Check out My Review [WITH SPOILERS] for Civil War II: X-Men #1
Writer: Cullen Bunn
Artist: Andrea Broccardo
Colorist: Jesus Aburtov
Civil War II: X-Men (and gosh, are these titles unwieldy) is not a continuation of Captain Marvel and Iron Man’s battle of morality. This latest Civil War II spinoff features the opening salvos of a battle between mutant and Inhuman as it carves its own path in the tapestry of the second Civil War.
This issue presents the threat of the Terrigen Mists to the mutant population as Magneto and his squad of X-Men try to save some economically disadvantaged mutants by forcing a group of wealthy mutants to take in their poorer brethren. Unfortunately, a group of Terrigen-powered Sentinels show up and try to expose Magneto and his allies to the killing mists. Storm’s group of X-Men arrive and save Magneto from the Sentinels, and in doing so, Magneto learns the Inhumans have a tactical advantage inf Ulysses, the Inhuman precog and the key to the second Civil War. Now, Magneto must decide what to do about Ulysses before it is too late for mutantkind.
Bunn allows most of his large cast to shine and show off their powers and unique perspectives as the writer gives us fun looks into the inner hearts of Nightcrawler, Magneto, Psylocke, Storm, and Old Man Logan to name but a few. This story moves briskly as a ton of plot is packed into a small space delivering a multi-faceted crossover that gives the mutant heroes a purpose in the overall foundation of Civil War II.
Andrea Broccardo’s art is a bit cartoony for my taste as the issue is pretty gritty; the visuals would be more at home in a book with a lighter tone. I can’t really get behind a baby-faced Magneto preaching about mutant genocide.
All that said, this issue sets up an intriguing premise for mutants as Civil War II pounds ever onward. I actually found this tie-in miniseries more focused and mature than Bunn’s regular Uncanny X-Men title as the writer focuses more on conflict and character than snarling and posing. The book is a bit exposition heavy, but hey; it’s the X-Men, and that’s part of the deal.
So in a summer where Civil War II is everywhere, the X-Men tie-in to the event stands out as an action-packed and thoughtful addition to the battlefield.
