GeNext #2 – Review

Christ Claremont, Patrick Scherberger (Writers), Norman Lee (Inker), and Chris Sotomayer (Colorist)

Where to begin with this one…

For the most part, I enjoyed the debut issue of GeNext. I thought the concept was pretty solid and the characters definitely had some potential. I had hoped that issue #2 would actually give the new characters something to do. Unfortunately, I found the neat pencil art of the usual X-Men characters placed throughout the book to be far more interesting than the story of this new class of students. To keep it short, GeNext #2 feels like a very average teen television drama and nothing more.

The majority of the book deals with the relationship between Pavel Rasputin and No-Name. We get some awkward, but well written, courtship, the requisite friend moments regarding “does she or doesn’t she” like Pavel, and then some shadowy figure from the past that throws a wrench into the relationship. This is some seriously generic stuff and, to be honest, I expected a bit more anything really. At least we are introduced to something of a threat that I have to assume ties into some X-Men history, though we get very little explanation regarding that. The book hints at some sort of direction, but seeing as how this is a limited series, I can see the next issue being something of a make or break point.

The writing does elevate the generic story in a way, but too often the characters really come across as overly emotional drama queens. There is something entertaining and even cute about the interaction between Pavel and No-Name, but that aspect of the storyline takes up far too much of the book. I enjoy good dialogue and all, but too much of it feels useless and doesn’t allow for any sort of subtlety. Disappointing all around.

Fortunately, the art fairs much better than the story or writing. The colors pop, the faces are expressive, and everything is just visually pleasing. The sketches throughout the book that fill in some history and explain family ties are extremely well done and almost threaten to overtake the GeNext kids. If I have any complaints, it is that the action scenes feel a bit disjointed and characters fail to real stand out. This is a nice looking book all around.

There isn’t a whole lot more I can add to this review. This book disappointed me in a big way and I am actually confused as to who the target audience for this really is. I can’t imagine that many X-fans are looking for a teen drama when anyone could turn on the TV to find one. (Grade D+)

-Kyle Posluszny