Marvel Comics
Links: Uncanny X-Men #1 review & Uncanny X-Men #2 review
The third issue of Marvel's new weekly X-Men series finally shows us that this relaunch is no joke. If you think Uncanny X-Men #1 was a mess and Uncanny X-Men #2 was just mostly filler, Uncanny X-Men #3 is the opposite as it builds up the main conflict of the mutants while providing some answers to mysteries introduced in the first two issues. Writers Matthew Rosenberg, Kelly Thompson, and Ed Brisson excellently develop the story on every page to give readers what they want: Legion raising up the suspense, Jean Grey showing her awesome powers, and Magneto sporting a Gandalf beard.
Marvel Comics
While Uncanny X-Men #2 "disassembled" the X-men in three different groups, the latest issue brings them all together by the final act. There's tension in the New Mutants-like plot with Legion and the young mutants, and it will make readers wonder if Legion (Xavier's son) is actually a villain in this story. Artist Yildiray Cinar and colorist Rachelle Rosenberg bring some fantastic artwork, crafting unforgettable scenes even more epic than what we've seen in the live-action films. Every issue of Uncanny X-Men sees a new artist, which doesn't always work, but somehow the series is able to pull it off.
Marvel Comics
The story's direction may not be clear in the earlier issues but Uncanny X-Men #3 proves that the writers know exactly what they're doing. Unlike the first two issues, Uncanny X-Men #3 doesn't waste a page, filling every panel with details that progress the story while not losing momentum with its wonderful series of action scenes. In this issue, we learn who's behind the mystery of Jamie Madrox's chaotic dupes but readers will have to wait for the next issues to discover the whole truth.
Marvel Comics
Uncanny X-Men is balancing a huge cast of characters, and this issue continues to highlight the powers of mutants in various action shots. Even the panels populated with many characters look clean thanks to Cinar's attention to detail. The facial expressions of the characters bring life to their conflict: the opposite of what we've seen in Spider-Geddon (You can read my review here). Jean Grey and Bishop standout in the action scenes but the younger mutants like Armor, Pixie, and Rockslide also get to show off their abilities. The way some of the mutants interact with the protesters flesh out their character well, and it's interesting to see how the writers manage to include that on top of other things going on in just 24 pages.
Marvel Comics
There's usually a surprise at the end of this weekly issue, and this issue reveals the biggest surprise yet. It's "Gandalf" Magneto and his fellow Horsemen of Salvation, which is a cool twist to the old Horsemen of Apocalypse (You can check out what they look like here). Uncanny X-Men #3's final panel brings more weight to its subtitle's meaning, Disassembled, and it's making me so hyped to read the next issue already.
Uncanny X-Men #3 is an excellent X-Men issue that balances meaningful dialogue, well-paced story, and spectacular action to give us the best possible mutant experience thanks to its talented team of artists and writers. Every page, panel, and speech bubble were efficiently used to give us a cinematic story. With seven more weekly issues to go, I'm looking forward to seeing how the story of Uncanny X-Men will develop.
Published by Marvel Comics
Written by Ed Brisson, Matthew Rosenberg, & Kelly Thompson
Art by Yildiray Cinar
Cover by Leinil Francis Yu