COMIC BOOK REVIEW: Wolverine and the X-Men # 1

Reviewing Wolverine and the X-Men # 1 by Jason Aaron and Chris Bachalo.

This is one of the best single issues I have ever read related to the X-Universe. The book has got all the elements that a modern X-Men reader would look for in the book. For one, its got a mix of new blood characters from Armor and Hellion to fan favorite old school members like Wolverine, Kitty and Iceman. And lets not forget the young wildcards present in the school like Quintin Quire and Gladiator’s son Kid Gladiator to even Doop.

There are other great elements to this story. From Professor X’s teasing of Wolverine’s sexual encounter with an unnamed teammate in the Danger Room to the concept of the Danger Room itself, which has gone from being a single room to the entire school itself to the first encounter between Wolverine and new Hellfire Club Black King, Cade Kilgore, there seems to be an abundance of interesting concepts and ideas chucked in the very first issue of Wolverine and the X-Men.

Character beats are still present amidst all the cool chaos that appears in this issue. We get to know each of the important characters in the book even when we’re not aware that the explanation is already being explained. Case in point: the little gremlins that resemble deceased X-Man Nightcrawler. These little gremlins have been going in and out of the mansion all because Hank McCoy aka The Beast forgot to close an interdimensional portal.

Chris Bachalo’s art for the book has also split the Internet in half, with loyal fans such as myself, raving at the great artwork and the other half who found the art to be the only reason holding them back from getting the book. But without any form of bias, I can really say that the art for this book is exceptionally great. We can even say that Bachalo is in his element here.

Overall, Wolverine and the X-Men is a great ride and a great way of moving the X-Men Regenesis campaign in the next phase. My only concern probably would be if Kieron Gillen and Carlos Pacheco’s “Uncanny X-Men # 1″ can top what we’ve seen for this book.

VERDICT: 5/5

Earl Maghirang is the writer and owner of thefanboyseo.com