Monday, June 8, 2015

X-Men: First Class by Jeff Parker Vol. 2 issue #1

Every time I read Jeff Parker's X-Men: First Class, everything in my life for the next twenty minutes or so just falls into place--like there's nothing to worry or fret about within that short span of time. This series is just relentlessly ADORABLE and the first issue for the second volume of this title starts with the same cutesy charm from the previous roster. This time, we zero in on Jean Grey, the token girl of the Original Core Five. Professor X has made the right observation that she's feeling out of place in their group for a while now, so he asked the help of one Sue Richards a.k.a Invisible Girl from the Fantastic Four to give her some needed "girl time" and guidance.

I thought the pairing of these two ladies was just lovely; not failing to mention the fact that we were able to get amazing interactions between not just Jean and Sue, but also with Jean and the rest of the Fantastic Four members who warmly welcomed her and she surprisingly jived well with their dynamics (much to Scott's apparent horror, especially when he saw her in the news, getting a bit cozy with Johnny Storm, the Human Torch). 

The moments they spent together in the pages were heartwarming in only a PG-13 series could accomplish. It was nice to see this young, impressionable and often insecure Jean paired with Sue Richards who never really much impressed me in her own series but I thought her characterization for this issue was quite flattering. Parker certainly did well contrasting the aspiring yet comparably inexperienced Jean to that of a self-made superheroine that is the Invisible Girl. In spite of the age and experience difference between them, Jean was able to hold up her end (which is not shocking for me BECAUSE MARVEL GIRL IS AWESOME, Y'ALL) during the tag-along missions with the FF, and she certainly made a lasting impression on Sue and the rest of her crew. And it was so darn cute how the X-guys reacted upon seeing their gal pal and teammate fighting crimes with another group, leading them to come to terms that perhaps they haven't been appreciating her that much, and that they need her more than they let on.

Characters from other Marvel titles making guest appearances in this series (like Thor a nd Gorilla-man) and having them meaningfully interact with the mutant youngsters should totally be a status quo now because it adds to my pleasure and enjoyment of this series as a whole. For a first issue in the second volume, this one has enough delightful moments of sweetness that made me feel warm and fuzzy. Here are the highlights that made me go "awwwww..." If it's even plausible to have an overload in cuteness then I'm already dead after this.



RECOMMENDED: 8/10

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