Reviewer: Daron Kappauff
Story Title: She Lies With Angels 4 of 5
Written by: Chuck Austen
Penciled by: Salvador Larroca
Inked by: Danny Miki
Colored by: Udon
Lettered by: Rus Wooton
Editor: Mike Marts
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Well, well, well, here we are talking about one of the most controversial comics on the shelves today. Of course the controversy doesn’t revolve around the title’s content but rather the writer. Love him or hate him…Chuck Austen is here to stay on the X-Titles.
With this arc (She Lies With Angels) Chuck has hit his stride again with this series. The title has arguably had its ups and downs, though I’ve liked most of it with the exception of “The Draco.†Also, as of this arc, Uncanny finally has an artist that befits an X-Title. Salvador Larroca was much missed in the X-Universe when he left for Namor and his return is a welcome one. I have to say though that as much as I like the stuff he’s doing here it doesn’t much look like his normal stuff. I’m curious if this is Sal trying a new style, or the work of his inker altering his style… If anyone has seen the pencils, pre-ink, and can answer that question I’d love to hear from you.
As far as this particular issue goes, I have to say I liked it quite a bit, more so than I did the last issue. That’s not to say I didn’t like last issue. I’ve actually enjoyed the whole Romeo and Juliet aspect of this story, it’s been fun to see the rest of the Guthrie clan, but I have to say that Chuck’s one weakness has been some of the “romantic†dialogue that’s been flying around. Though some of the romantic stuff has been handled well, particularly the stuff with Warren & Paige, the stuff with Joshua and Julia has been…well…cheesy. The sentiment has been good, which is where the story gets its title and focus, but the corny “poetry†Joshua spouted off last issue was bad enough to make me wince.
This, thankfully, is something we don’t have to deal with this issue. Besides being the last issue before the conclusion of this arc, there are a handful of surprises that we are faced with. Some of them I’ll let you find out for yourself, but the one I do want to comment on here is Warren and Paige finally getting together.
This has been a hot topic of discussion since the two first started flirting. Most people are hung up on the age difference between the two (something that’s addressed in this very issue), but it’s a little hard to really discuss the specifics due to the fact that we can’t pin an exact age on Warren. (Paige on the other hand has been confirmed to be 19.) Suffice it to say, the two finally have it out (and some interesting things are said), but it ends with the two of them getting together and literally flying off to consecrate their relationship.
Oddly enough this is the one scene in the issue that just makes you stop and go “what the f—!†It’s not that the two of them are flying off, leaving a trail of clothes as they go (though that in it of itself does make you stop and think about the physics of “aerial sex.†Is that even possible? Don’t birds even land for that sort of thing?), but it’s the fact that they left a group of people below to watch (and incidentally catch) Paige’s nightgown as it falls to the ground. Worst of all, Paige’s poor mother is one of the “lucky†few who get to watch the show. I don’t care who you are…would you really have sex in front of your mother?!?
Past this one incident, the story in this issue progresses nicely, with the newly enhanced Cabot clan making its first move on the Guthries, and the impending battle claims its first victim. That’s right someone dies…but I’m not saying who.
I for one am really looking forward to the end of this arc, and how all of this is going to carry over into the X-Men Reload, if at all.
