Era #11, Part 06: Mr. M (District X)

Grade: A-

While District X appears to star the X-Man Bishop, this is really an on-the-streets drama focused on a regular cop Izzy Ortega. With the recent boom in the mutant population, New York City finds itself with a new and dangerous neighborhood called District X. Incredible powers and no opportunities due to rampant discrimination make Mutant Town a dangerous percent to patrol for normal humans. A gang war over the production and distribution of a new street drug escalates the violence and forces the FBI to ask Bishop for help. 

I love that this story is completely told from the perspective of the normal cop who must deal with his bigoted colleagues, a resentful and marginalized community, and a wife who is also a mutant. He is dealing with a lot while at the same time assisting the FBI (Bishop) in trying to get to the bottom of a mutant drug war that is killing normal humans. 

Marvel Knights was an imprint that concentrated on stand-alone (and often grittier) stories of underselling yet iconic characters (Black Panther, Punisher, Daredevil, and the Inhumans). The brainchild of future Editor-in-Chief Joe Quesada and Jimmy Palmiotti, Marvel Knights grew to include other titles such as Bishop's District X. The creative team of  David Hine (writer) and David Yardin (penciler) captured the feel of the police procedurals with a mutant flare. Both crime bosses are mutants with relatively minor powers but maintain a strong grip on a territory filled with outcasts. I particularly like the many examples of their casual exploration of fellow mutants and the subtle nod that raw power alone is not enough to escape poverty.

 

[7-stars] District X (2004) #1

[7-stars] District X (2004) #2

[7-stars] District X (2004) #3

[7-stars] District X (2004) #4

[7-stars] District X (2004) #5

[7-stars] District X (2004) #6

Collected in District X (Vol. 1): Mr. M