Connect with us
X-Men Red #2 Review

Comic Books

X-Men Red #2 Review

From big ideas to rescue missions.

[amazon_link asins=’B078K4T6SG’ template=’AiPTProductAd’ store=’aiptcomics-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’3ba6ce03-1440-11e8-a3d0-0924ebf823a3′]

With a first page reveal of a political prisoner, X-Men Red #2 wastes no time! Can it continue the momentum from the head-splattering first issue? Is it good?

Listen to the latest episode of our weekly comics podcast!

The Skinny

Jean Grey’s actions from X-Men Red #1 have once again whipped up global anti-mutant protests — tiki torches and all! Good thing a certain technological powerhouse nation has a soft spot for the Children of the Atom, and grants the team asylum.

It seems like the perfect place for Trinary, a technopath making her first published appearance as a captive of the shadowy Lakshay Singh, who knows how she hacked the bank accounts of the richest people in India and wants to utilize those abilities. She’ll need Jean Grey’s help to escape, but Jean might actually need Trinary more.

So it’s time for a hoodie-covered smash and grab! Nightcrawler’s teleporting is good for extricating targets from secure facilities, and Jean’s telepathy can handle the mob outside — for the most part. Why are some people immune? Could it be the work of the revealed villain from the first issue?

The Lowdown

X-Men Red #2 is a much slower paced book than the debut issue, to its detriment. Red #1 was kind of amazing in that it was mostly talking, yet the strength of the narrative kept the reader hooked. It also helped that artist Mahmud Asrar is dynamite at depicting what action scenes there were.

X-Men Red #2 Review

He doesn’t get as much to work with here, though his panel layouts during the “jailbreak” are creative and emotive. So we’re left with a lot of static shots, which are not Asrar’s forte. His faces still look kind of lumpy and unfinished. Colorist Ive Svorcina seems to have taken a step down, too. Everything is a bit more drab, where brights once popped against darker backgrounds.

X-Men Red #2 Review

Writer Tom Taylor’s story doesn’t seem to have the sense of urgency or grandiosity that #1 had, either. It’s relatively well-told, with neat bits like how Jean was able to manipulate Singh’s thoughts, but the stakes aren’t as high when rescuing a heretofore unknown character. We’ve been told what she does, but have yet to see it, making her, in this issue, a MacGuffin the use of which is unclear. We do get a nice introduction of Nezhno, in a Chekhov’s gun sort of way, and it only makes sense that they’d stumble on him in his home country.

[amazon_link asins=’B078K4T6SG’ template=’BottomAdAIPT’ store=’aiptcomics-20′ marketplace=’US’ link_id=’fda23078-1fd5-11e8-bd40-77ed9489092f’]

The Upshot

If you’ve seen interviews with Tom Taylor about X-Men Red, you know that he has big ideas for the series. It’s almost meant to be the Champions of the X-verse, where Jean and company combat the real problems, in ways that can’t be accomplished through punching alone. The debut issue of the series was a strong realization of that concept, but #2 falls far short, with less emphasis on the big picture and more of a traditional superhero rescue mission. It’s made worse by not yet having a reason to care about Trinary, the focus of the whole issue, and not knowing how she’ll fit into Jean’s grand design.

X-Men Red #2 Review
X-Men Red #2
Is it good?
It's not bad, but it's a major step down from the debut issue. The stakes don't feel as big and the action is more traditional, not giving Asrar much to work with.
Shocking opening
Creative panel use at times
This issue doesn't feel like it meets the book's stated purpose
Asrar doesn't always do these less bombastic scenes well
7
Good

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!
Sign up today
Comments

In Case You Missed It

WWE SmackDown preview, full card: March 1, 2024 WWE SmackDown preview, full card: March 1, 2024

WWE SmackDown preview, full card: March 1, 2024

Pro Wrestling

AEW Dynamite preview, full card: February 28, 2024 AEW Dynamite preview, full card: February 28, 2024

AEW Dynamite preview, full card: February 28, 2024

Pro Wrestling

AEW Rampage preview, full card: March 1, 2024 AEW Rampage preview, full card: March 1, 2024

AEW Rampage preview, full card: March 1, 2024

Pro Wrestling

Marvel unveils the new villains Bloodcoven appearing in 'Blood Hunt' Marvel unveils the new villains Bloodcoven appearing in 'Blood Hunt'

Marvel unveils the new villains Bloodcoven appearing in ‘Blood Hunt’

Comic Books

Connect
Newsletter Signup