All New X-Men # 18 Review
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Artist: Stuart Immonen
Inker: Wade Von Grawbadger
Colorist: Marte Gracia
Letterer: VC’s Cory Petit
Cover Artist: Brandon Peterson
Review by: Tom Barnett
Being an old school X-Men reader, I remember when Kitty was the newest X-Men, I love the All New X-Men book from Brian Michael Bendis and Stuart Immonen. I love having Kitty Pryde around this team and in charge. I also like that Kitty and Illyana are being brought closer together as they were 30 years ago when I was first reading the X-Men.
This issue we see the team get new uniforms, which are a cross of a Star Trek type of uniform and a typical superhero style. They look fantastic. Hats off to Immonen for the new design. I do hope that Kitty gets one too as she is in all ways their leader. This issue also brings the team to the Uncanny X-Men’s hideout, the Weapon X facility.
While the Battle of the Atom storyline still lingers in a few obvious ways, this issue already starts to put that story in the rear view mirror. Bendis dives right in, moving the story forward and building new character relationships for the future. One of the things I love about Bendis’s writing is his sense of humor. His books are always funny and this book is not in short supply of humor. There’s a great scene between Kitty and Illyana that is a fun play on Kitty’s powers.
What can be said for Immonen’s art? Just fantastic! This issue contains no big action sequences, but it’s still great to look at. Immonen’s details are so well executed and his backgrounds are second to none. In this effort to bring us, the humble reader, such high quality, are inker Wade Von Grawbadger and colorist Marte Gracia. Gracia’s consistent and bright colors help make this book a fun read.
This latest issue of All New X-Men is a perfect hoping on point for anyone who hasn’t been reading, whether you’re an old fan, get off my lawn you x-kids, like me or a younger fan. This book consistently feels like Bendis cares about the characters and their history.
Story: 5/5
Art: 5/5
Overall: 5/5
Tom is a contributing writer for Drunk On Comics. You can follow him on Twitter at @tphoto10.