Having moved from Toronto to New York City, Northstar is getting settled into his new life with his boyfriend Kyle. Unfortunately, he barely has time to unpack before he's called off for a mission with the X-Men. Someone is controlling the minds of villains and heroes alike, and it's up to Northstar to stop them.
Astonishing X-Men: Northstar collects Astonishing X-Men #48-51, written by Marjorie Liu, as well as material from Nation X #2 and Alpha Flight.
There is a lot to love about this collection. From the dialogue to the action, Liu delivers an engaging story from the very beginning. Her characters are three-dimensional and feel incredibly realistic, which is a feat rarely accomplished in mainstream comics. The chemistry between each X-Man is electric and the familial vibe is at the forefront of all their interactions. Iceman's trademark wit and Warbird's enthusiasm for combat serve as the comic relief, while Northstar's relationship woes add drama to the mix. Truthfully, enough cannot be said about Liu's band of X-Men. It's an eclectic mix of big names and D-listers, but it works to her advantage. I'm personally impressed by the focus she places on Karma and Northstar, two characters who are tragically in need of attention from writers. She also gets extra brownie points for including '90s X-Man Cecilia Reyes, especially since Liu gets her personality spot-on.
If Marvel's PR team were to tell us what the selling point for Astonishing X-Men: Northstar is, they'd probably say it's the much publicized "gay wedding" which occurs in the final issue in this collection. The pressure must have been immense for Liu, particularly since many have called the wedding a publicity stunt. Nevertheless, she takes on the task of writing such a controversial subject with tact and respect. It's a very touching moment and the issue itself is understandably quite important. My only criticism would be that we didn't get to see enough of it. Honestly, the issue should have been double-sized and packed full of mutant wedding goodness. After all, we didn't even get any moments between Northstar and his bestie Dazzler.
Astonishing X-Men: Northstar proves that Marjorie Liu is one of the most underrated X-Men scribes. Not only does she understand the characters she writes, but she also gives a voice to those who have been marginalized and ignored by other writers. It is a thoroughly enjoyable collection with punchy dialogue and thrilling action. The only issue I had was with the art. Mike Perkins' work is rather muddy and messy, which clashes with Liu's colourful cast. Dustin Weaver, who handles the cover art, would have been a much more suitable artist for the interiors. That said, you really can't go wrong with this trade paperback. In the largely joyless world of modern X-Men comics, Liu's Astonishing X-Men is a shining beacon of hope.
Rating: A
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