Brandon Borzelli's Geek Goggle Reviews

X-Men: Schism #5 of 5
Marvel Comics
Aaron, Kubert, Roslan & Keith

The latest big X-Men event wraps up with a fairly straightforward ending. What's interesting about this issue is just that though. We all knew the ending prior to reading this comic book, so Aaron's trick was to make it interesting in its execution and also believable. On the one hand the book definitely was entertaining but was it all believable (taken in context with super powers and kid super villains of course) in terms of creating a distinct division among the X-Men at the end? I don't think so. The exposed rift is there and has been there for a while but why would this particular event throw Wolverine and Cyclops into separate corners? I wasn't sold on this issue.

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Brandon Borzelli's Geek Goggle Reviews

X-Men Legacy #251
Marvel Comics
Carey, Pham, Palmer, Yeung & Gracia

Part Two of the arc entitled, "Lost Legions" is a fast moving and interesting story. The team of Xavier, Magneto, Frenzy, Rogue, Gambit and Legion continue to round up the lost personalities that escaped from Legion. The issue is creative in both how the team deals with the personalities as well as which characters manage to succeed where the others fail. It's a good team book that also contains a good level of drama amongst the characters as Carey continues to push relationships forward in this title. Overall, I enjoyed the issue.

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Brandon Borzelli's Geek Goggle Reviews

X-Men Legacy #245/New Mutants #22
Marvel Comics
Carey, Mann, Leisten & Reber/Carey, Kurth, Martinez & Reber

With the first two chapters of the Age of X story shipping this week it seems reasonable to review them together as a double feature, especially since they are both written by Mike Carey. The Age of X storyline brings a lot of action in the opening pages but then returns to the character centric story that Carey normally sticks to it. As is the case with X-Men Legacy title, the focus stays with Rogue. The Age of X holds most of the characters to their usual Marvel Universe versions with a few twists. As promised, Carey isn't revealing how this else-world story was kicked off but there are a couple of obvious clues that pop up. Overall these two issues were a good start to the storyline.

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Brandon Borzelli's Geek Goggle Reviews

Age of X: Alpha #1
Marvel Comics
Carey, Pierfederici, Hernandez Walta, Barberi, Wong, Fabela, Diaz, Milla, Davidson & Reber

Mike Carey's opening chapter to his very own event titled, "Age of X" is actually a series of character studies that illustrate how some of the key players end up on the front lines of the mutant war. As Carey explains in his letter in the back, this issue serves not as an origin, but as an overture. He gives you some of the themes and sets the tone while giving a few different characters' perspective as they head into what is the final battle with the humans for their existence. It's a good issue but is it enough to get people interested for another eight issues?

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Brandon Borzelli's Geek Goggle Reviews

X-Men Legacy #240
Marvel Comics
Carey, Mann, Leisten & Reber

The penultimate chapter of the Children of the Vault arc (for lack of a better name) hits its stride quite nicely to accelerate things for the finale. The issue sparkles in a couple of key areas that help elevate the issue. It's not a perfect issue by any means but it does provide an enjoyable and solid read.

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Brandon Borzelli's Geek Goggle Reviews

X-Men Legacy #237
Marvel Comics
Carey & Land

Chapter Twelve of the Second Coming crossover concludes one of the major plot lines in this issue. Well, at least, it appears to be resolved. This issue provides a ton of action and a nice, concise story. While the artwork gives a lot in the way of action it feels more like a series of pinups at times instead of an even flowing visual story. On the whole this is a good comic book where the writer plays to the strengths of the characters he typically works with.

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Brandon Borzelli's Geek Goggle Reviews

Uncanny X-Men #525
Marvel Comics
Fraction & Dodson

Second Coming rolls on with Chapter Ten this week. The issue doesn't really move along any plot as it focuses on moving pieces into place for the big finish. If this sounds familiar it should because it seems like the previous issue did the exact same thing. One of the main criticisms I have with events or crossovers such as this one or Blackest Night is that it seems the length is predetermined and the creative team simply stretches the story to fit the issue length. It is clear there wasn't enough story for fourteen chapters. This issue is basically filler and yet it was strangely one of the better issues of the crossover.

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Brandon Borzelli's Geek Goggle Reviews

Second Coming Revelations: Blind Science #1
Marvel Comics
Spurrier, Davidson, Portela & Sotomayor

This tie-in for the Second Coming crossover deals primarily with the group known as the X-Club. This issue sits prior to Chapter Eight, which shipped last week. While it's not essential and is presented by a creative team not working on any other aspect of the crossover I found the story to be compelling and very entertaining. Not only did it play well into the science realm of the X-Men but it actually managed to give some twists and action for a story that is largely about scientists rather than the brawlers, like Wolverine.

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