Today we have Uncanny X-Men 534.1. Once again as a "point one" issue this is designed to introduce new readers to the property. As we have seen in the other "point ones" this has been hit and miss so far. Uncanny X-Men is a good property for a "point one". Everyone has heard of the X-men, and at 500 some odd issues in, with tons of back story it seems like a good property for a 'jump in' issue.It has been a very long time since I have read an X-book, I am somewhat aware (from reading the other Marvel books) of what is going on with the X-men. However I do not know any of the details. As such this would appear to be the perfect book for me, so let's dig in.
The cover is fine, it is just the heroes standing in front of a cool broken X made of steel. It does a good job showing us the main characters, Cyclops, Colossus, Emma Frost, the ubiquitous Wolverine, Kitty Pride who is in some sort of space suite and, holy fuck, Magneto and Namor?!?! Okay I am sold already. The X-men have apparently become the Squad of old men you don't fuck with.
I am okay with this.
So I turn the page and we see a Helicopter approaching the Island home of the X-Men, we are introduced to a photographer who has been brought in to take publicity photos for the X-Men by their new PR person, this is wonderful. First of all anyone who was unaware of where the X-Men live is instantly brought up to speed, second of all the use of an outsider is an excellent way to put the audience right there with the X-Men. Will they use it well or waist it like Thor did? let us see.
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| Sure go ahead, just hang your body out of the helicopter like that, it's not like we have rules against it or anything. |
Holy fuck, they included a recap page in a comic book aimed at new readers?!? This is AWESOME. And by awesome I mean competent.
As the story progresses we are introduced to some bee keepers, which marvel readers will recognize as members of A.I.M. A science based terrorist organization that likes to cause trouble in the Marvel U. They have just black mailed a group of business men but as they walk away we discover they aren't actually with A.I.M. Dun Dun DUUUH.
Back to our outsider, he learns he needs to photograph Magneto and is surprised to discover Magneto is now an X-Man. He is informed that the X-Men need to make Magneto's membership public before someone else leaks the information. His job is to capture Magneto (and the rest of the X-Men) as sympathetic heroes. However he is some what afraid of Magneto, and quite nervous, probably on account of him being a powerful super villain. (and yet, Osborn is a considered a hero. so go figure.)
Meanwhile we learn that the fake A.I.M. guys have been threatening to start an earthquake with an earthquake machine in order to blackmail businesses. In order to prove they are serious they have set of a number of small tremors as a warning. The mayor of nearby San Francisco requests the X-Men's help so our heroes suite up.
We cut back to the X-Men's island home, the photographer is having no luck getting Magneto to cooperate with his photo. We are shown some genuinely amusing scenes between Magneto and the X-Men's PR person. She is a human but genuinely wants to do her job well. I found her very likable, and as a new reader to this line I hope she will be a regular reoccurring character.
We cut back to the X-Men pursuing the Fake AIM terrorist. Wolverine has sniffed them out, however when they arrive at their base the Fake A.I.M. members have left in a vehicle.
Back at Utopia, Kate (The X-Men's PR person) informs Magneto that they need to make him 'less scary' she proposes a new costume for Magneto, very similar to his current one, except the red has been replaced with white, She feels this is highly symbolic, red having negative connotations attached to it. She also compares him to Che Guevara, referring to him as a revolutionary figure that is held in high regard to some, but thought of as a terrorist to others. Their conversation continues for a while, and it is quite entertaining. This is honestly good stuff.
The X-Men finally track down the terrorist. Our heroes make quick work of their get away vehicle, they learn the villains do not actually have an earthquake machine. But instead they have a limited earthquake prediction machine and decided to make some money by predicting the upcoming quakes.
This means there is nothing anyone can do to stop the quake. Upon learning this Magneto decides to play the part of hero, He uses his powers to smooth the earth quake somewhat by dampening the movement of the magnetic minerals in the earth, he also uses his abilities to stabilize the metal frames of the buildings, turning what would of been a major disaster into just another routine earthquake.
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| I am Magneto... and I am here to help.... PS: Mutants rule humans drool |
Well maybe not routine.
The issue come sot a close and we have another .1 issue in the bag, so how was it?
The photographer and PR person were great ways to get exposition into this book, It requires no knowledge of the X-Men to enjoy and brings you up to speed with what is going on with the mutants these days. We get not only the perfect 'outsider coming to town' perspective a new reader needs, but we also get some genuinely entertaining and good character moments. Magneto especially kicks ass in this book. You don't necessarily find out why he is a hero now, but you like him enough to want to keep reading in order to find out.
This is a fun story and an excellent 'point one' issue.
Good work Marvel.
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