Written by: Stephanie Phillips
Art by: Alessandro Miracolo
Colors by: David Curiel
Letters by: VC’s Cory Petit
Cover art by: Yasmine Putri
Cover price: $3.99
Release date: August 21, 2024
Phoenix #2, by Marvel Comics on 8/21/24, reunites Jean with her father-in-law after Corsair tries to turn over a new leaf, starting with an investigation of mysterious kidnappings from Gameworld.
Is Phoenix #2 Good?
Of all the X-Titles released in Tom Brevoort’s ‘From The Ashes’ era, Phoenix #1 at least showed some potential, even if the execution was less than stellar. I’m happy to report that Phoenix #2 continues that course and improves on issue #1 with decent character moments, intriguing developments, and (almost) great art. So far, Stephanie Phillips’s title is one of the few to watch.
When last we left Jean Grey in Phoenix #1, Jean decided to wander the galaxy to use her powers to help people. When she received a call about an intergalactic space prison coming apart due to the tremendous forces of a nearby black hole growing unstable, Jean saved the day, but a dangerous inmate escaped the prison and flew his ship to a colony of religious zealots.
In Phoenix #2, we begin with a brief montage showing Jean Grey, aka Phoenix, making her rounds as an ultra-powerful hero. She does everything from smashing asteroid storms to rescuing a (metaphorical) kitten in a tree. During a rare moment of rest, Jean receives a distress signal about to explode with one passenger aboard. Who is it? none other than her father-in-law, Corsair.
After a quick rescue and an awkwardly-timed shower, Corsair explains the Starjammers abandoned him, and he’s been trying to make his son proud by doing good in the galaxy, a sentiment Jean can relate to. He recounts how his ship was attacked when he followed a Black Order ship he believed responsible for several kidnappings on Gameworld.
Again, Phillips plays it smart by giving Corsair a backstory that parallels Jean’s own, which gives her a reason to help him against her better judgment. Plus, Corsair’s desire to turn over a new leaf earns sympathy from Jean and the reader, so the motivation to follow an untrustworthy character is high.
What’s great about Phoenix #2? Give credit where credit is due. Except for one or two quibbles (more on that in a minute), this is a solid comic by Stephanie Phillips. The setup makes sense, and Phillips finds a way to introduce an old character but still finds a way to help new readers along. Plus, the mystery and cliffhanger are interesting.
The issue concludes with a brief catch-up with Adani and Dark God Perrikus as the latter decides to show the former the true meaning of power. In some ways, their developing relationship mirrors that of Thanos and Gamora. The scene is brief and has no bearing on the rest of the issue, but it foreshadows much.
What’s not great about Phoenix #2? From the first issue to this one, the off-putting confusion comes through the inconsistency in Jean’s power levels. How can you stabilize a black hole in one issue yet engage in a heated battle with Proxima in the next? Proxima is nowhere near as powerful as a black hole, so why is Phoenix practically a god in one moment and a standard superpowered mutant the next?
It’s a small problem, but that inconsistency sets the foundation for every challenge Jean faces.
How’s the Art? Alessandro Miracolo’s art looks great except for one tiny but glaring problem. Corsair’s mustache looks terrible. I’m not talking about the style but about the way it’s drawn. Once you see it, you can’t unsee it.
About The Reviewer: Gabriel Hernandez is the Publisher & EIC of ComicalOpinions.com, a comics review site dedicated to indie, small, and mid-sized publishers.
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Final Thoughts
Phoenix #2 is a surprisingly solid continuation of the first issue, wherein Jean teams up with Corsair to investigate mysterious kidnappings. Stephanie Phillips’s script works well for new and old X-readers, the mysteries are intriguing, and the art is generally excellent. But for a few shortcomings in the story and the art, Phoenix is turning out to be one of the better From The Ashes era titles.
8/10
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