Kickin' it new school
This here post was posted on my Wordpress site, originally. Check that out HERE.
Despite the X-Men animated series being probably number 3 on my favorite Saturday morning cartoons list (NOTE: List does not actually exist)- topped only by Spider-Man: The Animated Series and Batman: The Animated Series- I've never truly been a hardcore X-Fan. I know the characters, sure, I even love some of them. But as a team, the X-Men have felt a bit anachronistic to me in the prevailing years. They're a team of mutants striving to protect the people who despise them in hopes of gaining tolerance... and yet they don't have any non-mutant members? They live at a school, yet the team has been comprised of senior members who have not actually ATTENDED the school in how long? I could go on and on, but my point is when Marvel announced they were rolling out no less than 6 X-Books following Schism, I wasn't interested in the least.
Yet here I am, reviewing one of those X-Books; namely the awkwardly titled Wolverine and the X-Men #1 by Jason Aaron and Chris Bachalo. Did it change my perception of X-Men in the modern age, or just reinforce my mixed feelings about the "X-Men" concept.
THE GOOD
For all my fears and prejudice (ironic they'd be about an X-Men book), this is actually exactly what I want out of such a title. If Aaron carries through with the precedent set up in this issue, this will become one of my favorite Marvel titles. Here, Wolverine has formed his own school for "gifted youngsters", complete with veteran X-Team members as staff and an eclectic mix of young students to fill out its extended cast. Of course, seeing as this school is run by Wolverine, the first day of classes goes horribly horribly wrong in both hilarious and terrifying ways. Aaron makes the whole thing play out like you might expect, and though we don't get any action to speak of in this first issue, we get plenty of set up and info on the capabilities and intent of this brand new facility. It's just an extremely funny first issue that also does well to set expectations high for what's to come.
Chris Bachalo handles the art side of things, and I compare him favorably to artists like Humberto Ramos or Joe Madureira for his pencils and colors. That might be an odd comparison, seeing as all three artists have a distinct style, but in terms of the tone and kinetic energy brought to each panel (even when nothing is happening in it), the three are extremely similar. I found it to fit perfectly with the mostly goofy tone of the book.
THE BAD
For me, this is the perfect premise for an X-Men book. However, my issues with Aaron's writing come not from his construction of a story, but from his characterization. That is to say, some of it is a bit off and it can be distracting. Beast here is just plain ridiculous. I understand the joke is that he's been hopped up on caffeine while he attempts to finish construction on the school, but that the play for laughs came at the expense of the character himself rather than as a boon to him. I also found it odd that Hellion was picked to be one of the bullying-type students. I mean, isn't this the guy who befriended a killer clone of Wolverine and continues to defend her past and current actions?
Lastly, I'll just put my typical disclaimer that I use for Humberto Ramos; THERE IS PROBABLY A LARGE CONTINGENT OF PEOPLE WHO WON'T DIG THE ART. IT IS HYPER-STYLIZED WHICH SOME PEOPLE JUST CAN'T STAND. I LIKE IT, BUT IT IS COMPLETELY UNDERSTANDABLE IF YOU DON'T.*end of disclaimer*
THE VERDICT
Wolverine and the X-Men #1, to me, marks an exciting return to the original concept of what the X-Men were. It's also poised to be an evolution of that idea, and the cast of characters introduced in this first issue looks to be one that will be fun to watch. Any nitpicks aside, I can guarantee that this is probably THE X-Book to follow above all others. How do I know that, despite not having read any of the others released thus far? Easy. It is a title with a future I'm more enthusiastic about than most stuff Marvel is putting out right now. Period.
Now if only it would get a new name.
5/5*
