District X 1: Mr. M

district x volume 1 mr m cover trade paperback bishop
8.0 Overall Score
Story: 8/10
Art: 8/10

Smart, fun, different story

Could have more fun with the art

Comic Info

Comic Name:  District X

Publisher:  Marvel Comics

Writer:  David Hine

Artist:  David Yardin/Lan Medina/Mike Perkins

# of Issues:  6

Release Date:  2005

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District X #3

Reprints District X #1-6 (July 2004-December 2004).  Ismael Ortega and his partner run into trouble on a call in Mutant Town where the greatest concentration of mutants are all trying to live together.  With his partner hospitalized, Ismael finds himself with a new partner in the mysterious Bishop.  A war is breaking out between mutant gangsters Kaufman and Zapruder over the mutant drug Toad Juice.  As Bishop and Ismael try to stop the war, a mysterious man known as Mr. M could be the key…or could destroy them all!

Written by David Hine with illustrations by David Yardin, Lan Medina, and Mike Perkins, District X Volume 1:  Mr. M was part of Marvel Comics’ Mark Knights line of comics.  The comic spun out of Grant Morrison’s New X-Men series and was collected in two volumes (followed by a limited series called Mutopia X).

I actually really liked District X.  I’m a big fan of the police drama like Law & Order and in particular, the police portion of the show.  This comic combines elements of something like that with Alan Moore’s Top Ten and Powers (which it does steal from).

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District X #6

The concept of a “normal guy” investigating mutants with a mutant isn’t original, but District X is fun.  I like characters created by Hine and he shows (in this volume) that even some of the minor characters get a chance to develop.  You would think Bishop would be the star of the series, but Hine smartly makes him the costar…allows for a different read than most X-Men comics.

The art for the comic is also strong.  It isn’t a comic filled with costumes and goes for a grittier “real” style.  I do have a bit of a problem because every character apparently grows root-y looking things when they become mutants.  The artist could have had more fun with the art like Top Ten or Powers.

District X 1:  Mr. M showed a strong start for the series.  Rereading it, I still enjoy it and wish that it had run longer.  I think the comic had a ton of potential.  I’d love to see Ismael return someday even for a few cameos.  District X 1:  Mr. M was followed by District X 2:  Underworld.

Author: JPRoscoe View all posts by
Follow me on Twitter/Instagram/Letterboxd @JPRoscoe76! Loves all things pop-culture especially if it has a bit of a counter-culture twist. Plays video games (basically from the start when a neighbor brought home an Atari 2600), comic loving (for almost 30 years), and a true critic of movies. Enjoys the art house but also isn't afraid to let in one or two popular movies at the same time.

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