Story title: Forging The Sword (2 of 4)
Reviewer: James Hatton
Written by: Chris Claremont
Penciled by: Aaron Lopresti
Inked by: Greg Adams
Lettered by: Tom Orzechowski
Editor: N/A
Publisher: Marvel
Conceptually speaking, I liked the idea of the book. With New York being rebuilt over in some other X-titles (at least I hope they address that), and Genosha left a shambles of a place after Cassandra Nova – it makes sense to have Charlie over their trying to rebuild the place. Magneto tried and he’s dead, so now we let Xavier move on in.
Sadly, Mags isn’t dead. Um… huh?
Story!
The first major plot point to be discussed, is what has quite a few X-fans up in arms, and that is the living Magneto. Erik died when Genosha blew up… but he didn’t die. Then Erik died when he was Xorn… but he didn’t die. So apparently Erik just ain’t dead. Marvel is burying the Morrison run hand over first, which isn’t altogether a horrible thing, but their move to bring back Magneto so damned quickly is very questionable.
Then again, the further they moved away from Genosha being destroyed, the less realistic it would seem. So, I’m going to allow it for now, at least to give them time to explain it and for me to get pissed.
The other major plot faux pas of the story is the introduction of Callisto (which is fine). She is all re-mutated now thanks to an X-Treme story a few months back (which is stupid, but fine). She throws some good points at Xavier and Magneto and how them working together seems like it was a bit preplanned (which is fine). She then almost loses a fight, shrugs it off, and seemingly joins the group of misfit mutants (which is definately not fine).
The characterization of Charlie & Magneto makes you miss the days that X-Factor had just started up and Magneto was your good guy on the move, but Callisto’s waivering opinions and the last page ‘OH MY GOD SOMETHING IS HAPPENING’ ending just left me dry.
Art!
Lopresti and Adams gots some good texturing going on. It might be a tad overused in the book, but everything seems to ‘feel’ right. Genosha is supposed to be a paradise gone boom, and the ground is without grass, the trees are bare, and the sky is that twinge of hazy pink you expect after a nuclear holocaust.
I think with the exception of a bit of the Callisto fight sequence, everything seemed within the realms of good art. I can’t blame them for having to draw a girl with tentacle arms fighting ghost creatures, and not making it look perfect.
Overall!
This book started with a strong twist (Magneto) that would have people reading more so they could find out HOW pissed off they should be. At this point in time they haven’t given any reason as to him sticking around, and not dying. We are left with mysteries as to who was Xorn/Mags and who is the NEW Xorn/Mags and where the hell has OLD Mags been. Oh, and while we’re at it, maybe Mags can go and bring Joseph back from the dead so we can have THREE of them floating around the universe.
Christ, Magneto’s Clone Saga coming next.
