Children of the Atom #2

Writer: Vita Ayala Artist: Bernard Chang Publisher: Marvel Comics Release Date: April 14, 2021 Cover Price: $3.99 Critic Reviews: 12 User Reviews: 31
7.3Critic Rating
6.0User Rating

BREAKOUT!
A local prison riot is quickly turning into an escape and the only ones who can stop them are a bunch of high schoolers?! The strangest teens of all are on the case! Guest-starring the Avengers!
Rated T+

  • 9.0
    But Why Tho? - William Tucker Apr 14, 2021

    Children of the Atom #2 is a superb follow-up and potentially even better than the first issue. We are getting to know more about the five heroes, and they are so much fun to read. This book is so deeply entrenched within the X-Men world. Not just from the guest stars and plot, but the references in the dialogue too. This creates the impression that any character can appear at any time, which fills each issue with the potential for surprises. Read Full Review

  • 9.0
    You Don't Read Comics - David Harth Apr 14, 2021

    Children Of The Atom #2 builds the story even more. Ayala uses Cherub's monologue to raise the series's main question: are things what they seem, or is there more than meets the eye? It works wonderfully, and they do a great job throughout the issue with the characters and events. This is an exciting book, made all the better by Chang's expert pencils and page layouts. Children Of The Atom is one of the most interesting X-Men's books being published right now. Read Full Review

  • 9.0
    COMICON - Scott Redmond Apr 14, 2021

    This series doesn't leave reality at the door and that makes the issue and the overall series all the stronger. A truly compelling and deep issue that really digs into the depths that are offered by the new Krakoan status quo for the X-Line. Read Full Review

  • 8.0
    AIPT - Lia Galanis Apr 14, 2021

    All in all,Children of the Atom#2 is a fun read that makes the audience instantly fall in love with the character of Cherub. This new cast of X-kids is peculiar, but solving their mystery seems like it'll certainly be a fun ride. Read Full Review

  • 7.9
    Multiversity Comics - Alexander Manzo Apr 19, 2021

    This issue continues to build on the emotions and motivation of the characters, but follows a very similar formula as the first issue. Read Full Review

  • 7.5
    Black Nerd Problems - Oz Longworth Apr 17, 2021

    This series didn't make the best first impression, but Issue #2 definitely irons out some of the wrinkles visually as well as in the character development department. Probably worth revisiting a little longer. Read Full Review

  • 7.3
    Sequential Planet - Marcus Orchard Apr 18, 2021

    While it is a bit disappointing, this is still an enjoyable issue. It's full of great moments, especially for Cherub. So far it seems worthy of your pull list, but the series needs to push the narrative forward soon if it wants to make a mark in this line. Read Full Review

  • 7.0
    Newsarama - Oscar Maltby Apr 14, 2021

    Ultimately, it is Ayala's character work with Gabe that makes Children of the Atom #2 worth a read. Their personal insight combined with Gabe's personal development makes for an absorbing and effective character study. Outside of Gabe himself, Ayala spins the wheels to protect the ambiguity around the Children and their status as active mutants. Frustratingly, the issue suffers from the lack of overall story progression. The foundations are well and truly laid, let's hope the next issue starts to build upon them. Read Full Review

  • 6.5
    Weird Science Marvel Comics - mrgabehernandez Apr 14, 2021

    Children Of The Atom #2 is telling a story that's going nowhere fast. You get the impression there's going to be some big reveal or point made with cosplayers pretending they're mutants when they're not. If you've read issue #1, you can skip issue #2 and hope #3 goes somewhere. This issue still gets a 6.5 for the excellent art by Chang and team. At the very least, it's a good looking comic Read Full Review

  • 6.5
    Comic Book Revolution - Kevin Lainez Apr 18, 2021

    Children Of The Atom #2 keeps the momentum going from the first issue. Developing a greater connection with the members of the team, as we got a spotlight on Cherub's personal life, was a good choice as it strengthens the connection the reader has with these characters. How the X-Men and Avengers factor into this story added greater interest to see where this series will go next. Read Full Review

  • 6.0
    Henchman-4-Hire - Sean Ian Mills Apr 17, 2021

    The writing, art, characters and story are all very strong, but this second issue follows the exact same plot points of the first with zero forward story momentum…and that's pretty weird. Read Full Review

  • 4.0
    ComicBook.com - Chase Magnett Apr 14, 2021

    Children of the Atom #2 ends exactly where Children of the Atom #1 did with more pages added, but no progress made. Read Full Review

  • 8.5
    CrazyforRAMU Aug 18, 2021

    The kids have to go a second round with Hell's Belles in a prison break scenario instead of going to a Dazzler concert like they wanted. The art's gorgeous. There's a lot of prose, but almost all of it is delightful. The main plot isn't moving forward, but we're learning tons about the characters and I for one love it. It seems likely we're going to rotate through each team member as the PoV character in the first five issues. It's a bold strategic choice -- and it might end up hurting the title if the author can't get the plot moving.

  • 8.0
    mrDovydas Apr 24, 2021

    Really enjoyed this one, even more than the first one. Strong writing, digging deeper into the characters themselves, mainly the new character Cherub. Ayala manages to capture the characters' voices really well, and the overall mystery regarding the new characters makes this a very interesting read.

  • 8.0
    Psycamorean Apr 23, 2021

    This was a solid issue. I just wish the pacing was a bit tighter. The story was just a little too much of a retread. I don't really get the point of them trying to enter the Krakoa gates again. What changed between last issue and this one?

  • 7.5
    mattcole15 Apr 14, 2021

    Enjoying this series much more than I expected

  • 7.0
    maelstron Apr 14, 2021

    Good work on the Gabriel chaarcter beats but the story is lacking. Same story from the last week and moved very little the plot

  • 6.5
    Spacey Medicine Sep 17, 2021

    I do respect the sentiment of Gabriel’s section but I think it highlights a very “I’m not like one of them” mindsets that only holds marginalized peoples back and pits them against one another. Things like “I’m not like one of those gay men, I like sports and beer and mowing my lawn” or “I’m not like one of those girls, I read books and hate the colour pink” or “I’m not like one of those black people, I do well in school and actually love my family.” The implication of course being that 1) most of them are actually like that, and 2) being like one of those is to be lesser, to not be worthy of time or respect. Only by conforming to dominant norms or enacting “correct” behaviours does one become someone valuable. more

  • 6.5
    Colleen St. Lucie Apr 15, 2021

    Honestly, the best part of this was the Hell's Belles, long forgotten 90s villains, getting some page time. Hopefully by next issue, the jig is up and the origin of the characters' powers and trajectory of the book will be clear. This seems like a miniseries as the leads don't have star power or staying power.

    Storm seemed extremely condescending and rude, out of character. Are all mutants superior race bigots now? Appropriate for Acolytes who used derogatory "flatscan" lingo but not our X-Men heroes.

  • 6.0
    the_comic_book_club Apr 15, 2021

    Children of the Atom
    Issue: 2
    “Prison Break”

    Publisher: Marvel @marvel
    Writer: Vita Ayala @definitelyvita
    Artist: Bernard Chang @thebernardchang
    Colors: Marcelo Maiolo
    Letters: Travis Lanham @immortalandroid
    Covers: R.B. Silva @rbsilva_comics & Erick Arciniega @erick.arciniega

    When the Helles Belles attempt a prison break, the Children of the Atom return to ensure the criminals stay right where they put them. Their actions garner the attention of Storm and a team of mutants who grant the Belles amnesty on Krakoa and once again offer the Children an opportunity to join them only to be rejected once more. Later in the evening, the friends gather again to try to access the Krakoan ga more

  • 5.0
    Lucas Aug 16, 2024

    Almost decided to drop the series after that first scene with the Avengers. What is that trash and why do X-Men writers still do this?

    As for the rest, the writing in the second scene was pretty bad. So much "tell, don't show" and very forced.

    The "repeat" of the same twist from the first issue was also unnecessary.

  • 10
    SkyP Apr 14, 2021

  • 8.0
    wesshamu Apr 30, 2021

  • 8.0
    Radar Apr 19, 2021

  • 8.0
    tonpas1989 Apr 17, 2021

  • 7.5
    Jorge Mendes May 12, 2021

  • 7.5
    KittyNone Apr 17, 2021

  • 7.5
    Grifter Apr 15, 2021

  • 7.5
    Magik Apr 14, 2021

  • 7.0
    Jason The Dude Apr 23, 2021

  • 6.5
    Ventilator-x Feb 5, 2023

  • 6.5
    Bananaknight Apr 17, 2021

  • 6.5
    Julian Keller Apr 14, 2021

  • 6.0
    K-23 Jul 19, 2021

  • 6.0
    mikesbr42 Jul 11, 2021

  • 6.0
    ChrisClaremontForever Apr 19, 2021

  • 4.5
    Drasek83 Oct 14, 2021

  • 4.0
    Spanish Morlock Apr 18, 2021

  • 2.0
    Fmernamz0 Jul 7, 2021

  • 1.0
    Pickleicious Jun 26, 2023

  • 1.0
    John Pomoli Jul 3, 2022

  • 1.0
    TheBest Apr 18, 2021

  • 1.0
    Sup3rsa1yan1990 Apr 15, 2021

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