Era #11, Part 03: The End of History (Uncanny X-Men)

Grade: D-

Chris Claremont is back (again) as part of Marvel's Reload (another reboot of the line). The title becomes a continuation of the X-Treme X-Men in which the team functions as an international police force (with unclear authority) protecting mutants. While Nightcrawler and Wolverine run into problems attempting to de-escalate a situation in rural Washington State, Bishop, Cannonball, and Marvel Girl visit Braddock Manor. They discover that the Fury has returned, but during the battle, it finds a remote way of attacking the Mansion through Sage. To make things worse, Viper returns and runs the team through Muderworld to save the Queen. 

I avoid X-Men-related titles that involve Captain Britain storylines (like Excalibur), but that is hard to do when Chris Claremont and Alan Davis collaborate on a core book. I find the characters confusing, the plots convoluted, and the mythos unoriginal. I found myself finishing this run with a few questions that I realized I don't care to find the answers to. I just need to wait for the next reboot.

[5-Stars] Uncanny X-Men (1963) #444

[3-Stars] Uncanny X-Men (1963) #445

[3-Stars] Uncanny X-Men (1963) #446

[3-Stars] Uncanny X-Men (1963) #447

[3-Stars] Uncanny X-Men (1963) #448

[3-Stars] Uncanny X-Men (1963) #449

Collected in Uncanny X-Men: The New Age (Vol. 1): The End of History

Era #11, Part 02: Choosing Sides (New X-Men: Academy X)

Grade: C+

Cyclops and Emma Frost take over as headmasters of the Xavier Institute and start making changes. The students are formed into squads that are mentored by a member of the staff. Dani continues to guide the New Mutants (Prodigy, Surge, Wallflower, Elixir, and Wind Dance), but they quickly run into trouble with their new rivals, Emma Frost's Hellions, during their first "field day" competition. 

With Emma's help, however, Dani finds Wither (Kevin Ford) and brings him back to school. He is soon arrested for his father's accidental death, leaving the New Mutants, the Hellions, and the Xavier Institute searching for a way to help him.

Nunzio DeFilippis & Christina Weir continue to showcase their ability to highlight teenage struggles with identity, alienation, and roles. While I appreciate the node to New Mutants' history, I found the "New Mutants versus Hellions" a little forced and out of the blue, but I did enjoy how Kevin's arrest unfolded. It was interesting that law enforcement was sympathetic to his situation (his powers accidentally killed his father) which set up a story with no clear villain. Instead, the students must decide what it means to help a friend -- break the law to help Kevin escape custody or trust a system that doesn't trust their kind. They are very aware that their decision will have an impact on the school and the community. 

[5-Stars] New X-Men (2004) #1

[5-Stars] New X-Men (2004) #2

[5-Stars] New X-Men (2004) #3

[5-Stars] New X-Men (2004) #4

[6-Stars] New X-Men (2004) #5

[6-Stars] New X-Men (2004) #6

Collected in New X-Men: Academy X (Vol 1): Choosing Sides

Era #11, Part 01: Day of the Atom (X-Men)

Grade: C

Chuck Austen started his run on this title (returned to X-Men from New X-Men) at the end of the last era after Grant Morrison's monumental new direction. It is a hard act to follow, 

Chuck starts by forming a new team under Havok's leadership (Polaris, Iceman, Wolverine, Rogue, Gambit, and Juggernaut). Their first mission takes them to China where they investigate a town destroyed by a powerful mutant signature. The X-Men must deal with China's protectors, the Eight Immortals, and a mutant with the powers and appearance of ... Xorn? Meanwhile, Squid Boy gives new student Josh Guthrie (brother of Cannonball and Hust) a tour of the school.

It is a typical adventure with too many characters that aren't managed particularly effectively. The biggest question is why did Chuck feel like he had to bring Xorn back? We learned that the helmeted Chinese mutant was really Magneto in disguise, so how is this possible? It is never really explained.

I enjoyed seeing Collective Man again. I love Marvel's international characters since first reading about them in the 1982 Contest of Champions limited series. It was the first time I heard about China's mutant hero, so it was a nice addition for me.

[5-Stars] X-Men (1991) #157

[5-Stars] X-Men (1991) #158

[5-Stars] X-Men (1991) #159

[5-Stars] X-Men (1991) #160

Collected in X-Men: Day of the Atom

Era #10, Part 26: Here Comes Tomorrow (New X-Men)

Grade: C+

The Phoenix is dead, and the future will not be the same. When Scott Summers refuses to reopen the Xavier Institute after the death of his wife, he creates an alternate timeline. In 150 years, the remanents of the X-Men, now led by Cassandra Nova, recover the Phoenix Egg from the Proud People. They are unsuccessful in protecting it from the Beast and his minions of Crawlers giving him the total power of a reborn Phoenix.  

This run was so confusing! The fun thing about alternate futures is that they often reveal hints about the current timeline, and this one has a few that I was supposed to understand (I didn't). It attempts to explain Sublime, the creator of the U-Men, and Kick, the addictive mutant drug, but it didn't make a lot of sense to me. The same can be said for the Cassandra Nova / No-Girl / Martha Johansson connection. All of these dangling plot points are implied, so it is hard to figure out what I was supposed to pick up. I needed to use online resources.

The story also reused a similar concept that started in Age of Apocalypse -- using the Multiple Man to create an evil army. At least this one merged Multiple Man with Nightcrawler to create the Crawlers (each of whom is further merged with another mutant). It was cool to see them, but it was not so original.

Seeing Marc Silvestri back, however, was fantastic. I am a fan of his work, and this was no exception.

[6-Stars] New X-Men (2001) #151

[5-Stars] New X-Men (2001) #152

[5-Stars] New X-Men (2001) #153

[5-Stars] New X-Men (2001) #154

Collected in New X-Men (Vol. 7): Here Comes Tomorrow

Era #10, Part 25: Prisoner of Fire (X-Treme X-Men)

Grade: D

Elias Bogan's henchman ambush Bishop leaving, and it is up to Cannonball, Gambit, Rogue, Sage, Storm, Sunspot, Magma, Lila Cheney, Skids, and Shadowcat to save their teammate in a final showdown. Bludgeon, Cudgel, Manacle, Revenant, and Rolling Thunder are joined by a mysterious telepath with surprising ties to the X-Men.  

Chris Claremont ends the X-Treme X-Men with a mixed bag. It does not help that I am not a fan of the Elias Bogan storyline. His goals were never clear to me, and I still do not understand his enmity towards Sage. I may not be thrilled with his antagonist, but I am glad that Claremont provides closure. What really saves this run for me, however, is that it is essentially a New Mutants reunion. It might have been an unnecessarily large cast, but at least they were characters I love.

[4-Stars] X-Treme X-Men (2001) #40

[4-Stars] X-Treme X-Men (2001) #41

[4-Stars] X-Treme X-Men (2001) #42

[4-Stars] X-Treme X-Men (2001) #43

[4-Stars] X-Treme X-Men (2001) #44

[4-Stars] X-Treme X-Men (2001) #45

[4-Stars] X-Treme X-Men (2001) #46

Collected in  X-Treme X-Men (Vol 8): Prisoner of Fire

Era #10, Part 24: Planet X (New X-Men)

Grade: B+

Magneto is back! The X-Men's oldest foe had been hiding and recovering inside the school as one of the newest teachers, Xorn. While masquerading as the mysterious pacifist, Magneto was building an army from the disenchanted students. When he strikes, it is a decisive blow by separating the team leaving them unable to protect Professor X or stop a brutal attack on New York City.

Once you get past the fact that this is another "return of Magneto" story (and a couple of other overused tropes), this is a good read. Despite executing a masterful strategy to bring down the X-Men from within their own ranks, he could not surround himself with any substantial allies to capitalize on his initial victory. Because he needs to do more to compensate for that limited support, Magneto takes the performance-enhancing drug Kick which makes him more erratic and out of control. As a result, his growing mob of followers quickly waiver in their commitment to the mutant revolution.

My only complaint is that I think that the conclusion is way too confusing and relies on another overused X-Men plot devise.

 

[7-Stars] New X-Men (2001) #146

[7-Stars] New X-Men (2001) #147

[7-Stars] New X-Men (2001) #148

[7-Stars] New X-Men (2001) #149

[5-Stars] New X-Men (2001) #150

Collected in New X-Men (Vol. 6): Planet X

Era #10, Part 23: Assault on Weapon Plus (New X-Men)

Grade: B

Grant Morrison continues to barrel through his Manifesto that is designed to challenge our expectations and the X-Men norms. This collection includes two different stories that reveal two new shocking twists.

"Murder at the Mansion" (issues #139-141): Jean Grey uncovers an affair between her husband, Cyclops, and the notorious Emma Frost. After a heated confrontation, Emma Frost is discovered shattered into a thousand pieces by an assassin's diamond bullet. The X-Men call in X-Treme X-Men Bishop and Sage to investigate while the rest of the team attempts to rebuild her body. The relationship between Cyclops and Emma Frost is one of the biggest revelations that will be felt for the next several years, and I really enjoyed the whodunit mystery.

"Assault on Weapon Plus" (issues #142-145) Fantomex recruits Wolverine and a reluctant Cyclops to infiltrate the World in order to get more answers about the Weapon Plus program. This top-secret facility accelerates time for those within its dome in order to create more lethal weapons quicker. We learn that Wolverine is the tenth weapon (roman numeral for X) while Fantomex is Weapon XIII. Unfortunately, Weapon XV is ready for activation. I was not so keen on some of the more fantastical elements of this story, but the core concept totally blew my mind. 

[7-Stars] New X-Men (2001) #139
[7-Stars] New X-Men (2001) #140

[7-Stars] New X-Men (2001) #141

[6-Stars] New X-Men (2001) #142

[6-Stars] New X-Men (2001) #143

[6-Stars] New X-Men (2001) #144
[6-Stars] New X-Men (2001) #145

Collected in New X-Men (Vol. 5): Assault on Weapon Plus

Era #10, Part 22: The Ties that Bind (New Mutants)

Grade: B

Tensions continue to mount after a failed attempt to help comatose Amara (Magma), the introduction of another former New Mutant (the now powerless Rahne (Wolfsbane)), and disagreements on if and how to integrate a dangerous, homeless mutant (Noriko Ashida (Surge)). Josh continues to feel isolated from the group due to his past affiliation with the anti-mutant terrorist group, the Reavers, and the White Queen agrees to mentor a new group of students that forms around Julian Keller who takes the moniker Hellion.  

Nunzio Defilippis and Christina Weir continue to do a very good job capturing teens being teens. The action is slow making this run another deep dive into the characters. The series ends with the original New Mutants running their own mission, and that is always a big bonus for me.

[6-stars] New Mutants (2003) #7
[6-stars] New Mutants (2003) #8
[6-stars] New Mutants (2003) #9
[6-stars] New Mutants (2003) #10
[5-stars] New Mutants (2003) #11
[6-stars] New Mutants (2003) #12
[6-stars] New Mutants (2003) #13

Collected in New Mutants: Back To School - The Complete Collection 

Era #10, Part 21: TInker, Tailor, Mutant, Spy (Mystique)

Grade: C+

This collection is not quite as original as Brian K. Vaughan's first run. These three missions increasingly feel less like spy thrillers and a bit more like conventional comic books. I appreciate the growing intrigue of the Quiet Man subplot, however, as Mystique must decide if she is going to double-cross Professor X who is forcing her to work for him through threats of exposure to international law enforcement. I wish he was able to conclude this thread before his departure. 

• "Tinker, Tailor, Mutant, Spy" (issues #7-10), Mystique must travel to Johannesburg in order to obtain a mutant version of the smallpox virus designed to kill anyone who is inoculated against smallpox. With another mutant after this deadly virus for her own purposes, it is a race against time to protect both humans and mutants from the threat of a global pandemic. 
• "Maker's Mark" (issues #11-12), Forge and Mystique go on a date to see where they stand after years of a shakey on-again, off-again relationship, but their night is interrupted by an Amber alert. A mutant boy has been kidnapped by his father, but the situation proves to be less clear than their feeling for each other.
• "Nevermore" (issue #13): Mystique's mission takes her to in Rio de Janeiro to secure the locate the hand of a mutant who could turn lead into gold.

Brian K. Vaughan portrays Mystique as a cynical yet compassionate anti-hero, but it is hard to reconcile her morally conflicted decisions in this title with her totally amoral behavior in the core books. Despite this one inconsistency, I really enjoyed his ability to incorporate and subtly expand her sexuality without making it the focus of the story. Even more surprising, he casually adds a transgender element to a Marvel comic.

[6-stars] Mystique (2003) #7

[6-stars] Mystique (2003) #8

[5-stars] Mystique (2003) #9

[5-stars] Mystique (2003) #10

[5-stars] Mystique (2003) #11

[5-stars] Mystique (2003) #12

[5-stars] Mystique (2003) #13

Collected in Mystique (Vol. 2): Tinker, Tailor, Mutant, Spy

Era #10, Part 20: Drop Dead Gorgeous (Mystique)

Grade: B

Professor Xavier's dream often requires help from the shadows, but when one of his secret agents is murdered on a mission, he is forced to ask Mystique to join his network of spies. Famed scribe Brian K. Vaughan (Y: The Last Man, Ex Machina, Runaways, Pride of Baghdad, Saga, and Paper Girls) gives one of the X-Men's most notorious villains her own title that is part X-Men and part James Bond. In addition to Professor X taking on the familiar M role, Forge joins the cast as Q, and a new character, the diminutive telepath Shortpack, is introduced as her "handler". In her first case, she must prevent the mutant international arms dealer Steinbeck from selling Russian Sentinel technology to the Cubans. 

The story actually works when you only consider it standing on its own. If you attempt to read it within the context of the current X-men storyline, there are some character inconsistencies (specifically how she addresses the many moral choices she must make in this arc). The espionage element works as each of the characters attempts to outplay each other through leverage maneuvering and double-crossing. They even work in the unresolved romantic tension between her and Forge (who obviously provides the gadgets she needs for her mission).

I enjoyed reading a new take on familiar characters, and new genre tropes introduced to shake things up. 

[6-stars] Mystique (2003) #1

[6-stars] Mystique (2003) #2

[6-stars] Mystique (2003) #3

[6-stars] Mystique (2003) #4

[6-stars] Mystique (2003) #5

[6-stars] Mystique (2003) #6

Collected in Mystique (Vol. 1): Dead Drop Gorgeous

Era #10, Part 19: Back to School (New Mutants)

Grade: B

The Xavier Institute for Higher Learning has been revealed as a school for mutants with a growing student body, but some candidates need help finding their way. New Mutant alumn Dani Moonstar agrees to help recruit the next generation, but it isn't going to be easy with a growing tide of anti-mutant prejudice and violence from the friends, family, the Purity, and Donald Pierce.  

This story is a slow build-up that focuses on introducing teenage characters that must navigate a new school, awkward social anxieties, and strange new powers. The interactions feel more natural, and I appreciate that there are no easy answers. The core team comes together around Dani: David Alleyne (Prodigy), Laurie Collins (Wallflower), Josh Foley (Elixir), Kevin Ford (Wither), and Sofia Mantega (Wind Dancer). Nunzio Defilippis and Christina Weir clearly have a mastery of young adult fiction.

[6-stars] New Mutants (2003) #1
[6-stars] New Mutants (2003) #2
[6-stars] New Mutants (2003) #3
[6-stars] New Mutants (2003) #4
[6-stars] New Mutants (2003) #5
[6-stars] New Mutants (2003) #6

Collected in New Mutants: Back To School - The Complete Collection

Era #10, Part 18: She Lies With Angels (Uncanny X-Men)

Grade: D

Did we really need another take on Romeo & Juliet? Chuck Austen forces it in this tale that reflects the worst stereotypes of Kentucky. The Guthrie family (think Cannonball and Husk) has a long-standing feud with the richer Capulet -- sorry,  Cabot -- family. Over the years, the Cabots launched several attempts to kill the Guthries, and their latest attempt utilizes abandoned anti-mutant technology. Meanwhile, Julia Cabot falls in love with Josh Guthrie. Apparently, neither of them knew the last name of the other despite their established family feud in a very small town. 

This is not only a forced interpretation of Shakespeare, it is an incredulous X-Men story. It doesn't get any better by adding the melodrama (and public, areal sex scene) between 19-year-old Husk and a much older Angel or a bigotted town sheriff who pines for the woman he agreed to kill.

[5-Stars] Uncanny X-Men (1963) #437
[5-Stars] Uncanny X-Men (1963) #438
[5-Stars] Uncanny X-Men (1963) #439
[5-Stars] Uncanny X-Men (1963) #440
[5-Stars] Uncanny X-Men (1963) #441

Collected in Uncanny X-Men (Vol. 5): She Lies With Angels

Era #10, Part 17: Storm - The Arena (X-Treme X-Men)

Grade: D-

Another mutant gladiator story? This time, Storm finds herself part of a Tokyo Arena where she quickly reaches the top, but she needs to continue winning in order to maintain her freedom. It becomes more challenging when she learns that the Arena is led by former Morlocks Masque and Callisto.

There are just too many inconsistencies in this collection to make it enjoyable. We get to see both Yukio and Guido again, but both don't really feel right in their roles. Callisto is the former, strong-willed leader of the Morlocks, but it is Masque who is controlling her -- and the entire sophisticated, black-market business operation. Not bad for somebody who has always been the lackey. I am not even sure how Masque changed his appearance since he can't alter his own appearance, and why is he presenting himself as a woman without explanation? And to top it off, Chris Claremont continues to inject slaver Tullamore Voge in what feels like an attempt to make this uninteresting character relevant. 

Perhaps the biggest oddity is how much Storm loves being in the ring. While she frequently engages in reckless thrill-seeking activities, it has never been portrayed as a pathological need. Her desire for the cheers of the crowd overrides her normal concerns about exploitation. She abandoned her values and that makes this unpleasant run irreconcilably bad. 

[4-Stars] X-Treme X-Men (2001) #36

[3-Stars] X-Treme X-Men (2001) #37

[3-Stars] X-Treme X-Men (2001) #38

[3-Stars] X-Treme X-Men (2001) #39

Collected in  X-Treme X-Men (Vol 7): Storm - The Arena

Era #10, Part 16: Intifada (X-Treme X-Men)

Grade: B

I have not been particularly impressed with X-Treme X-Men, but this collection is a bright spot. Chris Claremont presents the unintended consequences of a growing mutant presence in human society from the perspective of regular people caught in the crossfire. 

The first single issue story takes place in the aftermath of the Weapon XII battle in the Chunnel that resulted in Darkstar's death (Uncanny X-Men #130). Sam Guthrie (Cannonball) decides to stay and help the rescue teams searching for survivors -- and the dead. Bigotry is handled in a more realistic and compassionate way as Sam sees them cope with the massive destruction mutants helped cause. 

The five-part arc explores this theme at a more personal level. Rogue and Gambit retire to a small beach town in which humans and mutants live in peaceful coexistence. The X-Treme X-Men prevent a young suicide bomber's attempt to violently disrupt communal harmony. Their investigation into her motives uncovers a shadowy plot. They also learn more about the woman whose lie was shattered by the loss of her family at the hands of callous mutant hoodlums.

Chris Claremont continues to use villains, supporting characters, and plotlines that he developed since his return to the X-Men which gives him creative freedom, but it also gives the run a feeling that it doesn't quite fit into the primary narrative. That is unfortunate since Intifada offers an interestingly different viewpoint of Xavier's Dream.

[7-Stars] X-Treme X-Men (2001) #24

[6-Stars] X-Treme X-Men (2001) #31

[6-Stars] X-Treme X-Men (2001) #32

[6-Stars] X-Treme X-Men (2001) #33

[6-Stars] X-Treme X-Men (2001) #34

[6-Stars] X-Treme X-Men (2001) #35

Collected in  X-Treme X-Men (Vol 6): Intifada

Era #10, Part 15: God Loves, Man Kills Part 2 (X-Treme X-Men)

Grade: C

There is a lot going on in this story, but it does not come together well enough to make it especially memorable. William Stryker escapes federal custody and kidnaps Kitty Pryde. The X-Treme X-Men track him to an isolated enclave of mutant children in the Rocky Mountains protected by a mysterious Reverend Paul. 

I won't spoil the ending, but it is an interesting premise. We have not seen William Stryker since the well-regarded 1982 graphic novel X-Men: God Loves, Man Kills. He is a very pious man who truly believes that mutants are an abomination to God, so it was interesting to watch him, Kitty, and Reverend Paul each reference religion to justify their actions. 

The devil is in the details, and in this case, it is the lack of editing attention. To advance the plot, for example, Wolverine actually dies and is resurrected without explanation. Stryker is able to use Kitty to phase them both and stay in place while the Earth revolves around them (and this somehow hurts Storm from across the country). Even something minor such as the name of the mutant child that the X-Men are attempting to save throughout this run changes in each issue.  

Perhaps the biggest unanswered question is why Lady Deathstrike serves William Stryker. She is normally depicted as a fiercely independent woman, but she suddenly appears to be an underling. William Stryker, Lady Deathstrike, and their unusual relationship are key elements in the second X-Men movie X2. This was unnecessary and disappointing. 

[5-Stars] X-Treme X-Men (2001) #25

[5-Stars] X-Treme X-Men (2001) #26

[5-Stars] X-Treme X-Men (2001) #27

[5-Stars] X-Treme X-Men (2001) #28

[5-Stars] X-Treme X-Men (2001) #29

[5-Stars] X-Treme X-Men (2001) #30

Collected in  X-Treme X-Men (Vol 5): God Loves, Man Kills

Era #10, Part 14: The Draco (Uncanny X-Men)

Grade: C-

Attempting to retcon an established character is tricky in the best of times. I applaud Chuck Austin's audacious goal to shake things up while providing solid origin-story answers, but he creates a bit of a mess with The Draco.

There have always been hints as to the mother/son relationship between Mystique and Nightcrawler that were finally confirmed in X-Men Unlimited (1993) #4, but who is his father? Enter the demon Azazel. I am not even sure where to start with this story since it seems so unnecessary and out of place. While Azazel eventually appears in the movies (X-Men: First Class), I simply refuse to see him or this story as canonical.

A touching second tale threads through this run that saves the collection from complete obscurity. Juggernaut visits his young friend, Squidboy, but the reunion does not go well. Juggernaut violently reacts to the signs of physical abuse but things escalate quickly when Alpha Flight arrives to protect the family. Unfortunately, none of them are able to stop themselves from the irreparable collateral damage caused by their assumptions, rage, and ego. Juggernaut learns that raw power is not always enough to win the day, even if you are on the side of angels. It is a heartbreaking story of domestic abuse and the unintended consequences of good intentions. 

[4-Stars] Uncanny X-Men (1963) #428

[4-Stars] Uncanny X-Men (1963) #429

[4-Stars] Uncanny X-Men (1963) #430

[5-Stars] Uncanny X-Men (1963) #431

[5-Stars] Uncanny X-Men (1963) #432

[5-Stars] Uncanny X-Men (1963) #433

[5-Stars] Uncanny X-Men (1963) #434

Collected in Uncanny X-Men (Vol. 4): The Draco

Era #10, Part 13: Riot at Xavier's (New X-Men)

Grade: A-

What a story! Grant Morrison captures the tumultuous generational transition of a group already marginalized by society. It is a departure from the approach seen with the New Mutants and Generation X in which the students often complained about their elders but accepted their teachings. We see how differently a new generation sees the world, and how unpredictably they respond.  

Telepathic prodigy Quinten Quire has had enough. Mutant fashion icon Jumbo Carnation is murdered by humans, and the U-Men continue to hunt mutants to harvest their powers for themselves. The X-Men teach a growing number of mutants how to use their powers and preach peaceful coexistence, but where are they against all the injustices? Quinten has finally had enough after learning that he is adopted, so he begins acting out and soon forms his own gang. Fueled by a new addictive drug called "Kick", their crimes escalate to a full riot at Xavier's School. The world watches the chaos that leads to the death of a student.

Quinten does not come across as a villain but as angry and misguided. He is done with being lied to and told what to believe. He even outfits his revolution with a counter-culture "uniform" that pays homage to A Clockwork Orange. The question isn't if the X-Men can end the riot, but how they will deal with a new generation that has a completely different perspective. 

[7-Stars] New X-Men (2001) #134
[7-Stars] New X-Men (2001) #135

[7-Stars] New X-Men (2001) #136

[7-Stars] New X-Men (2001) #137

[7-Stars] New X-Men (2001) #138

Collected in New X-Men (Vol. 4): Riot at Xavier's

Era #10, Part 12: Holy War (Uncanny X-Men)

Grade: C-

Things do not really get all that much better in this third volume of Chris Austin's Uncanny X-Men run. There are some interesting topics explored in these three stories but they come across to me as a little too forced. 

Rules of Engagement: Canada's superhero team Alpha Flight arrives with the FBI and local police to remove mutant children from the school. Of particular interest is Sammy Pare who has befriended Juggernaut, a known international criminal.  

Holy War: The Church of Humanity crucify six mutants on school grounds leading to a final confrontation and the truth behind Nightcrawler's ordainment. 

Sacred Vows: Havok finally confronts his true feelings about Annie and calls off his wedding with Polaris during the ceremony. His fiance does not take the news well and dramatically lashes out endangering the guests.

Chris does a great job capturing the humanity of the characters he is focused on, but he continues to portray the rest of the team in a cynical light. Juggernaut grows very close to a young outcast mutant who must return to his troubled home while Nurse Annie must deal with her prejudice against mutants in order to help them and her mutant son. Both of them receive plenty of unexpected attitudes from the X-Men. 

Adding to the characters acting out of their norm is Polaris. She is uncharacteristically mean and reacts in a way reminiscent of her time merged with Malice. I am glad to see Chris doesn't go with the normal superhero soap-opera tropes (it is not Malice), but I have a hard time believing that suddenly being a snotty, entitled jerk ready to kill anybody who disagrees with her is a natural reaction to recent traumas.

Finally, a pet peeve. The Church of Humanity plot includes an awful conspiracy that just feels too far-fetched, even for comic books. It was a clumsy way to address Nightcrawler's priesthood and a waste of a really good villain setup using religious zealotry. The story also includes the deaths of Skin (of Generation X) and Jesse Aaronson (of X-Force). Why? We haven't seen these characters since their titles ended, and now they were killed to prove a needless point? Very disappointing.

[5-Stars] Uncanny X-Men (1963) #421

[5-Stars] Uncanny X-Men (1963) #422

[5-Stars] Uncanny X-Men (1963) #423

[5-Stars] Uncanny X-Men (1963) #424

[4-Stars] Uncanny X-Men (1963) #425

[3-Stars] Uncanny X-Men (1963) #426

[5-Stars] Uncanny X-Men (1963) #427

Collected in Uncanny X-Men (Vol. 3): Holy War

Era #10, Part 11: Schism (X-Treme X-Men)

Grade: C

This set is not quite a straight run, but it is how they are collected. 

X-Treme X-Men #19 really ends the original storyline in which a small team of X-Men separates from their friends and family on a secret mission to search for Destiny's Diary. With their mission accomplished, they joyfully reunite with the larger team. The party ends with Thunderbird, Rogue, and Gambit each announcing their leave of absence. 

X-Treme X-Men #20 starts a new chapter. Bishop, Sage, and Storm decide to continue their work apart from the main X-Men teams -- partly out of suspicion of Professor X. Their first case, however, sends them back to the Xavier Institute when a mysterious murder in Alaska leads them to a student under Emma Frost's protection. A more sinister plot emerges as both Sage and Emma must confront an old, rich, powerful, and evil, Hellfire associate, Elias Bogan. 

Chris Claremont's strong start of a detective story turns into a confusing mess. I had a hard time keeping up. 

A bigger concern for me is that while most of Schism takes place at the Mansion, it felt completely disconnected from the events in the core titles. Their distrust of Xavier seems more on the paranoid side, and the campus appears much less populated. Emma Frost comes across as the White Queen of old rather than the complicated character that has developed since Chris originally left the titles. 

[4-Stars] X-Treme X-Men (2001) #19

[6-Stars] X-Treme X-Men (2001) #20

[6-Stars] X-Treme X-Men (2001) #21

[5-Stars] X-Treme X-Men (2001) #22

[5-Stars] X-Treme X-Men (2001) #23

Collected in  X-Treme X-Men (Vol 3): Schism

Era #10, Part 10: Dominant Species (Uncanny X-Men)

Grade: D

I am a big fan of Chuck Austin's opening salvo in Uncanny X-Men: Hope, but the magic fades quickly in this collection. 

I enjoyed his use of Nurse Annie Ghazikhanian as an outside (human) viewpoint into the lives of a mutant superhero team and new school. Established characters seem slightly off (mostly on the rude side), but I can see how that might be from the perspective of a brave yet scared mother (who is secretly in love with her now-awake comatose patient, Havok -- ok, that part is creepy). 

We also see Juggernaut and Northstar grow as characters as they integrate into the team. Juggernaut bonds with Squidboy in a touching story. Northstar becomes a little more likable without losing his arrogant attitude.

In the midst of all this, however, the X-Men find yet another mutant evolutionary offshoot that are, um, werewolves? Really? It is an overused plot point that feels forced and especially uncreative. 

Manga artist Kia Asamiya joins the title as the regular artist as Marvel continues their attempt to introduce more Japanese art. Kia's unique style adds to the "slightly off" feel of the characters which makes this run feel less like a different perspective and more like an entirely different and less interesting book.

[5-Stars] Uncanny X-Men (1963) #416

[4-Stars] Uncanny X-Men (1963) #417

[4-Stars] Uncanny X-Men (1963) #418

[3-Stars] Uncanny X-Men (1963) #419

[3-Stars] Uncanny X-Men (1963) #420

Collected in Uncanny X-Men (Vol. 2): Dominant Species