Review of Uncanny X-Men Issue #2

Written by: Gail Simone

Art by: David Marquez

Colors by: Matthew Wilson

Letters by: VC’s Clayton Cowles

Cover art by: David Marquez, Matthew Wilson

Cover price: $4.99

Release date: September 11, 2024

Uncanny X-Men #2, by Marvel Comics on 9/11/24, takes a closer look at the nefarious developments at Graymalkin, reveals a surprising origin for The Hag, and puts the fledgling mutants through a fight against pros.

Is Uncanny X-Men #2 Good?

Uncanny X-Men isn’t off to the best start in the hands of Gail Simone. The first issue was oddly frazzled and unfocused, but where this second issue improves on the focus, it falters in shortcuts and odd creative choices. If you were expecting Uncanny to be the leading X-title right out of the gate, you may be disappointed.

When last we left Rogue, Gambit, and Wolverine in Uncanny X-Men #1, the trio of mutants fought a dragon in the South West desert, eventually beating the behemoth by dislodging the Eye of Agamotto lodged in its chest and banishing the dragon to the Antarctic for a year to cool off. The trio then embarked on a road trip of assorted errands until they eventually stopped in New Orleans, where they encountered a strange group of fledgling mutants running from something in the woods. Meanwhile, the X-Mansion has been converted into a mutant prison named Graymalkin under the watchful eye of Warden Corina Ellis.

In Uncanny X-Men #2, we begin with a flashback/subplot to Charles Xavier when he was studying abroad. On a crisp Winter day, Charles crossed paths with a lovely woman named Sarah, who immediately took a shine to the future Professor X.

Gail Simone interlaces the subplot of Charles’s flashback throughout the rest of the issue, leading to a surprising payoff at the end. Charles’s first meeting with Sarah is sweet and the stuff of every socially awkward schoolboy’s fantasy.

Now, we pick up with last issue’s cliffhanger. The band of mutants emerging from the woods asks for help, but Wolverine orders them to keep their distance. Rogue joins Wolverine in holding the line, but they tell Gambit to stay back because he’s been acting odd since taking the Eye of Agamotto from the dragon in the last issue. Unfortunately, the Eye breaks the standoff by knocking down the largest of the young mutants with a blast of magical energy.

I call Bravo Sierra on the preceding scene for a few reasons. There was no hint or suggestion at all in the previous issue that the Eye was having a detrimental effect on Gambit, and the hostile stance Wolverine and Rogue take toward a group of younger mutants asking for help seems over-the-top. The moment comes across as contrived to give the mutants an excuse to fight, and it feels forced.

And then they fight. At first, the seasoned X-men are caught off guard, but they soon turn the tables with experience and training. The fight ends when Jubilee arrives to send the teams to opposite corners to chill out. Meanwhile, Warden Ellis orders her lieutenant to prepare the mansion’s former Danger Room as a testing area for new inmates, starting with their latest recruit – Siryn.

Oddly enough, the events of Graymalkin prison are more interesting than what’s happening with Rogue in New Orleans. We can surmise that Warden Ellis is up to something more heinous than running a prison, and the developments at Graymalkin have piqued my interest.

When everyone has cooled off in New Orleans, introductions are made. Jitter can act with high speed and super efficiency for a limited time.

Ransom is the tallest mutant who took the first blast from the Eye, with powers yet to be demonstrated. Deathdream talks to the dead… or something. He’s defeated off-panel by Wolverine during the fight, but we never get a look at what he can do. Calico can turn her horse into a super horse, but she adamantly declares she is NOT a mutant. Eventually, the young mutants explain they’re running from someone named The Hag.

In retrospect, this new group of younger mutants is original, but their introduction is handled poorly. Gail Simone contrives a reason for the two groups to fight but only shows off the powers of two of the four newcomers. If you’re going to force a fight, make it worth the reader’s while.

The issue ends with the other half of the phone call connected to X-Men #3, wherein Rogue tells Scott she’s going after Graymalkin based on Jubilee’s intel, and the revelation that The Hag, the sharp-clawed witch who hunts mutants in the woods, works for Warden Ellis. The Hag’s given name is Sarah.

What’s great about Uncanny X-Men #3? Warden Ellis’s exploits at Graymalkin have great potential for creating trouble, especially if the Warden can coerce or brainwash mutants into doing her bidding. We haven’t seen an Amanda Waller-esque character in Marvel for quite a while, so the setup has potential.

Further, the opening flashback led to a surprisingly cool twist at the end. I want to know more about The Hag and how she got from A to B.

What’s not great about Uncanny X-Men #3? The fight between mutant teams was forced, incomplete, and unsatisfying. Putting the seasoned X-Men back on their heels by a group of wildcard upstarts is a smart move, but it’s handled poorly here.

Plus, Rogue’s sudden decision to infiltrate Graymalkin comes out of nowhere and doesn’t make much sense considering the scattered, unfocused composition of her “team.” Remy’s in La-La-Land due to the out-of-nowhere influence of the Eye, and Wolverine wants nothing more to do with the hero business.

How’s the Art? David Marquez is a Class A artist, and it shows on every page. The backgrounds on most panels are lacking, but Marquez makes up for that lack with gorgeous figure work, costumes, facial acting, and framing. Marquez captures plenty of heart and emotive expressions with these characters, which gets you to buy into what they’re feeling.

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

Uncanny X-Men #2 is much less busy and unfocused than issue #1, but Gail Simone’s script takes shortcuts in the wrong spots, leading to an incomplete and unsatisfying battle, strange strategic decisions, and narrative gaps (How did Wolverine beat Deathdream?). That said, there are intriguing moments with the developments at Graymalkin and the origin of The Hag to keep readers engaged. Plus, David Marquez’s art is gorgeous.

6.2/10

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