Brandon Borzelli's Geek Goggle Reviews
Uncanny X-Men #502
Marvel Comics
Fraction, Brubaker & Land
This issue continues the battle between the X-Men and the Hellfire Club. However, the bulk of the issue is spent with character interactions that are excellent adding a layer to this comic beyond just a plot with some action. The comic introduces some characters and makes it seem like they have been in the fold all along so that it doesn’t waste too much space explaining their history. The artwork is okay but has so many inconsistencies panel to panel. It’s a pretty good issue but it probably isn’t memorable.
The issue begins with a character profile page, which is in purple print on a black page and is unreadable in my printed copy. It was a nice idea, but oh well.
The X-Men fight the Hellfire Club. Along the way little floating bubbles show up above the various characters to give little introductions. This is a good thing to do in a comic. This sequence gives great interaction between Wolverine and Nightcrawler. They capture a Hellfire Club member.
Then we check in with Pixie, who was attacked in the previous issue. She is being waited on by Beast. Again, the story has some great character interaction between Beast and Pixie and then with Pixie and Dazzler.
Then we are treated to a torture scene with the captive Hellfire Club member by Cyclops. Sure, the torture was kind of cool, but if Karma can read his mind then why bother with the torture? I’m not sold that this is in Cyclops’ character. This part of the story left me a little detached. The scene also provides a vehicle to have Emma pose for us.
Pixie ponders running away and has some interaction with Wolverine. Wolverine obviously has thing for taking in young X-Men girls. So while this seems like a good idea it feels a little old due to his relationships with Kitty, Jubilee, X-23 and Armor. I’m not saying it’s not okay, but I am saying it felt too familiar.
This issue concludes with another confrontation with the Hellfire Club.
The issue’s strength is in its character interactions. Even when they are placed oddly, they are still the strong point for this comic. Even Emma and Nightcrawler’s conversation seems to be in an odd place, but the dialogue enhances who they are and what they are supposed to be to each other.
The down point of the comic is some of the reaching it attempts to do. Pixie seems to be reaching out of her realm of importance somewhat. I mean, why would Wolverine take so much time to talk things over with her? Why is she so special? The torture scene was puzzling to me in terms of what Cyclops could or would do in that situation.
The artwork has some problems with its consistency page to page or even panel to panel. Some of the art is really cool, as the depiction of the initial fight scene. However, Cyclops barely resembles himself during the torture scene and immediately after it. I just felt it was all over the place at times.
As a whole I liked the comic and it doesn’t rock my world one way or the other. The arc could turn into something interesting, but for the most part it’s just another arc and story within the arc that probably isn’t going to yield too many memorable moments. This is one is for the fans who can’t miss an issue.
3.5 out of 5 geek goggles
