REVIEW: ‘X-Men United’ Issue 2

X-Men United Issue 2 is published by Marvel Comics. Written by Eve L. Ewing, art by Tiago Palma, colors by Brian Reber and letters by Joe Sabino.

The X-Men deal with a fire in their new school, whilst Captain America pays them a visit.

X-Men United Issue 2 is split into two stories. It becomes clear that each individual plotline overlaps between chapters, luring readers into the next issue. At first, there’s the burning campus. It was a dramatic end to the previous chapter, the first sign of danger for the new haven for mutants. As a result, safety measures and contingencies have been put in place.

Throughout X-Men United Issue 2, the mood is fractious, even when a certified legend emerges to help. There’s a fantastic transition, ending one story before playing into the next. The next tale combines the complicated history of Captain America with the atrocities that the X-Men strive to avenge and prevent. The Government performed unspeakable acts on black men to try to replicate the super soldier serum, as seen with Isaiah Bradley. But Isaiah wasn’t the only victim, and Cap aims to make amends.

The second half of the comic features Captain America in what turns out to be a twisted psychological thriller, made possible by the brilliant concept of the entire story taking place on a telepathic plane. Each part of the comic is gloriously unpredictable because anyone and anything can walk onto campus.

The cast of X-Men United Issue 2 is a perfect mixture of mainstays and guest stars. Any member of the X-Men is eligible, and they all carry their personalities into the pages. For the first time, a member of Gail Simone‘s Outliers makes an appearance when a team is gathered in the final stages of the comic.

At the helm of the institute and the book itself is Emma Frost. She is commanding and controlling the mission statement. She’s prepared the security. The whole campus itself is held up by her strength and stubbornness. She’s also not around for permission, not from either Shadowcat or Cyclops.

Kitty is also a major figurehead, having serious doubts about Emma’s plan. The allegiances are fascinating. There are those loyal to Scott Summers, namely those trained by him, such as Ben Liu and Quentin Quire. But many of the classic members, especially those who enjoy teaching and protecting, have banded together and even mock Scott for his grumpiness.

The art is spectacular. In just the first scene, there is so much sensational storytelling and displays of character. The flames are tall and all-encompassing, drawing various reactions from those within them. Some are terrified and panicked, whilst others walk through the flames with confidence, because they know what’s happening. The mutants are beginning to feel at home in the new campus. They have their own quarters and places to relax, like the X-Mansion of old.

There’s examples of the history between characters, especially Emma and Scott. They look at each other with disdain, old lives who now can’t see the other’s point of view at all. The mission that Captain America takes some young mutants on is a great example of an adventure inside the mind, one there not in control of. The rooms keep changing around them, like a comic adaptation of Inception.

The colors are terrific. It’s nice that the heroes are often in full uniform within X-Men United Issue 2. Not only did it help with recognition, it makes the pages more exciting. Reber brings out the brilliant brightness that the X-Men have been celebrated and lauded for years. The lettering is down, capturing the subtle inflections that X writers have been adding to new characters, namely Jitter’s stutter. It’s also fascinating that Jitter’s stammer had improved in Uncanny X-Men, but here, with people she doesn’t know, it’s more severe and noticeable.

X-Men United Issue 2 is great at keeping small stories within such an enormous scale. With any mutant capable of entering, like a much smaller version of Krakoa, it can be hard to keep a tether. But using the core members of the X-Men, then gradually including small amounts of students, keeps the comic manageable while still being enthralling. The personalities of the characters shine, and the involvement of Captain America beautifully bridges the two worlds, exploring growth, pain, and injustice.

X-Men United Issue 2 is available where comics are sold.