The Age of X continues through X-Men
Legacy and New Mutants. I find it a bit dis-hearting that Marvel’s
marketing has moved on to its next X-men event already which will fall back to
the 90’s blue team, gold team only this time the fate of the mutant race is at
hand! Regardless, I think that they are missing out on Age of X and the
potential that it has. This could have been a great chance to undo everything
that Grant Morrison unleashed on the X-Men and also House of M. Since those
two events the X-Men haven’t been very interesting with the exception of Joss
Whedon’s run on Astonishing. Then along comes Mike Carey who practically gives
Marvel a do-over. No more Hope the last child, messiah, has all the answers
muckity muck. No more Cyclops thinking he knows what’s best for the entire
mutant race, because he doesn’t!
In Age of X we see Legacy aka Rogue on
the run from the rest of the mutants in Fortress X for treason. Magneto may
lead the mutants, but the mysterious X
is always watching them and monitoring them from afar. Legacy has discovered
that the world they know may not be real after all and because of this Magneto
and X have unleashed the dogs of war upon her. Fortunately for her the
de-powered Logan is still willing to help her out. He’s basically a human know
after absorbing a cure for mutants that was to be unleashed on the world and
“cure” mutants against their will.
Legacy continues to out-smart and outrun her would be
captures until she runs into Gambit. It just seems that these two star-crossed
lovers always find a way to each other no matter what. He agrees to help her
just before Magneto brings a building down on top of their heads. In actuality
this traps them below Fortress X while Magneto finds out more about what’s
happening. From there, Magneto also turns traitor as he wants to figure out
what’s going on himself. He was actually the one that sent Shadowcat out past
the barriers with the camera and now he’s tearing apart Fortress X while Legacy
and Gambit head to the center of the building. There Rogue discovers a box that
contains the universe. As she drops the box everything in the fortress shakes.
My money is on Legion who’s returned in this book and was
previously responsible for the Age of Apocalypse. He’s had a lot of
admiration from the other mutants and the appearance of his dead mother is
troubling, but I don’t think he’s working alone. The mystery continues in the
next chapter of Age of X and frankly I’m looking forward to it. I really think
that Marvel missed an opportunity to completely change the X-Men and give them
a much needed restart. This could have been the next One More Day but for the
X-Men.
Think about it, the leadership roles would be completely
changed with Magneto in charge and all of the mutants actually working
together. They would have had to adjust to a world that doesn’t want them dead
(at least not the entire world) and would have had to change their ways of
doing things. Murder couldn’t be the first answer! I really think that if
Marvel had the balls to do it they could have had a huge shake up in their
world that would have opened the door to so many stories and possibilities; and
the best part is that they could have snuck it in under everyone’s nose.
In general these two issues were still really good and I’m
glad more of the mystery has been revealed. Thankfully there are only two more
chapters so that the story isn’t dragged out needlessly. Writer Mike Carey is
doing a great job with the book and really is the only writer on an X-title
that I believe understands the world and the character, but also what the fan
base wants to read and see. He has a great art team of Clay Mann and Steve
Kurth is both at the top of their game. These two artists are the type of
pencillers you want to see on an X-title.