 is an incredible and promising debut for what should be yet another thrilling, character-driven mutant adventure from Jason Aaron.
Here’s the premise: Nightcrawler, who was last seen heroically sacrificing himself during 2010’s epic X-Men: Second Coming crossover, has been spending his days in Heaven yearning for the swashbuckling life he used to lead. At the start of this issue, a bamfing blast from Nightcrawler’s past shows up to conquer the afterlife paradise. Meanwhile, Wolverine and the X-Men (and Firestar and Northstar) are surprised by a gateway built by the adorably little Bamfs that have been plaguing the school sinceWolverine & The X-Men #1.
Essentially, Amazing X-Men is Wolverine & The X-Men with a very specific mission statement: returning Nightcrawler to the X-Fold. While this is special enough to warrant a newly-christened mini-series, I do wonder what exactly Amazing X-Men will be once this five-part storyline concludes. Nevertheless, all the wonderful elements of Aaron’s Wolverine & The X-Men—the wit, the humor, the deft characterization, the whimsy, the high fantasy—show up in his work on Amazing X-Men to the nth degree. This comic is fun from start to finish. The highlight is Firestar’s introduction to the Jean Grey School, in which all the chaos comes out in full force.
Ed McGuiness’ dynamic realism and cinematic scope is perfect for the high-octane adventure of Aaron’s story. Whereas Nick Bradshaw (yet another Wolverine & The X-Men connection) brings the same sort of exaggerated realism and dynamic figurework to Jason Aaron’s books, McGuiness brings a polished edge to what is otherwise a wholly experimental, somewhat subversive book.
Verdict
Buy! Though the distant future of this book might be cloudy, the first arc, “Quest for Nightcrawler” promises to be a rollicking, swashbuckling adventure story featuring everybody’s favorite furry blue elf. With McGuiness’ thrilling visual aesthetic and Aaron’s perfect characterization, Amazing X-Men #1 is an incredible debut for Marvel’s merry mutants!
