Reviewer: Chris Delloiacono
Story Title: Unnatural Instincts: Part 3
Written by: Chuck Austen
Penciled by: Clayton Henry
Inked by: Mark Morales
Colored by: Transparency Digital
Lettered by: Dave Sharpe
Editor: Mike Marts and Mike Raicht
Publisher: Marvel Comics
First, I’d like to make a complaint about Marvel Comics. I know that’s a pretty regular thing around these parts, but hear me out. Does anyone else like Marvel’s ridiculous shipping schedules? I really look forward to EXILES each month, and although I had my doubts, I really enjoyed Chuck Austen’s five fill-in stories. Yet why did the first three issues of Austen’s run ship in only 29 days? The last two issues then took 70 days to see publication.
Does Marvel need money so bad that they’ll rush everything they’ve got out the door, thus falling behind schedule? With a normal monthly shipping schedule it could have had the proper length between installments the “pamphlet†format requires. The biggest kick was the wait of 43 days for the final chapter of this better than expected storyline. Not only can three books in one month strain a reader’s budget, but also infrequent shipping can kill the flow of a book. And by the way, EXILES # 31 ships next week. Thanks Marvel.
EXILES has been Judd Winick’s baby from the start, and I really didn’t want someone to come in and mistreat it. Yet Chuck Austen did some deft work fleshing out the newest Exile Magik, as well as giving us a crossover into the “real†Marvel Universe that was pleasing to a non-fan of the X-Titles like myself.
If you don’t already know, EXILES is about reality hopping Mutants, who must jump to different places fixing things as they go. Their individual quest though is to return to their own reality, from which the mysterious Time Broker plucked them.
This issue wraps the storyline up quite nicely. The Exiles mission was to protect two young boys from an “evil†version of Havok. Austen does a great job utilizing both the X-Men and Exiles and doling out enough moments for each team. The final battle is quite gratifying and offers a suitable conclusion. Austen even has time to throw in some nice character moments with X-Man Nightcrawler, and Exile Nocturne. They are father and daughter in Nocturne’s reality, so this was a very cool throw in.
Clayton Henry continues to show that he’s a superstar in the making with his regular work on EXILES. His pencils are in keeping with the recently departed Mike McCone (now at DC on TEEN TITANS), but still is a style his own. The bold style captures the action packed larger panels with equal dexterity as the smaller paneled character moments.
Ah there’s just so much bitching in this review, you’d be hard pressed to think I liked the book. EXILES is such a fun concept and whether it be Chuck Austen or Judd Winick writing, I must say the quality is always there. If Marvel would just show a little respect for their fans and adhere to some sort of schedule, I’d be completely happy. Who am I kidding, even if they did, I’m sure I’d find something to moan about.
