CBR Review: All-New X-Men #2

[CBR News]

The original five "young" X-Men have been jaunted by a dying Beast to the present in a last ditch attempt to change recent horrifying events in this stellar second issue of "All-New X-Men" by Brian Michael Bendis and Stuart Immonen.


Full article here.

[BigT]

Great series and I recommend everyone to give it a try before bashing it just cause of Bendis.

[Graymask]

I wasn't impressed with the first issue of this title, but thought I'd give the second a try. Sadly, I remain unimpressed. Although the art is nice, I find the characterizations 'off' and the pacing of this story too uneven. I get what Mr. Bendis is trying to do here, and I think he has a genuine affection for the characters, but the execution is lacking. Still, I'll give this book one more issue before deciding to write it off. :/

[havok1977]

There are some minor things that don't work so well -- like how easily young Jean seems to accept and even joke about the fact that she's dead in the future. The method by which the "little X-Men" learn what Cyclops has been up to is a little lacking in the punch it needs. However, these are small complaints; on the whole the issue is beautiful and funny, heartfelt and intriguing.

I just can't wrap my mind about these two issues being relegated as minor complaints. Perhaps the rest of the review is spot on, but I will never know since I plan to avoid this book like the black plague.

[Sanji]

What should Jean do? Cry?

[webhead921]

I'm really loving this book a lot more than I thought I would. Maybe it's also because I love Immonen's art. I just can't wait until the next issue comes out

[Kaiolino]

How does them learning about Cyclops lack a punch? It was the most overly dramatic panel in the entire book.

[havok1977]

What should Jean do? Cry?

Well I'd say it at least warrants anger.

[Sanji]

Well I'd say it at least warrants anger.

She's not in the timeline where she dies anymore, why get upset? As long as they stay in the present she's fine.

[s_stabeler]

As for Jean joking about her deaths, pleas note that no-one in-universe expects her death to be permanent ( She Will Rise Again on her gravestone, remember?) so it probably IS more amusing to her. ( either that, or the joke is about the plural deaths, I haven't read the issue yet.)

[nosocialize100]

I'm enjoying this book a lot more than I thought, (review here) but I was much less impressed with issue #2. I think it might be because the ambiguous hero isn't there (old cyclops) and also the unbalanced nature of the dialogue this issue. Still...I'm very surprised I like this series at all.

[sweetdumbass]

Why should Jean act shocked that she is going to die in the future ? It's not like she was immortal or anything. I wouldn't expect a very long and peaceful life if I was a teenage super-hero fighting for a world that hates and fears me.

[5cents]

I enjoyed this issue. I think there is still time for more emotional beats.

[Joecooler2u]

She's not in the timeline where she dies anymore, why get upset? As long as they stay in the present she's fine.

Exactly. Just the act of them coming to the present changes everything to me. How could it not? Little things could have a rippling effect so imagine the big things like Jean knowing her future or Cyclops knowing his? How about Angel eventually finding out about Archangel? Things should change drastically not to mention what effect the 05 X-Men NOT being in the past might change things (could make things even worse if they aren't there to stop Magneto or eventually other threats like those faced during Claremont's run). Frankly it should change the entire Marvel Universe. Even if they were returned to the exact moment they were taken the knowledge they have gained already in two issues should be mind-boggling enough to prevent some of the disasters (and deaths) they faced over the years. How could they not prevent Professor X's death now? (Not that Marvel will do that being as anti-Professor X they all are right now). Unless you go the route that they don't return to the past which still changes everything. If they are returned to the past and all their memories destroyed what would be the purpose of coming to the present other than changing current day Cyclops? I think in the end either way we should get a conflicted Cyclops between his past and present self, a return of Jean Grey in the present day as her death should be prevented now, an undoing or at least return of Warren Worthington instead of the current blank-slate Angel. At the very least they can undo all the harm done to the 05 X-Men over the years., especially the last 20-something years. Just my opinions here, no spoilers. Great issue by the way. All those refusing to read it due to their crazy hatred of Bendis are missing out. I really don't see how anyone is out of character here. I've read the X-Men longer than most people I know and feel Bendis has them down to a T. He has the classic versions of these characters, present and past-tense down-pat.

As for Jean's reaction I think most of these characters are still in a state of shock as anybody would be seeing their own futures displayed before them often bad futures for all involved except maybe Iceman (though those weird shapes he now turns into is a complete nightmare why would anyone do that to themselves willingly? Then again people cover their whole bodies in tattoos these days so who am I to question?) spoilers:

Also Jean gets her telepathy here earlier than she does in our regular 616 history so she has tons to deal with other than the fact that her present day (old-self to her teenge version as teens look at people in their 20's or 30's as old) is dead she just got a mind-boggling new power (to her). Telepathy should be a complete mind-fuck so getting it out of the blue while finding out you're dead in the future could be a complete shock to her system, not to mention the fact that they are here in the first place should change things.

end of spoilers

[Sanji]

Marvel is not anti-Professor X. They've been trying everything to make him look like a saint recently. Thankfully today Legacy reminded us why he's a shitbag.