Uncanny X-Men by Kieron Gillen—Volume 3

Comic Info

Uncanny X-Men (2) #12

Reprints Uncanny X-Men (2) #11-14 (June 2012-August 2012).  The Phoenix Force has been unleashed and the focus of its power is Hope Summers.  As the Avengers and X-Men clamor to capture hope the teams find themselves at war to claim the young girl and her powers.  Meanwhile, Mr. Sinister is hatching a plan deep underground and preparing for war!

Written by Kieron Gillen, Uncanny X-Men by Kieron Gillen—Volume 3 collects four issues of the second volume of Uncanny X-Men during Avengers vs. X-Men storyline.  Following Uncanny X-Men by Kieron Gillen—Volume 2, the trade paperback features art by Greg Land (Uncanny X-Men #11-13) and Dustin Weaver (Uncanny X-Men #14).  The issues in the volume were also included in Uncanny X-Men by Kieron Gillen:  The Complete Collection—Volume 2.

I loved the X-Men.  I read both Uncanny X-Men and the ’90s spin-off series X-Men.  The X-Men were always a reliable solid.  Even if there was a bad writing stretch, the series always seemed to right itself and “get good” again (or at least above average)…this hasn’t happened in years.

This is some of the lowest points in X-Men history (and up until the time this review was written, the series still hasn’t really come back in my opinion).  The fun and family of X-Men has been eliminated.  The characters are barely recognizable and that is combined with an extremely shattered and unreadable narrative.

Uncanny X-Men (2) #14

Marvel’s big problem is that they often forget that comics aren’t just collections and they are individual issues.  This collection shows a bigger problem.  Not only do the issues not work as stand-alone issues with the story being secondary to the larger Avengers vs. X-Men storyline (the first issue of this volume has no story but a couple of half-written fights), but the issues aren’t even coherent when placed next to each other.  Big swaths of time seem to pass between each issue and nothing is explained.  It isn’t a satisfying read as a collection or the individual issues.

While visually interesting, the Mr. Sinister story also has the same problem.  I know Sinister from the years he’s been in the comic but I don’t know how or why he lives in London underground…and the issue does little to clear it up for any “new” readers.  The comic doesn’t understand the audience since regular reading is ideal but often not realistic or practical.

Uncanny X-Men by Kieron Gillen—Volume 3 doesn’t do much for me except make me mourn the X-Men of days past.  The X-Men were fun and fun to read, but now, the characters and the story have become a chore by becoming too bogged down.  DC often resets their comics (too often), but I feel Marvel needs a real reset soon because the writing and characters are lost.  Uncanny X-Men by Kieron Gillen—Volume 3 was followed by Uncanny X-Men by Kieron Gillen—Volume 4 which wrapped up the the second volume of the Uncanny X-Men series.

Related Links:

Uncanny X-Men by Kieron Gillen—Volume 1

Uncanny X-Men by Kieron Gillen—Volume 2