Storyline: Divided We Stand part 1 (of 2)
Date: April 16, 2008
Price: $3.99 US
Writer: Mike Carey, Matt Fraction, Craig Kyle, Christopher Yost and Skottie Young
Artist: Brandon Peterson, Jamie Mckelvie, Sana Takeda and Skottie Young

Synopsis: In the wake of Messiah CompleX, there are no X-Men. But where does that leave the mutants that WERE X-Men? Some of the industry’s hottest creators bring you stories of your favorite mutants. Mike Carey (X-MEN, ULTIMATE FF) and Brandon Peterson (ULTIMATE EXTINCTION) bring you a tale of Cannonball and Husk. Matt Fraction (PUNISHER: WAR JOURNAL, IRON FIST) and Jamie McKelvie (Suburban Glamour, Phonogram) tell a story about Nightcrawler. Craig Kyle & Christ Yost (X-FORCE) and Sana Takeda (Drain) take you to Wakanda for a tale of Storm, Black Panther and Neznho. And Skottie Young (NEW X-MEN) writes and draws a story about your favorite New X-Man Anole.

Opinion: Unfortunately, I have not been keeping up at all with a vast majority of the fresh faces that have been showing up in the X-Men books. All of the young mutants who have been having their own little dramas while attending Xavier’s School have held no interest from me, and this book was an excellent introduction to them and a very unique perspective on the current state of the X-Men. I really thoroughly enjoyed this book, as it helped to introduce me to some of the characters I was ignorant of and it gave a frame of reference for the ripple effect of Cyclops and Emma Frost’s reign over the X-men.

Read my full review after the jump.

The book is split up into several smaller stories. Each is poignant in its own right, and serves as an angular introspection into the perspectives of these characters while conveying the true weight of the decision to disband the X-Men. Cyclops’ actions have onsequences, and we see the seed of evil taking shape among those consequences. One of the absolute best scenes in this issue is the cameo of Magneto, and the truth of what he says to one of the younger X-Men really hits home as spot-on for him as a character.

It was almost nostalgic.

Now, polarized to Magneto being true to form, the story at the very end features Nightcrawler, and is a bit off the track. Kurt Wagner is portrayed as much more violent and aggressive than he has ever been portrayed (in my memory, anyway). It is quite curious if this is a new Nightcrawler that has been shaped by recent events, or simply character mistreatment by Matt Fraction. I am excited to find out!

In conclusion, the events happening to the X-Men as a team and individuals is the most exciting it’s been for me since the debut of the X-Men title, and I think Marvel is approaching this as the ‘things get worse’ portion right before we see some stability (maybe after the Skrull event?).

I seriously recommend picking up Messiah CompleX and getting into the X-Men titles right now, this is not to be missed and it appears to be a redefinition of these characters as a whole. No matter how the dice falls, it’s going to be one helluva ride.

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