Uncanny X-Men #507 Review

This comic book has disappointed the Revolution. X-Men has traditionally been about the characters that we have read about for years. Claremont built up their personalities to the point that they seem like real people. Then when they are thrown into battles in the Savage Land, against giant robots, and fight superteams from other countries(or worlds), we care what happens to them. Into all the traditional comic storylines, Claremont added some very serious issues.

That is why this member of the Revolution gets upset when a new writer does not seem to get it. In the last issue, Fraction seems to have begun to define his niche on this title. Summer blockbuster fun action flicks. So in this issue, I am looking for a not-too serious story that is fun. Let’s see how he does.

Creative Team
Writer: Matt Fraction
Pencils: Terry Dodson
Inks: Rachel Dodson

Story Rating: 7 Night Girls out of 10
Art Rating: 8 Night Girls out of 10
Overall Rating: 7.5 Night Girls out of 10

Synopsis: The Beast is explaining to Angel, Dr. Nemesis, Madison Jeffries, and Dr. Takiguchi how he thought this meeting of the minds would be dignified. Maybe they would wear ties. And discuss the heart of science. As we see the big picture, the side of the building they are in is torn off and Marvel’s new version of Godzilla is holding the missing part of the building. Dr. Nemesis points out that they are going to die on an island without a tie or their dignity.

Two Russians are driving when they see a young lady (Emma Frost) in front of their vehicle. The next thing they know, the vehicle is pointed up towards the sky. Colussus has picked it up and thrown it into the villains’ building.

Back at the base, the scientists are trying to find any weapons that could stop the monster known as Leviathan. Dr. Takiguchi says that they have nothing that can stop him. Angel starts to take his uniform off.

Peter and Emma start fighting their way through the bad guys in an attempt to get to the man with tattoos. He threatens to kill Emma himself.

Angel reveals that he is back in his Archangel form. The Beast wants to question him. Why did he not tell Beast that he changed back into Archangel. Archangel says they will talk later.

Peter, in his human form, attacks the tattooed man. Peter punches him. The man takes a broken bottle and hits Peter in the face.

Peter’s battle parallels Archangel’s battle. The man wounds Peter in the face at the same time as Archangel is wounding Leviathan’s face. At the end, Archangel flies into Leviathan’s throat and out the back of his head. Peter defeats the tattooed man. He takes him by the throat and askes what he sees. The tattooed man sees loss. On his chest are images of Peter and Kitty. Peter drops him. Emma hugs him.

Now that Leviathan is defeated, the scientists prepare to head home. Archangel has reverted back into Angel.

Back in the states, Peter decides to get a tattoo. He keeps repeating the name he called Kitty, Katya.

Scott Summers is meeting with the mayor. She reports an upswing in anti-mutant hate crimes. Pro-human groups are flooding into the area. They have watched Scott turn an old military base into an embassy for mutants. It looks like the X-Men are building a militia. Scott says no. He is not building a militia. He is building an army.

Sebastian Shaw is locking up in the X-Men’s brig. Emma goes to talk to him. Despite all the crimes Shaw has committed, she wants to talk to him about his role in the slaughter at Genosha. He built the Sentinels who were responsible for the murder of 16 million mutants. He breaths on the window and writes “Namor”.

Emma says that Shaw is right. Prince Namor is the first mutant. Namor wants Shaw to go away. Emma uses her powers to make Shaw forget everything except for the mutants he has killed.

The Beast approaches Angel. He wants to know why Angel is keeping secrets from him. Angel says he can’t tell him. Angel flies away.

In a ship orbiting Earth, a man is strapped into a machine. The High Evolutionary is at the controls. He wants to know if the man is comfortable. It may be the last time he feels comfort. The man replies that they have lobotomized a Celestial in their search to solve a riddle that brought his people to extinction. Now they will splice that riddle in two.

As the process begins, the machine explodes. The High Evolutionary cries “Erik”. The man comes out of the wreckage and says “No. Magneto…”

Commentary

The Good: Another action packed story in the vein of the last issue. Fraction is managing to keep the action flowing. The parallels between Colossus’ fight and Angel’s battle with Leviathan were interesting.

The mystery is being built up of what Angel is hiding from the Beast. Hank is showing that he is worried about his old friend.

Peter gets to take out some of the frustration he has been feeling. It was surprising that he returned to his human form for the end of the fight. As soon as he sees the images of him and Kitty, all the rage is gone. Hopefully, this means the return of the gentle, thoughtful Peter from the earlier years. I would like to see him return to painting. I thought that helped define him as a character.

Based on the conversation between the mayor and Scott, it sounds like a war is being set up. With the pro-human forces accumulating, I wonder if this means another round of Sentinels are on their way.

I liked the small tie-in to the Norman Osborn storyline. Namor has requested a favor of Emma. In keeping with her character, she uses her powers to help Namor and punish Shaw at the same time. Emma is one of the few characters who would mentally torture another person and still be true to herself.

I liked the final pages with Magneto and the High Evolutionary. I have always enjoyed both characters. Until we see where this storyline goes, I will withhold judgement.

Like usual, the Dodsons turned in another good art job.

The Bad: I don’t like the militant Scott. He is not even trying to hide it. In the past, Scott was the level headed one who fought for peace. Now it seems like he is trying to instigate a war. He has turned into Cable.

Overall: The art continues to be good on this title. Fraction seems to have found his footing with the recent issues. He will have to be careful. X-Men fans expect big things from this book and Fraction will have to prove that he can deliver. He appears to be looking back at the Claremont issues for inspiration. Fraction’s stories do not match up to Claremont’s stories but Fraction is going in a better direction now.