The solicitation screams it and the media blitz has been pretty big: The women are taking center-stage for the latest “X-Men” relaunch. Given some of the vocal internet backlash, apparently an all-women “X-Men” title is an annoyingly tough pill to swallow for some. It isn’t much worth discussing those who would have a problem with the very idea of an all-female cast, except to say that they’re going to miss out on one hell of a comic book.
Written by Brian Wood
Illustrated by Olivier CoipelBecause you demanded it! The X-Women finally get their own book, from critically acclaimed superstars Brian Wood (X-MEN, ULTIMATE X-MEN, DMZ, The Massive) and Olivier Coipel (AVX, HOUSE OF M, THOR)! An old enemy shows up at the X-Men’s door, seeking asylum from an ancient evil come back to earth. Meanwhile, Jubilee has come home, and she’s brought with her an orphaned baby who might hold the key to the earth’s survival…or its destruction. Against a backdrop of what seems like an alien invasion and an eons-spanning war between brother and sister, Storm steps up and puts together a team to protect the child and stop a new threat that could destroy all life on earth!
It’s your average day at the Jean Grey School. Rachel Summers and Storm are breaking up what has to be one of dozens of minor fights in the school hallways, when they get a disconcerting call from none other than 90’s cartoon fan-favorite, Jubilation Lee. She’s being tailed by a villain from the Grant Morrison “X-Men” era. What follows is a tightly plotted, tense unfurling of some potentially cataclysmic science fiction stakes.
It’s very clear that Brian Wood likes writing women characters. Why not? He’s good at it, they’re underrepresented, and he knows how to craft a title that carries unique and essential aspects of femininity without actually making the story superficially about that. And so he’s wrangled not only the six most important female X-Men characters not named “Emma Frost”, but six of the most identifiable heroines at Marvel Comics – all in one book, all on one team. It’s clear from issue #1 that he knows exactly how good each member of this cast of characters is, too. We’re talking about six women from entirely different backgrounds, with identifiable and unique archetypes, and Wood is writing to each and every one of their strengths. Of course, he also takes a bit of time for them to fawn over Jubilee’s cute little, but who wouldn’t fawn? It’s a moment of group vulnerability that doesn’t pander to stereotypes, because it’s immediately identifiable and plot-appropriate. But it certainly is a vocal touch that the X-women bring to this title that a brooding Wolverine or an uptight Cyclops would not. It’s refreshing and it never pervades the story being told. Because “X-Men” #1 is not fun and games for very long.
There’s a lot of talk about comics becoming cinematic. Whether that’s generated from an idea that superhero comics in the modern age tend to unfold in big, sprawling action panels or the idea that something on the pages could be something that would easily translate into a viable story for the silver screen, the fact is that the idea of a comic being “cinematic” can easily create an image in the mind’s eye. “X-Men” #1 has a train-centric action set-piece at its center that is so spectacular and yet so utterly practical in concept that it would make for a highly thrilling film sequence. Yes, this is a comic, but the point is that it’s an impressive feat when a sequence so effortlessly accomplishes something in a static medium that you could immediately see captivating a general audience in a motion picture. That’s a mark of synergy between writer and artist that is special.
Olivier Coipel is one of Marvel’s star artists. He’s so good that he’s been pulled to draw major events in modern Marvel history, namely “Siege” and some issues of “Avengers vs. X-Men.” Putting Coipel on the all-female “X-Men” book is a vote of confidence that a title like this just might need due to some preconceived notions about women in comics. Yes, that fact is an unfortunate one, but it isn’t going to get any better by making female-centric stories feel “inessential” with subpar creative teams. That that sort of thing isn’t happening here is a breath of fresh air, especially considering that this is some of Coipel’s most technically impressive work. This is a cast of characters that you don’t often get to see the big artists work a whole lot with and the change in visual focus works out beautifully for Coipel. His character work is gorgeous and varied, giving each face a unique look and playing to each characters’ personality. His work on the aforementioned action set-piece will be the most thrilling thing you read all week and is easily the highlight of an already immensely good-looking issue. Give this man all the extra time he needs.
Perhaps the time to call attention to an all-women X-Men team is in the 2 months (or more, with the delay) running up to the book’s release, but within the actual panels of the first issue, Wood and Coipel are concerned with getting down to some very “big idea” stuff very quickly. A book that carries adjective-less “X-Men” title with nothing but women at the center is just as big a deal as it’s being made out to be and a really great step in the history of a male-centric franchise in a male-centric genre, but none of that fanfare need be within the pages. If “X-Men” wants an audience it’ll keep, then telling gripping, good-looking stories is the way to do it. The triumph, the celebration, and the payoff of having an all-women cast comes with having a well-made title that proves to be just as exciting as anything else on the stands. Congratulations, “X-Men” – you did just that.
Final Verdict: 9.6 – Buy. Buy a few and pass copies out to your friends.
