 | Quick reviews -Uncanny X-Men and Captain America |
Captain America #2
The new relaunch seeks to more firmly set Rogers back in his role as Captain America in the wake of Barnes's death but it seems that a more fantastic and oddball approach is being taken. The new series began with a funeral for Peggy Carter a character who hadn't been seen in ages (outside of the feature film) and the return of a characters that (to my knowledge) came out of nowhere. It's not a bad idea, but it's a bit confusing. A squad of Hydra agents wearing redesigned uniforms led by Bravo, a white-haired WWII operative out of action for decades. The ensuing back story involves reality manipulation, the interference of dreams by a young boy and more. It's all very bizarre and for a series built on a more realistic approach, it comes from left field.
Nick Fury provides ample back story to Agent Carter regarding a young operative during WWII named Jimmy Jupiter who had the unusual ability to open doorways to imaginary realms. These doorways existed in dreamscapes and could be used as shortcuts between locations, allowing squads of commandos to appear from out of thin air. Unfortunately, Jimmy was attacked during one operation, stranding Agent Bravo along with Hydra agents that acted as the other end of the doorway... for sixty years. Now free somehow, Bravo has teamed up with the Hydra agents, armed with highly advanced weaponry and is back for revenge.
Brubaker and Niven are setting out to establish a new look and feel for Captain America, no doubt taking advantage of the popularity obtained by the movie and the reshuffling of the Marvel Universe due to Fear Itself. It's all very weird and dream-like in its logic (the issue ends with a massive Captain America attacking the real one) and I wonder how it is impacting longtime readers. The scripts are still solid, the action intense and exciting and the artwork outstanding... but it's all very weird.
A sister series 'Captain America and Bucky) is much more approachable. That's not a slight on the regular monthly comic, but I can't even guess what anyone just walking into a comic shop from the cinema would make of this.
Uncanny X-Men #542
The latest issue of Uncanny X-Men has accomplished what no other writer has since 1975.
Juggernaut continues his unstoppable approach toward San Francisco and the mutant refuge Utopia. A throng of devoted followers in his wake, he demands the destruction of Utopia itself, even offering leniency through his mouthpiece to everyone else if they get out of his way. This places the Mayor of San Francisco in a very delicate position. She has worked very hard to cultivate a cooperative relationship with the mutant population of X-Men yet she is also being pressured to protect the citizens of San Fran. Cyclops has led a valiant assault on the Juggernaut using all of his resources.
The previous issue and this one is pure role playing game logic. Each pairing of powers and skillful activation of key players has unfortunately resulted in no success. Gambit, Rogue, Magneto, Emma Frost and even Hope Summers are all set against the foe with no result at all and the Juggernaut gains still more ground with each passing moment. Even removing the very ground from beneath his feet does not halt the Juggernaut's advance.
Finally, Cyclops calls upon the incarcerated Illyana Rasputin (in the brig for risking her friends' lives in a war in Limbo) for assistance. Against a magical threat, she is their best option. Colossus and Kitty Pryde accompany Illyana to the realm of the Cyttorak, the source of Juggernaut's power. In a recent issue of Thunderbolts, a similar quest was attempted with no success. In this case, Illyana is successful in obtaining a council with the great Cyttorak. Illyana informs Cyttorak that its servant Juggernaut has abandoned it and is serving the Asgardian god the Serpent.
Outraged, the Cyttorak rescinds its power from Cain Marko (Juggernaut), but coyly demands a new servant. Illyana steps forward but is interrupted by her brother Peter...
Colossus takes up the mantle of the Juggernaut
I have been very patient with Kieron Gillen's run on the Uncanny X-Men and so far it has been a great success. The fact that so much has been done with a tie-in speaks volumes for Gillen's skill as a writer. In the editorial at the back of the book, it is confirmed that Colossus's change in status will not be undone in one issue and has longer lasting implications than one would expect. Despite the fact that so much time has passed since his first introduction, the character of Colossus hasn't progressed at all. Even his death and return in the pages of Whedon's Astonishing X-Men saw him return to the point he was at in the late 70's! I have always enjoyed Colossus, but no one has ever really done much of anything with him. Even in battle he hardly makes an impact and is often knocked clear out of combat into the next county. Hopefully, this power shift will see him take a more active role in the comics.
Unfortunately, there is a mega even called Schism still in action that will call for the end of the current X-Men books and a reshuffling of the status quot. So we'll have to wait and see if any of these changes are as long lasting as they should be or if Colossus will simply fade back into obscurity when the new books are released.
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