#xmen marvel comics reviews generationx jubilee naturegirl hindsight

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REVIEW: Generation X: Natural Selection

Publisher: Marvel Entertainment, LLC

Publication Dates: May 17, 2017 to August 16, 2017

Creators 

Christina Strain (writer, 1-5); Amilcar Pinna (artist, 1-4); Felipe Sobreiro (colorist, 1-5); VC’s Clayton Cowles (letterer, 1-5); Jay David Ramos (colorist, 2); Chris Sotomayor (colorist, 2); Nolan Woodward (colorist, 3); Roberto Poggi (artist, 3, inker, 4); Martin Morazzo (artist, 4, inker, 4); Alberto Jimenez Alburquerque (artist, 5)

Summary

Jubilee has been assigned by Headmistress Kitty Pryde to mentor a class of mutants at the new Xavier Institute in Central Park. Her class consists of Kid Omega, Nature Girl, Eye-Boy, Bling, and Morph. As new student Hindsight enters the fold, the school is attacked by Purifiers. Kitty tells Jubilee’s team to sit the skirmish out, but they disagree and beat the Purifiers (mostly single-handedly by Quentin) to the frustration and pride of their new mentor.

While exploring Central Park one evening, the students come across classmate Face after he’s been attacked by a mysterious entity. After getting him medical attention, Hindsight uses his powers of psychometry to “see” Face’s attacker, or at least its general location. Disobeying their curfew, the team heads out to confront the assailant in a tunnel underneath the park. The find the attacker – M-Plate, the vampiric sibling hybrid of former Generation X members Emplate and M – and quickly lose the fight. Bling especially takes a beating. But the cavalry of Jubilee, Pixie, and Chamber arrive in time to scare M-Plate away and save the students. But Jubilee vows to find M-Plate and kick her ass anyway.

Following this story, Eye-Boy and Nature Girl have an adventure of their own. Trevor’s powers are enhancing and he’s able to see through clothing, skin, and tissue, much to his horror. He finds though that Lin is immune to this effect. While discussing this curiosity, Trevor notices a raccoon stealing a classmate’s wallet. Lin and Trevor confront the raccoon using Lin’s powers to speak with animals, and learn that he and other Central Park animals are under the control of a Rat King in the sewers. Eye-Boy and Naturel Girl confront the Rat King, force him to release the animals from his control, and return the stolen items to their classmates.

Review

It’s clear that the mission of this series is to gather a team of misfit mutants, have them bond in and out of the classroom, and tell stories of mutant characters that don’t typically grab the headlines. It’s supposed to be reminiscent of the original Generation X, New X-Men, and Wolverine & the X-Men all at once. That’s not a bad goal to have; not every X-Men comic book has to start a Wolverine or a Cyclops, and considering RessurXion, there’s ample room to tell a story of these underutilized characters.

But upon release, this series had a complex blend of strengths and challenges that either drew in fascinated readers or repelled them entirely. For starters, the series has collected terrific characters and spent the first few issues on exposition rather than investing in any substantive plot. We meet Hindsight for the first time, and we learn that the team is comprised of psychologically disparate individuals: ambitious Bling, cowardly Eye-Boy, narcissistic Kid Omega, juvenile Morph, quirky Nature Girl, and the now vampiric Jubilee. It’s quite a motley crew, even for a comic book. In the first two issues, there’s a lot going on and much to appreciate: Jubilee’s struggles in her role as a mentor; the team’s status as non-X-Men and how that impacts their ambitions; Kid Omega’s secret request to come back to the mansion; Bling’s self-interests; Hindsight’s entire introductory experience; Andre the janitor; and so, so many cameos.

However, a well-built environment and an appealing cast doesn’t make up for the fully absent plot. The latest POV character (Hindsight) and an irrelevant villain’s inconsequential attack (the Purifiers) are not enough to ignite interest in a new series. It’s not until the third issue following the attack on Face that anything of substance begins to happen. And while that may seem okay in trade, it’s hard to maintain interest from the public in monthly sales when the first two issues are non-starters. One could argue that this series would have benefitted from a single, giant-sized premier that consolidated Nos. 1-3 into one issue, which would have given readers everything they want: a new character, a fun team, a new environment, loads of exposition, and a plot to follow.  

But the real trouble here is the art. Pinna’s highly stylized work – distinguishable by its dynamic perspectives and inattention to reality – is, in theory, a good match for the series. It’s odd, somewhat surreal depiction of characters and faces is agreeable to the strange line-up of misfits that comprises the team. But in execution, it’s confusing and distracting. For example, for much of Pinna’s run on Generation X, Jubilee’s nose, mouth, and eyes all seem to be in combat with one other, each struggling to escape her face. And Quentin and Nathaniel are drawn so similarly that in panels in which they converse, it’s very difficult to determine who is speaking. The purpose of comic book art is to enhance the story and add a visual component that can’t otherwise be expressed through dialogue, captions, or thought balloons, not to confuse the readers over a basic conversation between characters.

But if a person can get past the questionable art and read beyond Issue #2 to reach the plot’s beginning, the series picks up and takes shape. The greatest highlight might be Nature Girl, a powerful yet quiet team member whose impressive contributions to this series include summoning honking geese, hanging out with squirrels perched on her head, commanding skunk spray, seeking advice about anti-plant bias from the seals at the zoo, getting intel from trees, and having a buck double as an ambulance. Please tell me what could be more Generation X than that?

Best Line

Best Panel

 Highlights

Cast, cameos, and students! A dynamic and fascinating blend of familiar characters and new faces, all with a fresh perspective

Kitty’s not an asshole! Shame that can’t be said for Gold or Iceman

Nature Girl! HONK!

Lowlights

Pinna’s art, while appreciably stylish, is distracting and confusing at times

First two issues have no plot whatsoever

Purifiers. Can we please put these in moratorium?

“Yanno” is said so often, I thought it was a character’s name

Recommended?

Yes. Though it was off to a slow start and the art might be tough for some to accept, the series features a strange but compelling cast, nostalgic plots, and fresh perspectives on old friends. If you checked out of the series after the first or second issue, I recommend checking back in, at least in trade.