Uncanny X-Men #1 by Ed Brisson, Matthew Rosenberg, Kelly Thompson, Mahmud Asrar, Rachelle Rosenberg and Joe Caramanga is a true return to glorious form for Marvel’s flagship mutant title.
THE CHILDREN OF THE ATOM ARE BACK! New ongoing series kicking off with a 10-part weekly epic, the flagship X-Men series that started it all is back and better than ever! Starting with a mysterious and tragic disappearance, the X-Men are drawn into what might be…their final adventure?!
Uncanny X-Men #1
Written by: Ed Brisson, Matthew Rosenberg & Kelly Thomspon
Art by: Mahmud Asrar
Colors by: Rachelle Rosenberg
Letters by: VC’s Joe Caramagna
Cover by: Leinil Francis Yu & Edgar Delgado
Writing
Uncanny X-Men #1 grabs you right from page one. Brisson, Rosenberg and Thomspon have crafted a story that hits the ground running and gives fans everything they want. This is classic X-Men storytelling; we have (possible?) time travel, multiple teams on multiple (yet related) missions, mutant-hating politicians, downtime scenes at the mansion, and terrifying psychic visions from the future. Oh and one hell of an “Oh shit!” cliffhanger ending that will not be spoiled here. But it doesn’t feel like a retread at all, as this triptych writing team brings a freshness and energy that gives it a very modern edge.
The scribes also do a fantastic job balancing so many characters. The ‘roll call’ page has TWENTY named X-Men on it and every single one gets a moment to shine. It’s great to see such a large cast you can follow easily; another X-Men staple fans love.
Uncanny X-Men #1 also wears its love for the 90s on its sleeve. Not only do we get a Rob Liefeld variant cover, but there is also love thrown at some of the more obscure 90s specific characters like Forearm and Wildside and groups like the Mutant Liberation Front. And it’s all done with both humor and heart, proving the team behind this book are fans as well as creators.
Art
Mahmud Asrar and Rachelle Rosenberg match the momentum of the writing perfectly. There is an urgency to the pacing that keeps you turning pages. But it’s far from chaotic and overwhelming, as the layouts and panels are crisp, clean and sleek, with some incredible, well-composed splash pages thrown in. It helps keep all the characters focused and doesn’t confuse the reader and get them lost in a jumble of characters and images.
The art team is also able to excel at both high octane moments and quieter moments. They are as adept at creating energy blasts as they are capturing faces and emotions. Again, classic X-Men.
Conclusion
Uncanny X-Men #1 is a true return to form for this iconic title. The legacy of what this book means is being honored, and everything is presented with huge adoration, right down to the use of that classic 3-D Uncanny X-Men logo loved and known worldwide. Marvel’s Mutants are definitely back and this is going to be one hell of a ten-week ride. As Stan Lee always said, “‘Nuff said!”.
