Uncanny Avengers #2 - Comic Review

 

There's a very famous quote by Stan Lee, that every comic is someone's first comic, and that writers should make sure it's not their last by being accessible. I feel like this has been something that Marvel has struggled with in recent years, especially with the X-Men. The Krakoa era is a time that feels very inaccessible if you've not been reading from the beginning. I've seen a lot of folks saying that you need to go back to where it started and read basically everything, others have made handy lists of the bare bones books to read that are still dozens of volumes in length. As someone who loves X-Men but wasn't reading them when Krakoa began I've been left feeling like I can't just jump back in. 

With some loosely connected X-Men books being released as part of 'Fall of X' I've tried to tentatively get back involved, with mixed results. the new Ms Marvel series felt like I had no idea what anything was, and Uncanny Spider-Man felt like it was doing its own thing for about half the issue, and the rest felt steeped in the ongoing stuff. Uncanny Avengers feels the same way, where if you've not been keeping up with every X book there will be some things here that just won't make sense; but at least it seems to be trying to help you to do so. 

The second issue picks up where the last one left off, with Captain America and his Unity Squad fighting against Captain Krakoa and his group of misled mutants. Cap has had his arm broken by Krakoa, and lays writhing on the ground in pain. Considering that Cap is putting himself and his entire reputation on the line by fighting alongside mutants at this time, this is bad optics for him, as it looks like he's getting his ass beat trying to defend a group many are seeing as villains.

This becomes a big point for the issue, and is a part of this series that I've really enjoyed. Whilst most of the world is willing to believe Orchis and just accept that mutants are all evil, that they're a threat that needs dealing with, Cap takes one look at that and sees fascists at work and goes 'fuck no'. It ties nicely into what the new Captain America book is focusing on too, with a young re-powers Steve dealing with fascism in America. This is Cap at his best for me, not when he's fighting costumed villains or going on big cosmic adventures, but when he's standing up to very real, very human evils.

And this comes around again later in the issue when Rogue tries to take over the team. The group wants to be in charge of their own destiny, and they agree that they need Cap around, but are also aware of the fact that if Captain America dies fighting for mutant rights, at the hands of a mutant, that it could galvanise anti-mutant sentiment. Thankfully, Deadpool of all people is there to point out how stupid a decision that is on the rest of the teams part. He gives them a delightful speech about how mutants keep losing, how they go from one awful event to the other, and now they're pushing Captain America away. Waid points out that he's the one guy that you should always bet on, the one guy who never loses, and firmly establishes himself as 'team Cap'. It's a great moment.

The art on the book by Javier Garron and Morry Hollowell looks great, and has a more cartoon-like look at times really nice. All of the characters are distinct and clear, and stand out from each other; which is always handy for a team book. The action is great too, and the book starts off really strong in the middle of a fight; and gives us a great entrance for Black Widow.

Even though I've been struggling to get back into X-Men, and don't have the time to go back and read a few hundred issues to get caught up, this book has been pretty accessible and enjoyable. Hopefully more of the X-titles will be easier to jump into soon too.

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