Uncanny X-Men #13

By Matthew Rosenberg, Salvador Larocca and Guru eFX

The world believes that there are no more mutants. One day they just vanished, and frankly, the world doesn’t seem to mind. What they don’t know, is that Cyclops is putting together a ragtag group of mutants who didn’t disappear or vanish. This isn’t your typical X-Men team, because there aren’t many X-Men left, but it is an interesting group. We’re left with some big hitters and some new mutants who haven’t been showcased as much as they should. All of these factors make this arc from Matthew Rosenberg all the more exciting. We don’t know what we’re going to get next, and that is the thrill of this series.

Matthew Rosenberg has been building this story for a while. His work on New Mutants: Dead Souls and Astonishing X-Men play a big role in what he’s doing in Uncanny X-Men. The characters all have a reason for being left behind and available for Cyclops’ team. What works for Rosenberg’s script, is the common sense he uses. This is a team thrown together. They have no money, no base really, and only old uniforms that were found. It makes sense that they are staying in the back of a bar and using classic outfits. Rosenberg also has the tough task of keeping Cyclops likable, while allowing him to doubt his leadership skills and his battle plan. This is classic Scott, which actually shows how big of a fan Rosenberg is of the characters he writes. There is also a plot point of targets that Scott wants to take care of. This is an interesting story point and there are some surprising names on the list. Any X-fan would want to see them go after some more classic villains like they used to in the old days. Rosenberg leaves the issue with the next logical point for the series. These issues are great fun and are usually the best book of the week.

The pencils are handled by Salvador Larocca with colors by Guru e-FX. Larocca is one of the all-time great artists on the X-books, and this issue continues to (lame pun alert) illustrate why. Close up panels, like Cyclops addressing the troops about his list, look amazing. The detail to Scott’s facial hair and his eye are just wonderful. We’re seeing Salvador Larocca at his best in this run. His panel set up, as the team attacks a notorious villain, almost seem like daggers on the page. Larocca’s art is helped out by the Spectacular colors of Guru e-FX. The colors are so vibrant that they leap off the page as you stare at them. The reds and blues from optic blasts and other powers really stand out and attract your eye to them. Guru e-FX does too good of a job on this issue that at many times it seems like you’re staring at a photograph.

Uncanny X-Men is the X-book we’ve always wanted. Matthew Rosenberg is giving fans the big stories that we deserve. This is some of the best work of Salvador Larocca’s career. His pencils continue to impress with each passing issue, and the colors by Guru e-FX really stand out. Uncanny X-Men #13 is a thrill ride that is only just beginning.