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