Review: X-Men, Second Coming

Second Coming is one of the best X-Men storylines in recent years. It is cohesive, thrilling, and, most importantly, emotional. It focuses on the return of the so-called mutant messiah known as Hope. Many consider her to be the saviour of mutantkind and will usher them away from the brink of extinction. This, of course, makes her a target for those who wish to wipe out all those with an X-gene.

Spread out across all of the primary X-Men titles from 2010 through 2011, Second Coming is the brilliant conclusion to what could informally be known as the Messiah trilogy. For casual fans of the X-Men, this story will be largely confusing and may be overly complex. It weaves in the narratives of dozens of characters and operates on the foundation of several exisiting storylines. In order to understand what is going on, it's essential to be familiar with such concepts as M-Day and the Cooperstown Massacre. For those who have been reading the X-Men for years, this will be a non-stop action ride that has its fair share of triumph and heartarche. Writers Mike Carey, Craig Kyle, Chris Yost, Matt Fraction, and Zeb Wells do an incredible job piecing together this intricate web of narratives. Cyclops, Wolverine, and Hope are the emotional core of this crossover. They are written well and are each very layered in their characterizations.

There are several standout moments in Second Coming. Some are as small as Hope eyeing a hair brush set in a drug store, while others are as big as the epic battle that sees the X-Men facing off against the deadly Nimrod Sentinels. As mentioned previously, this event is very emotional. Characters are gravely injured while others become casualties during the X-Men's fight to protect Hope. While this contributes to the gravity of the narrative, there are other themes at work as well. A particular point of conflict arises concerning Cyclops' decision to commission a group of killers to carry out covert missions to assassinate threats to mutantkind. When this secret team is exposed, it has dire consequences and opens up discussions regarding the true nature of heroism. For this reader, the most poignant moment of Second Coming arrives during the denouement. Storm, known for her strong set of morals, confronts Wolverine about his active participation in Cyclops' team of killers. The scene is tense and impeccably well-written. Storm's words are cutting and brutally honest. While the world operates in shades of grey, Storm makes it perfectly clear that the X-Men are moving far too close to the darker end of the spectrum.

As referenced above, Second Coming isn't the most accessible of narratives. For anyone new to the world of the X-Men, it will leave you with far too many questions to be able to comprehend the storylines. Nevertheless, it is incredibly detailed and is a thoroughly satisfying read that is sure to leave the veteran reader with some kind of emotional response. Second Coming has its share of flaws, but it is one of the most impressive offerings by Marvel in recent years. It shows the world once more the difference people can make when they band together to fight for a common goal. It's powerful.

Rating: A