Joss Whedon

Recommended (8/10) - Marvel Comics - Writer: Joss Whedon - Artist: John Cassaday - Colors: Laura Martin - Letters: Chris Eliopoulos - Editor: Mike Marts - Price: $2.99 US/$4.25 CAN

Though it’s far from the most original of X-Men scripts or story ideas I’ve seen, the second issue of this new series was significantly stronger than the first. Whedon clearly knows these characters well and he’s using that knowledge to his advantage. The opening scene grabs the reader with its sharp and intense revelation, and Cassaday’s richly detailed art holds one’s attention, especially during the quieter, emotionally driven scenes. The more traditional conflicts driving this plot forward aren’t what’s interesting about this comic book. It’s how the five protagonists deal with one another.

As news of a cure for the mutant gene airs on television, sending shockwaves throughout the human race, the X-Men respond to a hostage situation at a high-society charity benefit. It’s five of the X-Men’s most seasoned members versus one man, so it should prove to be a rather quick and one-sided fight, right? Actually, it is, but the dominant side isn’t the one one might expect. Fortunately, the heroes have got a guardian angel looking out for them.

Cassaday’s greatest contributions to this issue isn’t the impact of the image of a child and her role in a monstrous act of violence or the bloody action of five heroes taking an unknown opponent. It’s the downcast, darkness that shows us the sadness of the Beast in the final scene. It’s the anger in Kitty Pryde’s eyes as she speaks with Emma Frost. He conveys the quiet but powerful emotion bubbling under the surface of the main characters perfectly. The colors add to the tension throughout the book. As one can see throughout the issue, Martin uses shades of red to demonstrate tumultuous moments, while blues are used to cool things off a bit. I love how those two colors converge on the cover. The cool, calm blue is about to be torn apart by an eruption of red.

The conflicts arising among the heroes are really what make this an interesting read. Kitty’s negative attitude toward Emma makes a lot of sense now that she (and Whedon) have shared a little bit of history with the reader, and the notion of Wolverine’s anger toward Cyclops for seemingly casting aside the memory of a woman they fought for rings true as well. I also enjoyed Whedon’s sense of humor. The reference to a fight between Scott and Logan being a form of entertainment at the X-Mansion as opposed to a horrible division in the ranks is cute.

Another aspect of the book I found interesting was the military-like approach the heroes take with the hostage situation. Their failure aside, the experience these characters have when it comes to combat still comes through. Seeing Lockheed return to the book, though, made it seem as though Whedon was wallowing in nostalgia, as there really wasn’t a logical reason for the dragon to show up when he does. Furthermore, the Beast’s search for a cure has been explored in the past, and the heroes’ deduction that there’s an invisible connection between the generic villain and the scientist who developed the cure is a leap of logic.