Uncanny X-Men #24

By Brian Michael Bendis and Kris Anka

Last month’s issue of Uncanny X-Men began a pretty controversial storyline that involved the reading of Charles Xavier’s last will and testament. While no reading actually took place last issue, this month should be full of all sorts of secrets, except it isn’t really either. So when will we find out some more dirt on Xavier?

Brian Michael Bendis is an excellent writer who tells very good stories, that being said, it’s possible he draws things out a little. This month the mutants at the Jean Grey School go to get Cyclops to bring him to the reading of the will. Apparently Beast knew his whereabouts all along and has his reasons for not telling anyone. Bendis kind of flip flopped a little here because last arc Scott and Hank were working together and it almost seemed like they were on friendlier terms. This issue though, Beast says he doesn’t want to see Scott’s face. A pretty drastic turn from a few issues ago. Bendis continues to write the Uncanny team very well. Magik is still one of the best written characters and she delivers some funny lines this issue. Bendis is also playing up the angle that everyone assumes Scott is going to get ownership of the school, but Bendis is a crafty writer and that may not be the case here. As per usual, there is a huge cliff hanger that will make a month seem a little longer for the next issue, but of course that’s how Bendis wants it.

The art on this issue is done by Kris Anka, who has some nice panels and some bad ones. Anka does a very good job of utilizing shadows this issue. Faces are half covered for suspense and it works well. The expressions on peoples face are nicely done too, and this is a big issue for surprises so they needed to be perfect. While Anka excels in those panels, there are some disproportioned bodies here and there that will take a reader out of the book. Anka also lacks a lot of detail in some panels and it kills the page, which is unfortunate. While the art is decent here, it could be better and Anka is too talented to take panels off.

This was a solid read but it was more build up than anything. The best may be yet to come on this arc, but it seems like it’s being dragged out a bit to long. Bendis and Anka are a good match and have the ability to tell a classic tale, but we need to sift through the filler and get down to it already.