AMAZING
X-MEN Vol. 1: THE QUEST FOR NIGHTCRAWLER
Writer:
Jason Aaron
Artist: Ed
McGuinness
$17.99,
Marvel Comics, 136 pgs.
ISBN 978-0785188216
In this throwback to the fun and exuberant X-Men tales of the
late 1970s/early 1980s—arguably the X-Men's peak period, and one Marvel
would do well to revisit more often—our mutant heroes embark on a
cross-dimensional adventure in the afterlife. There they reunite with fan-favorite
Nightcrawler (dead since 2010) to cross swords with Nightcrawler's demonic
father Azazel. It's a swashbuckling, pirate-flavored adventure with the very fate
of the afterlife hanging in the balance. It's every bit as ridiculous as it sounds,
and it's absolutely wonderful.
This is also a very well-crafted comic. Jason Aaron's script
hits all the right emotional beats, balancing humor and that special brand of
soap opera melodrama that makes the X-books unique among superhero comics. Ed
McGuinness' artwork has taken an evolutionary leap forward with his work on this title, boasting a
clean, expressive line that perfectly matches the bombastic energy of this
story. This is a comic simultaneously "retro" in its sensibilities
and modern in execution, the work of a creative team clearly having a great
time with the material.
If you don't try to take it too seriously, you'll have a
great time, too.
TIPS FOR LIBRARIANS: If you're trying to keep up with all
the X-books, don't panic! This title actually picks up where Astonishing X-Men ended, so there'll be
no more volumes of that series. Marvel isn't sticking you with yet another
X-title on which to spend collection development funds. Well, not yet. Give 'em
time.
READERS' ADVISORY NOTES: Fans of Marvel's mutants will enjoy
this one, particularly those readers who prefer the more lighthearted vibe
demonstrated by titles such as All-New
X-Men. This is also a good return point for lapsed readers who were
alienated by Marvel's "darkening" of the X-books back in the '90s, a
trend that is only now starting to abate. Finally, let's not overlook the fact
that this is, despite its supernatural and superheroic elements, a pirate
story...and who doesn't love a pirate story?
CONTENT ADVISORY: Superhero action/violence; story elements some
readers might find ideologically uncomfortable
Review©2014. C.
Michael Hall
No comments:
Post a Comment