Uncanny X-Men #1
Written by Cullen Bunn
Art by Greg Land
Review by Andrea Fort
Marvel may be All-New and All-Different, but Uncanny X-Men #1 proves that no matter how much things change, they stay the same. For those who are not caught up, mutants are on the brink of extinction (again), with many of their key leaders dead (again), and a cataclysmic threat has divided them and driven them to a battle for survival (again). In the face of adversity, Magneto has assembled a new team of X-Men to fight for the survival of their species. But under his leadership, Sabertooth, Monet St Croix, Psylocke and Archangel look more like X-Force. Their hard tactics, and lack of mercy tell the story of a group of fighters who are more concerned with their own agendas than with [justice].
Marvel’s “reboot” post last summer’s huge Secret Wars event, has created a series of interesting creative pairings, Uncanny X-Men is no exception. Written by Cullen Bunn and penciled by Greg Land, Marvel is trusting to veterans of X-Men universe to take this new team in the right direction. This first issue starts off well enough, establishing the setting and circumstances under which Magneto will lead, but as you read through, it quickly becomes apparent that that is all the issue does.
Bunn spends a lot of the issue re-introducing characters and their motives in a heavy-handed and awkward way. Although the cast is dynamic and shows promise for interesting [dynamics] in the future, this first impression leaves them feeling more like caricatures than three-dimensional characters. The biggest disappointment is Bunn’s portrayal of Magneto. After writing an amazing solo series [descriptor here] Bunn gives us a Magneto that feels like he emerged from the 60’s complete with clunky dialogue and megalomaniacal tendencies.
Unlike Bunn, Land delivers exactly what readers expect from him. His pencils convey action and emotion in equal measure. Don’t look for anything groundbreaking here, Land’s art is exactly what his fans expect; beautiful and effective, it fits Bunn’s script perfectly. The book as a whole is a pedantic start to the new series but shows a lot of potential for what may be to come. Fans of the X-Men should definitely give this a read, but keep in mind that it is a far departure from the tone of other X-stories. If you are new to Marvel or the X-Men and looking for a good jumping on point, this book is friendly to newcomers, but not your best bet. Marvel’s All-New All-Different line up has tons of number one issues for you to choose from, they are better introductions to the universe than Uncanny X-Men #1.
