Uncanny X-Periment # 104: "E is for Extinction"

Uncanny X-Men # 394, X-Men # 114-116

We open up with a kid’s 18^th birthday. How does he celebrate? He goes to Cape Citadel to tear apart Magneto-style. Apparently, he has the power to draw people and objects into his mind and mess with them. After an argument with Scott, Jean and Logan head to the Cape to deal with Mutant teen. They’re both drawn into his mind. Cyclops and Archangel soon show up and start to put him down, but inside his mind, things are looking grim. As death seems to be staring them in the eyes, Logan and Jean kiss, then pop out of the kid’s mind. The kid takes and the X-Men head back home, with Scott none the wiser.

Later (I’m assuming), Cyclops and Wolverine are rescuing a Mutant named Steve (aka Ugly John) from a Sentinel gone rogue. Meanwhile, a female version of Professor X (best way to describe her) named Cassandra Nova picks up Bolivar Trask’s relative, his nephew dentist. They head to South America and find a Master Mold factory, which uses scrap parts from a 10 mile radius to build “wild Sentinels.”

Back at the mansion, Beast, Jean, and Professor X power up the new Cerebra unit (which takes the place of Cerebro), and the Professor catches a glimpse of Cassandra Nova. He sends the en route Cyclops and Wolverine (and Ugly John) to investigate. As they do, Professor X finds his mind under assault from Cassandra Nova, but puts a gun to his head and tells her to get out or he’d fire.

The Wild Sentinels get the best of Cyclops and Wolverine. They capture Wolverine and Ugly John, then (after killing Trask), Nova tortures Ugly John until Wolverine severs her vocal cords. Cyclops comes in, puts Steve out of his misery, and then helps Logan deal with Nova.

It then turns out that she and Trask sent Wild Sentinels to Genosha. They proceed to wipe out roughly the entire population – including Magneto (and, I hope, Jenny Ransome, because I’ve always found her annoying).

Beast and Phoenix check out the ruins of Genosha and locate Emma Frost, who ended at Genosha somehow (it’s easy to explain). They take her back to the mansion when they find that her skin can now change into diamond. She quickly leaves just as the threat of Cassandra Nova rises up. Nova tears through the X-Men, then heads to Cerebra, where she uses it for about a minute to gain “just one mind.” Emma steps in, snaps her neck. When Nova stands back up, muttering something, Professor X shoots the crap outta her. The X-Men try to recover. Scott and Jean discuss problems they’re having, but are suddenly interrupted when Professor X announces to the world that he is a Mutant.

It’s a lot of stuff going on in such a small amount of time, but that’s okay. I’m going to skip that Uncanny issue, as I mainly just put it there for continuity’s sake. We’ll do more about Uncanny in the next entry. But in the meantime, the “new beginning” continues with this story.

I’ve read “E is for Extinction” a number of times and find it to be a rather remarkable storyline. The dialogue is snappy and fun. The pacing is of particular note-worthiness, as it draws you in and keeps you reading. The art has a creepy feel, but at the same time, an energy to it that is almost refreshing. I’m a huge Quietly fan, and he some fantastic work here. The new costumes/uniforms are great, almost kind of a retro feel to them. I also have a weird love of the way he draws women’s hair.

There’s a whole host of new ideas and new concepts introduced here. The extinction gene, which has been activated in humanity – which means that within 3-4 generations, humans will be extinct and replaced by Mutants. There’s also a new villain in Cassandra Nova; plus a twist on the Sentinels. Magneto and Genosha have been wiped out. New costumes. New look for Beast. Secondary Mutations for Beast, Emma, and Jean (to a certain extent). It’s all great, all fresh, and all just in three little issues.

However, to say it’s flawless would be wrong. Morrison drops the ball a bit with characterization. I appreciate his handling of Scott, but he comes off as just not the same Scott I’ve been reading about. Granted, it’s explained a bit with the whole “I was possessed by Apocalypse and now I can’t deal with the thoughts he put in my mind,” but he just doesn’t seem like himself. Same with Professor X – he just doesn’t seem the same to me.

But that being said, it’s still a fantastic read and quite refreshing in the long-run. It’s a little hard to see it with all the history behind it, but it’s just the beginning of Morrison’s run. And thank God for that.

~W~