Comic & Manga Reviews
While X-Force was not my favorite of the six original From the Ashes series, I don’t think it deserved to get canceled. I was enjoying learning about different characters, and X-Force Vol. 2 really reminded me of that fact. The creative team did a great job of rushing to give us the finale we deserved, and I’m sad we missed out on any of it. Especially if it had more Sage content.
I’ll admit, I was a bit on the fence about X-Force when I first started reading it. Mostly, I was keeping up with it because I was desperately trying (and somewhat failing) to keep up with all the comics in From the Ashes.
Man, I thought the first volume was chaotic (and admittedly fun). X-Factor Vol. 2 leans even heavier into the commentary, satire, and yes, chaos. It’s a mixed bag, as there are some elements that I really enjoyed.
The fall of Krakoa shook everyone, readers and characters alike. At least, that’s how it felt to this reader. So, naturally, I tried to make a point of checking out all the new From the Ashes series, including X-Factor.
Where the last volume introduced new characters and brought a different team together, Uncanny X-Men Vol. 2 took everything a step further. We still have our favorites on the team (have I mentioned how much I love having a Rogue-led team?), but things are morphing and changing.
Okay, there are a few key phrases you can waggle in my face that will get me to read an X-Men series. “Rogue-led” is one of them, and “Written by Gail Simone” is another. So, I knew I was going to check out Uncanny X-Men the moment it was announced.
Six new series popped up at the beginning of From the Ashes (and many others followed), including Exceptional X-Men. This team offered a slightly different take on the mutant team thing, focusing on the newest generation, with unwilling teachers at the helm.
It’s a new era for the X-Men, and only time will tell if that’s for the best. That said, I’m happy to see that Scott is in charge of at least one of the X-Men teams. His team feels a little like coming back home for the X-Men. There are new twists, obviously, but there always will be.
Of course, Jean Grey is getting a solo series during Marvel’s From the Ashes. It would be strange if she didn’t, right? Phoenix Vol. 1 really lets Jean/Phoenix off the leash, sending her off into the larger universe, and boy, are the stakes high.
At this point, I think I’m fully caught up in what I had read from the Krakoan era (yeah, I hadn’t gotten far before I got distracted, and I hate that). I’m happy to be making new progress with this story and am eagerly awaiting a few anticipated reveals and twists.
Quirky Cats Comics 