Brandon Borzelli's Geek Goggle Reviews

X-Men Legacy #221
Marvel Comics
Carey, Eaton, Hennessy & Reber

This issue picks up the pace as Rogue is surrounded by some old villains and finds the deck stacked against her. Xavier and Gambit move slowly to get to the bottom of the problems they seemed to have stumbled in by just looking for Rogue. This issue put down more obstacles in this little mystery and leaves the overall plot puzzle still unsolved. It’s a good issue but it will read better once the full arc is out there.

One odd thing was that the recap page popped up on page four, which made wonder if my comic was put together out of order. Whatever. It was in there so there’s no reason to complain.

Xavier and Gambit show up and find the Outback isn’t quite the way they remembered it. Xavier realizes more is at work and begins to probe for brain activity. This arc is really the first one where Xavier has to unravel a mystery that seems to be taking immediate precedence over his quest to find the person (in this case Rogue) to fill in his memories. Xavier’s not in any danger and he really has reason to try to figure out what’s going on, he could just leave but the hero in him makes him want to figure this out and set it right.

Rogue is being hunted by the X-Men. Not the real X-Men but the ones in her mind in her own danger room simulation. What’s interesting is that Mystique continues to talk to her but is that the essence of Mystique or the danger room creation of her? Rogue finds herself confronted by the Marauders as well leaving her out of options in her head and making Mystique’s offer all the more appealing for help.

Gambit and Xavier eventually find the Shi’Ar salvage crew. What their involvement is in all of this is unclear. If they are really just there to retrieve the danger room wreck then why are they held captive? What possible deal could Xavier and the crew make with each other? This is the variable to the arc that I cant quite make out yet.

The artwork is excellent in this issue. There is a huge cast and a huge amount of landscape with city, both above ground and below. The artwork really shows off in this issue whereas in previous issue we’ve seen more close-ups and battles of the mind. This issue fills in all the spaces with characters and action.

This series is heavy on the continuity but I feel like this is a rather simple plot to follow. While much of the “why” has yet to be relieved we have Xavier trying to patch things up with Rogue only to find the danger room bad guy is on the scene and is causing all sorts of problems. I actually think its fairly straight forward. It will be interesting to see how this ends because, in theory, we don’t really know what Xavier plans to say to Rogue to try to bring her back into the fold. Also, what will Rogue’s reaction be when she sees Gambit? This issue is good but is just one more in the build up of this arc.

3 out of 5 geek goggles