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Uncanny X-Men (2013) (Collected Editions)
Uncanny X-Men, Vol. 5: The Omega Mutant
The X-Men gather to unseal the last will and testament of their beloved leader, Charles Xavier - but what they learn will change Xavier's entire legacy! And as they hunt an all-powerful mutant whom Charles had secreted away, Scott Summers faces his own past. Thanks to his Phoenix-possessed murder of Professor X, Cyclops destroyed his former life and has become one of the world's most wanted men. But is the greatest threat to his safety lurking within the dark recesses of his own mind? COLLECTING: UNCANNY X-MEN 26-31
136 pages, Paperback
First published March 31, 2015
10 people are currently reading
286 people want to read
About the author
Brian Michael Bendis
4,411 books2,575 followersA comic book writer and erstwhile artist. He has won critical acclaim (including five Eisner Awards) and is one of the most successful writers working in mainstream comics. For over eight years Bendis’s books have consistently sat in the top five best sellers on the nationwide comic and graphic novel sales charts.
Though he started as a writer and artist of independent noir fiction series, he shot to stardom as a writer of Marvel Comics' superhero books, particularly Ultimate Spider-Man.
Bendis first entered the comic world with the "Jinx" line of crime comics in 1995. This line has spawned the graphic novels Goldfish, Fire, Jinx, Torso (with Marc Andreyko), and Total Sell Out. Bendis is writing the film version of Jinx for Universal Pictures with Oscar-winner Charlize Theron attached to star and produce.
Bendis’s other projects include the Harvey, Eisner, and Eagle Award-nominated Powers (with Michael Avon Oeming) originally from Image Comics, now published by Marvel's new creator-owned imprint Icon Comics, and the Hollywood tell-all Fortune and Glory from Oni Press, both of which received an "A" from Entertainment Weekly.
Bendis is one of the premiere architects of Marvel's "Ultimate" line: comics specifically created for the new generation of comic readers. He has written every issue of Ultimate Spider-Man since its best-selling launch, and has also written for Ultimate Fantastic Four and Ultimate X-Men, as well as every issue of Ultimate Marvel Team-Up, Ultimate Origin and Ultimate Six.
Brian is currently helming a renaissance for Marvel’s AVENGERS franchise by writing both New Avengers and Mighty Avengers along with the successful ‘event’ projects House Of M, Secret War, and this summer’s Secret Invasion.
He has also previously done work on Daredevil, Alias, and The Pulse.
Though he started as a writer and artist of independent noir fiction series, he shot to stardom as a writer of Marvel Comics' superhero books, particularly Ultimate Spider-Man.
Bendis first entered the comic world with the "Jinx" line of crime comics in 1995. This line has spawned the graphic novels Goldfish, Fire, Jinx, Torso (with Marc Andreyko), and Total Sell Out. Bendis is writing the film version of Jinx for Universal Pictures with Oscar-winner Charlize Theron attached to star and produce.
Bendis’s other projects include the Harvey, Eisner, and Eagle Award-nominated Powers (with Michael Avon Oeming) originally from Image Comics, now published by Marvel's new creator-owned imprint Icon Comics, and the Hollywood tell-all Fortune and Glory from Oni Press, both of which received an "A" from Entertainment Weekly.
Bendis is one of the premiere architects of Marvel's "Ultimate" line: comics specifically created for the new generation of comic readers. He has written every issue of Ultimate Spider-Man since its best-selling launch, and has also written for Ultimate Fantastic Four and Ultimate X-Men, as well as every issue of Ultimate Marvel Team-Up, Ultimate Origin and Ultimate Six.
Brian is currently helming a renaissance for Marvel’s AVENGERS franchise by writing both New Avengers and Mighty Avengers along with the successful ‘event’ projects House Of M, Secret War, and this summer’s Secret Invasion.
He has also previously done work on Daredevil, Alias, and The Pulse.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 108 reviews
August 22, 2024
...and breathe! Wowsers! Reading this for the second time gives me chills! I felt like I held my breath reading each comic book (that's how I read these volumes). An Omega mutant of immeasurable power and zero training or awareness comes to light... secondly it's time to read Xavier's will! Bendis superlative talent of writing real conversational speech is so on point here. This entire series is sooo good, admittedly not up to his best Avengers work but up there for the X-Men with early Claremont, prime Wheedon and Grant Morrison. 10 out of 12... yep Five Star comic book volume read!
2018 read
2018 read
November 27, 2016
Time travel stories rule!
I got this in its single comic book issues, but I chosen this TPB edition to be able of writing a better overall review.
This TPB collects “Uncanny X-Men” #26-31.
Creative Team:
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Illustrators: Chris Bachalo & Kris Anka
DAYS OF PAST WILLS AND FUTURE TESTAMENTS
Oh, this the other Charles Xavier I’ve heard about. The one that teaches one thing but says “The hell with it” when it’s convenient.
There is a Mutant Revolution. Scott Summers aka Cyclops is its face.
If you read my review about previous TPB in this run of Uncanny X-Men, you’ll know what I thought about the way that they used the last will and testament of Charles Xavier, and while I don’t think differently, it’s clear (now) that it was useful to introduce the Omega-level mutant there to be able to ge tinto business in this current TPB.
But that’s not excuse. I think that that nowadays(of current present) where it seems that each dang TPB should be of six issues, therefore, you have what it should be one single storyline, it got fragmented; with an entrée in previous TPB and the main dish here.
Oh! By the way! Do you remember those young (original founders) X-Men from the past(without any future) that decided to stay in the present? You do? Good! Me too! However, it seems that the creative team doesn’t! Since there has been already two TPBs since it was told that they disappeared along with a blackbird and nobody is giving a dang about it. I don’t know why they bother to introduce those characters in this particular run of X-Men line, if they wouldn’t know how to fit them in the storylines.
So, coming back(to the current present) of this TPB…
We have the awakening(with so much force!) of an Omega-level mutant, that it means that it’s a threat to the very existence of any living thing on the planet. Charles Xavier revealed in his last will and testament that he found him when that mutant was still a little kid ( a little kid that already killed his parents (by mistake but even so…)) and Xavier’s solution was to set psychic barriers on the kid to avoid the full awakening of his Omega-level mutant powers, and don’t tell a soul about this.
Well, the mutant is already a grown man, his powers awakened after all, and several of the X-Men (specially Scott) are pissed out about Xavier’s past actions, since it was a clear contradiction about his supposedly dream about a peaceful co-existence of all mutants and humankind alike.
In the last will and testament, Xavier left instructions for to check on this Omega-level mutant to verify that he had his deadly powers still in dormant state…
…but hey! This is a comic book story!
Of course, he was already awakening his mutant powers while the testament was being read, you sillies!
BACK TO THE MAGIK
And of course, the Avengers and the Fantastic Four were unavailable (not even on Earth) to be called to deal with this Omega-level mutant. Beast (aka Hank McCoy) called to all international governments for help with this menace, but he found out, in a hard way, that no government cares about to mess into mutant business.
So, SHIELD and the X-Men need to combine efforts to engage against this mutant.
However, Scott has another idea. Something about related with his Mutant Revolution (that I do hope to see someday) where this new mutant can be a key addition.
There is no need to say that Scott’s idea pissed out Maria Hill, Director of SHIELD, and the other X-Men team lead by Storm and Wolverine.
Magik (aka Illyana Rasputin) relunctantly helps with Scott’s plan, and she goes back in time to ask for advice to Doctor Strange, Sorceress Supreme…
…oh yeah!
Magik already has been for months under magical classes with Strange, but a version of him of the past.
TEMPUSPOINT
Tempus (aka Eva Bell) was one of the first new mutants recruited by Scott for his own mutant school, and you had to realize that since if one of her first acts was to neutralize the entire Avengers Alpha Team in a second…
…well, that you have to expect great things about Eva Bell…
…maybe risky and unsafe things, yes…
…but great!
Eva Bell is a mutant with chronokinesis (that it’s a really cool way to say that she can manipulates time).
I won’t spoil you the awesome details in this storyline, but I can let you realize that the fan hits the crap (in a narrative impressive good way) and the only hope for the X-Men and the rest of humankind against the current threat of this Omega-level mutant is…
…Eva Bell!
But at what cost?
I got this in its single comic book issues, but I chosen this TPB edition to be able of writing a better overall review.
This TPB collects “Uncanny X-Men” #26-31.
Creative Team:
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Illustrators: Chris Bachalo & Kris Anka
DAYS OF PAST WILLS AND FUTURE TESTAMENTS
Oh, this the other Charles Xavier I’ve heard about. The one that teaches one thing but says “The hell with it” when it’s convenient.
There is a Mutant Revolution. Scott Summers aka Cyclops is its face.
If you read my review about previous TPB in this run of Uncanny X-Men, you’ll know what I thought about the way that they used the last will and testament of Charles Xavier, and while I don’t think differently, it’s clear (now) that it was useful to introduce the Omega-level mutant there to be able to ge tinto business in this current TPB.
But that’s not excuse. I think that that nowadays(of current present) where it seems that each dang TPB should be of six issues, therefore, you have what it should be one single storyline, it got fragmented; with an entrée in previous TPB and the main dish here.
Oh! By the way! Do you remember those young (original founders) X-Men from the past(without any future) that decided to stay in the present? You do? Good! Me too! However, it seems that the creative team doesn’t! Since there has been already two TPBs since it was told that they disappeared along with a blackbird and nobody is giving a dang about it. I don’t know why they bother to introduce those characters in this particular run of X-Men line, if they wouldn’t know how to fit them in the storylines.
So, coming back(to the current present) of this TPB…
We have the awakening(with so much force!) of an Omega-level mutant, that it means that it’s a threat to the very existence of any living thing on the planet. Charles Xavier revealed in his last will and testament that he found him when that mutant was still a little kid ( a little kid that already killed his parents (by mistake but even so…)) and Xavier’s solution was to set psychic barriers on the kid to avoid the full awakening of his Omega-level mutant powers, and don’t tell a soul about this.
Well, the mutant is already a grown man, his powers awakened after all, and several of the X-Men (specially Scott) are pissed out about Xavier’s past actions, since it was a clear contradiction about his supposedly dream about a peaceful co-existence of all mutants and humankind alike.
In the last will and testament, Xavier left instructions for to check on this Omega-level mutant to verify that he had his deadly powers still in dormant state…
…but hey! This is a comic book story!
Of course, he was already awakening his mutant powers while the testament was being read, you sillies!
BACK TO THE MAGIK
And of course, the Avengers and the Fantastic Four were unavailable (not even on Earth) to be called to deal with this Omega-level mutant. Beast (aka Hank McCoy) called to all international governments for help with this menace, but he found out, in a hard way, that no government cares about to mess into mutant business.
So, SHIELD and the X-Men need to combine efforts to engage against this mutant.
However, Scott has another idea. Something about related with his Mutant Revolution (that I do hope to see someday) where this new mutant can be a key addition.
There is no need to say that Scott’s idea pissed out Maria Hill, Director of SHIELD, and the other X-Men team lead by Storm and Wolverine.
Magik (aka Illyana Rasputin) relunctantly helps with Scott’s plan, and she goes back in time to ask for advice to Doctor Strange, Sorceress Supreme…
…oh yeah!
Magik already has been for months under magical classes with Strange, but a version of him of the past.
TEMPUSPOINT
Tempus (aka Eva Bell) was one of the first new mutants recruited by Scott for his own mutant school, and you had to realize that since if one of her first acts was to neutralize the entire Avengers Alpha Team in a second…
…well, that you have to expect great things about Eva Bell…
…maybe risky and unsafe things, yes…
…but great!
Eva Bell is a mutant with chronokinesis (that it’s a really cool way to say that she can manipulates time).
I won’t spoil you the awesome details in this storyline, but I can let you realize that the fan hits the crap (in a narrative impressive good way) and the only hope for the X-Men and the rest of humankind against the current threat of this Omega-level mutant is…
…Eva Bell!
But at what cost?
August 22, 2016
Yes, Scott Summers it’s all about you.
Sure you’re hoisting the whole you-better-believe-mutants-are-people-too-or-we’ll-kick-your-ass movement on your shoulders, but your megalomania burns like the midday sun in Phoenix and its hot enough to make even Magneto blanch. Killing Charles Xavier has just accelerated the growing contempt and fear that had been festering for you in the Marvel universe.
So what happens when Charles Xavier’s will reveals that there’s a mutant out there that could split the Earth in two?
Summers sees it as a self-aggrandizing moment; a way to bolster his ranks for the coming “conflict”.
Naturally the situation spins out of control and it’s up to others – not consumed by their own egos - to try and step in and bring resolution.
Question: What the hell happened to Wolverine? He was transported away by the omega mutant. Did Bendis lose track of him?
Bottom line: Amidst the chaos, Bendis brings some clarity to Summer’s stance, even as it begins to unravel, yet, it’s one thing to be second-guessed my Wolverine, but when Magneto starts questioning things…
March 5, 2022
This was actually a prett fun read!
The new mutant Matthew Malloy emerges and we see his rise and wow the backstory of his and meeting with Xavier and how and what leads him and the X-Men into the current predicament and battle and damn its insane but its cool to see Scott here and how he tries to console Matt is great and try to bring him over but then the actions of Magneto and what happens then, the X-Men making their own plans and its all chaos on every side but then what Tempus does changes everything and its a deus-ex-machina sure but damn does it end in an interesting way for Cyclops and the rest of the X-Men and changes so many things!
Its insane how good it is and I love it and well the way the stories end may leave some people disappointed but then again the writer backed himself in a corner I felt like and this one made the most sense but it also just shows how powerful this mutant was and just insane stuff and I also like the evolution of Tempus as a character and what she does leads me to believe that she is also Omega level and well Time-travel stories are pretty confusing but Bendis has used a lot on his run here and well its not that confusing honestly.
The art of Bachalo was not the greatest but I like the ones done by Anka a lot more and wished he did more issues tbh! But overall a great read and one where there are so many stakes.
The new mutant Matthew Malloy emerges and we see his rise and wow the backstory of his and meeting with Xavier and how and what leads him and the X-Men into the current predicament and battle and damn its insane but its cool to see Scott here and how he tries to console Matt is great and try to bring him over but then the actions of Magneto and what happens then, the X-Men making their own plans and its all chaos on every side but then what Tempus does changes everything and its a deus-ex-machina sure but damn does it end in an interesting way for Cyclops and the rest of the X-Men and changes so many things!
Its insane how good it is and I love it and well the way the stories end may leave some people disappointed but then again the writer backed himself in a corner I felt like and this one made the most sense but it also just shows how powerful this mutant was and just insane stuff and I also like the evolution of Tempus as a character and what she does leads me to believe that she is also Omega level and well Time-travel stories are pretty confusing but Bendis has used a lot on his run here and well its not that confusing honestly.
The art of Bachalo was not the greatest but I like the ones done by Anka a lot more and wished he did more issues tbh! But overall a great read and one where there are so many stakes.
November 4, 2015
So long ago Professor X discovered a young mutant whose power was unfathomable. Rather than trying to teach or train him, Xavier instead put up psychic walls to ensure he couldn't use his power. He checked in on him yearly and would rebuild the walls as necessary. Problem is that now that Professor X has died, the walls have fallen and no one is strong enough to rebuild them. Xavier through his will has tasked his X-Men to put some spackle on the psychic walls to keep the mutants power contained.
Does anyone remember a simpler time when time travel wasn't a constant? I mean for example there are two mutants in Uncanny X-Men whose powers allow them to time travel...two. Seriously...
It's like the teacher keeps asking the weird kid in class how to fix a problem and he only ever answers time travel. Time travel can be good when used sparingly in a story, but the overuse is disgusting.
Does anyone remember a simpler time when time travel wasn't a constant? I mean for example there are two mutants in Uncanny X-Men whose powers allow them to time travel...two. Seriously...
It's like the teacher keeps asking the weird kid in class how to fix a problem and he only ever answers time travel. Time travel can be good when used sparingly in a story, but the overuse is disgusting.
August 25, 2017
Damn I was glued to the pages reading this one. Uncanny X-Men came from meh (Gave volume 1-2 2 stars) to this. A epic, big, scary, nail biting adventure. So our Omega Level Mutant is OUT OF CONTROL. Scott decides to try and help the young man but in the end wants to use his powers to top off this mutant revolution.
The volume mostly are conversations and arguments. This might not be enough for some. However, when the fights happen it's pretty goddamn epic. So with the time ticking down, every trick they can think of, the Omega Level mutant murdering people at the same time, will the X-Men be able to save the world?
What I liked: The art is pretty great in this. The big attacks/explosion events are fucking stunning. Also loved cyclops and Magneto arguing. It felt so chilly in there I got the shakes. The Omega Level mutant is just sad as hell...I feel bad for his situation. The ending I can see some saying it's a cop out but man oh man, the risk taken there, and the very end are heart breaking.
What I didn't like: There's one moment where shield does something and it feels very odd that no one reacted quick enough. It just stuck with me. Also as much as I DO love the art sometimes there are facial expressions that are just...ugly? Or off?
Overall this two part arc was stunning for me. Some of my favorite in X-Men that I've read. Volume 4-5 tell a complete story and the Omega Level threat brought the hype and motivation to build this series up some.
The volume mostly are conversations and arguments. This might not be enough for some. However, when the fights happen it's pretty goddamn epic. So with the time ticking down, every trick they can think of, the Omega Level mutant murdering people at the same time, will the X-Men be able to save the world?
What I liked: The art is pretty great in this. The big attacks/explosion events are fucking stunning. Also loved cyclops and Magneto arguing. It felt so chilly in there I got the shakes. The Omega Level mutant is just sad as hell...I feel bad for his situation. The ending I can see some saying it's a cop out but man oh man, the risk taken there, and the very end are heart breaking.
What I didn't like: There's one moment where shield does something and it feels very odd that no one reacted quick enough. It just stuck with me. Also as much as I DO love the art sometimes there are facial expressions that are just...ugly? Or off?
Overall this two part arc was stunning for me. Some of my favorite in X-Men that I've read. Volume 4-5 tell a complete story and the Omega Level threat brought the hype and motivation to build this series up some.
December 3, 2015
This....
THIS!
This has to be the crowning jewel of the entire series so far. Brian Michael Bendis' The Uncanny X-Men has really come so far from whatever forgettable trite that was its lackluster first volume. Anyone who decided to stop reading after that said volume is sorely missing out for the breadth and quality of the next stories that came afterwards. The last time I was this consistently stimulated and completely invested in the plot and character revelations of an X-Men title was during my readings and reviews of Joss Whedon's The Astonishing X-Men. In a way, this was continuation of that run, considering the central figure that dominates most of UXM material is Scott Summers a.k.a Cyclops, and it's in this volume that it was fully realized. Simply put, Volume 5: The Omega Sentinel is comprised of issues #26-31 and by all that is holy and Loki, I ate it all up like it's the most scrumptious serving of blueberry cheesecake!
[SPOILERS AHEAD]
This fifth installment packs some dizzying punches to the face and gut, and picks up straight from the previous volume's climactic revelation about a very powerful mutant named Matthew Malloy, and how the late Professor X had done everything in his power to dampen and weaken Malloy's mutation because the alternative will destroy creation and all existence. At first, I wasn't convinced that we I should even give a fuck that a superpowered and out-of-control mutant is threatening the Marvelverse (YET AGAIN), but as the story deepened and Scott was placed in a position of great struggle and temptation, I was able to truly enjoy the narrative for what it is: a cautionary tale that was timely and relevant in regards to the events that have transpired since AVX, and has mold Cyclops so far from the young and hopeful idealist he started out with. Scott saw an opportunity to impart his newfound philosophy on Malloy, and took a chance to make him see that they are very much the same. Like Malloy, Scott had a destructive power he thought he could never live with. And together, they can help each other make the world a place where mutants don't have to walk on eggshells among humans and can finally be who they are, free of guilt and shame.
The panels concerning Scott trying to get through Malloy were tinged with such sadness and yet with bravery and dignity as well that I was moved to near tears. To become a part of such insanity and suffering--to grow up unloved, unappreciated, misunderstood and exploited--to feel as if not even your own self can be trusted--this seemed to be the birthright and given calvary of powerful mutants of the past, those who are able to wield terrifying powers which eventually corroded them inside. Scott allows Malloy to dig through his mind and see for himself how Jean Grey, Magneto, Scarlet Witch, Apocalypse, etc. have all faced a breakdown of epic proportions--and how their tragic tales almost killed everyone in the world and transformed reality--and, most importantly--that Malloy DOESN'T HAVE TO BE ONE OF THEM. Scott is willing to show him another way even if he himself isn't sure which it would be. Nevertheless, he still believes there is no one else more suited for the role to become Malloy's mentor but him.
[CLICK FOR LARGER IMAGES]
It's an interesting twist to see Magneto arriving right in the middle of this proposal, seeing as he's been absent during the reading of Xavier's last will and testament. Much more so when he opposed Scott's offer and tried to make Malloy see the error of Scott's ways and why she should never be trusted. This was pretty much the heart of the story but everyone else played vital roles in the sidelines. We have Magik (Ilyana) and Emma Frost who serve as Scott's closest associates. Ilyana has finally found the balance between her mutation and sorceress powers, thanks to the assistance of Dr. Strange, and she does everything she can to help Scott even if they disagree about his methods. Emma, on the other hand, still chose to stand by Scott even though their romance had been obliterated the Phoenix Force. She remained loyal to him, and her trust in his vision is often overwhelming, both to her and the others. Meanwhile, we have the young recruits in the secret Xavier School; teenagers who are forced to adapt and evolve even if there are some moral conundrums that are beyond their grasp. The notable one of them had to be Eva Bell who has the ability to control time.
Eva is growing up and becoming more opinionated if not altogether reckless. She expressed great disapproval over Scott's decisions, and her role in the resolution of the conflict for this story had been the most harrowing and dangerous. The Steford sister Celeste argued passionately to get her to restrain herself from getting actively involved in a fight that she shouldn't take over, but Eva has made up her mind and went back in time to warn Charles Xavier about Malloy, and to ask for help in preventing a disaster to occur in the present timeline. Xavier was unmoved for a while, disappointed and angry that an X-Man just violated the laws of the universe just to meet with him, but Eva was able to convince him afterwards, and with his help she effectively erased a timeline that proved to be detrimental.
See, Scott, Emma, and Ilyana all died after trying to save Malloy and also when they found themselves smacked in the middle of a crossfire with S.H.I.E.L.D. Emma died when Malloy tried to defend himself from her attack and her sudden demise angered Storm and she was about to be the next victim when Eva and Xavier began changing things via time travel. By having Xavier help him erase Malloy's existence in a way where he was never even born, everything in the present timeline was fixed--except of course what was already broken already to begin with. That is, Scott still killed Professor X. We get to be taken back to the new reading of Xavier's will and testament where there was no mention of his marriage to Mystique, or Malloy. Instead, he bequeaths the school to Scott. Before Scott could ever accept, he gets to talk to Eva one last time and their conversation made him realize he is not suited to become a mentor and so signs over the deeds of the Jean Grey school to Storm and then asks her to take in his students from the Weapon X facility.
It was a shocking turn indeed that a new character like Eva showed teeth and took matters in her own hands and basically rewrote a timeline. And there are SOOO MANY QUESTIONS that hopefully will get answered in the next volume. First of all, Mystique not being married to Xavier before his death. I assume she wasn't anymore? Or perhaps Xavier just didn't mention it in his will? If they were never married, does that mean Dazzler doesn't have to go after Mystique anymore because Raven never went crazy with grief over Xavier's death and therefore she did not build Madripoor or kidnap Dazzler to impersonate her? What? This is a subplot I need to know for sure is still happening. ANYWAY! This volume had been such a heck of a ride. I could hardly keep up. I was reading this at work and all I could do is do this:
When deep, deep within, I was going cuckoo for cocoa puffs like this:
I feel like giving this a perfect rating but then again I do have some issues about it a little bit. Also, I think I'm just going to hold off on my perfect ratings for this series for now. I can't help but feel that Bendis still has some tricks up his sleeve.
RECOMMENDED: 9/10
DO READ MY REVIEWS AT:
[SPOILERS AHEAD]
This fifth installment packs some dizzying punches to the face and gut, and picks up straight from the previous volume's climactic revelation about a very powerful mutant named Matthew Malloy, and how the late Professor X had done everything in his power to dampen and weaken Malloy's mutation because the alternative will destroy creation and all existence. At first, I wasn't convinced that we I should even give a fuck that a superpowered and out-of-control mutant is threatening the Marvelverse (YET AGAIN), but as the story deepened and Scott was placed in a position of great struggle and temptation, I was able to truly enjoy the narrative for what it is: a cautionary tale that was timely and relevant in regards to the events that have transpired since AVX, and has mold Cyclops so far from the young and hopeful idealist he started out with. Scott saw an opportunity to impart his newfound philosophy on Malloy, and took a chance to make him see that they are very much the same. Like Malloy, Scott had a destructive power he thought he could never live with. And together, they can help each other make the world a place where mutants don't have to walk on eggshells among humans and can finally be who they are, free of guilt and shame.
The panels concerning Scott trying to get through Malloy were tinged with such sadness and yet with bravery and dignity as well that I was moved to near tears. To become a part of such insanity and suffering--to grow up unloved, unappreciated, misunderstood and exploited--to feel as if not even your own self can be trusted--this seemed to be the birthright and given calvary of powerful mutants of the past, those who are able to wield terrifying powers which eventually corroded them inside. Scott allows Malloy to dig through his mind and see for himself how Jean Grey, Magneto, Scarlet Witch, Apocalypse, etc. have all faced a breakdown of epic proportions--and how their tragic tales almost killed everyone in the world and transformed reality--and, most importantly--that Malloy DOESN'T HAVE TO BE ONE OF THEM. Scott is willing to show him another way even if he himself isn't sure which it would be. Nevertheless, he still believes there is no one else more suited for the role to become Malloy's mentor but him.
[CLICK FOR LARGER IMAGES]
It's an interesting twist to see Magneto arriving right in the middle of this proposal, seeing as he's been absent during the reading of Xavier's last will and testament. Much more so when he opposed Scott's offer and tried to make Malloy see the error of Scott's ways and why she should never be trusted. This was pretty much the heart of the story but everyone else played vital roles in the sidelines. We have Magik (Ilyana) and Emma Frost who serve as Scott's closest associates. Ilyana has finally found the balance between her mutation and sorceress powers, thanks to the assistance of Dr. Strange, and she does everything she can to help Scott even if they disagree about his methods. Emma, on the other hand, still chose to stand by Scott even though their romance had been obliterated the Phoenix Force. She remained loyal to him, and her trust in his vision is often overwhelming, both to her and the others. Meanwhile, we have the young recruits in the secret Xavier School; teenagers who are forced to adapt and evolve even if there are some moral conundrums that are beyond their grasp. The notable one of them had to be Eva Bell who has the ability to control time.
Eva is growing up and becoming more opinionated if not altogether reckless. She expressed great disapproval over Scott's decisions, and her role in the resolution of the conflict for this story had been the most harrowing and dangerous. The Steford sister Celeste argued passionately to get her to restrain herself from getting actively involved in a fight that she shouldn't take over, but Eva has made up her mind and went back in time to warn Charles Xavier about Malloy, and to ask for help in preventing a disaster to occur in the present timeline. Xavier was unmoved for a while, disappointed and angry that an X-Man just violated the laws of the universe just to meet with him, but Eva was able to convince him afterwards, and with his help she effectively erased a timeline that proved to be detrimental.
See, Scott, Emma, and Ilyana all died after trying to save Malloy and also when they found themselves smacked in the middle of a crossfire with S.H.I.E.L.D. Emma died when Malloy tried to defend himself from her attack and her sudden demise angered Storm and she was about to be the next victim when Eva and Xavier began changing things via time travel. By having Xavier help him erase Malloy's existence in a way where he was never even born, everything in the present timeline was fixed--except of course what was already broken already to begin with. That is, Scott still killed Professor X. We get to be taken back to the new reading of Xavier's will and testament where there was no mention of his marriage to Mystique, or Malloy. Instead, he bequeaths the school to Scott. Before Scott could ever accept, he gets to talk to Eva one last time and their conversation made him realize he is not suited to become a mentor and so signs over the deeds of the Jean Grey school to Storm and then asks her to take in his students from the Weapon X facility.
It was a shocking turn indeed that a new character like Eva showed teeth and took matters in her own hands and basically rewrote a timeline. And there are SOOO MANY QUESTIONS that hopefully will get answered in the next volume. First of all, Mystique not being married to Xavier before his death. I assume she wasn't anymore? Or perhaps Xavier just didn't mention it in his will? If they were never married, does that mean Dazzler doesn't have to go after Mystique anymore because Raven never went crazy with grief over Xavier's death and therefore she did not build Madripoor or kidnap Dazzler to impersonate her? What? This is a subplot I need to know for sure is still happening. ANYWAY! This volume had been such a heck of a ride. I could hardly keep up. I was reading this at work and all I could do is do this:
When deep, deep within, I was going cuckoo for cocoa puffs like this:
I feel like giving this a perfect rating but then again I do have some issues about it a little bit. Also, I think I'm just going to hold off on my perfect ratings for this series for now. I can't help but feel that Bendis still has some tricks up his sleeve.
RECOMMENDED: 9/10
DO READ MY REVIEWS AT:
May 22, 2015
I was really loving this volume. Then bam, time travel. Urgh. I've had about enough of time travel in Marvel comics lately. Aside from that, though, watching Cyclops actually make his move was riveting. Naturally, it doesn't go as he'd planned. I was also pleased to see a main X-Men book acknowledge that Xavier's ethics could be negotiable. And it's still fascinating to me that Cyclops is entirely beyond forgiveness because of something he did while possessed, but we should be kind to Scarlet Witch because she was under a lot of stress on M Day. And it's all starting to collide here. Not sure where Bendis is ultimately going with this, but I remain interested in finding out.
September 12, 2020
Bueno, pues como cambian las cosas con el paso del tiempo y una lectura continuada de los arcos. Y es que cuando hace años leí esta historia, no me llamó la atención, ni para bien ni para mal. Y ahora, me ha parecido de lo mejor que Bendis ha escrito para la factoría mutante.
Bendis sitúa este nuevo arco en el periodo temporal de Pecado Original, pero lo hace sin relacionar su trama con el asesinato del Vigilante ni la revelación de secretos que tiene como consecuencia, pero sí que habla de un pecado del pasado. Un pecado del pasado de Charles Xavier, claro, a través de la lectura de su testamento, y es que ya nos hemos acostumbrado a que Xavier tenga un pasado oscuro, y cada vez que se le recuerda es porque tiene algo oculto. Que no es demasiado original el planteamiento, ojo. Si los miembros de la Patrulla-X se reúnen pensando que van a tener que hacer frente a un problema de herencia en el que los miembros del equipo de Lobezno y Tormenta lo que temen es que el Profesor legara la escuela a Cíclope, todos se van a encontrar con que Xavier les escondía un nuevo secreto: la existencia de un mutante tremendamente poderoso y descontrolado al que Xavier había "escondido" durante años, manteniendo sus poderes ocultos... pero ahora, a la muerte del profesor, el poder de ese mutante ha despertado, amenazando todo y a todos los que le rodean.
Xavier encarga la resolución del conflicto a Cíclope, Lobezno, Tormenta y Rachel Grey, lo que cuando el Profesor escribió el testamento podía tener sentido, ahora crea un equipo peligroso y desestructurado para hacer frente a un problema que probablemente les supera con mucho y que ha atraído la atención de SHIELD. Y a través del conflicto, Bendis hace un gran trabajo definiendo a Scott Summers, que hace frente a todo y a todos en su defensa de la presencia del nuevo mutante, delatando la hipocresía de los argumentos de Xavier y tratando de convertir al chico en el eje de su revolución mutante. Solo que por supuesto, las cosas no son tan sencillas.
Y la verdad es que la historia engancha, y además no está dibujada del todo por Bachalo, sino que participa en ella de forma notable Chris Anka, así que estoy dispuesto a darle las cinco estrellas, con Bachalo y todo. Ojo, las cosas como son, la historia no tiene un planteamiento original, y la resolución tampoco lo es (viajes en el tiempo de nuevo...), pero hay algo... En fin, que me ha encantado. Así que... ¡Cinco estrellas!
Bendis sitúa este nuevo arco en el periodo temporal de Pecado Original, pero lo hace sin relacionar su trama con el asesinato del Vigilante ni la revelación de secretos que tiene como consecuencia, pero sí que habla de un pecado del pasado. Un pecado del pasado de Charles Xavier, claro, a través de la lectura de su testamento, y es que ya nos hemos acostumbrado a que Xavier tenga un pasado oscuro, y cada vez que se le recuerda es porque tiene algo oculto. Que no es demasiado original el planteamiento, ojo. Si los miembros de la Patrulla-X se reúnen pensando que van a tener que hacer frente a un problema de herencia en el que los miembros del equipo de Lobezno y Tormenta lo que temen es que el Profesor legara la escuela a Cíclope, todos se van a encontrar con que Xavier les escondía un nuevo secreto: la existencia de un mutante tremendamente poderoso y descontrolado al que Xavier había "escondido" durante años, manteniendo sus poderes ocultos... pero ahora, a la muerte del profesor, el poder de ese mutante ha despertado, amenazando todo y a todos los que le rodean.
Xavier encarga la resolución del conflicto a Cíclope, Lobezno, Tormenta y Rachel Grey, lo que cuando el Profesor escribió el testamento podía tener sentido, ahora crea un equipo peligroso y desestructurado para hacer frente a un problema que probablemente les supera con mucho y que ha atraído la atención de SHIELD. Y a través del conflicto, Bendis hace un gran trabajo definiendo a Scott Summers, que hace frente a todo y a todos en su defensa de la presencia del nuevo mutante, delatando la hipocresía de los argumentos de Xavier y tratando de convertir al chico en el eje de su revolución mutante. Solo que por supuesto, las cosas no son tan sencillas.
Y la verdad es que la historia engancha, y además no está dibujada del todo por Bachalo, sino que participa en ella de forma notable Chris Anka, así que estoy dispuesto a darle las cinco estrellas, con Bachalo y todo. Ojo, las cosas como son, la historia no tiene un planteamiento original, y la resolución tampoco lo es (viajes en el tiempo de nuevo...), pero hay algo... En fin, que me ha encantado. Así que... ¡Cinco estrellas!
July 28, 2015
This was a really good arc, and the two artists styles go nice together even though they're quite different. But the choice to use time travel to fix everything bothered be a bit. I'm guessing it's going to be something Bendis goes back to before he's done with X-men. And time travel (and even space travel) has been something that's been pretty important to his x-men (it's part of the premise for All-New, after all), so at least in that respect it doesn't seem completely pulled out of thin air. It's more a case of (and this may get a little spoilery) lets quickly get rid of all this great story that's just happened because we can't really have this happening (some people die for a bit).
But yeah, I think Uncanny was a bit more consistent than All-New. It also had less tie ins to events.
But yeah, I think Uncanny was a bit more consistent than All-New. It also had less tie ins to events.
March 21, 2016
La pesadilla se hizo realidad para María Hill pues el nuevo mutante es sencillamente demasiado poderoso para cualquier mutante o avenger. La situación se pone demasiado tensa y parece ser que sólo Cíclope y Magik pueden ser los indicados para detener el genocidio de este nuevo mutante.
Todo parece terminar en una gran tragedia para la tierra pero la joven Tempus un personaje importante desde el inicio de la saga tendrá el as bajo la manga para equilibrar la situación
Todo parece terminar en una gran tragedia para la tierra pero la joven Tempus un personaje importante desde el inicio de la saga tendrá el as bajo la manga para equilibrar la situación
July 5, 2016
Boy can Bendis start off on a downer note when he wants to:
And this:
And he'll hamstring himself just for funsies, because storytelling is nothing if not arbitrary obstacles and how our protagonists work around them:
But - and this is a big provisional but - once Bendis gets Scott and Matthew down to the bare fundamentals of figuring this Omega mutant out, it finally gets real. Like, Matthew is terrified and convinced he's beyond saving - and Scott is hopeful, assured and convinced Matthew is worth saving. It's fascinating to see someone approach a sure-death experience and deal with the problem in the only way possible.
Magneto comes in to collect the Understatement of the Year award:
As one of my fellow Shallow Readers said, when the time travel fuckery starts, that's when the story goes off the rails. It's fine to travel in time, I'm getting pretty used to that; it's less cool to do what Bendis pulled at the end of issue 30, where
Best I can say is that Bendis lands he story in a place where I'm OK, even if the journey was too fucking much. At least Scott gets a real wake-up call and might be accused of being slightly human after this.
And this:
And he'll hamstring himself just for funsies, because storytelling is nothing if not arbitrary obstacles and how our protagonists work around them:
But - and this is a big provisional but - once Bendis gets Scott and Matthew down to the bare fundamentals of figuring this Omega mutant out, it finally gets real. Like, Matthew is terrified and convinced he's beyond saving - and Scott is hopeful, assured and convinced Matthew is worth saving. It's fascinating to see someone approach a sure-death experience and deal with the problem in the only way possible.
Magneto comes in to collect the Understatement of the Year award:
As one of my fellow Shallow Readers said, when the time travel fuckery starts, that's when the story goes off the rails. It's fine to travel in time, I'm getting pretty used to that; it's less cool to do what Bendis pulled at the end of issue 30, where
Best I can say is that Bendis lands he story in a place where I'm OK, even if the journey was too fucking much. At least Scott gets a real wake-up call and might be accused of being slightly human after this.
November 25, 2015
This book totally had me, I was bought in completely! Loving it. Even with another time travel and a bringing forward into our time story, but what the heck!@$?! What is this huge hole in the plot!!! What do I mean? Xavier is brought forward in time and says "where is this Jean Grey School?" Next time we see him he is in the past making sure the omega mutant is not born and the next bit he is in the past again......so what the heck was all that come forward to the future? Did I miss something? Totally lame not needed and not clear..... Someone explain..... Please
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
August 14, 2017
I'm really done with Bendis's stupid time travel crap. There is no consistency with any of it. He's littered both sides of his X-Men run (All-New and Uncanny) with time travel nonsense, and it's gotten to a point where he's completely destroyed any semblance of rules or consequences for what time travel can and can't do. The Original X-Men can't time travel NOW, but they can if they come from the future to the present, which they did in the previous volume. Going back in time and altering things sometimes makes changes to the present, and sometimes it doesn't. Some things are set in stone no matter what, some things aren't. It's a complete mess, and this volume does nothing but make it messier.
The worst part is, this story doesn't even seem like it's going to be about time travel. It starts as a very tension-filled, gripping story about how the X-Men/SHIELD respond when the most powerful mutant of all time suddenly awakens with absolutely no idea how to control his power. It's a familiar story, but this time, Matthew, the new mutant, seems truly unstoppable. There's no reasoning with him, no dampening his power, no psychically shutting him down. He has what appears to be every one of the best powers, and a highly advanced version of them at that. He's basically a god gone mad. That's a great concept!
But then, time travel comes into play. It ends up being an unbelievably unsatisfying, lazy climax that made me hate the whole book. Don't start telling a story you can't finish without a deus ex machina! I really wanted this to be as great as it seemed like it would be, but it just really shits the bed at the end. I'm getting pretty tired of this whole run, to be honest, but I'm holding out hope it'll at least have a good finale.
The worst part is, this story doesn't even seem like it's going to be about time travel. It starts as a very tension-filled, gripping story about how the X-Men/SHIELD respond when the most powerful mutant of all time suddenly awakens with absolutely no idea how to control his power. It's a familiar story, but this time, Matthew, the new mutant, seems truly unstoppable. There's no reasoning with him, no dampening his power, no psychically shutting him down. He has what appears to be every one of the best powers, and a highly advanced version of them at that. He's basically a god gone mad. That's a great concept!
But then, time travel comes into play. It ends up being an unbelievably unsatisfying, lazy climax that made me hate the whole book. Don't start telling a story you can't finish without a deus ex machina! I really wanted this to be as great as it seemed like it would be, but it just really shits the bed at the end. I'm getting pretty tired of this whole run, to be honest, but I'm holding out hope it'll at least have a good finale.
February 12, 2016
Although I really, really, really hate time travel stories with respect to the X-Men, because it's so overused and redundant, it works here. There is a super powerful mutant that needs to be taken care of, because no one else can do it. Can't give away the whole plot, but Bendis weaves a strong tale that takes into account a lot of the history of the X-Men and their personalities as well.
Not sure if this title was being double shipped or not, but there are some shifts in artistic teams that don't hurt the overall tone of the book, but are disconcerting nonetheless.
The end of the book sets the stage for the next volume, where it looks like a lot of the plot lines from the past few years are going to be tied up. Should be a decent show.
Not sure if this title was being double shipped or not, but there are some shifts in artistic teams that don't hurt the overall tone of the book, but are disconcerting nonetheless.
The end of the book sets the stage for the next volume, where it looks like a lot of the plot lines from the past few years are going to be tied up. Should be a decent show.
February 20, 2025
This was undeniably underwhelming in terms of story but it’s a short story so not much you can do.
It was entertaining and I LOVEEEE seeing the X-men and just the marvel universe in general. Although, I think I might stay away from older comics bc they terrify me 😭
I love Charles Xavier but I honestly really, really liked Scott Summers, Magik, Ororo, Eva Bell, etc. Everyone has such fantastic characterization.
Idk if I had to read the first four but my library doesn’t have them so 😭 thank goodness it’s prob a short story/criminal minds episode type of thing… ಠ_ಠ
TO ME MY X-MEN
It was entertaining and I LOVEEEE seeing the X-men and just the marvel universe in general. Although, I think I might stay away from older comics bc they terrify me 😭
I love Charles Xavier but I honestly really, really liked Scott Summers, Magik, Ororo, Eva Bell, etc. Everyone has such fantastic characterization.
Idk if I had to read the first four but my library doesn’t have them so 😭 thank goodness it’s prob a short story/criminal minds episode type of thing… ಠ_ಠ
TO ME MY X-MEN
April 24, 2015
Of all the ongoing series that I read, this one is my favorite. There is not a dull issue and the art is different but easy to appreciate in its own way; it just fits with the story. When it comes to the characters, Bendis does such a great job mixing the new with the old and then again with the new-old.
Uncanny X-men is sure to be a good read and this volume lived up to my expectations.
Uncanny X-men is sure to be a good read and this volume lived up to my expectations.
November 5, 2015
Wow just wow...this was an unexpected great read. Xavier hid an omega class mutant and he awakens to a world in which Xavier is gone. Whirlwind of whatifs and action.
January 21, 2016
Matthew Malloy is a new omega mutant who can't control his powers. Uncanny X-men continues to be a solid story line that cant help but like. Cyclops is still dealing with the grief of Xavier and both x-men teams are suffering for it. Chris Bachalo usually does some great art but I wasnt super impressed this time around.
Summery with spoilers.
Matthew is killing lots of innocent people because he cant control his power at all. SHIELD gets involved and probably wished they didnt because they are doing more harm then good. Cyclops and the x-men are charged with taking care of Matthew because Xavier wrote it in his will, so both sides team up but fail and so does shield. Cyclops decides to try and help Matthew by enlisting on the team with the goal to show the humans they cant be trifled with. It back fires when Shield blows up Matthew, Cyclops, and Magik with missiles. Matthew isnt killed and starts killing more people and Emma Frost too. It starts to look pretty bleak until Tempus (Eva Bell) decides to warn Xavier by time travelling. It works because Xavier time travels with her and stops Matthews parents from meeting. Xavier warns Tempus that her time travel will have consequences. fast forward to the future and Tempus warns Cyclops that he has to get his shit together. Cyclops ends up handing over the school to Storm along with all his students.
Summery with spoilers.
Matthew is killing lots of innocent people because he cant control his power at all. SHIELD gets involved and probably wished they didnt because they are doing more harm then good. Cyclops and the x-men are charged with taking care of Matthew because Xavier wrote it in his will, so both sides team up but fail and so does shield. Cyclops decides to try and help Matthew by enlisting on the team with the goal to show the humans they cant be trifled with. It back fires when Shield blows up Matthew, Cyclops, and Magik with missiles. Matthew isnt killed and starts killing more people and Emma Frost too. It starts to look pretty bleak until Tempus (Eva Bell) decides to warn Xavier by time travelling. It works because Xavier time travels with her and stops Matthews parents from meeting. Xavier warns Tempus that her time travel will have consequences. fast forward to the future and Tempus warns Cyclops that he has to get his shit together. Cyclops ends up handing over the school to Storm along with all his students.
February 19, 2016
B.M. Bendis is a great writer. I have read many of his works and this is the first time I am reading his X-Men. In the Omega Mutant we have a story that in and of itself is probably not that great. No really. I don't like stories where the ending are solved not so much by the actions of the heroes, so much as it is by a deus ex machina (in this case- time travel). That being said, the story is saved by the writing. It's funny, dark and has quite a bit going for it. Bendis makes you care about characters you've never met (well I haven't at least). The dialogue is intelligent and engaging. Thus the story of a Omega-level mutant who can not control his powers and how the X-Men try to deal with it revolves around Bendis's phenomenal writing. More than that would be spoilers. This is a good X-Men story and a must read for any fan of the X-Men. The artwork isn't great- I prefer more detail in my art. Also the style of the storyboard layout can be confusing-shifting from a left to right multi-page to a single page without some measure of warning led me sometimes to read things before I should have, but that is just my pet peeve.
October 3, 2015
This one disappointed me. The X-Men faced their greatest threat ever: a new mutant with the uncontrolled power to destroy the world. However, the ending was a deus ex machina that I thought was a let down.
This series has been surprisingly interesting, and this storyline had a ton of potential, but that ending just didn't work for me. And also, we know have a power timetraveling mutant wandering around with the ability to change anything. The X-Men are the masters of dangling plot threads, so I hope this won't be another one.
Overall it was okay, the art was decent, and the story wasn't terrible. It just didn't seem to reach its potential.
This series has been surprisingly interesting, and this storyline had a ton of potential, but that ending just didn't work for me. And also, we know have a power timetraveling mutant wandering around with the ability to change anything. The X-Men are the masters of dangling plot threads, so I hope this won't be another one.
Overall it was okay, the art was decent, and the story wasn't terrible. It just didn't seem to reach its potential.
January 16, 2019
In which we discover that:
Charles Xavier has a will & Jennifer Walters is his lawyer.
Professor X had secrets of his own.
Sometimes there's no 'right' solution to a possible world-ending problem.
Charles Xavier has a will & Jennifer Walters is his lawyer.
Professor X had secrets of his own.
Sometimes there's no 'right' solution to a possible world-ending problem.
May 29, 2025
Overview: The second-to-last volume in the post-AvengersVsXmen storyline, this story picks up with the reading of the last will and testament of Charles Xavier. This brings together the X-men living at the Jean Grey School (at the X-mansion) as well as Scott Summers' X-men who are at the New Xavier School (secretly located in the former Weapon X facility), two groups who have been in conflict since the end of AvX. (For those who don't remember, you can read a brief overview of that below.
The will reveals that Xavier knew of a powerful mutant named Matthew Malloy who was a beyond omega-level mutant with reality-warping powers. Matthew was unable to control these powers and accidentally killed several people, including his parents. To prevent more destruction, Xavier put mental blocks on Matthew preventing him from remembering this or that he even had powers. Following Xavier's death, the blocks were breaking down, and Xavier left instructions for Scott, Wolverine, and Storm to find Matthew and try to replace the blocks.
Review: Honestly, this feels just like one big long episode of "Cyclops was Right," although I'm sure that the writers (all of whom had been intent on framing Scott as a villain since AvX) did not intend for that to happen. He comes across in this story as the only one acting reasonably and compassionately towards Matthew. When SHIELD wants to attack him, he proposes just trying to talk with Matthew, but is shot down by both SHIELD and the X-men. Then, when Rachel tries to replace the mental blocks, the whole group is attacked. Scott then tries talking with him and... is successful. In fact, he would probably have been completely successful in talking Matthew down if SHIELD didn't keep interrupting.
I find it really hard to discern if the writers are trying to frame the other X-men as irrational and Scott as an underdog, or if they genuinely believe giving Matthew a chance is a bad move. As Scott talks with him, it's obvious he is volatile, and yet Scott persists and is 100% transparent with him. Even when Matthew points out that having him (Matthew) on Scott's side is advantageous for Scott, Scott agrees but also affirms that he also wants Matthew to have a normal life.
The resolution of the Matthew issue is rather unsatisfactory, since only one person really knows what happened, and once again, that person has a negative view of Scott and so makes everything seem like his fault. Then, Scott's reaction to the final reading of the will also seems strange, especially after everything he's gone through. So, while most of this book is a glory to read for a Cyclops-Was-Right supporter, it still ends with him being framed, once again, as the loser.
Art was fine, though, and consistent as it has been through most of this run. I have no problem with it and quite enjoyed it! I would recommend this as a read, for sure, as long as long as you are familiar with the consequences of AvX.
Issue-by-Issue
SEE what I mean??? What did Scott do wrong, exactly? Eva doesn't know what she is talking about!!
Explanation of Avengers vs Xmen (AvX) for those who need it: )
The will reveals that Xavier knew of a powerful mutant named Matthew Malloy who was a beyond omega-level mutant with reality-warping powers. Matthew was unable to control these powers and accidentally killed several people, including his parents. To prevent more destruction, Xavier put mental blocks on Matthew preventing him from remembering this or that he even had powers. Following Xavier's death, the blocks were breaking down, and Xavier left instructions for Scott, Wolverine, and Storm to find Matthew and try to replace the blocks.
Review: Honestly, this feels just like one big long episode of "Cyclops was Right," although I'm sure that the writers (all of whom had been intent on framing Scott as a villain since AvX) did not intend for that to happen. He comes across in this story as the only one acting reasonably and compassionately towards Matthew. When SHIELD wants to attack him, he proposes just trying to talk with Matthew, but is shot down by both SHIELD and the X-men. Then, when Rachel tries to replace the mental blocks, the whole group is attacked. Scott then tries talking with him and... is successful. In fact, he would probably have been completely successful in talking Matthew down if SHIELD didn't keep interrupting.
I find it really hard to discern if the writers are trying to frame the other X-men as irrational and Scott as an underdog, or if they genuinely believe giving Matthew a chance is a bad move. As Scott talks with him, it's obvious he is volatile, and yet Scott persists and is 100% transparent with him. Even when Matthew points out that having him (Matthew) on Scott's side is advantageous for Scott, Scott agrees but also affirms that he also wants Matthew to have a normal life.
The resolution of the Matthew issue is rather unsatisfactory, since only one person really knows what happened, and once again, that person has a negative view of Scott and so makes everything seem like his fault. Then, Scott's reaction to the final reading of the will also seems strange, especially after everything he's gone through. So, while most of this book is a glory to read for a Cyclops-Was-Right supporter, it still ends with him being framed, once again, as the loser.
Art was fine, though, and consistent as it has been through most of this run. I have no problem with it and quite enjoyed it! I would recommend this as a read, for sure, as long as long as you are familiar with the consequences of AvX.
Issue-by-Issue
SEE what I mean??? What did Scott do wrong, exactly? Eva doesn't know what she is talking about!!
Explanation of Avengers vs Xmen (AvX) for those who need it: )
January 12, 2017
This book was pretty damned good. A storyline that gets set up in the previous volume comes to fruition here, as a previously-unknown super-mutant suddenly explodes into being, and Charles Xavier conveniently has recorded a video prior to his untimely death in order to explain this mutant's existence.
The premise is stupid and lazy and convenient, but Bendis does a couple of interesting things with it -- 1), Cyclops' 15-year-long freefall into megalomania (hinted at during Grant Morrison's run and building, very slowly, ever since), finally reaches a whole new level of unavoidability, and 2) the whole let's-zip-around-in-time-to-solve-plot-holes problem that's plagued Bendis' All-New run is finally addressed in a meaningful way. Nothing that Bendis does here totally fixes the major problems of his two X-Men runs, but he does offer a thematically and narratively satisfying commentary on the ways in which we try to escape our pasts, which is really what every run since Morrison has been trying to say, but perhaps with less focus than Bendis finally pulls off here.
One star off for the back copy, which falsely labels this book as an AXIS crossover. You sit on a throne of lies!
The premise is stupid and lazy and convenient, but Bendis does a couple of interesting things with it -- 1), Cyclops' 15-year-long freefall into megalomania (hinted at during Grant Morrison's run and building, very slowly, ever since), finally reaches a whole new level of unavoidability, and 2) the whole let's-zip-around-in-time-to-solve-plot-holes problem that's plagued Bendis' All-New run is finally addressed in a meaningful way. Nothing that Bendis does here totally fixes the major problems of his two X-Men runs, but he does offer a thematically and narratively satisfying commentary on the ways in which we try to escape our pasts, which is really what every run since Morrison has been trying to say, but perhaps with less focus than Bendis finally pulls off here.
One star off for the back copy, which falsely labels this book as an AXIS crossover. You sit on a throne of lies!
December 6, 2016
I feel a bit iffy giving this one a five star rating, but at the end of the day, it deserves it. Yes, reversing events in history mess things up and ruins the value of a good story. Yes, it's all played out and is probably accentuated at the time of publication because of the Days of Future Past film. Yes, nobody everrrr seems to stay dead. BUT if we view the story as a life lesson, a dreamstate perhaps for Scott Summers, we learn a lot about his mentality. He's a total dick, and he's full of old school Magneto egotism and supremacy, but he's more a broken man, guilty of murder and afraid of his own future. His death symbolizes his vision of the world -- he's not okay. And we all have issues. Many times we are playing the act, and sometimes we act so well we fool ourselves. It takes a little world destruction and story twisting to kick us into gear.
September 24, 2015
I never thought I would be giving a Cyclops title 5 stars, but damn! Two words: Eva Bell. Her story throughout this series has blown me away. I love her and I really hope she gets brought into the main storyline and not dismissed to the place where newly-created mutants are banished. I see several reviews calling the ending a deus ex machina, but Eva's time travel abilities have been set up throughout the story and even with them, it's not an easy fix. There is tons of emotional turmoil and now Eva will be forced to carry the memories of everything that happened alone. Heavy stuff. I would love to see more stories like this.
"And congratulations Miss Bell... you are either the greatest or worst mutant in the history of mutants."
"Right back at you, Professor."
"And congratulations Miss Bell... you are either the greatest or worst mutant in the history of mutants."
"Right back at you, Professor."
May 27, 2016
El volúmen sigue la historia de los mutantes luego de "Original Sin", en donde Charles Xavier en su testamento les informa a sus estudiantes que ha estado escondiendo a un mutante nivel Omega con un poder como el de un dios.
Cyclops intentará reclutarlo para su revolución mutante, mientras que los X-Men no saben que hacer con él. S.H.I.E.L.D. tampoco sabe como manejar el asunto y todo se sale de control.
Me molesta que los escritores de los X-Men no puedan hacer una historia que no involucre viajes en el tiempo. Ahora no hay historias de los mutantes que no tengan que ver con esto, es que ya no saben que hacer?!
Solo por esa razón no le di las 5 estrellas.
Cyclops intentará reclutarlo para su revolución mutante, mientras que los X-Men no saben que hacer con él. S.H.I.E.L.D. tampoco sabe como manejar el asunto y todo se sale de control.
Me molesta que los escritores de los X-Men no puedan hacer una historia que no involucre viajes en el tiempo. Ahora no hay historias de los mutantes que no tengan que ver con esto, es que ya no saben que hacer?!
Solo por esa razón no le di las 5 estrellas.
December 3, 2015
Public library copy.
My favorite writer continues to unimpress me. Either the desire to keep continuity intact or he's stretched too thin by writing too many titles. Anyway, thank God the Xavier Last Will & Testament is over and done. Bendis had a remarkable Ultimate X-men run, but both of his mutant books have me leaving these titles toward the bottom of the to-be-read pile.
My favorite writer continues to unimpress me. Either the desire to keep continuity intact or he's stretched too thin by writing too many titles. Anyway, thank God the Xavier Last Will & Testament is over and done. Bendis had a remarkable Ultimate X-men run, but both of his mutant books have me leaving these titles toward the bottom of the to-be-read pile.
March 22, 2015
I kind of want to give this 5 stars just based on Chris Bachalo's art. So good!
The story? It's got the very definition of a "deus ex machina" ending and feels about an issue or two too long, unfortunately.
The story? It's got the very definition of a "deus ex machina" ending and feels about an issue or two too long, unfortunately.
November 25, 2015
Wow. Just... wow. This volume of Uncanny was amazing and the final chapter left me with both a tear in my eye and the desperate need to find out what happens next.
Well done, Mr. Bendis; you knocked me flat with this one.
Well done, Mr. Bendis; you knocked me flat with this one.
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