Mark Millar

While the volume (like the previous one) in my eyes frequently suffers from what I feel is a common trait of Millar's work, this being a crassness that feels like it is trying too hard to be edgy and just rings phoney instead, from a plotting perspective this is an adroit weaving of classic X-Men and Marvel elements into an exciting and powerful retelling of the X-Men's origins. In particular, I am very fond of the portrayal of Xavier himself here, perhaps the one character with which the added 'edginess' really works, consistently and throughout.… (more)

Mark Millar writes a Superman tribute -- well, by way of Captain Marvel, Jr., really -- wherein a tween with debilitating multiple sclerosis is granted a wish to become the superhero in the movie he just watched.

The beginning chapters go well enough, playing up the Big aspects and going fully through the obligatory super power experimentation and exploration sequences. They also introduce a hard-hitting Lois Lane type to dog the new hero with questions about his origin and unknowingly attempt the seduction of a 12-year-old.

The later chapters suffer a bit as a twist is introduced that causes the ending to become rushed and sloppy and less than satisfying.

But Leinil Francis Yu makes it all look good, and I still had enough fun to give the book a thumbs up despite those late missteps.… (more)