Uncanny X-Men #1

It's fun to think back over the different incarnations and rosters we've had with the X-Men. Often, the team members would be a reflection of the times. In the current Marvel Universe, after the events of Secret Wars, the outlook for the X-Men and mutants isn't a good one. Mutants have become sterile (and facing extinction) due to the Terrigen Mists. There's also the M-pox disease that is making mutants hated and feared even more than usual. What is there for the X-Men to do? If you're Magneto, you gather up some serious and deadly mutants to join your cause.

With the three different titles we now have, we have three completely different directions for the X-Men. ALL-NEW X-MEN features most of the time displaced original X-Men and EXTRAORDINARY X-MEN features the Jean Grey School and students moved to a safer location along with some veteran X-Men trying to protect them. UNCANNY X-MEN features a roster with more of an edge. Sabretooth still seems to be inverted from the Axis story arc. We can probably assume that won't last too much longer. Psylocke is on the team along with Archangel. There's obviously more to their story and why they're on the team. (Thank goodness they're finally doing something with the adult Angel). Monet usually seems most concerned with herself so we'll have to see what her reasons are as well.

Cullen Bunn is giving us a proactive team. In some ways it feels like they would be better suited as a version of X-Force but Magneto would likely prefer to honor Xavier's dream. The difference in the team members and their motives for being on the team is what makes this an interesting roster. They have different ways of accomplishing things and it'll be nice to see how they go about completing their missions and if we'll see any follow up on the decisions they make.

Greg Land's art works well at times. There is a bit of action in this first issue and he captures the feel of it all. Of course we have the issue of characters occasionally smiling or posing too much. There's actually a two-page spread with the team standing in silence, each in a perfect pose. The new costume designs may take a little getting used to. They work for some but I'm not sure how I feel about Psylocke's or Sabretooth's.

UNCANNY X-MEN establishes that life for the X-Men is headed down a darker path. Cullen Bunn continues to the adventure of Magneto he started in the last series and we have an interesting choice of other mutants joining him on this team. With two other X-Men titles on sale, it's great seeing them each have a completely different tone and feel. Greg Land's art works well at times but we do see some of the usual moments with characters smiling profusely and standing in poses that tend to distract readers from the story. I'm curious to see if there will be any follow up in the actions and decisions Magneto makes. We also have a great group of characters for them to fight next issue. This is the X-Men like you've never seen them before.

How many X-men titles are out now?

3

A solid issue.

Sabretooth, Magneto and Psylocke were fun.

I do think it's unfortunate that we're getting more Angel-angst with Psylocke, but I guess it's understandable, if a little predictable.

I liked the juxtaposition between a hopeful Psylocke and a cynical Magneto. Does she know about X-haven?

I found M to be overly bitchy, and I didn't like how she was constantly grinning. I feel like there's something up with her -- maybe Mystique is posing as M :o

I enjoyed it.

@sprior93

I do think it's unfortunate that we're getting more Angel-angst with Psylocke, but I guess it's understandable, if a little predictable.

Agreed. Was hoping for somthing diffrent with Psylocke.

@batman3000: @dondave: There are currently 4. EXM, ANXM, UXM, and ANW. Old Man Logan is comming out soon as well. The Worst X-Man is currently out, as a mini.

@sprior93: dountful, land probably just found some porn mouth he wanted to trace into the comic or recycled an old one.

@sprior93: Blame M's face on land, that's what I'm doing.

@child_of_the_past: 5 if you want to count Deadpool as an X-Book (he does fall under the X-office).

@child_of_the_past: @dondave: Thanks guys.

This was a 3 for me. The art was typical Land so I don't need to talk about that anymore because I've well established that I hate his art. The story was interesting but most of what we got was very set up. There is nothing wrong with that necessarily but the issue itself didn't do a lot to get me excited. I also felt Magneto's stance was strange. Why just tell the mutants to get lost and not recruit them? Overall, I thought the book was average. I'll stay on for the first arc and then make a decision on dropping it or not.

I liked it. I have my reservations, obviously, but I'm hopeful about the story-arcs for Sabretooth, I like what they've done with Archangel as a blank slate already (though I do hope they let him FINALLY just become the next Apocalypse and stay a villain this time, that whole arc really worked for me, and I was sad to see it get returned to the status-quo), and the Magneto moments were particularly compelling (there were clearly a few moments where the way he was drawn inside the helmet were meant to evoke an echo of Xavier in a way).

Not so sure about Psylocke's weedy legs in that big splash image though, cool as it was overall.

@ambaryerno: Some X-fans don't want to count him because then their argument about Marvel trying to erase the X-titles would be less credible.

The whole angle feels more weird as we see the young Warren dating around with Laura... with his future self being a mindless drone so far. O.o I mean call me crazy but I would be more worried about that if I was Young Angel. Also does Betsy even know about the young Angel and X-23 ? If so, that must feel REALLY awful too.

As for Magneto's actions, Thats why I really liked Hellcat on how to deal with normal people suddenly getting powers but want nothing to do with them instead of being forced into battles or being soldiers etc. Magneto goes, '' Oh no, you are mutans and you are gonna suffer for it ! But you are free ! '' only to get the Healer guy KILLED as the first action of his 'free life'. As far as I am concerned, their blood is on Magneto's hands. Just because someone born a mutant, doesn't mean they want to suffer like you do or fight. Just because they are mutants, that don't suddenly make them your personal army or soldiers. They should decide for themselves. That is why I hate this storyline of Mutant hatred compared to other powers. It is literally no different and yet we get totally different reactions. I can't bring myself to take it seriously.

Sabretooth was fine but I don't like the attitude of Monet. Feels too much like Mystique.

Good start, sure it this is really X-force dba as the X-men but that's fine.

So when does Mags go after the inhumans???

A 2 star for me . The whole "who are you guys" combine with that dumba$$ pose that followed shortly after was cringe worthy.

I'll keep reading it but reserved at the moment, wasn't the greatest start but wasn't bad either by any means.

Eh. Weak stuff so far, and Greg Land...Jesus

I enjoyed this issue, will be getting the next one

I wish Marvel would stop inflicting Greg Land on people

I enjoyed this despite the crap that is M-Pox suprised it's getting the negative reaction it's getting. I even enjoyed Land the colourist was a good match with him.

Only thing is that the Dark Angel Saga felt like the perfect end for Warren. So, to return back from that just kind of takes away from what happened. He got fully possessed and died at the hands of the woman he loved but he was happy as Betsy was trying to save him by destroying him? But meh... it's comics.

Anyway, I got to say that I got my eye on this book more as I like the line up.

Cullen Bunn is the funniest name ever!

Sounds like a name Vince Mcmahon made up!

Im a little skeptical about this, but I think I'll check it out. Im a big fan of Cullen Bunn

I think its a solid #1, you get some character insights regarding their motivation and some nice but generic battle. And i really dont get whats the fuzz with the art, imho its way better than 90% of the crap other marvel books are delivering (Uncanny Avengers, Wolverine, Young Avengers etc.)

@dondave: Depends if you count X-Men: Worst X-Man Ever, All-New Wolverine, Old Man Logan, and Deadpool as "X-Men books" since the first is non-canon, and the others focus on a single mutant rather than the X-Men as a team.

So maybe 3, maybe 7.

what happened to Sabretooth? he was 'inverted'?!

Has anybody ever actually been excited that Monet was in a book?

Also... I'll take literally any art over Bachalo on X-Men books.... could not stand that simplistic, monochromatic, cartoony crap.