Story Title: Mr. M (2 of 6)
Reviewer: James Hatton
Written by: David Hine
Penciled by: David Yardin
Inked by: Alejandro Sicat
Colored by: Andy Troy
Lettered: Richard Starkings & Rob Steen
Editor: Mike Marts
Publisher: Marvel Comics
So far during my time here at 411, District X #1 has gotten my highest rating so far, with a 9.5. I dug the whole sepia toned feeling of it. I thought the idea that Marvel had their own Gotham Central circulating around the dregs of Mutanity was a strong concept to hold a book. I’m still holding strong with Issue #2, as Hine is taking the dramatic way around giving us all of our pawns in this story, all while seamlessly bringing in what we can assume is the main plot of our first arc.
Story!
Before opening this book, we know that Bishop has been scheduled to work on the NYPD in Mutant-Town. That Ismael Ortega is his new partner, as his old partner Gus Kucharsky is out of commission due to some questionable actions last issue.
Right in the first few pages, we meet the namesake of our arc; Mr. M seems to be a Forge style mutant, who can fix anything. That’s all we see of him as we jump into our growing number of sub-plots. This book is written with such cinematic effect, the transitions between scenes are near flawless.
The characterizations that were born last issue are being developed, including that of Mutant Town itself, where there is sleaze and grime around every corner. I feel a bit hypocritical, as I completely am against turning Marvel-U into a place where EVERYONE seems to have mutant powers, but this book explains it in such a way as to make me accept it. With this, David Hine is doing what Grant Morrison wasn’t able to sell me – and selling it in spades. He once again shows a strong ability to invoke emotion into these characters, and the ability to relate to each one’s story. The last bit with Ortega is just great storytelling. Read it slowly.
What seems to be our main plot is starting to come into focus, which has to do with a new drug called ‘Toad Juice’ which creates a crazed euphoria in its user. This drug is going to be the central point of a gang war between two mutant’s who seem to have the town wrapped around their fingers’. With Toad Juice, Kick, and some of the other drugs around the X-Verse, I swear I’m shocked people aren’t just going around and tasting mutants randomly to see if they get high. I would.
Art!
This book did lose a bit of its charm in the coloring department this issue, as what came across as tone in last issue, now comes across as a bit lazy. Instead of all the color ranging in the same palette, all the color just seems like they used lighter versions to feign the same effect.
Yardin’s art still holds strong, as his eyes are just as expressive as issue #1. I hope over the course of the next few issues, Hine starts to realize the powerful faces that Yardin can draw, so he can exploit it to its fullest extent. With every passing panel, I can hear the intent of every sentence, just by a glance at how he drew the character. Each of them has this vague desperation in their stance and even how their clothes hang from them. It’s exactly what this book needs, and Yardin is a perfect match.
Overall!
Not as great as the first issue, but the second issue slump is common. It’s not a bad issue at all, and it is gearing you into the upcoming gang war. We are given only the briefest of glances of what we can assume to be an important character (Mr. M), and at the end Ortega gives us a window into his world.
Mutant Town wasn’t Hine’s original concept, it was Grant Morrison’s. I’m not a fan of any of Morrison’s X-Men work, but this book shows me an angle on Morrison’s idea that I can accept without question. That makes me start to think David Hine is in league with the devil. I’m ok with that.
