Seeing a #1 from an established Marvel franchise is nothing new. Marvel seems to reboot series all the time, but for some reason this time it feels different. Maybe it’s because Bryan Singer is coming out with the show The Gifted, or maybe it’s because the lineup appears to have a lot going for it.
Writer: Christina Strain
Artist: Amilcar Pinna
Publisher: Marvel Comics
So what’s it about? Read our full preview!
Why does this book matter?
Christina Strain was the colorist for Runaways and now she’s getting her own book to write and I couldn’t be more excited. She has a unique voice and plenty of experience, which bodes well for this series. The artist Amilcar Pinna meanwhile, has a thin line style that’s reminiscent of Aeon Flux — and one that’s detailed and great at capturing the weird. Seems like a perfect match!
Fine, you have my attention. What’s good about it?
Right off the bat, Christina Strain sets up Jubilee’s character well. She’s still trying to get a handle on being a mother and has lost her kid in the park. If there was a main character for this title it would be Jubilee, who comes in and out of the story at opportune times. She’s a character who we instantly can relate to, especially since she’s not certain about her role at the school or even being a great mother. Her doubt makes her likeable and relatable and when Kitty Pryde drops some bad news we’ve yet to find out one can only imagine her feelings.
That’s kinda funny.
At the same time, Strain writes what will be the main team members well. She introduces a mutant new to the school who has the power to see past moments of characters. This is a great way to show the reader who the characters are visually and also convey to this character the strange and long history of the team. There’s a lot of dysfunction in the characters’ pasts that instantly makes the reader empathetic towards them, which again makes it easy to relate.
What’s an X-Men book without some fighting, which Pinna delivers very well. The action takes these kids through walls (The X-Men mansion must be mostly plaster at this point) and is used to quickly introduce other mutants. Quentin is a highlight, who will most assuredly be bringing a lot of the drama to the series. The art as a whole has a uniqueness that’s exciting and Pinna has a way of capturing dramatic angles (like from below looking up) to give the reader an almost intimate look at the characters. Backgrounds and environments are highly detailed and you’ll never feel lost due to the good blocking. The new mutant who sees flashes of characters’ pasts uses no words, just images, and Pinna draws them well in an almost dream-like way.
Poor Star-Lord.
It can’t be perfect can it?
As far as introducing the characters this issue does a good job, but a lot of the X-Men tropes are used making it feel a bit unoriginal. Characters blow up walls in minor squabbles and people who hate mutants are after them; it’s been there done that territory. If you’re after a story that’s more about action, plot, or big reveals you may find yourself disappointed. As a character drama though it’s shaping up to be one of the best of the year.
Is It Good?
This issue as a whole serves as an introduction to each character, but also gives the reader much needed understanding of the dynamics between them. With an art style that’s unique and dynamic, Generation X is a must read for character drama fans.
Join the AIPT Patreon
Want to take our relationship to the next level? Become a patron today to gain access to exclusive perks, such as:
- ❌ Remove all ads on the website
- 💬 Join our Discord community, where we chat about the latest news and releases from everything we cover on AIPT
- 📗 Access to our monthly book club
- 📦 Get a physical trade paperback shipped to you every month
- 💥 And more!
