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