Uncanny X-Men #17

By Brian Michael Bendis, Chris Bachalo & Tim Townsend

Uncanny X-Men has been an odd series so far. It goes back and forth between giving new cast members solo stories to having team stories and trying to keep the new mutants interesting. All that being said, Bendis has done a pretty good job of fleshing out some of the unknown mutants that are on Cyclops’ team.

The new mutants are teleported to an unknown location and the Stepford cuckoos are along for the ride as well. Nobody has any idea where they are and things only get worse as gigantic creatures begin to attack the students. What are a group of inexperienced teens to do? Not freak out.

This issue was more fun than you would think. It’s nice that Bendis is really taking time out to give these new students some spotlight and personality. The breakout character so far has been Eva, and she continues to shine in this issue as she gets teased about having a crush on Cyclops. Bendis also seems to like working with Goldballs, whether he uses him as the punch line to a joke or not, Bendis is actually developing him and making him seem like a legitimate threat. His portrayal of Cyclops should also get a mention. Readers are finally getting a General who will not put up with insubordination and rule breaking, as one poor soul finds out this month. Brian has an excellent grasp on these characters and he continues to show it with each passing issue.

Chris Bachalo did a decent job this issue, but he has done better. While he definitely does a superb job of drawing characters while they are up close, as they get farther away, so does the quality. One thing Bachalo always brings to the table is a unique panel set up, and he continues that trend this issue. Several of the panels seem like they are from a filmstrip, which is a cool view to get in a comic. Chris also does a nice job of painting the scenery in the background this month that helps add great depth to the story.

This issue let some of the underused mutants strut their stuff, which is great to see. Bendis continues to intrigue and impress with his care of the characters and stories that he writes. Chris Bachalo has kept this book interesting solely by adding his one of a kind style to a top-selling book. This series is fun and a must read every month. So don’t miss out on the next new batch of X-Men!