X-Men: Phoenix Rising trade
The Avengers uncover a startling discovery at the bottom of Jamaca Bay, New York. A capsule, generating powerful energy. Taking it back to their headquarters, Earth Mightiest Heroes are joining by the Fantastic Four, who discover that someone is alive within it -- one Jean Grey aka Marvel Girl! But Jean has no memory of her time as the Phoenix. However, upon touching the Shi'ar memory crystal, she gets the gist of it, and we the reader are shocked to discover that Jean and the Phoenix are not the same person! In the fallout, word reaches Warren and Scott, and both head off to meet up with her. Once they do, the trio decide that with Magneto and the X-Men playing the part of good buds, the world needs a new Mutant team! Hence, the original X-Men gather together to form X-Factor, a team of "Mutant Hunters" that would track down Mutants viewed as threats, and then as a Mutant team, give them shelter and train them. The teams first mission is a success!
So . . . what do I think of all this?
It's hard to say. I'm not a fan of the it's-not-really-Jean-that-died, but I love the character and I feel that so much is done with her after this (non-Phoenix wise), that I think it was a wise decision to bring her back. My problem with it is that the explanation is silly and boring. To say that there were in fact two Jeans is an easy out. HOWEVER (and I'll cover this eventually), I think it was left open to be established that while Jean and Phoenix were two seperate people, they both shared the same body.
Now let's talk about Scott Summers. Since issue 200, we've seen Scott basically slip into "dick mode." While attending to the trial of Magneto in Paris, he doesn't bother to call his almost-due pregnant wife. He's unemotional about the birth of his son. He leaves the X-Men only because he lost the duel of honor and not by his own choice. Face facts, Scott's a jerk and a lousy husband.
Maddie wants a life without the X-Men, which we all know Scott doesn't want. It's nice character flaw for Scott. While he maybe an expert on being an X-Men, a life without them is almost unbarable. Throw in the fact that he even admits to marrying Maddie just because she looks like Jean, and there you go. But this is actual trait to the character. For someone that never had a family before the X-Men, then found one with the team, it would stand to reason that he would rather be with his new family than in a loveless marriage, right? I think so. So, despite him being a complete jerk, Scott's characterization deepens.
Seeing the original X-Men together in such a long time is heart-warming and to have them fight alongside each other just like old times is a nice throwback to the original issues. Because I've seen this all as one huge story, the original X-Men being together again is like seeing a high school reunion.
For the most part "Phoenix Rising" fails to really provide the reader with an engaging and original return of Jean Grey. However, the characterization is on high.
~W~
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