Reviewer: Chris Delloiacono
Story Title: Hard Choices: Part 2
Written by: Chuck Austen
Penciled by: Clayton Henry
Inked by: Mark Morales
Colored by: Transparency Digital
Lettered by: Paul Tutrone
Editor: Mike Raicht
Publisher: Marvel Comics
I’ve never been a big fan of Marvel’s stable of mutant characters. Not surprisingly I don’t read any of the books under the X-banner, with the exception of EXILES. Most of what I know of the X-Men and friends I’ve gleaned from conversations with friends. Yet EXILES is always a compelling read each month, and frankly the Marvel book I’d recommend above all others.
EXILES follows a band of mutants each pulled from different realities. They must work as a team to correct problems with other realities, or never return home. It’s often described as QUANTUM LEAP with mutants, but even more closely resembles the long forgotten television series VOYAGERS. Judd Winick has excelled at telling the stories that can’t be told in the mainstream Marvel Universe. Always placing the team in new and exciting worlds, as well as rotating new cast members in but not sacrificing too many of the mainstays.
The man who brought EXILES into this world isn’t writing the current storyline, but instead Marvel writer of the moment Chuck Austen. Austen has done an excellent job taking control of the team the last couple of issues, helping us get to know the newest member of the team Magik. Austen’s dialogue is well done, he adds more depth to the continuing characters and ups the ante for the team. Instead of having a mission that is a no-brainer to finish, the team must instead kill the Avengers of this reality and allow Japan to be destroyed by Moses Magnum. While the Avengers are nothing more than Heroes for Hire mercenaries run by Luke Cage and Iron Fist, it’s still a pretty disheartening mission to have to complete to save the “worldâ€.
Clayton Henry’s art captures the magic that the departed Mike McKone imparted in earlier issues. Henry from what I know is a brand new find by Marvel, and boy is he talented. Remember his name, because he very well could be the next break out talent we see. I’m glad that he’ll be working on a great title like EXILES for the time being!
There is absolutely nothing that I can complain about these fill-in issues of EXILES. Each of the characters was perfectly written, especially Morph, the comic relief, who was as funny if not funnier than ever. Austen will continue on the book with a three-part story that’s going to guest star the X-Men and be set in the “real†Marvel Universe. While the first two issues of Austen’s mini run on EXILES have been wonderful, I do have reservations about the next few. Hopefully Chuck will pleasantly surprise me, maybe he’ll even get me interested in some of the other X-titles.
