Review: X-Men - Age of X

The X-Men are no stranger to re-imaginings. Since their inception, they have been taken to alternate realities and adapted into movies and cartoons (which are never even remotely close to being like the comics). In 2011, Mike Carey tried his hand at re-envisioning the X-Men with his X-Men: Legacy/New Mutants crossover Age of X. In a world where Professor Xavier never formed the X-Men, mutants have dwindled down to a small army who fight for their lives every day against the humans who hate them.

As far as alternate realities go, Age of X is one of the more interesting ones. The cast of characters is large and features almost every notable X-Man. Their new designs are fresh and exciting, some better than their canon counterparts. Jubilee and Dazzler, for instance, are brilliantly designed and would translate well into the official 616 universe. Carey makes a valiant attempt at making the readers care about the characters. Basilisk (a re-envisioned Cyclops) is among the standout characters. His narrative is harrowing and he is the character with the most depth. Likewise, Carey does interesting things with Frenzy. In this reality, she is a hero and is Basilisk's lover. As can be expected from anything written by Carey, Rogue (named Legacy in this crossover) gets her fair share of panel time as do Gambit, Magneto and Cannonball. While it's easy to empathize with Rogue in this particular reality, not enough is done to flesh out her background and she lacks the depth Basilisk has. In fact, this is the most common issue with Age of X. Carey fails to develop the vast majority of the characters and this storyline is entirely dependent on people's knowledge of the characters from the canon universe. He spends too much time on the generic characters (namely his pets Rogue and Gambit) rather than focusing on the more interesting dynamics he had at his disposal. Storm and Namor are lovers in this reality but this pairing is relegated to background status. Similarly, much is made of Basilisk and Frenzy's liaison early on but it is dropped in favour of focusing on Carey's pets. In fact, there is a constant shifting in terms of where he places his focus so the reader never fully settles on a character to root for. He transitions from character to character without ever resolving any of their plots. Even more unfortunately, the entire crossover is resolved by a deus ex machina-style plot device. It's neither interesting nor surprising. Overall, the uneven tone and lack of focus buried the potential Age of X had.

Age of X has its moments of brilliance. The premise is fresh and the various pairings Carey works into the narrative are actually quite fascinating. The designs created for this reality are to be commended and the overall tone was satisfying. Unfortunately, Carey's favouritism towards certain characters and the relative shortness of the crossover squashed the true potential of this alternate reality. Age of X is a decent crossover to be read in an afternoon especially for those who are fans of Rogue or Cyclops. If neither character does anything for you, you may want to skip it.

Grade: C

Review: Captain Marvel - Down

It isn't easy being a superhero. They have to juggle meetings, doctor's appointments and having a social life in between saving the day. Welcome to a day in the life of Carol Danvers. In Captain Marvel: Down, Kelly Sue DeConnick and Christopher Sebela deal with the realities of being a superhero with surprising realism and much-needed humour.

Much like its preceding trade paperback, Captain Marvel: Down is a brilliant portrait of the woman known as Carol Danvers. She is ambitious and hard working as well as compassionate and intelligent. DeConnick and Sebela's familiarity with the character is to be commended. It's obvious they've done their research. Together they weave characters and narratives from Carol's past together with newly created ones. It's refreshing to see writers acknowledging the past while working towards the future. The first two issues in this collection feature Carol teaming up with former Captain Marvel Monica Rambeau. The dynamic between the two women is fiery and portrays them as pseudo-rivals. Monica's no-nonsense attitude contrasts nicely against Carol's more laissez-faire demeanour. The dialogue is strong and the action that surrounds it is even better as the pair come together in order to battle a giant robot. It's pretty epic. The issues that follow are more grounded. We get a fast-paced glimpse into Carol's life and the struggles she faces every day in order to maintain a semblance of normalcy. Highlights of these issues include some cute moments involving Carol's cat Chewie and some pretty hilarious interactions between Carol and her best friend Jessica Drew (AKA Spider-Woman). DeConnick and Sebela raise the stakes for Carol as her doctor reveals some devastating news just before she must contend with the seeming re-appearance of an old foe. The art in this collection is spectacular. Dexter Soy handles the first two issues while Filipe Andrade pencils the rest. Their art is atypical for a superhero title and, as such, it adds incredible interest to the title. Each page appears as if it has been hand-painted, giving off a soft yet expressive feel to the images. Carol looks beautiful and the action is impressive.

Once again, DeConnick delivers the goods. Captain Marvel: Down is a fantastic read with well-written characters and pulse-pounding action. Carol continues to impress as Captain Marvel. She's easy to relate to and comes across as a flesh-and-blood hero who is attainable in her characterization. Pick up this collection while you can!

Grade: A-

Review: X-Treme X-Men, You Can't Go Home Again

Typified by its frivolous and adventurous tone, X-Treme X-Men took a displaced D-list heroine (Dazzler) and made her the leader of a ragtag group of heroes whose sole mission is to find and assassinate ten evil Xaviers. Its first collection (Xavier Must Die) was fun but lacked depth. The second collection, X-Treme X-Men: You Can't Go Home Again, is darker than its predecessor. Greg Pak digs deep to deliver a more heartfelt series of stories and offers a much more intimate portrait of the characters he has in his title.

In this second volume of stories, Dazzler has taken to her role as leader rather well. She cares for her teammates and shows herself to be a very resourceful strategist. Her cheesy one-liners have been dramatically reduced but she's still the fun-loving Lightengale readers will recognize her as. Still, Pak has evolved her into an edgier character whose beliefs are put to the test. Thankfully, Dazzler remains more or less unchanged. The supporting cast of this collection are fleshed out more fully. Kurt's backstory is elaborated upon as is Howlett's. In fact, Howlett's boyfriend Hercules joins the cast. This relationship became a major selling point for the title and one conversation Dazzler has with Howlett reveals how little progress has been made in terms of gay rights. It is a standout scene. Unfortunately, Pak never quite gets the opportunity to develop Howlett and Hercules' relationship. Nevertheless, it had potential if only because of the unusual aspects of the pairing. Pak adds Sage and an alternate universe Cyclops to the title as well. The latter is a rather brilliant re-imagining of the character and is written as a former slave who became a government agent during the Civil War. Even more interesting is the fact that Pak nominates this version of Cyclops to be Dazzler's love interest. He's more rugged and stoic than most of Dazzler's boyfriends so it's a nice change of pace (I'm just grateful he doesn't have a mullet). The narrative itself is merely a continuation of the previous trade paperback but its pacing has quickened. There's a whole lot of action and it's almost all non-stop. It should be noted that Pak deserves credit for coming up with creative ways to re-imagine the various evil Xaviers too. When it comes to the art in this collection, it's even more inconsistent than in the previous issues. Aside from the two issues pencilled by Paco Diaz, the art lacks any real style and dynamism. It's all fairly generic.

What is most disappointing about X-Treme X-Men is that it was cancelled before it could reach its true potential. The narratives and character development was improving dramatically as the series went on so it was really cut down before its prime. Pak was doing interesting things with the lead heroine and obviously respected her. The supporting cast was refreshing in their differences, perhaps moreso than their mainstream counterparts. X-Treme X-Men: You Can't Go Home Again is a good read for fans of alternate universes and re-imaginings. It's a little darker and more mature than the previous trade paperback but that isn't necessarily a bad thing. An added bonus of this particular collection is getting to see Dazzler in one of her better costumes. Too bad it didn't carry over into the 616 universe.

Grade: B

Review: X-Treme X-Men - Xavier Must Die

When it comes to D-list comic book characters, there is no one quite as underrated as the X-Man known as Dazzler. Once Marvel's 'It Girl' during the early '80s, Alison Blaire slipped into apparent irrelevance after being exiled from comics during the 1990s. Despite stints in New Excalibur and Uncanny X-Men, Dazzler still struggles to shake her disco-inspired image and find resonance with today's comic book audience. Greg Pak tried his hand at returning Dazzler to prominence with his quirky multiverse-hopping title X-Treme X-Men.

Collecting the first five issues of this Dazzler-centric adventure book, X-Treme X-Men: Xavier Must Die follows Alison Blaire as she navigates her way through the multiverses on a mission to "kill" the various Evil Xaviers that exist throughout the universes. Sound complicated? It can be. Dazzler is joined by alternate versions of Wolverine and Nightcrawler, further adding to the confusion and mystery. Even still, the title is remarkably accessible. A casual comic book fan would be able to pick up the title and enjoy the action. Pak's dialogue is energetic and his enthusiasm for Dazzler is evident. She's spunkier than she's been in a long time and it's refreshing to see. Pak even hints at Dazzler's penchant for adventure, adding in the potential that she's more thrill-seeking than she'd like to admit. At times, the dialogue can be a bit cheesy (Dazzler makes one too many musical puns) but overall it's lively and captivating. The supporting characters on the title are broadly drawn so they lack the depth they require. Pak scratches the surface of each character but fails to really get to the meat of who they are. That said, the title is more action-oriented and reads like a good old-fashioned adventure story (only with mutant powers). The art in this trade paperback is fairly uneven. Stephen Segovia serves as the penciller for the first three issues. At its best, his art is expressive and exquisite in its detailing. However, it can also be muddy and haphazard. Paco Diaz takes over the art chores for the remaining issues. His art is cleaner and more streamlined. The characters appear more youthful and the title seems more playful because of this. Dazzler looks gorgeous and the effects used for her abilities are particularly noteworthy.

Dazzler fans (what few of us there are) are likely to enjoy X-Treme X-Men: Xavier Must Die. It's fun and doesn't take things too seriously. It's also a great read for anyone who isn't overly familiar with the X-Men. Its cast of characters is small and it doesn't require any previous knowledge from any comic events to make sense. Its accessibility is sure to go over well with the most casual of readers. X-Treme X-Men has its share of faults but Dazzler's badassery more than makes up for it. She's one '80s baby you don't want to put in the corner!

Grade: B

Top 5: Graphic Novels Women Will Love

Comic books have long thought to have been a boys-only hobby. Testosterone-laden bad boys and damsels in distress fostered a largely male audience but times are changing. More and more women are flocking to comics, as evidenced by the growing numbers of female cosplayers at conventions. Still, it’s often a daunting challenge to get into comics so here’s a list of five amazing graphic novels that are perfect for starting off your comic book collection.

5. Captain Marvel: In Pursuit of Flight, Kelly Sue Deconnick

If there’s one superheroine who gives Wonder Woman a run for her tiara, it’d be Captain Marvel. Originally created as Marvel’s first feminist heroine, Carol Danvers saved the world on a monthly basis as the cosmically-gifted Ms. Marvel. Decades later, Carol received a spiffy makeover and name change that announced her presence as a truly modern superhero. Kelly Sue Deconnick’s first collection of these new adventures, available in the trade paperback Captain Marvel: In Pursuit of Flight, features a sassy and witty Carol Danvers in an array of truly unique narratives. For anyone looking to get into superhero comics, this is the perfect in.

4. Persepolis, Marjane Satrapi

An atypical memoir, Persepolis details author Marjane Satrapi’s life growing up during the war between Iraq and Iran. This monochromatic graphic novel presents an intimate portrait of both Satrapi and the culture that surrounded her. It has been well-received across the world and has even been adapted into an Academy Award-nominated animated film. Persepolis is a delightful and engaging read that shouldn’t be missed.

3. Skim, Mariko Tamaki & Jillian Tamaki

With its stunning artwork, Skim is a masterful graphic novel that is accessible in its relatable narrative. Written by Canadian author and artist Mariko Tamaki and illustrated by her cousin Jillian Tamaki, Skim is a beautiful portrait of the life of Kimberly Keiko Cameron, otherwise known as “Skim.” Skim has to navigate through her adolescence and learn how to survive life as a high school student. This graphic novel earns extra points for being so distinctively Canadian (Swiss Chalet gets a shout-out!).

2. Ghost World, Daniel Clowes

This much-loved cult classic follows two social misfits – Enid Coleslaw and Rebbecca Doppelmeyer – as they attempt to find themselves in a faceless American town. Ghost World speaks to every teenager who has ever felt like an outsider and does its job of accurately depicting female characters as realistically as possible. It was even adapted into a critically-acclaimed feature film starring indie darling Thora Birch and a pre-Avengers Scarlett Johansson.

1.Batwoman: Elegy, Greg Rucka & J.H. Williams III

Gorgeous artwork and captivating storytelling are what elevate Batwoman: Elegy above all other superhero graphic novels. Written by former Wonder Woman scribe Greg Rucka, Elegy is an origin story that details Kate Kane’s life from disgraced soldier to proud lesbian vigilante. J.H. Williams III’s art is haunting and devastatingly beautiful, while Rucka’s treatment of Kate makes her one of the most well-written queer characters in comic books at the moment. This one is a must-read – regardless of whether you’re male or female.