ALL NEW, ALL DIFFERENT, BUT KIND OF THE SAME
Once again, Uncanny X-Men is being handed over to a new creator. This time it’s Matt Fraction handing the ball from Ed Brubaker to Kieron Gillen. While Brubaker was more a proven writer of both indie and superhero comics, Kieron’s a little new to both. While I’ve been one of those holding their breath for Fraction to leave, I’m cautiously optimistic when I consider Gillen.
I liked S.W.O.R.D. very much. It had a lot of potential. Fresh ideas, great characterizations, snappy dialogue. Let’s face it, though. That book was an uphill battle. I mean, remember how Steven Sanders drew Hank McCoy?
Beast, is that you?
In fact, S.W.O.R.D. was the first time I took notice of Gillen. I tried out Phonogram, and really, I thought I’d love it based on what I’d heard. It’s all about the music I love, after all. But, sadly, no. For whatever reason. Maybe it’s one of those books that grow on you, though, and I didn’t give it too much of a chance. So I didn’t get into Phonogram but a lot of critics and other readers did.
Then we come to Generation Hope. I’m always willing to give a new X-book a chance–until now. I mean, before I can buy another book, I have to have confidence it’ll last for a little while. To have that confidence, the X-office at Marvel needs to get their House of Mutant Ideas in order. If they had balls, they would’ve taken this Five Lights concept and put it in an existing book as a change of direction. I’m betting Generation Hope will mutate into a 12 issue limited series and those new characters will blend into the wallpaper–I mean, Utopia.
‘m thrilled they’re ditching Fraction but I want them to ditch his status quo, too. Or at least, get off this Cyke/Emma plus random mutants horse.
It’s great that we have some fresh young blood taking over, but I don’t like the way it’s been handled so far. I didn’t like Brubaker’s run, (X-Men in space, again? Vulcan? Is this for real?) and when they eased Fraction into the fold as Brubaker’s co-writer I was excited. Naturally, I thought, Well whatever parts of the book I like must have been Fraction’s contribution and as soon as the book is his it’ll really take off. But that never happened. Whether it’s because of editorial interference I’ll never know, but Fraction always seemed to be treading water. Between events, mostly. There was never any pay off, really.
Now it’s deja vu. We have the Fraction-Gillen team, and when Gillen takes over he’ll be treading water and clearing his throat. He’ll stick with the status quo (which I hate, but that’s a whole other story), Cyclops and Emma will be the Brangelina of the mutant ghetto nation, and every once in a while a sorely underused character will have a line or two of dialogue and their respective fanboys will be going wild (Did you see Dazzler shine for a panel? Finally, Iceman does something! Etc., etc.)
Well, here’s to change–which is what the X-Men are supposed to be all about. Goodbye, Fraction. I for one have been ready for this for a long time. Gillen, I’m cautiously optimistic, but hey, at least I’m optimistic.
On another note, when’s the last time Uncanny’s been good? Was it Claremont before Brubaker? With dino-Rachel and all that business?
This fall, Marvel is relaunching its entire line of X-Men books. Again. This time will be different, though. For one, Uncanny X-Men, the progenitor of all things X, will be relaunching in November with a new #1. X-fans worldwide tweaked out and Tropicana’s stock shares doubled of course, because UXM was the only comic Marvel hasn’t rebooted before. Or, as some fans might say, UXM was the only comic Marvel hasn’t had to have had rebooted. Amazing Spider-Man, Captain America, The Avengers, all of Marvel’s long-running, top-tier books have restarted with shiny new #1s at some point, for some reason or another.
Puzzled Daily 