Brandon Borzelli's Geek Goggle Reviews
X-Men Legacy #213
Marvel Comics
Carey & Eaton
Ah, the plot thickens! This issue gives out some more of how Xavier and company were on the hit list. The issue ties Sinister to everyone, basically. The comic continues to give quality flashbacks. This comic doesn’t really answer the question about how Gambit is involved in all of this, but this issue is damn good. Outstanding artwork gains it a perfect score.
The recap page catches everyone up to speed for this issue. I realize the arc has seen a ton of obscure flashbacks that many current readers would only understand if they have read X-Men since the 70s, but I feel the recap page ties all the relevant points into the this issue.
We begin with another flashback. Or is it? Sinister is in Xavier’s head. And he’s giving Xavier, himself, as a child. Confused? Just hold the phone.
Back in the present, Gambit gets into trouble and is bailed out by Sebastian Shaw, who is also on the hit list. While this is going on, Sinister takes Xavier on a tour of all his bad “daddy” mistakes with Cyclops and his X-Men. He pretty much makes Xavier look like a real failure. Xavier is taken captive while he is fighting in his mind with Sinister. Gambit and Shaw pursue.
Shaw explains much of the plot to Gambit. Basically Sinister prepared for his death by finding a way to infuse his mind into someone else’s body. He picked a few mutants for this. Shaw and Xavier are among them. Basically Sinister is going to assume Xavier’s body. But there is a twist in this issue.
A character named Doctor Mueller, who I am not familiar with, captures Xavier. She has found a way to insert herself into Sinister mind jump cycle. Basically, Sinister’s mind jumps from body to body until he finds one that is alive. If all his proposed hosts are dead he hits this old bag who is on the junior varsity squad mind jump squad apparently. This is the type of plot you’ve come to expect in an X-Men comic. All that we are missing is the time travel.
Xavier has a choice. He can let Sinister take his body or he can die from the new gunshot wound and watch Sinister find someone else and live anyway. What do you think he does? How many times does Xavier get shot these days? It’s like bi-monthly it seems.
Well there you have it. The entire plot as I understood and I loved it. Mind jumping, genetic madness, people taking over bodies based on a list and some flashback “ah-has!” I loved it. It’s taken a few issues to really get the pulse of this comic but now I expect this type of issue and move it to the top of the list whenever it ships. All of this and we still don’t quite know how Gambit is involved. Because you know he isn’t there just to drive Xavier around.
The artwork rocks again. Xavier, Sinister, Gambit, Shaw all have such unique depictions that I found to tell the story and really match up with the expressions and details. The fight scenes help showcase some of the carefully placed pieces to the story. Add in the excellent contrast for the “in the head” sequences and you have top notch art and visual storytelling.
I realize this series is really pitched as for the diehard fans. I really don’t put myself in this class and I love this arc and issue. Sure, it would be nice to know all about Mueller and her past with Sinister and the like, but it didn’t detract from this story at all.
I seriously feel that anyone can read this comic and get themselves some good entertainment without needing to know all the history of everyone involved. I also would think if they picked this issue up that they would want to buy the next one. I recommend this as highly as I possibly can.
5 out of 5 geek goggles
 X-Men Legacy #213 |
