In the wake of the war between the Avengers and the X-Men, people all over the world have begun manifesting mutant abilities. Cyclops and his ragtag band of X-Men have made it their mission to seek out these new mutants and train them to use their newfound powers. There's just one problem -- Cyclops is a wanted man and S.H.I.E.L.D. will stop at nothing to apprehend him.
Uncanny X-Men Volume 1: Revolution collects the first five issues of Brian Michael Bendis' take on the Uncanny X-Men.
As far as relaunches go, Brian Michael Bendis' Uncanny X-Men is fairly inaccessible. If you haven't read Avengers vs. X-Men or Bendis' All-New X-Men, odds are you'll feel a little lost. Seeing as the entire premise of the book hinges upon these two prior narratives, it's difficult to fully comprehend what's going on without those reference points. The reader will also require a decent working knowledge of the primary characters as well, particularly with Magik and Emma Frost. Thankfully, Bendis makes up for these shortcomings with some excellent characterization. The aforementioned Magik and Emma Frost are brimming with personality, as is the new mutant Tempus. Similarly, Cyclops is remarkably likeable and makes the reader root for his initiative. Beyond that, the broken powers of the X-Men add a tinge of unpredictability to the title. Not only will Cyclops and his group have to train the new generation of mutants how to use their powers, but they'll have to re-learn how to use their own as well.
One of the most memorable moments in Revolution is when the Avengers attempt to arrest the X-Men. As the men engage in what amounts to a verbal pissing contest, we get to see Captain Marvel attempt to diffuse the situation. The scene is quite tense and re-enforces the "the Avengers are jerks" trend that started in Avengers vs. X-Men. Cyclops' group is a response team and they act only when provoked, so it's rather interesting to see the Avengers play the role of the school yard bully who instigates the conflict. Without spoiling anything, the Avengers are humiliated and Cyclops becomes even more of a symbol for freedom. To be honest, it's incredibly satisfying.
Comic legend Chris Bachalo provides the art for the first four issues in this collection. He was also responsible for the redesigns of each primary character. The interior art is actually quite stunning and his composition of each panel is very dynamic. His characters are also extremely expressive. Truth be told, it's some of his best work to date. His designs, however, are subpar. The uniforms he comes up with for the female characters are cringe-worthy due to their lack of functionality and style. It's rather puzzling as to why Emma Frost would be wearing hideous '90s shoulder pads, especially given her love of designer clothing. On top of that, it seems as if he's recycling the designs he came up with for Age of Apocalypse. While it's great to have a certain aesthetic, it's not worth it to rehash looks we've seen before on other characters.
If you're going into Uncanny X-Men expecting something new and revolutionary, you'll be sorely disappointed. The X-Men being feared, hated, and persecuted is nothing new. They've fought for equality for several decades and they've even earned favour from the media in the comics before (see: "Fall of the Mutants"). The reason why you should pick up this book is for its characters. Bendis does a great job of developing his primary characters and they seem to be forming their own little oddball family. Overall, Revolution is a great read for anyone looking for a character-driven story with lots of action.
Rating: B
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