Age of X: Universe #1: This supplemental title gives us some insight into the events that were happening before Fortress X was built. This universe's Avengers team is a group of mutant hunters, led by Captain America. Iron Man is a twisted version of his former self (his body has now bonded to his armor thanks to some mutant-derived virus), Sue Richards turned in the other members of the Fantastic Four for harboring mutants, and Bruce Banner was apparently driven insane when a mutant caused his accident, which led him to slaughter his fiancée, best friend, and colleagues. (Ghost Rider and Spider-Woman are also on the team, but they're pretty much just filler. In fact, Ghost Rider dies almost right away.) It's an interesting story, but I'm left to wonder again about the dynamics of this world. For example, Magneto seems to have discovered that nothing really exists outside the walls of Fortress X, though clearly something does based on these stories. (Moreover, something had to exist before Magneto created Fortress X, since, after all, Magneto existed before Fortress X.) Marvel isn't obviously going to rush the reveal, so we're left with these sorts of stories, where you just have to ignore the inconsistencies and enjoy them for what they are. Separately, we discover that the reason Legacy is treated as special is that she's collecting all the memories of the mutants who die. In the secondary feature, we see Spider-Man send away a pregnant Mary Jane as the government captures him to sterilize him, given his status as a "post-mutant."
X-Men Legacy #247 (Age of X: Chapter 5): We finally get to the heart of the matters here, and, unfortunately, I have to say I'm a little disappointed. First, I feel like we've gone to the well a few too many times when it comes to portraying Legion as a reality-warping sociopath. In fact, the first arc of the new "New Mutants" series dealt with Legion, and it was one of the better (and grounded) storylines I've ever read dealing with him. In truth, this fantastic (in the "unbelievable" not "amazing" sense of that word) story somewhat pales in comparison to the more realistic story found in "New Mutants" #1-#4. But, I could handle my disappointment if it was limited to Legion. Instead, I found myself equally disappointed when it became clear we weren't going to see the Basilisk/Wolverine team-up we seemed promised to get in "X-Men Legacy" #246. Instead, we see Basilisk give a fairly uninspired speech to Cannonball and the assembled Fortress X inhabitants about how nothing makes sense, somehow convincing everyone to abandon their posts. It was this wasted opportunity that left me perhaps the most disappointed, given that a Basilisk/Wolverine assault on the system could've been awesome (and would've probably provided a resolution that felt more organic than Basilisk just convincing everyone that something was wrong). As a result of these two disappointments, this issue really lacked any sort of excitement or tension for me. It just seemed to pretty much check the box and move along the plot, bringing us one step closer until the inevitable return to the way thing should be. I'm pretty sure Mike Carey had something grander in mind than that. Hopefully we see that in the last issue.
New Mutants #24 (Age of X: Chapter 6): OK, this issue saves the concept a bit, though I still have a disappointment hangover from Chapter 5. Legion ultimately gets his heroic moment here, a different ending than we usually see for him. Based on the way the book ends (and the solicits for "X-Men Legacy" #248), it appears that Legion's story doesn't end here, and "Age of X" may wind up being the spark that begins to resolve the Legion issue. If it does, I think I can handle my disappointment over him being the culprit behind the "Age of X." One of the consequences of having only a seven-issue story (nine-issue, if you count the "Age of X: Universe" mini-series) is that Carey never gets the chance to fully explore some of the characters who showed the most promise in the beginning. For example, just like the dropped Basilisk/Wolverine partnership, we never discover whether Phoenix is Jean, Rachel, or Hope. It's these sorts of absences that leave me felling a little disappointed at the end of the day and not altogether upset the "Age of X" is over.
Age of X: Universe #2: We learn, in this last installment of "Age of X," how the Avengers, who defy General Castle's orders and stop the Hulk from exterminating all the mutants, wound up being the inspiration for the Force Wall. (I didn't catch that General Castle was Frank Castle -- a.k.a. the Punisher -- in the first issue.) The issue definitely focuses a little more on "tell" not "show." Mystique's monologue was unnecessarily heavy-handed, given that I'm pretty sure Captain America had already come to the conclusion that their mission was unjust when he saw she died defending the children. But, it wraps up some loose ends, which is more or less what it was supposed to do. Despite, like the Spider-Man back-up story in the first issue, not really contributing much to the plot, the Dazzler back-up story is well done. I was initially skeptical that Stephen Strange -- even another universe variant of him -- would be a mutant hunter, so I was pleasantly surprised when it's revealed he was working with the mutants all along.
Final Thoughts: I enjoyed "Age of X," at least more than I was enjoying the usual stories in "X-Men Legacy." I do feel like it fizzled in the conclusion, and was too derivative of "Age of Apocalypse" to have the sort of lasting impact that storyline had. It mostly covers familiar ground, allowing us to see old characters in a new light. Other than the switch in responsibilities between Cannonball and Basilisk, though, I can't say anyone is really all that different from their prime universe counterpart or an alternate universe counterpart we've already seen. Moreover, the revelation that one of Legion's personas was behind the whole ordeal made it a little more predictable, if only in retrospect. But, as I said earlier, if it gives us some sort of eventual resolution of the Legion problem then I'll retroactively think it was worthwhile. It's disappointing that Carey et al. never got the chance to explore some of the more intriguing sub-plots, such as the Phoenix's actions in Albany or the various romances depicted in the first few issues. It seems that the upcoming issues of "X-Men Legacy" will determine the legacy of "Age of X" and I look forward to seeing how Carey wraps up some of the loose ends.
X-Men Legacy #247 (Age of X: Chapter 5): We finally get to the heart of the matters here, and, unfortunately, I have to say I'm a little disappointed. First, I feel like we've gone to the well a few too many times when it comes to portraying Legion as a reality-warping sociopath. In fact, the first arc of the new "New Mutants" series dealt with Legion, and it was one of the better (and grounded) storylines I've ever read dealing with him. In truth, this fantastic (in the "unbelievable" not "amazing" sense of that word) story somewhat pales in comparison to the more realistic story found in "New Mutants" #1-#4. But, I could handle my disappointment if it was limited to Legion. Instead, I found myself equally disappointed when it became clear we weren't going to see the Basilisk/Wolverine team-up we seemed promised to get in "X-Men Legacy" #246. Instead, we see Basilisk give a fairly uninspired speech to Cannonball and the assembled Fortress X inhabitants about how nothing makes sense, somehow convincing everyone to abandon their posts. It was this wasted opportunity that left me perhaps the most disappointed, given that a Basilisk/Wolverine assault on the system could've been awesome (and would've probably provided a resolution that felt more organic than Basilisk just convincing everyone that something was wrong). As a result of these two disappointments, this issue really lacked any sort of excitement or tension for me. It just seemed to pretty much check the box and move along the plot, bringing us one step closer until the inevitable return to the way thing should be. I'm pretty sure Mike Carey had something grander in mind than that. Hopefully we see that in the last issue.
New Mutants #24 (Age of X: Chapter 6): OK, this issue saves the concept a bit, though I still have a disappointment hangover from Chapter 5. Legion ultimately gets his heroic moment here, a different ending than we usually see for him. Based on the way the book ends (and the solicits for "X-Men Legacy" #248), it appears that Legion's story doesn't end here, and "Age of X" may wind up being the spark that begins to resolve the Legion issue. If it does, I think I can handle my disappointment over him being the culprit behind the "Age of X." One of the consequences of having only a seven-issue story (nine-issue, if you count the "Age of X: Universe" mini-series) is that Carey never gets the chance to fully explore some of the characters who showed the most promise in the beginning. For example, just like the dropped Basilisk/Wolverine partnership, we never discover whether Phoenix is Jean, Rachel, or Hope. It's these sorts of absences that leave me felling a little disappointed at the end of the day and not altogether upset the "Age of X" is over.
Age of X: Universe #2: We learn, in this last installment of "Age of X," how the Avengers, who defy General Castle's orders and stop the Hulk from exterminating all the mutants, wound up being the inspiration for the Force Wall. (I didn't catch that General Castle was Frank Castle -- a.k.a. the Punisher -- in the first issue.) The issue definitely focuses a little more on "tell" not "show." Mystique's monologue was unnecessarily heavy-handed, given that I'm pretty sure Captain America had already come to the conclusion that their mission was unjust when he saw she died defending the children. But, it wraps up some loose ends, which is more or less what it was supposed to do. Despite, like the Spider-Man back-up story in the first issue, not really contributing much to the plot, the Dazzler back-up story is well done. I was initially skeptical that Stephen Strange -- even another universe variant of him -- would be a mutant hunter, so I was pleasantly surprised when it's revealed he was working with the mutants all along.
Final Thoughts: I enjoyed "Age of X," at least more than I was enjoying the usual stories in "X-Men Legacy." I do feel like it fizzled in the conclusion, and was too derivative of "Age of Apocalypse" to have the sort of lasting impact that storyline had. It mostly covers familiar ground, allowing us to see old characters in a new light. Other than the switch in responsibilities between Cannonball and Basilisk, though, I can't say anyone is really all that different from their prime universe counterpart or an alternate universe counterpart we've already seen. Moreover, the revelation that one of Legion's personas was behind the whole ordeal made it a little more predictable, if only in retrospect. But, as I said earlier, if it gives us some sort of eventual resolution of the Legion problem then I'll retroactively think it was worthwhile. It's disappointing that Carey et al. never got the chance to explore some of the more intriguing sub-plots, such as the Phoenix's actions in Albany or the various romances depicted in the first few issues. It seems that the upcoming issues of "X-Men Legacy" will determine the legacy of "Age of X" and I look forward to seeing how Carey wraps up some of the loose ends.
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