The Good

The Emma Frost/Scott Summers team of X-Men have been through some pretty incredible shake-ups, so they’ve certainly earned some downtime, and who better to write it out than Brian Michael Bendis? No one, that’s who! This issue gives us a simple shot of the newest recruit, the time bending Tempus, wanting to hit the town ordinary-style with the other women of Uncanny X-Men, including the reluctant Kitty Pryde, Magik, the ever tumultuous Cuckoos and young Jean Grey. This story takes place sometime near the end of Infinity when Black Bolt unleashed the Terrigen Mists as evidenced by the the character that’s revealed and the organization that comes to claim him, which is an absolutely amazing tease for a future storyline. The story’s main focus are the women hashing out some of their differences, but mostly just enjoying a day on the town.

This day is rendered courtesy of Kris Anka’s absolutely gorgeous visuals. The cover artist for the bizarre Uncanny X-Force was, on paper, a great match for Bendis’ Uncanny X-Men, and that absolutely proves out with his exaggerated, surreal style. I was actually expecting something bizarre and outlandish from his art, but it’s fairly subdued in terms of subject matter, which actually proves it an excellent example of a very diverse artist. The fact that he’s able to make the mundane just as interesting as the supernatural is a great tribute to his talents, and I absolutely love every single panel of this story and hope to see him on more interiors. I’d be remiss without mentioning the colors of Rain Beredo, which are absolutely stunning to behold. There’s a level of detail to both the linework and the colors in literally every single panel that makes this issue an especial standout even among what’s already been a gorgeous run. Their use of light and shadows, especially, deserves to be highlighted as not just stylistic, but character emphasizing.

The Bad

It’s a matter of public record that I absolutely loved Infinity, but the whole Terrigen bomb sideplot seems shoehorned into this issue. I would have loved to see a cover-to-cover experience of the characters out on the town, but we get a non-starter of an action scene with a character it feels like we should know, but don’t, and an organization that could have been introduced mysteriously at the end, but wind up stealing center stage. The characterizations that both precede and proceed these scenes are absolutely wonderful, so the intervention of the Infinity storyline and ultimate fake-out seems all the more out of place and unnecessary in this issue. It could have, and should have, been a pure character development read.

The Verdict

What there is of the girls’ night, especially of Emma Frost, is absolutely hilarious and joyous, and the art is glorious to behold from cover-to-cover, so this is still a book worth picking up whether or not you care about Inhumanity or Infinity. Bendis has a knack for writing characters, especially those on the B-list level and those who’ve gotten ignored or overlooked in previous books. Plus, there’s a new character trying to bond with her teammates, and it’s handled very, very well. Even though it has plenty of larger plot, this is ultimately a very fun issue that’s a great jump-on point for the book in general.

Sometimes I think this is one of the better team books coming from Marvel. Sure it's pretty directionless but I've found it extremely enjoyable to watch these characters interact with one another and it's one of the reasons I started reading X-Men over Avengers (had to choose one group to follow due to $$ problems). Great review!

I actually liked this issue over Inhumanity 1. I enjoyed the X-Mem gals just trying to be normal for once and just try to go shopping and not have to worry about X-men problems for a day but doesn't work out. What I'm liking about what happened with the Terrien bomb is that this is going to be a big influence on the Earth and maybe the Universe for the next couple of years and each series takes a look at how it's going to be affected by it. The last few pages were they discuss how regular humans will be able to tell the differences between mutants and inhumans brings up one of the points on how the world is now changed with both mutants and the inhumans. Also found it funny how Jean says she's been wearing the same thing since the 60's.

Skipped this as it just SCREAMED filler issue.

Emma's rich, she will always be.

"It's ours, but it's really mine."

<3

It really was, but with some great shots of Illyana.

I didn't understand the characterizations of the younger girls. Jean came across like such a brat asking Kitty to come with her shopping so that she didn't have to be stuck with the, "scary mean Stepford Sisters." That aside, I enjoyed it for what it was... and Brigitte Nielsen hair Emma was giving all quality of life.

616 GELDOFF!!!!

It really wasn't filler. The issue expanded Celeste's and Jean's dislike of one another, really delved into the student's personalities (in an off duty environment) and set up the coming troubles with Inhumans (in terms of bigotry, differentiation between similar minorities and AIM's role as a future enemy of the Uncanny X-Men).

It was a character driven set up issue.

She asked Kitty to come along so she would have a friend with her. Remember Jean is both young and surrounded by people she barely knows - one of whom openly despises her.

@scarletbatman: Oh absolutely, she (and everyone else really) read more like she were 12 than someone who was on the latter end of puberty. At least tweet hateful things about each other the way the kids do it these days.

I enjoyed this but I agree that it would have been nice for the night out to have been extended for a longer period within the issue. I have to say I'm not as much of a fan of the artist.