X-MAN #2
Written by Jeff Loeb
Art by Steve Skroce
Inks by Mike Sellers, LaRosa, Conrad & Hanna
Lettering by Richard Starkings & Comicraft
We open to two Mutants battling it out somewhere in America. One is the trained Assassin Domino. The other is the Russian Mutant Omega Red. Domino is sent by the Despot Apocalypse to locate the a particular telepath our hero Nate Grey. She has sought out Omega Red because he is a black market dealer who also trades in information.
Obviously he didn’t have the information and doesn’t wish to share it and a fight broke out which we are in full swing. With some classic comic book banter we learn that Domino didn’t come alone. She brought another heavy hitter mutant Grizzly, who smacks around Omega Red and sets him flying. Of course Omega isn’t down for the count and recovers to layout Grizzly with an equal punch.
But then Domino makes a quick move and takes out Omega with her sword. Once the Russian is down she calls out her third team member Caliban. A few quick quips later we learn that Domino and company have been seeking out the unknown telepath for a week now and they will either hire him or “fry” him per Apocalypse’s orders.
Cut To:
Nate Grey splash page as he is in a training session with his mentor Forge. The two trade blows and exposition on the current state of Nate’s Training. We also get a quick run down of their band of Merry mutants.
Nate takes a pretty good pounding from Forge, but then Nate lashes out and uses a t.k. blast to sent forge on his back. Nate is rather pissed off at Forge for pushing him so hard and being tough on him. The typical teenage attitude toward a parental figure. Nate walks off in a huff with his friend Sonique.
Cut To:
A forested area just outside of camp where Nate, Sonique and the newest member of the group Essex are having a conversation. We learn that Essex used to work for Apocalypse and has turned against him and that is the reason why he has joined Forge’s group of Rebels. Essex encourages Nate to use his powers to get a better control of them. Plus other nefarious reasons as yet unknown.
Nate is encouraged to try and fly by Essex and within two panels and a splash page we see that he can make the attempt. Of course the usual “ah my head is bursting” type of dialogue and standard bloody nose is a side effect.
Back at Camp:
Forge and the others are having a meeting to determine their next route and action to take. When they are interrupted by Essex and the two younger mutants. Essex tells Forge that they should strike at the belly of Apocalypse by taking out one of the gene factories. Essex of course knows right where one is at, Forge reluctantly approves a recon mission to check out the factory. Meanwhile, Brute thinks to himself that Essex looks familiar and doesn’t trust him.
That night the group lead by Essex sneek into the factory to investigate. Of course they are quickly discovered by the Infinites. A battle ensues where Nate demonstrates his newly learned abilities. He manages to take out number of Infinities before passing out from exhaustion.
Forge and the rest manages to get Nate back to their camp. Later that night he steps out of camp and runs in to Sonique aka Theresa and shows her what is bothering him and looks to seek answer on the astral plane. In Astral form he and Theresa arrive and the Xavier Mansion where they see the X-men leader Magneto consoling his son. Of course for some reason his son can see the Astral forms of Nate and Theresa. Magneto instantly reacts and Theresa gets scared and breaks the psi-link.
We learn that Nate wants to meet Magneto if only to learn more about the Resistance and Forge has been avoiding the issue. Nate wants to know why.
The next morning Brute confronts Essex and tells him he remembers now who he is. Brute knows that Essex is the one who experimented on him and of course Essex does something to Brute off panel. I suspect he killed him.
Later Forge conrfronts Essex and tells him that the group wants to part ways with Essex. Of course just as they are about to have an argument of it. The three mutants Grizzly, Domino and Calbian drop in and the issue ends on a cliffhanger.
The Story was good. It gave more character development on Nate. The Theresa character seems to be tacked on, I mean is she just following Nate around because they have a relationship or is she just lost looking for something to do. Plus when she shows up with Nate at Magneto's home she doesn't say anything about her own father, who is the mutant Banshee in the Normal timeline. They are continuing to grow the mystery of Essex, even though regular X-men readers should already recognize the diamond on his forhead an know who he is.
The Art is really good. I continue to like Steve Skorce's art on this book. Everything is angular in the backgrounds and the Characters. The fierce creatures are render to look menacing. The shadowing effects on the last page helps convey the tension between Forge and Essex.
I give this a Score:
7.5 out of 10
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