X-Men: First Class by Jeff Parker Vol. 2 issue #14

This is the continuation of the previous issue which features a rather misleading cover. I really thought that the robot Aaron went on a rampage and tried to kill the X-Men. But you will find out as you read on that this was not the case at all. Much like the last issue, the momentum of the narrative's stride was maintained pretty well. This was really enjoyable most likely because I'm very invested on this Aaron android who unfortunately did not survive his confrontation with the Lava Men. But alas I'm getting ahead of myself. 

The X-Men just lost Angel who decided to stay with his aunt in the Land of Mists because he felt more accepted there than in the outside world. Henry and Bobby are probably hoping that his absence is only temporary while both Scott and Jean knew that Warren may be gone for good. However, the former is just not emotionally stirred about it unlike the latter. 

Meanwhile, an old scientist friend of Charles Xavier asked his help to train the military A.I. Aaron alongside the X-Men which the professor allowed, trusting that his students can adjust and cooperate with a substitute member for a new mission. Everyone was okay about it but Jean who simply does not want a new teammate while she's still grieving the loss of another. Aaron is very advanced and senses Jean's understandable distrust of him. Luckily for him, Henry and Bobby seemed to enjoy having a robot around to tinker stuff with. Scott also sees Aaron as a tactical advantage. 

But while in the middle of a fight with the Lava Men, Aaron malfunctions. He did get back on track in the nick of time but then the X-Men received a telepathic message from the professor that some or Aaron's fellow A.I. robots had gone berserk earlier in a military base somewhere so he asked them to keep an eye in case Aaron starts acting weird. That's a handy problem during a mission. 

Later on during a second confrontation with the Lava Men, Aaron loses it and starts displaying existential crisis while getting beaten up by Lava Men as he sacrificed himself so the others can escape. Jean, moved by a sudden moment of sympathy as Aaron melts in the lava, retrieves a mechanism of what she perceives as his brain which was to the relief of his creator. This means that his data can be restored including memories of his interactions with the X-Men. That makes me happy. I might be able to see Aaron again. Hopefully he can join the X-Men again.

There was also bonus section in this issue which features wordless panels of the gang recalling their most fond memories of Warren. It was sweet and short and very moving. We only have at least six more issues to go before XMFC ends.

RECOMMENDED: 8/10

X-Men: First Class by Jeff Parker Vol. 2 issue #13

With Angel gone so he can live in the very accepting Land of Mists with his aunt and new girlfriend, the X-Men are
dealing with his loss in different ways. Scott seems umoved, more focused on whatever task at hand; Bobby still believes Warren is coming back in two weeks; Henry is constructing a life-size skeletal structure of a dinosaur fossil; and Jean is visibly wary of a possible new member joining their family. In this case, it's an artificial intelligence named Aaron, who is a military experiment headed by one of Charles Xavier's scientist friends.

This installment of X-Men was significantly more centered on character interaction and composition which was great because the OCF need new depth and dimension to their characterizations as individuals and as a unit, especially now thay we are in the twenty-first issue of the series (counting Vol. 1). For that development, I appreciate the scope in which this issue tackled using enough humor and subtlety just how much each X-Man is coping with Warren leaving. To some (like Bobby and Henry), the full effect of their friend's absence hasn't really sunk in. Meanwhile, Jean is the only one who is willing to acknowledge that he's gone but he doesn't have to be replaced so soon. Scott also acknowledges the loss but is more open to training a new member for future missions if there is such a need.

I don't find it peculiar at all that Scott seemed cold and uncaring that Warren is no longer with them; the dude is goal-oriented and would rather dwell on what is to gain in the aftermath of something. Scott had also recently come to terms that he wants to lead his comrades this time without any of his usual self-doubt and rridiculouslyextreme caution. He has made that choice to stay on the course as much as Warren decides not to do the same. I think Scott respected that choice and accepts that bygones are inevitable which was why he welcomed the robot Aaron into their team easily because he trusts the professor's intentions and now is ready to treat every new event as a learning experience. He sees the X-Men foremost as an operational team who need to function at their best and I think he was simply trying to set an example.

But Jean sees the X-Men as a family foremost and when a loved one goes way you should allow yourself to be sad. Both have a different approach on the matter which affects how they dealt with Aaron. While both Henry and Bobby are generally curious to have a robot working with them during a new mission, Jean is uncomfortable and distrustful, treating Aaron indirectly as a threat to the way things were and what she believed should stay the same. But Scott looks at the addition of Aaron as a pragmatic advantage. After all, Aaron's abilities are handy. As far as Scott is concerned, anyone who will replace Warren shouldn't need to have a personality, let alone feelings, which I know pisses Jean off even if she maintains a calm demeanor through the rest of the issue.

But I would assert that Scott cares more than she can imagine. He's just not outwardly emotional about it or possesses enough self-awareness to allow himself to miss a friend of theirs. So their new mission is to confront the Lava Men. But the Lava Men found them instead in a tragically convenient twist of fate. So onto the next issue!

RECOMMENDED: 8/10

X-Men: First Class by Jeff Parker Vol. 2 issue #12

Let's bury the lead in this review: basically, this is the last time we will see Angel and what a rather moving send-off it was! Now that I think about it, it was really only a matter of time for Warren Worthington III to leave the X-Men...and so soon at that. True to his winged nature, it's not exactly hard to believe that Warren desires freedom above everything but more than anything else he wants the freedom to roam in a place where people fully accept what he is. 

Sadly enough, being an X-Man, fighting crime, just doesn't cut it anymore. This twelfth issue of the series entitled Fly Away is definitely an emotionally resonant piece for me. After the weird story that preceded it, I was more than relieved to read something this intimate and intensely familiar as someone who always loved what the X-Men have long represented: underdogs who will never compromise their uniqueness as individuals as they fight to carve a piece in the world where they could both belong and live in harmony with others.

While Scott set out to confront a mutant serial killer somewhere in the jungle in issue #10, we get a flashback where Warren's parents paid him a visit to inform him that his favorite aunt (the same one who found them Gorilla-Man as their tour guide in issue #8 of Vol. 1) has been missing for a week in one of her exciting expeditions. He later leaves without permission from Xavier or informing his friends which peeved Jean. Luckily, she was able to communicate with him using a tracker and the two of them continue to correspond until Warren arrives in these majestic waterfalls where he discovered  a secret passage that may lead to where his aunt might be.

Upon getting inside, he was shocked to see to find the Land of Mists, a forgotten kingdom much like an Atlantis where his aunt has been staying and having a fabulous time. Warren spent hours there with her to meet the people and explore its territory. Meanwhile the rest of the X-Men were worried so they set out to find him. But Warren wasn't in any kind of trouble. In fact, he feels right at home. Everyone was welcoming and they saw his winged feature as a beautiful vessel. That was rather unexpected for him and it was the very first time he felt at ease being different, much more so than when he was among his classmates in Xavier's school. Once his friends saw for themselves how happier Warren is, they felt a bit guilty for not seeing before how lonely he must have been even among mutants, cooped up in a single place, limiting his interactions and contact from the rest of the world. The professor himself has also realized that he shouldn't obligate any of these kids to a life of crime-fighting if there is something else that makes them happy and Warren has clearly found it. As he eloquently explains it to Scott (who has a difference of opinion about the entire thing since he himself made a choice in issue #10 and so wanted to stay committed to their crusade as X-Men):

RECOMMENDED: 9/10

X-Men: First Class by Jeff Parker Vol. 2 issue #11

What the fuck are 'continue-teens'?

Well, whoever they are, they supposedly represent the real-life comic book readers who understand the laws and continuity lapses of superhero universes. I suppose this is Jeff Parker's attempt at meta commentary and literary style but I frankly did not give a damn. It was incomprehensible.

It's possible that the main reason why I didn't enjoy any of it was because it forced me to recall some Marvel villains who remain obscure only to me most likely because I'm not a Marvel fangirl in the first place so a fee of these characters and their overall significance to the meta-plot they are playing on goes way over my head. Shamefully so, I guess, but I couldn't google while reading this issue because I simply dislike interruptions when I read comics. Besides, right after finishing, I decided that I don't want to know more although the concept of meta teenage comic book readers helping out the X-Men does have its charm for a while.

Still, this is an issue to skip. Scott and Warren (both on individual missions) are also absent here so the OCF are incomplete so there is less interactive dynamics among them.

NOT NECESSARILY RECOMMENDED: 5/10

X-Men: First Class by Jeff Parker Vol. 2 issue #10

I have maintained a very complex and inexplicable relationship with one Scott Summers, otherwise known as the mutant Cyclops. I mean, honestly, who hasn't? Any X-Men reader and fan had, at one point in their lives, tried to understand how they feel about him because this motherfucker has never been flat on anyone's radar. He's far too much of a polarizing character to just be casually dismissed.

As the leader of the Original Core Five (I'm gonna start abbreviating this to OCF now to save time), Scott bears the burden of commanding missions and being responsible for everyone's participation, performance and safety. In XMFC, we get a youthful, doubtful and moody Scott who is afraid of his powers because shooting laser beams from your eyes is as dangerous as it gets and he always has to wear specialized shades to protect people around him. 

Nevertheless, Xavier sees him as someone who is born to lead mainly because he adheres to caution and values everyone's well-being because he worries in advance and sometimes to a fault. It's a sad development then to witness this golden boy turn rotten and now the infamous militant leader of the current comics run. It upsets me but it is inarguable the natural progression of his character arc which was a long time coming. 

But I digress. For this installment, we finally get a story where Scott is the sole central figure which was odd in itself because you'd think a single character can't carry an entire plot by himself but if there is anyone who can do it then I suppose it has to be Scott. The reason why everyone else is out of commission is because the four youngsters got some awful case of stomach flu and Scott was already sent in a solo mission by the professor so he did not get sick. 

The professor wanted to train him separate from everyone else because he was confident in Scott's abilities and as soon as they figured out together what Cyclops is up against, Xavier maintains that he wouldn't have chosen anyone else but him. It has always been apparent that Xavier is training Scott to one day take over when he's gone so sending him out on his own was only necessary. I'm also glad that he has an open communication with Xavier here the entire time.

In this mission, Scott learns that there are dangers to always having your guard up. The truth is, he needs to be less cautious and more sensitive to other needs and to stop treating himself like a walking hazard. It's just heartbreaking that when he did eventually get over this insecurity, he gains a less than optimistic perspective on his powers and leadership and became the harsher and inflexible semi-villain he is today in comics. So I was happy to be reminded of a young Scott, brimming with potentials. I really missed this version of him and I really want to keep reading this series just so I can hold onto this Scott Summers a little longer, if possible.

RECOMMENDED: 8/10

X-Men: First Class by Jeff Parker Vol. 2 issue #9

Normally, I'd be up for some female trifecta action (even when it's not of the lesbian variety) but seeing these three beauties as the central characters for this issue did not get me as excited as I hoped I would be. Nonetheless, such useless first impressions were thankfully cast aside once I did get around to actually reading this.

As I've never gotten tired saying it before, I maintain that Jeff Parker's XMFC is of PG-13 variety. You think by now I would be sick of it but not at all. Comics are supposed to relax you. As much as I appreciate superhero stories that challenge me mentally and attempt to engage me beyond entertainment, I also do love it when what I see is what I get and this was another issue in the roster that proves just that. And this time it features Marvel Girl,  Scarlet Witch and Black Widow as the leads and they were more than equipped to captivate my interest. 

I can really appreciate the mere fact that this series as a whole attempts to establish personal relationships between the X-Men and the slowly reforming Maximoff twins who have officially cut all ties from Magneto (who remains a no-show here; the Cherik shipper in me is itching for his appearance so he and Charles can fall back into their old-couple habits). S.H.I.E.L.D has taken an interest in this and has tasked Natasha (Black Widow) to get close to the young women and gauge their states of mind, particularly Scarlet Witch.

Basically, Nick Fury wants to keep tabs on Wanda and Pietro Maximoff and whether or not they're still rotten eggs. I supppse they have to witnessed the answer for themselves in action. The three gorgeous ladies put Charlie's Angels to shame as they infiltrated a HYDRA arny base and showcased that each of them is a force to be reckoned with.

What really sold this issue for me is the sisterhood between Jean and Wanda, two fantastic heroines whom I've always wanted to see as friends and this series has fulfilled that wish. Both have formidable and earth-shattering powers which makes for an interesting platonic pairing now, considering that down the line both will lose control over their own sanity ans wreak havoc. It just amuses me to see their idyllic versions enjoying each other's youthful company, if not slightly disturbed and saddened by it.

RECOMMENDED: 8/10

X-Men: First Class by Jeff Parker Volume 1

Not to be confused with the 2011 X-Men film adaptation that features the young, hot versions of Professor X and Magneto going all-out bittersweet bromance of the same name, Jeff Parker's kiddie-to-early-teen series is nothing nearly as gripping but is rather so insistently fucking adorbs with a heartfelt sincerity that matches its varied visual color and illustrations courtesy of artist Roger Cruz.

Though basically a re-vamp of the sixties version where the core five as mentioned before have the leading roles, the timeline for this comic book series seems to be placed in a more modern setting since Bobby mentions e-mail which means they have internet, which means this is not happening during the sixties.

I was also happy with the fact that the long-held characterizations for both these characters are intact for this AU series. Just like in the Stan Lee originals, young Scott is hopelessly self-doubting, always terrified that he might injure someone he cares about with his powers. He'd approach the professor about him not being worthy of the leadership role only to be comforted time and time again that he is made to lead. I love emo-Scott like you wouldn't believe so this was a nice touch to preserve the vulnerability of an aspiring hero back then who has now turned into comics' most formidable villains these days. 

Meanwhile, we have Jean Grey who is such a sweet thing that even the stuffy Xavier finds himself softening whenever he's around her, most likely because they're both telepaths which means there's an immediate intimacy and relation there. I sure hope they won't bring back the angle where the professor is secretly infatuated with his teenage student because goddammit, Stan Lee, that was creepy as all fuck. But at this point, being the only girl but with badass telekinesis at that, who can't help falling for Jeanie?

And then we have Henry McCoy who is your typical big-guy-with-a-soft-heart but also a nerdy motherfucker who is totes the teacher's pet during classroom discussions. It's because Henry doesn't really have anyone to bond with when it comes to science stuff aside from the professor so he eagerly chats away whenever Xavier is around to accommodate him. We have Warren who would rather fly out in the sky with his pretty wings than study world history. Xavier communicates telepathically with him when this happens, always finding the right words to say to humble the impulsive upper-class white boy himself.

Finally, we have Bobby Drake who is the youngest of the bunch and his zingers and overall laid-back attitude make me laugh. He definitely makes everything in the stories fun.

If you want something light, quirky and fun then you will enjoy this series as long as you're not the type of comic book reader who thinks superhero stories need to be gritty and mature all the time. Centered around the Original Core Five of Stan Lee's idyllic sixties era , X-Men: First Class is endearing and captivating enough for all ages to enjoy. If you have a child of your own or any niece or nephew who loves the superheroes particularly the X-Men and they're under 13 or so then this is the series I can recommend you buy for them. 

RECOMMENDED: 9/10

X-Men: First Class by Jeff Parker Vol. 2 issue #8

Remember when I asked in my review of the previous issue regarding how far this PG-13 series is planning to take foreshadowing Jean Grey's downwards spiral to Dark Phoenix entity? Well, my friends, this outstanding issue did not just foreshadow it: it prefectly depicted her as the malevolent DP. Intrigued? I certainly was.

Roger Cruz, the usual artist of the series, takes a break to allow Eric Nguyen to illustrate this issue. For its Marvel character guest star, we get Man-Thing which, if I remember correctly, is Marvel's answer to DC/Vertigo's popular Swamp Thing. Unlike with the latter, I don't know a damn thing about Man-Thing so I can only discuss his participation here in the plot which is pretty marvelous. What was so gripping about this issue, aside from Nguyen's visual presentations, is the substantial plot that calls back what we have previously witnessed in the earlier issues regarding Bobby Drake and Jean Grey.

From what I can understand, Man-Thing has the ability to travel through dimensions. Is this canon? Maybe. I don't have the energy to research more of this character but for the sake of this story let's just consider that ability of his as gospel-truth. While in a mission, the X-Men encounter Man-Thing and they were transported into different timelines of human history in one blink of existence at a time. There were warriors on winged horses, Nazis on ships, etc. For a time the five of them managed to fight theit way through,  that was until present and future started blending together and the team lost Bobby and Jean in the midst of the commotion. And if they don't find them before dimensions start closing up, they might lose them forever.

The real draw of this issue has to be the climactic revelations concerning the possible grim futures awaiting Jean and Bobby; worlds in which Jean becomes the Dark Phoenix as she slays everybody in her wake. Meanwhile, Bobby becomes a cruel Frost Giant and battles the Mighty Thor. The present young versions of these two somehow united with these grim future manifestations and the rest of the heroes have to find a way to pull them out while not freaking out as they watch their friends literally becomes nightmarish monsters. Fortunately enough, they were successful in saving both of them but Bobby and Jean also remembered what happened and are now going to carry those revelations from now on. It's up to them to decide if those futures will come true. After all, their choices will determine who they will become someday. They should have another follow-up to these character arcs later on because it's been enticing to read so far.

This is the darkest that Jeff Parker's series could get, I believe and it was a nice balance to all the fluff and goodness of the earlier issues and overall tonality. I certainly hope we'd start getting more mature issues like this one as we go on with the rest of the roster.

RECOMMENDED: 9/10

X-Men: First Class by Jeff Parker Vol. 2 issue #7

Now this was an epic resolution to a startling premise. I was very impressed, considering that the last two-parter story of this series, Island X, fell apart in its conclusion. Meanwhile, this one entitled The Catalyst, did not. Last issue, which only ran about eighteen pages, has showcased the deftness of the narrative by being able to deliver the plot on brisk simplicity which followed a rather stakes-high cliffhanger. 

NASA asked for the help of Charles Xavier to deter a comet from landing on earth. Using his telepathy, Professor X tried to assess if there is any living organism in the comet but was disappointed to find out that there is none...or is there not? The X-Men and their mentor woke up the very next day only to discover that they have each lost their respective unique powers. The only one happy about it was Scott and I would be too if it meant not always having to wear specialized shades indoors to avoid accidentally shooting off laser beams at my friends. 

To make matters crazier, a horde of Sentinels started attacking the Xavier Mansion because why the fuck not. Fortunately, because of the youngsters and their teacher getting timely depowered, the Sentinels did not kill them and instead accessed Cerebro's files which included the whereabouts of other mutants, particularly Scarlet Witch and her brother Quicksilver's location. As the Sentinels hunt them down, the X-Men and the professor decided to still do something, mutant-powered or not, and got there just in time as the twins try to fight off the motherfucking hate-mongering robots.

Just as hope for survival looks dire, the X-Men and Professor X regained their powers which also happened to be multiplied tenfold. With such a breadth and depth of powers, they were not only able to defeat the Sentinels, they goddamned owned their asses. It was spectacular and a little bit terrifying. The heroes soon realized that some entity has enhanced their mutation, giving them absolute control and powers that they know might cost their humanity. They went back to the Mansion to discover a piece of the aforementioned comet has landed near their home,  undoubtedly honing in towards the professor's telepathy. After a brief discussion, each of them--though with noted sad resignation--agreed they should give up the overflowing magnitude of their powers so the professor once again communicated with the comet entity which recognized his imprint and therefore terminated whatever it was doing to their genes. 

Now, they could have had it all right there. Nobody would have to know. They can continue using the comet to channel their powers from and justify doing so for the good of mankind. But the youngsters showed emotional maturity by showing that they understand the hefty price they will pay for it and decided wisely not to risk it.

It's worth noting that as they send that piece of comet back to space, we see Jean Grey staring longingly after it. When Scott asked her about it, she merely dismissed that she's definitely going to miss being able to fly. As seen in the first issue of Vol. 2, Jean has been trying to use her telekenesis to fly herself from the ground...and promptly failing. Now she got the taste of real power and we all know what happens to her eventually, which was why there was some dread at the pit of my stomach as I watch her face with that hopeful expression. Jean looks as if she's open to a source of power far greater than ever before which builds up the upcoming events where she will posses the power of the Phoenix until it ultimately eats her up and transforms her into a dark entity.

This is still a PG-13 series so I wonder how far they will push through showcasing Jean Grey's dark potentials.

RECOMMENDED: 8/10

X-Men: First Class by Jeff Parker Vol. 2 issue #6

Well, well, well.

Now THIS is how you build up another chaptered arc!

The previous issue was sort of a downer which was even more disappointing because I was pleased to see the Incredible Hulk make an appearance as one of the weekly Marvel guest star for XMFC series, but the story he was included in just wasn't substantial enough to captivate my interest. The entire thing was forgettable so let's move on from that and talk about this one.

With only eighteen pages, The Catalyst fairly did a quick and exciting job to establish the parameters and consequential stakes concerning the new clusterfuckery the X-Men and the professor are going to deal with, which actually hasn't been revealed yet. Still, I sure hope this arc would be much better than the last one with the monster island whose premise was a lot more enjoyable than its half-baked resolution.

For this issue, it started with a scene inside a space station where the professor volunteered his powers to detect a possible alien life form in a comet that's about to strike a surface of the Earth. Xavier manages to detain its direction to avoid contact with our world but was sad to inform everyone else that he didn't get to communicate with any existing life form at the comet's core.

The next day, everyone woke up without their mutant powers. Henry has normal hands and feet, Bobby can't ice up, Jean has no telekenis, Professor X has no telepathy while Warren's wings started shedding, which was quite a heartbreaking scene in itself. Scott was the only one who was happy to get rid of his pesky laser beams which was kind of insensitive to his friends, honestly.

However, he did prove himself surprisingly useful when a horde of goddamn Sentinels attacked the mansion right when everyone is stupefied and powerless. Even without his powers, Scott's training snapped into action and he lured one Sentinel inside the Danger Room using only his quick reflexes. I concur with Bobby; Scott was such a badass and he didn't even need to go all-Cyclops. It only goes to show that he's a natural, dependable leader, mutant-powered or not.

What was curious was that rather timely Sentinel attack--and the even more confounding fact that they attacked the kids in the first place when they're supposed to be programmed to detect mutants and I assume that if the X-Men are de-powered then that means that the Sentinels won't register them as threats. That could mean that the X-gene might still be present in them and is suppressed--or somebody knows shit like this is gonna go down and has re-programmed the Sentinels.

Does this have anything to do with the comet earlier? I don't know. AND I CAN'T WAIT TO FIND OUT. I'm really excited to see where this story leads and how and why did they lose their mutations all of a sudden.

RECOMMENDED: 8/10

X-Men: First Class by Jeff Parker Vol. 2 issue #5

This wasn't a very remarkable issue which was disappointing for me because I've gotten used to the fact that every time we get another Marvel character to guest star, something awesome is going to happen and it's mostly hinged on the fact that said Marvel guest would have a meaningful interaction with certain member of the X-Men (much like Thor did with Bobby, and Sue Richards with Jean). This time, the Hulk's appearance feels like they were going for something of a filler, merely bridging a flimsy connection between Dr. Bruce Banner and Xavier's gifted mutants. Plot-wise, there's nothing substantial offered in the story either. It was just ordinary.

The X-Men track down the Hulk because the military has asked for Xavier's help to contain this violent creature only for them to find out that the military actually plans to use Hulk as a weapon so with those intentions, the X-Men and the professor decided to report nothing back to the military. They got to meet Bruce Banner in his human form. The characters just had a nice moment of conversation to fill in the pages as well as the fight scenes in between. 

No real threat was fought, or any objective was accomplished. I would have liked if they didn't take so long to reveal that the military is the one not to be trusted. If they did, maybe we would have seen the Hulk and the X-Men duke it out with the soldiers instead, but hey, maybe that's too soon or too crowded visually. I don't know what the idea was but I just wished they had more meat and bones in the story, that's all. There's really nothing more to say about this issue which makes my review of it rather brief, I know.

It's the first one in the  roster that was mediocre. I hope this doesn't become a trend later on.

RECOMMENDED: 6/10

X-Men: First Class by Jeff Parker Vol. 2 issue #4

I honestly believe that I've been living for the days that I would come across heartfelt fluff like this entire series written by Jeff Parker has proven to be time and time again. Like I said, the Original Core Five of Cyclops, Marvel Girl, Beast, Iceman and Angel are becoming my new favorite version of the X-Men because Parker has portrayed them here in such a way that still has the same flavors as the Stan Lee sixties era but also more stylishly drawn (thanks to the exuberant illustrations of Roger Cruz) and more in-tune with modern sensibilities. Everything has been either heartbreakingly delightful or delightfully heartbreaking. No issue captures both qualities in the same page as this fourth issue of Volume 2.

It's spring break in the Xavier Mansion and everyone is going home except for Bobby Drake and Henry McCoy who purposefully stayed behind the school for very different reasons. Henry wants to study for their new lessons in advance (eager to impress Xavier and devour new knowledge as usual and talk about it with Xavier) while Bobby wants to have fun without superhero-ing duties on his plate. Henry suggests that they should study together but then Xavier telepathically communicates that the two youngsters should enjoy the vacation like what normal people should be doing. Encouraged by their mentor, the two guys decided to take Warren's pricey car for a spin and go on a road trip for several days.

Ah, the formulaic road trip. Who doesn't enjoy this worn-out material as long as the characters who get to be a part of the story are interesting enough to sustain the humor, adventure and insight that such a journey entails? I know I was engrossed the entire time because Henry and Bobby are probably the most unlikely pairing I could think of among the five and yet they worked so seamlessly together that I was shocked they didn't become closer friends before. Now it looks like that's bound to happen, considering they basically crossed off all the items in the list of 'road trip with your buddy'. They went to a casino to gamble, got kicked out; they went to a science exhibition thingie; petted animals, rode amusement park rides; speedboating; then camping--Bobby even taught Henry how to drive. And then they saved an entire city of people from getting hit by a tsunami using their identities as the X-Men. Overall, it was anyone could have wished for in a spontaneous road trip. Through it all, they had discussions about their classmates and whatnot, and then as they wait for the tsunami to subside while enclosed in a thick frozen igloo courtesy of Bobby, they had this quiet moment of reflection:

I certainly hope that we get to see their friendship evolve some more in the coming issues!

RECOMMENDED: 8/10

X-Men: First Class by Jeff Parker Vol. 2 issue #3

This is the second part of the two-parter story Island X. Unlike the previous installment which was promising in its execution (not to mention so goddamn humorous with its one-liners and overall comedic scenes), this issue was pretty anti-climactic for me. I didn't really have any fixed expectations as to what kind of resolution will take place here but at the same time, I feel like this story shouldn't have been stretched out for two issues at all. I think it would have worked more superbly if only the expanse of the entire thing extended to thirty pages alone.

However, the standard page requirement per issue is is twenty-four, so I think that affected the decision to divide this story into halves. It worked, I guess, as a self-contained action-adventure story where we see the X-Men in a dangerous foreign place without their mentor to hold them together. It was fun and exciting for the first installment of said arc, but the second part didn't deliver a satisfying pay-off. Basically, Professor X sent his gifted youngsters to some island crawling with creepy-as-fuck creatures, all of which are trying to murder and eat them in horrific ways and most probably not in that order. It was revealed that this wasn't the real Xavier after all (shocker) but no other than motherfucking Mastermind. 

As we all know, Mags and Toad were carried by Stranger into outer space while the Maximoff twins decided to also give the hate-mongering imposition of mutant superiority a rest, so the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants was officially disbanded. Mastermind, meanwhile, became some sort of statue display in the Xavier Mansion. I remember seeing a panel of him in the earlier issue and it was pretty great that Parker decided to bring him back using subtlety and surprise by incorporating him in this arc, revealing that it was him who was behind the X-Men's suicide mission after all. My only quip was how easily the youngsters believed that it was really the Professor giving them instructions to "go to the volcano" in the most rude, snappish way possible, and not have any alarms go off until Scott thought more about it and realized that--despite his flaws--Xavier would not be so obviously neglectful with malicious intent. I mean okay, sure, Chuck has a widely known canon history of being neglectful here and there in the general sense--who the fuck recruits kids and make them fight monsters as part of the school curriculum--but Chuck does it for the best intentions; to showcase to the rest of the society that mutants can commit heroic acts and dedicate their lives saving their unworthy asses. But to obviously lead his gifted students to their deaths and outwardly shouting at them during his telepathic communications? It's a wonder why they didn't pick up earlier, especially Jean, that they're not talking to the professor at all. But then again, they have been chased around by various monsters in a span of less than an hour so I guess it's forgivable they didn't notice sooner.

Anyway, the ruse was uncovered right before this issue ends and the real Xavier successfully tracks them down in the island known only as "monster island" (again, shocker) and confront Mastermind in a brief psionic battle, much to Bobby's glee ("Yeah, Giant-Head Fight!" as he deemed it). That amusing commentary aside, I just thought this issue was weak. There was an incompleteness to the way it was resolved.

RECOMMENDED: 7/10

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

After finishing this outstanding first part of a two-parter story, all I could think to myself is that, "Huh, perhaps the X-Men should get stranded in a horrific island more", which would be an awful thing to say to any group of people under normal circumstances (unless they happen to be the Lost flight survivors because them fuckers in that purgatory island have sure produced four seasons not even counting the last two final seasons of compelling drama). But I think that casual comment can also be excusable for the X-Men in this issue because the second installment of the Volume 2 series entitled Island X had been
exciting and very funny at the same time.

I really almost thought they were in Savage Land and I have such fond memories of that wicked place because that's where Professor X and Magneto had their abduction/date courtesy of Sinister (as featured in the nineties cartoon AND IT WAS GLORIOUSLY HILARIOUS). This story almost resembles the tonality of that said episode, only this time even scarier and just plain bizarre creatures roamed around this weird-ass place. It started when Professor X "head-called" the fivesome to navigate this unnamed island somewhere. Without question, the youngsters obeyed and started on the quest. Said quest, apparently, involved getting nearly stomped by ugly, ferocious giants, scared shitless by GODDAMN FLYING MONKEYS (much to Bobby's horror), almost get eaten by a tree that can imitate the human voice and has fangs; AND THEN almost get their blood sucked on by vicious butterflies that just started attacking them while they managed to take a break from the running and not-dying to eat their packed sandwiches.

So yes, it's no shocker that from what I described, that everything about this story was RIDICULOUS and yet strangely engrossing all the same. Professor X's very brief telepathic conversations with them were weird too; it's as if he is purposefully being evasive and neglectful (which, to be fair, is his standard shtick but after the eighth issue from Volume 1 which featured him hugging it out with his students, I was surprised that he still seemed rather distant after that). Furthermore, there are so many quotable zingers for this issue that almost made me laugh aloud while reading (but I couldn't because I was at work). Here are some of those juicy exchanges:

Angel: Those bats look kind of chubby.
Beast: Perhaps they're fruit bats.
Angel: *genuinely curious* Does fruit make you chubby?

Angel: They're FLYING MONKEYS!
Marvel Girl: NOT IN MY HAIR! *starts running away ahead from the group*
Iceman: Frostbite! And tell the Wicked Witch I've got a water bucket with her name on it. That's right, childhood trauma! This ain't little Bobby in his underoos. You're dealing with the Iceman now!

Angel: You mean all these things could be mutants?
Beast: Exactly. What if a charged meteorite landed here years ago, influencing the gene pool?
Iceman: Or what if an atom in my hand is a tiny planet and the earth is just an atom in a bigger guy's hand? I mean, whoa.
Marvel Girl: Bobby, if you don't have anything to offer, I've got a can of shut up here in the pack.

BUT MY FAVORITE MOMENT was when Scott, who has been reticent about all of this, FINALLY LOSES IT AND BLAMES XAVIER.

But that's just the icing on the cake because:

Think again,  Bobby.

RECOMMENDED: 8/10

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

X-Men: First Class by Jeff Parker issue #8

So here we are at the very last issue of the first volume of Jeff Parker's X-Men: First Class. It turns out that Chuck's extended vacation has become a nightmarish living hell as he gets trapped within a cursed cave somewhere in the dangerous terrain of Congo, Africa--and it's up to his gifted youngsters to save him! Aided by Kenneth Hale--also known as Gorilla-Man, former member of the Avengers--the X-Men search for their missing mentor in the jungle. 

I really enjoyed this issue because it was great to see them outside their comfort zones, literally and metaphorically. Through telepathic projection, Xavier reaches out unknowingly to Jean in the middle of the night and the five of them spent some time researching where Charles could possibly be until they discovered he could be in Africa, thanks to Henry's data gathering. Meanwhile, Warren uses his contacts and reaches out to his aunt so they can be provided for some transportation as well as a tour guide to help them navigate the wilderness.

At this point, I'm so goddamn in love with Scott, Jean, Warren, Bobby and Henry and I root for them every single time mostly because this PG-13 series has made them so accessible as individuals and as a unit. I feel like I'm ten years old again, watching admirable superheroes fight their way together and never leaving each other behind when push comes to shove. This issue has given me exactly that; not to mention the participation of Gorilla-man which is easily the highlight of this story. 

I don't know anything about this character and this is really my first and probably my only encounter of him. That being said, I find Hale to be an enjoyable addition to the group, particularly with the way he reacted with everyone as they one by one demonstrated their mutant abilities. You can see that he was impressed with a kind of wonder and curiosity only an adult like himself can display in the presence of seeing youngsters like the X-Men brimming with so much potential for heroism. I know I'd be too.

One of the things I like about the issues for X-Men: First Class is the page feature where the cast of characters are displayed and they serve as notes for each of them to write on. We had Bobby talking about his team in the first issue then Jean, Scott, Henry and Warren (whose cursive penmanship really made me giggle; of course he writes like that--while Scott is the only one who uses a red pen). Cerebro even got a chance to post his own evaluations for each member of the team, citing their excellence in class and the field--except for Bobby whose only comment he puts in was that he had a perfect attendance record (LOL). For the last issue, we have the professor's notes at last and I wanted to post them because I find each note he had on a student to be so "awww"-inspiring. It's easy to forget that Charles is actually well-equipped to handle and relate to teens even if he alternates from being too stiff or a tad being creepy when around them. This version of Xavier, however, seems closest to the one Patrick Stewart portrays in the movies who is undoubtedly a Professor X I will look up to. There are just instances in comics I kind of get uncomfortable about him but thank god it's not like that in XMFC. Just look at his insights on each student:

Anyway, back to the story at hand: the team eventually get to the cave where their mentor lay, slightly damaged and physically drained. He explained that some force has draw him in while he was looking for an emerging mutant around the place. As soon as he got inside the cave, he found himself unable to get out and not just because of his physical ailment. It turns out that the cave somehow zaps out any kind of energy of survival instinct, making its captives feel hopeless and unable to fight back because it makes them not want to resist. Hale was the only one immune to this so he single-handledly helped each youngster utilize their powers even if they are quite lethargic about it by now. As soon as Hale was able to create a hole in the cave using Scott's laser beam, he tossed Angel who finally recovered his energy and then Hale had him carry Jean Grey who immediately used her telekinesis to lift them out there. It was successful. Xavier thanked Hale and Hale expressed his confidence that the X-Men's continued efforts of noble intentions and acts will get society to turn around someday and be accepting of their mutant kind. With that, the X-Men leave Africa with their mentor and we get this really sweet-ass panel of Jean Grey saying that they found their treasure and it's no other than Professor X.

RECOMMENDED: 9/10

X-Men: First Class by Jeff Parker issue #7

So Charles Xavier is apparently still on vacation for this issue much like the last time. Why the fuck is he doing that anyway? I have no other choice but to listen to my shipper senses which lead me to believe, naturally, that he's having secretive rendezvous with his public enemy but lover-on-the-down-low, Erik Magnus Lehnsherr (Magneto). 

Except that it turns out the Brotherhood has been disbanded when the Stranger, being a jerk, took off to space with Mags and Toad with him. OR MAYBE HE'S BACK with Mags and Toad on earth. And Charles sensed it so he packed up his things so he can meet his long-lost lover---ah, forget it. I'm not going to keep pushing this ridiculous fan-theory.

That being said, this issue, if you can't already tell by the cover, is easily about romantic affairs and whatnot, focusing on Angel and Scarlet Witch's clandestine dates and the domineering Quicksilver who does not approve.

It looks like Warren finally has some good reason to ditch classes and not just to zoom innto the skies and muck around. This time he's seeing Wanda (they've been in four dates now) and the rest of the X-Men are worried as hell especially when Quicksilver, Wanda's twin bro, decides to pay them a visit and bitch about the possibility that the X-Men abducted his sister and some kind of bullshit like that. When he fled, the team decided to consult Cerebro and they found out Hank used magic fingers to hack the damn thing and give up the Scarlet Witch's location since she's still in the country and Warren totes wanna get on with her. 

Hank agreed to be a gentleman and keep it a secret much to Jean and Bobby's dismay. Scott, though--being Scott--couldn't be bothered, citing they're both adults and they really should get to class (even though the professor hasn't been teaching anyway). Still, Warren and Wanda do figure out by now that they live far too different lives even if they're no longer fighting on opposing sides. They were about to end things officially when Pietro shows up to be a dick, causing to almost destroy a playground filled with children when the three of them have an unpleasant confrontation. Seriously, of all the places to have an argument with, they pick a children's playground!

Thank god that the X-Men arrived in their shitty minivan (Prof took the jet) so they can interfere and rescue the children from the commotion. Afterwards, Quicksilver realized he was being a dick, thanks to Jean's intervention, since Marvel Girl was not pleased to have a man--regardless if he was being a protective big brother--dictate another fellow gal when it comes to making her own decisions. Jean was adamant about that, forcing the twins to finally have an honest conversation about their siblingship. So everything gets resolved nicely in what you can pretty much expect from a PG-13 series such as Jeff Parke's XMFC. To end the issue, we get the X-Men play with the children they rescued earlier which is just swell because LOOK AT HOW GODDAMN CUTE EVERYTHING IS!!

RECOMMENDED: 7/10

X-Men: First Class by Jeff Parker issue #6

Well, this was another great issue with some surprising amount of heart to it. Much like the previous installment, I think this issue also opens a possibility for another arc in the future. In the fifth issue, we see the cult of Vanir taking keen interest in Bobby Drake's elemental powers, probably in the process of figuring out how to abduct and experiment on him in their next encounter. Meanwhile, this issue presents us with yet another group of villains: the Skrull, and the continued conflict and connection they might have with our heroes as the story of the series progressed. After all, the basic premise of any adventure saga is continuity, more so in a comic book. 

Now, the Skrull are originally Fantastic Four villains, but it's a nice touch to see a faction of them interact with the X-Men. What really sold me for this issue was the character tension among the X-Men and the disguised Skrull operatives who apparently found a way to imitate the Original Core Five's powers so they can wreak havoc in the name of the X-Men. This is distressing news to the youngsters, especially since Professor X has left to attend some personal business (probably to "play chess" with his "old friend", who knows?). They decided to take their matters into their own hands and find a way to clean up after the fiasco these fake X-Men have left in their wake. Furthermore, it looks as if the youngsters themselves have made friends outside of their mutant rag-tag team, whom they have met at a coffee shop. 

It's only too easy to forget that they're college-aged people who probably want to have some other kind of sustained interaction with other members of their peer group after all, and it's great to see Parker finally touch upon that issue. Much like in Young Justice, the Original Core Five for this X-title are superbly trained combat fighters who undergo missions, facing danger and death almost daily. However, in the X-Men's case, there is also the theme of the pursuit of acceptance from society. For the X-Men, it's not only about protecting ordinary folk like us but also to show us that they're to be trusted and welcomed in our lives. That's the vision-mission of Xavier's School for the Gifted after all: integration of mutant kind.

Unfortunately, bigotry is unavoidable because human beings are prone to ignorance and fear and that only produced a cocktail of hatred and discrimination. Since this is the revamp version of the Stan Lee era, we will never get a full-blown race war among mutants and humans akin to the Claremont scale of storytelling (The X-Tinction Agenda and God Loves, Man Kills being the primary examples) but I think this PG-13 series can get away from hinting small moments of such discord. Personally, I wouldn't mind shades of it appearing for X-Men: First Class but I also know this is meant to be a cutesy and entertaining series so those instances of social injustice will probably won't be heavy-handed which is good because I want this series' primary focus to be on the characters' relationships and respective developments as individuals and as a team. I'm clearly very much hooked in every way since I began reading and I would like to see more of the X-Men getting to know themselves better and what roles they could play and evolve from.

And I definitely want to see the return of those five young Skrulls who seem to have some fondness for the Original Core Five at this point seeing as we get this great moment of self-reflection from Warren Worrington who, for quite some time, has been the ditzy blond of the group with a nice car and a pair of wings he uses to escape Professor X's classroom lectures---until now:

So, yes, I LOVE THIS ISSUE much like the previous one. Looking forward to seeing the Skrulls again!

RECOMMENDED: 9/10