Note: This is the Digital First comic of the series. The first printed issue is on sale February 24.
In the Marvel Universe, being a mutant is like playing the lottery. We've seen a wide range of mutant powers over the years. It would be easy to become envious of mutants and that's sort of what we have with Bailey Hoskins. Bailey seems like a typical high school kid trying to find his way in life. He's trying to figure out who he is and where he could fit in to be more popular with others. Finally he discovers he's a mutant and gets to visit a certain school for gifted youngsters. This should be the greatest day of his life. Unfortunately for him, it doesn't go exactly as he thought it would. Fortunately for us, it means we get some really great moments.
Let's be honest, this isn't your typical X-Men comic. It's not trying to be. Max Bemis is taking a different and delightful approach to the situation we've seen many times when a new mutant is discovered. Most of the times when a new mutant is discovered, they have an incredible set of powers and an almost immediate sense of how to use them. Bailey definitely has the enthusiasm you would expect to see in a a young adult discovering he has superpowers but of course there's more to the story than you would expect. There is a reason the book title refers to him as the Worst X-Men Ever.
The story takes place during an "anytime" moment in the history of the X-Men. We see plenty of familiar faces that reflect a time when things were a little more controlled. It's like a blast from the past in some cases and really makes you miss the glory days of the team. Michael Walsh's art is perfect for the series. Bailey doesn't look like the typical comic book character you'd expect to see. You can see the innocence and enthusiasm oozing out of him. When he arrives at the Xavier School, it's a blast seeing the different mutants and members of the X-Men. Ruth Redmond's colors adds to the vibe and highly compliments Walsh's art.
X-MEN: THE WORST X-MAN EVER is an X-Men comic unlike any we've seen before. Max Bemis gives us a different take on what it's like to discover you're a mutant. There is plenty of twists, action, and humor all contained in this first issue. Michael Walsh's art is fantastic, as always. It may be separate from the current continuity but that's part of what makes it so enjoyable. This is the sort of comic you can just dive into and enjoy. I'm still laughing over Beast's explanation of Bailey's powers. This comic put a great big smile on my face. I can't wait to see what's next.