Jason Venable Comic Reviews

I don't know how all-new and all-different it is, but to be honest, I don't put a lot of stock in that anyway. But this issue does feel refreshing. It feels like a classic X-Men story, with a classic-ish lineup. But it doesn't feel stale or old-hat. It pops and it's exciting, and it's just what I wanted from a new "first" X-Men issue with a new status quo.

So overall, we get a very solid second installment in the latest and greatest X-book. It still feels very X-Men, which I love. The characters still feel legit. We get some more its hard to pull a team together antics, some more X-drama and gravitas that define our merry mutants. Not quite as perfect as #1, but Im still quite excited about the direction of the series. Bring on #3!

But overall, I enjoyed the book and look forwarding to seeing the whole new team in action together next issue.

Of course, even if we get there, we all know we have to go through at least a few issues (if not more) of evil Frankenstein Inhu-X-man Cyclops fighting our current X-squad. This doesnt really excite me too much. My boy Chandler hilariously said it felt like a New 52 twist what with a hero going dark and monstrous just for shock. And I agree it could easily, and unfortunately, go that way. And I may end up hating this twist laterbut I dont hate it yet.

Overall, this issue fell a little flat, and Im hoping this series is not already treading water. I didnt read the Weirdworld Secet Wars tie-in, so Im not sure if I can expect more fun next issue or not

And I think that is where this issue disappoints. A premise rife with potential opens with a forgettable first chapter. Like I said, its not bad. Its just very average and makes it feel like this arc will be less an epic X-tale into a strange land and more just filler. And sometimes being boring is worse than being bad. Heres hoping this story can redeem itself.

I felt like the art by Ibanez was a little stronger this issue. His layouts for the journey through Nightcrawler's mind are very interesting and very well executed. But it is weird (ahem) that we have nice weird art in the mindscape, whereas the other part of the book that actually occurs in a place called Weirdworld has art that is very ordinary. Very odd art choices in that regard.

So thats the main story. The back-up is fine. Ive made no secret that loving Dr. Strange has been my ANAD surprise, and I like this new Sapna kid. Making her the new Magic Doug Ramsey iswhatever. Just depends on how she evolves. Ibanezs art was neither here nor there in this story.

All in all, I think this is a good solid first issue that sets it up in contrast with the Extraordinary book, and I look forward to seeing how this team reacts to the current mutant status quo in a much different, more proactive manner.

Overall, I have to go back to the word solid for this issue, much like the first. The story is interesting in a nostalgic X-Men kind of way. The team dynamic is strong and provides both dramatic and light-hearted interactions, an X-staple. Visually the art is not perfect, but the book is eye-catching and the action doesnt fly off the page but it does have a nice flow. So Uncanny X-Men #2 is a nice solid X-Men comic (theres that word again).

So again, we have another solid installment of a (so far) solid X-series. This longtime X-fan is enjoying it for the most part, and looking forward to seeing where it goes.

So overall, Ill keep reading. I guess thats the bottom line, right? This book is quite enjoyable, but nowhere near the top of my stack. But to be fair, I have a stack full of really good books right now, so if 7/10 is falling in the middle, I just need to shut up, count my comics blessings and go read some more comics