Issue #1Okay, got to start off with this ... I will not be grading this issue. The reason, for those that do not know, is that it wouldn't be fair to either the artist or writer at this point, as they were kind of thrown together late in this titles process. All we will see, panel wise, from artist Joe Mad, is what the original writer, Fraction, wanted him to draw. These images are all based on a script that Fraction had put forth. Joe Mad drew what Fraction wanted.
Later, after both Fraction and Marvel decided to go separate ways on this title, it was decided to bring in writer Charles Soule to take over writing duties on this title. This delayed the book by two months to allow Soule time to write a script around the images that Joe Mad had drawn ... again, off another script. Knowing that Joe Mad is not, by any means, that fastest of pencilers, Marvel didn't want him starting all over from scratch and just had Soule deal out dialog and plot the best he could, using the panels that were already there.
I think we will not see a true Charles Soule issue of this title until issue #4 or #5, so with that in mind, I can't really judge the first few issues of this title as I would a regular book. I am not trying to be a "Soule apologists", but ... well ... I guess I am.
I guess I am because this book, well, was not the best. It wasn't horrible, but it was not great either.
I did like the twist of
I also enjoyed the "villain" (or who will be setup as one) and his intentions/desire that will make him just that. At least for awhile. But I am not sold on the "hero" as of yet.
Marvel is doing its best to make this a "must buy", because they want this title, these characters, to be their movie X-men (as they can't use Mutants), but I think they may be going a little overboard with the push right now. This is not the book you want to push. Not yet. It is just not that great. I think it can be, but ... no ... not right now, stop over-selling this for now, Marvel. Wait until it gets better.
Well, hopefully better.