A new guy at my local comic book shop asked what’s a good book as a jumping ON point for the X-Men. The clerk said asked this guy. I’m thrilled to see a potential new X-fan in an Avengers dominated age. I gave the guy a brief rundown of each current X-book and what you need to know but recommended this week’s X-Men #34. No disrespect to the other X creative teams but all the current titles are currently part of AvX or mid-arc.
X-Men #34 starts a new arc spinning out of the last issue’s shocking conclusion. Brian Wood excellent first arc had a Torchwood (minus the sex) vibe as Storm’s “security team” tracked down monsters that turned out to be products of a twisted science and a genetic secret of mutant history.
Subterraneans part one picks up right where were left with the small unit tracking stolen genetic material. The trail leads to a cult with a strange twist. I love the way Wood writes this team. Storm leads with confidence and authority. The Psylocke and Domino infiltration of the cult’s unusual compound is written with tension and humor.
I have to say I miss David Lopez. Wood/Lopez had a kind of magic that reminded me of the Chris Claremont/Paul Smith era but darker. Roland Boschi’s work is not as clean but still fits the tone of the story. This run has excellent characterization of a small team, a tightly plotted mystery and a dark tone. If you want a great X-book – not connected to crossover – then Brian Wood’s X-Men is a book you should be reading.
By Editor
By Editor