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Well, for all the crazy that is Secret Empire, I still think that what we sorely need is a thread dedicated to all things X-Men (and that includes the Inhumans) and what better time to make one than when the first issues of the new RessurXion comics have been out for the public. As time allows, I plan to write short vignettes for everything related to RessurXion, but given the number of series involved, we'll see how this goes. I guess that I should set up a spoiler alert, though I'll try to be as unspecific as possible. In the end, I guess that I'll mostly be a bit behind the schedule, so this might not be the biggest problem
Royals #1 and #2
I'm starting with the new Royals series by Al Ewing and Johnboy Meyers of which I just read #2. It's about the Inhuman royal family taking to the stars in the hope of solving the mystery behind who the Inhumans really are and thereby maybe finding a means to save their race threatened by extinction after the destruction of the last Terrigen Cloud. It went off with a slow start, setting the story, hinting at future developments and with kind of a shocking revelation at the end. Unluckily I also found it to be steeped a bit to thick in cliche („Seven went forth, and six returned”: come on, how lame is that?) Also what's with the constant need to openly tell us that at least one of the members of this journey has a hidden agenda, when a little bit of subtle foreshadowing would be equally effective and much more interesting as a storytelling tool.
#2 picks up some speed, with the Inhumans meeting the earth-approaching Chitauri fleet and having to battle their way through it, which gives them terribly little time to cope with last issue's big cliffhanger (which is probably a good thing though I hate Medusa's new look even if it's only logical. Ends again with another surprise I should have been prepared for (I mean there must be a reason that Black Bolt gets his own comic book) but actually wasn't. The book had some great scenes in it (I broadly smiled about Noh-Varrs comment on Medusa's condition, loved Flint's solution to the Chitauri problem and well, let's just say, that I'm nothing but excited about the last panel because that basically guarantees that hilarity will ensue.
Generally I like the direction this comic is taking. Inhumans are finally back in Space where they belong in my opinion, and I hope that Ewing will be able to bring back the old magic, Inhuman-related comics held for me before they decided to return to Earth. And given what's at stake here, this series holds a lot of promise as far as Space Opera is concerned. So the only thing I'm a bit torn about is Meyer's artwork. I dig his backgrounds and I feel he has a good hand for the inclusion of little details you might not even see at first read. What I don't like so much is his characters, that have been called manga-esque by some reviewers but I don't think that that is my problem so much as that the faces aren't conveying emotions as good as they should (and I think that the inclusion of Thony Silas in #2 makes this problem even more glaring)
All-New Wolverine #19
I'm glad that they decided to go with the old numbering, even when, after the events of „Enemy of the State II“, this clearly is a new chapter in Laura's life. I've been a big fan of her since the beginning, and All-New Wolverine is one of my most favorite comics at the moments, so don't expect me to be too critical with it. I'm as annoyed as Gabby is when Captain Marvel (*ugh*) breaks the friendly banter between her and Laura, but that's mostly it. Tom Taylor has developed a real good grasp at the characters, and it's loads of fun just reading the interaction between them even during all those action-packed scenes. Can't wait to see how Riri Williams and Laura get along with each other. And then there's still the mystery why a little alien kid crashing onto the planet infected with a deadly disease would utter the name of Wolverine with his dying breath.
Weapon X #1
I've still to read the whole „Old Man Logan“ series, so I don't know exactly where OML is standing at this point of time (apart from what I saw of him in all those other X-Men comics). But hey, it's Wolverine so what would you expect? It seems to have a nice, slow start that is suddenly broken by an attack of what seems to be the latest reincarnation of the Weapon X project obviously hell-bent on capturing and/or killing some of the most bad-ass mutants., including Lady Deathstrike, Domino, Warpath and (naturally) Sabretooth. The last one, Logan decides to pay a visit and enlist him to help him bring down this new (old?) enemy, whether he likes it or not. As it turns out, he likes it not very much, which is what Logan counted on, so he decided to bring the enemy with him.
We haven't seen too much of this new team in this issue which still has to form, but given who's supposed to be part of it, I'm already sold. Old Man Logan doesn't hold the same appeal to me that Laura Kinney does, but this team-up sounds a bit like X-Force gone really bad, so I'll stay on board for at least a while.
X-Men Gold#1
This one has already become notorious for the controversy around Penciler Ardian Syaf, who succeeded in including some hidden messages that could (and probably should) be interpreted as anti-semitic and anti-christian. It really is a shame because I consider Syaf to be a great artist, but he really should have known better as to pull such a stunt in an X-Men comic of all things.
Apart from that it's a nice introduction into this „new“ team consisting of long-time X-Men members (probably with some younger additions) led by Kitty Pryde which is probably the most important change as long-time leader Storm still has to deal mentally with the fallout of her latest decisions in CW 2 and IvX. You can also read it as a comment for all of us who were so insistently hoping that the X-Men would finally return to the good old times, immediately remembering that those times weren't especially good at all. Oh, and I love the banter between Kitty and Logan.
Apart from that, we still have to see what this team will be confronted with. We see them tackle an old enemy and then have to deal with a crowd of muggles that obviously aren't too fond of them. Kitt acknowledges this difficult relationship in a nice little, very Xavier speech, but we'll see if they really can rekindle this old dream.
X-Men Blue #1
This here comes straight out of All-New X-Men and still deals with the original five stranded in the future and , as we've learned, unable to return back to their time. Immediately thrown in a big fight with Tom Black Cassidy and the Juggernaut, their new mission is to handle „threats against mutantkind, comrades who have lost their way, mutants who capitalize on the fears of the populace“. At least that's the mission statement given to them by their new boss who wants them to ensure that Xavier's dream becomes reality (oh, the irony!). Also, there seems to be a new Wolverine in town (in forest, actually), though there's not much revealed besides his mere existence. I've heard people say that this might be one Jimmy Hudson who happened to be the Wolverine's son in the Ultimate universe, but as I didn't read most of those comics, I would have no idea about it. They seem similar enough in appearance, though.
No matter what, I really like those young X-Men and I can't wait to see how the relationship between them (and their new mentor) will develop. In the able hands of Cullen Bunn and Jorge Molina, this should be a fun ride.
So, anyone else here reading those comics?Any comments?
My only major comment, Wormy, is I HATE Rachel's new codename. I mean seriously, Kitty. What's the hell is wrong with Marvel Girl?!
Yeah if she's getting her own codename it should speak solely about her.
Probably why I enjoy Spectrum for Monica more than I did some of her other codenames.