Friday, March 03, 2006

Uncanny X-Periment # 5: "A Shake-Up"

The Uncanny X-Men # 40-42, Avengers # 47-49, The Uncanny X-Men # 43-45, Avengers # 53, The Uncanny X-Men # 46-48

Professor X is DEAD!

The X-Men must DISBAND!

Magneto is BACK!

The Avengers and the X-Men FIGHT!

The X-Men undergoes one major shake-up when (shortly after the destruction of Factor Three), the team must face down the underground dwelling monster Grotesk, a mission in which Professor X is seemingly killed (you read it here, folks, the first X-Men non-death death!). In the aftermath of his death, the X-Men face down Magneto, who is once more joined by Quicksilver and Scarlet Witch.

It's funny, looking at the X-Men/Avengers/Magneto story in light of the events to come (the revelation of Peitro and Wanda being Magneto's children; and esspecially House of M, in which this story oddly reinforces). This story, written masterfully by Roy Thomas, once more illustrates the early, layered Marvel Universe. It's the best that Thomas has to offer during this peroid of time with the X-Men.

Gregory Freidrich takes over as writer after the X-Men/Avengers story, and he's the one that splits the X-Men up. With Xavier gone, FBI agent Duncan orders the X-Men to disband, not only to keep themselves protected (now that Xavier is "dead," there's no one left to protect them), but also so they can spread out and help various people in different areas. The Juggernaut also appears, adding some emotional layers to the story of Xavier's (ahem) death.

Richard Drake steps in after that and serves us up some X-Men "solo" stories, one with Beast and Iceman facing off with Warlock - yet again. Cyclops and Marvel Girl, likewise, battle the Hive and Computo. Waste of pages, really. The first book of the run is likewise bad, simply because the X-Men fight Frankenstien (don't get me started).

Despite the very enjoyable Magneto story, this point in the X-Men's run is probably the worst so far. Even the characters lack good development and with the writer shuffle, there seems to be a bit of chaos at the end. The villains, as per usual, suck ass.

~W~

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