Dark Avengers/ Uncanny X-Men: Exodus - Review

Dark Avengers/Uncanny X-Men: Exodus – Review

Written by: Matt Fraction Art by: Terry Dodson & Mike Deodato

Well the final chapter of Utopia arrived in an extra sized format for an extra sized showdown between the Dark Avengers & the X-Men, it’s the confrontation we have been waiting for in this whole story arc, but unfortunately this issue left out too many plot threads, the characterization was off and was pretty much all round poorly executed.

The issue starts with a flashback (I think) of Cyclops and Emma in their bedroom contemplating whether or not to reveal their individual secrets to each other about their recent shady actions (i.e. Scott forming X-Force and Emma meeting with Norman). But this is not resolved, this is basically a quick advert, and if we want to know the outcome on their discussion we have to pick up Dark X-Men: The Confession. How annoying!

We then switch to the Dark Avengers attacking the X-Men on their island; Utopia, and this pretty much occupies the remainder of the issue. While the action is enjoyable enough, we are let down on previous plot points, such as; we don’t find out what happens to Beast (he was recently depowered in previous issues and started loosing his blue fur, but we don’t yet know to what extent this has affected him), and we also don’t see anything of Mystique at all, who had been deceiving the public as Professor X.

Speaking of Professor X I felt Fraction really wrote him out of character. There was this one scene where Emma rescues Charles and he gives the impression that he and the X-Men must make sure Osborn pays for what he has done. That’s not the peace loving ‘All humans & Mutants need to learn to live together’ guy I know, that’s not the same guy who takes in feral killers like Wolverine & Sabertooth under his wing to try and rehabilitate them. And I’m pretty certain this was not Mystique in disguise as Charles’s telepathy powers were displayed.
One of the better scenes was the start of the confrontation between Angel & Hawkeye/ Bullseye. Warren flies the villain off the Island to keep him out off the way but just as they start to get into a great match up, annoyingly we cut away from the action. Then inexplicably at the end, Warren and Bullseye are seen back on the Island, with no explanation how they got there!

As for art duties, they were split between Terry Dodson & Mike Deodato. The two have very contrasting styles, but I didn’t mind so much as Deodato was used for the main story, and Dodson used for flashback/ side stories. While I think Deodato is a great penciler, I really didn’t like his panel lay outs on this, that really let him down.

All in all, this had sloppy execution, but quite an enjoyable big fight finale. It was just frustrating that a few plot points were still left dangling, but I suppose Marvel need to sell more X-Men books, right? They really do drag these stories out these days, and no last chapter is ever the last chapter. And likewise this story will continue next in Dark Reign: The List – X-Men & Dark X-Men: The Confession. I hope that those titles perform a bit better than this one.

Score: 2.5 out of 5.

Mini Reviews! - JLA -BLAND Justice #3 & Sweet Tooth

Justice League – Cry for Justice #3

On the strength of this appalling issue this title is now being dropped. This had the single worse dialogue of any comic I have ever read. I cannot believe a well respected writer is producing this crap. (But maybe I should have seen this coming as the only work of Robinsons I think I have ever enjoyed is the Jimmy Olsen: Superman’s pal one shots, which says a lot. I blame myself for buying his work for this long.) Some of the most stupid and cheesiest lines are used; “Are you a hero or a villain?” & “I’m good, not evil” and still more of; “I want JUSTICE!” (Jesus! We get the point!) but yet all the characters do is continuously stand around talking shit. I’ve decided while the art looks pretty, it is not right for the interior of a comic book, everything is far too static and boring. I will not be picking up any more issues of this or Superman (another title by Robinson that has been on the verge of being dropped by me for some time now) nor will I bother with JLA when he takes over on the main series. This comic was just complete crap. I can’t believe I paid $3.99 for this. Avoid if you value your intelligence.

0 out of 5

Sweet Tooth #1 - Review

This was an absolute pleasure to read. This is a real heart warming tale of a boy who is born different, and is kept away from the rest of the world by his father for fear that the boy may be hunted by others and taken away (It seems our lead character is not the only animal/human hybrid and it appears they are very valuable to hunters). In this issue we learn that the boy has already lost his mother to illness, and his father soon goes the same way. The boy’s curiosity for the out side world takes him away from the safety of his home where he is met by immediate danger, and then saved by a strange man who our lead has been having recurring nightmares about.

This was a really good read and at a cost of only $1 I definitely would tell everyone to pick this up. If you don’t like it, what the hell it’s only cost a dollar. I can’t praise Vertigo enough for their pricing on no. 1 issues when companies like Marvel stick a $3.99 price tag on all their no. 1’s.
I’m not going to buy each issue as I believe Vertigo titles read better in trade paper back, but on the strength of this issue I can’t wait to have the collection on my shelf.

4.5 out of 5.

X-Force #18 - Review

X-Force #18 - Review

WRITER: Craig Kyle & Christopher Yost

PENCILS: Mike Choi

COLORED BY: Sonia Oback

This may be a little harsh but, I think Mike Choi may be the new Rob Liefeld. Why? Well because the guy draws a human torso with like a million muscles on it. It is really ridiculous. Warpath looks like a Native American girl (all be it a very muscle bound one) as he has the most feminine of facial features and the butt muscles on Rahne Sinclair in her Wolfsbane mode…well, they need to be seen to be believed. And who could of missed the last page arm incident…Ha! But we’ll get to that in a bit, what did I actually think if the story? Well, I liked it actually.

We jump straight into the action following last issue. The premise is that young mutants (in this case Surge & Hellion) are being kidnapped and infected with a strain of the Legacy Virus that will make their powers flair out of control and in effect become walking time bombs. This is a story that started back before the X-Force/ Cable cross over “Messiah War” and in this issue; X-Force, back from the future, get to the two mutants just in time to save them and other innocent by standers from certain death. It’s very handy having Elixir on your team who is a mutant healer as he is then able to use his mutant power to remove all traces of the Legacy Virus from the two young mutants.

Elsewhere, X-23 is captured by supposed S.H.I.E.L.D agents after rescuing Boom Boom (or whatever she is being called now) last issue. Now I don’t know about X-23’s background, but from what I gather it appears to me that she may have ended up as a captive of her original creators who at the climax of the issue proceed to torture her with a chainsaw – chopping off her right arm, as shown in one panel – but which actually appears to be her left arm in another panel, hence supporting my Mike Choi = New Rob Liefeld argument.

Yes this book has a lot of mindless violence, but the team leader is Wolverine so what do you expect? If you want a good action packed X-book with mutant mayhem every month, this is the title for you, if you don’t mind all the male characters looking like Miss Universe contestants that is.

Hex’s score - 3.5 out of 5