All-New X-Men

All-New X-Men 31-36

The X-Men adventure in the Ultimate universe.  It’s excellent, and probably my favorite arc in this title’s run.  Brain Michael Bendis writes the best initial meetings between characters.  He makes it seem so effortless, as if he’s just transcribing what really happened, as opposed to making it all up in his brain.  

Bendis really likes using this layout for telepathic brain dumps.  I like it too.

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: Yes

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Good

All-New X-Men 37

Blech.  Emma Frost trains young Jean in what feels like a totally filler issue.

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: No

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Fine

All-New X-Men 38-39

I hated the Guardians of the Galaxy issues of the Black Vortex crossover, and I’m not a fan of these parts either.  Andrea Sorrentino’s art doesn’t work for these young, (relatively) innocent characters, and the story feels like Dark Phoenix-lite.

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: No

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Didn’t suck

All-New X-Men 40-41

This title ends with a complete whimper as the X-Men deal with some remnant mutants living in the ruins of Utopia.  I would never have thought going into this that Bendis’ Uncanny would be better than All-New, but there you go.  This lacked the momentum and killer hooks that are in Uncanny.  I do like all the work Bendis did with young Jean Grey.  That’s a character I would have liked to continue following.

Regret buying: No

Would buy again: No

Would read again: Yes

Rating: Nice