After the divisive event known as "Schism," the X-Men were split into two factions. Wolverine was the figurehead for one group while Cyclops was the other. Both iconic heroes took their individual groups in different directions but both had the same goal -- to protect the world and preserve mutantkind. Writer Kieron Gillen was tasked with handling Cyclops' team in the then-newly relaunched Uncanny X-Men title. The result was an interesting assemblage of powerful mutants responsible for stopping the most dangerous threats. Their first mission? Take down the deadly Mister Sinister.
In recent years, Cyclops has been a much-maligned character whose moral fibres have been fraying. His questionable behaviour has made him unpopular among some groups but Gillen seems to be interested in rescuing the character from this dark path. When Cyclops assembles his team (known as the "Extinction Team"), he does so not as a general but as a peacekeeper. Despite the fact that his teammates can bring the world to its knees, Cyclops simply wants the X-Men to be the best heroes they can be. In the first volume of this run, Gillen tells the story in a brisk fashion that easily captures the reader's attention and his refocusing of Cyclops' intentions gives the narrative a purpose. That said, the team consists of eight members and, as such, many of the characters get lost in the shuffle. Emma Frost is a standout. Her voice is clear and she is essential to the plot. Likewise, Hope has a distinct personality and purpose. Some of the most memorable moments in this collection involve her character. Unfortunately, the rest of the characters fade into the background. Most regrettably, Storm is underused and contributes very little to the narrative. Nevertheless, Gillen's interpretation of the volume's villain Mister Sinister is interesting. He takes him in a different direction, removing him from the androgynous S&M look the character had previously sported. Sinister proves to be a more interesting foe than the seeming Big Bad known as the Dreaming Celestial. Perhaps this is because he raises the stakes and seems so unbeatable.
Carol Pacheco handles the art chores for the first three issues in this collection. First rising to prominence during the late-1990s, Pacheco had a distinctive and clean style that was stunning. His art was some of the best from that particular era. However, none of that flare and uniqueness is present in this volume. His pencils are practically unrecognizable and the art seems extremely rushed. Unfortunately, it does the writing no favours. Brandon Peterson drew the fourth and final issue in this collection. His art is much more distinct and palatable. It's much more detailed and springs to life on the page. He should particularly be commended for his expressiveness.
The X-Men have been around for five decades so it's hard to come up with something new and exciting when it comes to Marvel's Merry Mutants. Kieron Gillen does an admirable job here. He doesn't get trumped up by Marvel's penchant for events and he seems most concerned with telling a great story. Though the team assembled is interesting but not utilized to its full potential. Nevertheless, it's a decent start to this particular era and it leaves the reader wanting more.
Grade: C+
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