‘Uncanny X-Men: First Class’ #2 Review: Inhuman Judgment

Hey, everyone, jrpbsp here…Here is my third and final review for the week, ‘Uncanny X-Men: First Class’. Hope you enjoy it.

Uncanny X-Men: First Class #2 cover Uncanny X-Men: First Class  #2 (preview)
Writer: Scott Gray
Artist: Roger Cruz

SPOILERS BELOW…

RECAP: The issue begins with Colossus rushing to aid his fallen friend, Nightcrawler. Although he had been struck down, Kurt was merely knocked out. Gorgon wants to kill him out of hand but Blackbolt decrees that there must be a trial.

Triton agrees to help Piotr. They try Lockjaw first but the inhuman canine was asleep and could not be awoken.  So they call the X-Men for assistance. Cyclops, Storm and Banshee set out in the Blackbird but are soon joined by Jean in flight.

There is a brief interlude with some scientists studying the sun for new solar flares and seeing what appears to be humanoid figures emerging from it.

Nightcrawler’s trial begins and all Kurt wants is a chance to speak his peace.  He talks about their forcing their children to change and makes a moving speech which enrages Gorgon and many of the Inhumans.

The X-Men arrive to help defend him but the fury of the mob overwhelms Jean’s senses and she pulls Kurt away. Gorgon immediately attacks and a battle breaks out between the mutants and the Royal Family. Colossus and Gorgon’s fight becomes so heated that the Inhuman strikes the ground hard enough to shatter the mountains around the city causing a massive avalanche.

Jean is able to block the rocks but knows she will not be able to hold it for long. Cyclops suggests turning the shield into a funnel and Blackbolt uses his voice to pulverize the stones. He then pardons Kurt as an outsider who is not bound by the laws of the Inhumans. The two groups part as allies if not exactly friends.

On the way back Jean and Scott have a fight over her actions that started the conflict. In the end we see Wolverine has finally landed from Gorgon’s kick. He crashes into a farm in Georgia near Russia.

MY TAKE: This was a decent if simplistic issue. Most of the comic focused on Nightcrawler and Colossus which is an interesting dynamic but ultimately not the best pairing to me personally. It also did not seem to know exactly what message it wanted to convey. Complete acceptance of yourself or acceptance by society and the people around you. Kurt seems to want both but cannot accept the customs or practices of those that welcomed him without reservation. Kurt’s speech was especially heavy handed. Calling children perfect from birth when he has hated and hid his face most of his life was extremely contradictory.

Of course, all of this is mostly an excuse to drum up tension between the teams and lead to a fight scene and that is done well. I liked how Cyclops was questioning his training and command during the battle and most of the match ups were done well.  It was also fitting that in the end, the X-Men had to save the city after it was endangered by one of their own.

Beyond that, the story is straightforward and basic. It is something we have seen plenty of times before but it is strong enough to make for an entertaining read. The characters are starting to come into their own and be more recognizable. Wolverine is still being played for humor which I dislike, it is not a role that he is well suited for. But the rest are being done well and I appreciated Jean’s trouble with her power and Scott’s displays of leadership.

I am not a huge fan of the art although it is pretty effective at grabbing attention. It is overdone, especially the faces to the point where they often do not look human. Everything is exaggerated including having the colors being extremely vibrant almost to the point of distraction.

In the end it was a straightforward but not badly written comic. It was decently scripted but not very orginal or unique. It still feels like the writer is getting a handle on the story and the characters. But it still comes across pretty well and manages to have its own voice and direction. Only time will tell if the series manages to correct its flaws and becomes a truly worthy successor to the First Class brand.

Thanks for reading my review for Wolverine Files. I will be keeping to this format for the most part but please keep the comments coming and I will see everyone again next time.

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