Broken Frontier

Charles Xavier has recruited a new and diverse team of X-Men but at least one is not ready to take on the world…

Marvel’s all-ages First Class series of titles is proving to be a hit for the publisher.  Suitable for all-ages, continuity-free (although with a few tips of the hat to those who know their comic book history) and still telling the same high-quality stories, Uncanny X-Men: First Class is a welcome addition to the stable.

Kurt Wagner, A.K.A. Nightcrawler is new to New York but in love with the city… at least he is until his act of selfless bravery gets him attacked by an angry mob in repayment.  After a visit from the Inhumans, Nightcrawler asks to visit their city of Attilan with them.  Will the acceptance he finds there convince him to leave the X-Men behind? 

Writer Scott Gray does an excellent job here.  He turns back the clock to when the X-Men belonged to a simpler time and yet he does not sacrifice any of the complexity of emotion in the story in doing so.  He continues the time-honored tradition of using mutants to tell stories of those who do not fit in and who face a hostile society and does so in a way appropriate to a younger audience but without talking down.  Even more, he strips away years of character changes to give readers a really “pure” Nightcrawler – one who is true to his roots and origins.  This also makes the title perfect for somewhat older readers as well – particularly those who miss some of the characterizations of the early days of Uncanny X-Men.  This is decidedly not a rehash of an old Chris Claremont story either, but something wholly new which brings a 21st century sensibility to the characters yet still fits into some of the general larger stories of Claremont’s era. 

The art, provided by Roger Cruz is also refreshing.  It is simple without being simplistic and, like the writing, has a knack for portraying the essence of the characters.  Cruz nails all the aspects which have come to be iconic about each one of these characters and presents those designs in an attractive and straightforward manner.  He also shows a talent for displaying the beauty of the Inhumans’ city which emphasizes the temptations for Nightcrawler.

No matter what age you are, Uncanny X-Men: First Class has a little something for everyone.  It is new-reader friendly, kid friendly, adult friendly, and works as well for those who have no background knowledge of the characters as it does for those who have an encyclopedic knowledge.  It is a hard thing to do – balancing all of these conflicting aspects, but the team of Gray and Cruz does it with skill and ease.