X-Men: Legacy #211 – Review

Mike Carey (Writer), Scot Eaton (Present Day Penciler), Jon Dell, Andrew Hennessy, Dave Meikis (Present Day Inkers), Frank D’Armata (Present Day Colorist), Brandon Peterson (Flashback Art), and John Rauch (Flashback Colors)

As some of you readers may know by now, I have been really enjoying the X-Men: Legacy storyline and, in a lot of ways, consider it to be one of the strongest books to spin out of the Divided We Stand lineup. The story of Professor Xavier’s shattered mind has been an excellent combination of strong writing, storytelling, and artwork. This retooled series continues to impress (while confusing a bit) as it kicks off it’s second arc.

This issue follows a structure similar to the previous issues with jumps between the present, the Mindscape, and the past. Xavier tries to piece together bits and pieces of his past, sometimes using other methods in the process. Also, we find Xavier is being hunted by some group, which creates an intriguing dynamic for future issues to work with. Sebastian Shaw gets some time in the spotlight as we learn a bit more about the mysterious machine that started a reaction in the previous issue. One thing that’s been consistent with this series is how well Mike Carey has paced it. The story never lingers – it’s always on the move and I find that to be very satisfying.

As has been the case since Xavier took front and center in this X-Men book, Carey does a great job moving things along while still keeping the reader in the dark about the various forces working against or around Xavier. While I do wish we were given a little more information regarding some characters that show up, as well as some what’s being referenced in flashback and Mindscape sequences (Wikipedia came in handy), I find myself drawn into this story regardless of the information gaps. The whole book has an almost noir-like feel to it and Carey makes the reader want to piece together the puzzle as bad as Xavier does.

The story is greatly complimented by the artwork, which absolutely nails the tone of Xavier’s desperate search for information. The various Mindscape sequences are sufficiently surreal, thanks to a mix of the bizarre and the mysterious moods conveyed by the coloring and art teams. The shadowy, moody artwork of the present day sequences create a feeling that serves to remind the reader that this is a tale far removed from the usual superhero fair. Both teams deserve praise for the work here, as this is a visually impressive book.

This is a worthy book all around and I definitely look forward to what Carey has up his sleeve for future installments. While I wish some things were explained a little better, I never once felt completely lost, which says a lot about the way the story is presented. I have a feeling someone with a deep knowledge of Xavier’s history will find even more to like with this story than I did. Check this series out if you are looking for a different type of X-Men story. (Grade: B)

– Kyle Posluszny