X-Men #29

Review By: Blake M. Petit BlakeMPetit@gmail.com
Quick Rating: Very Good
Rating: T

To save Pixie from the Skrulls, the X-Men round up a few friends.

Writer: Victor Gishler
Art: Will Conrad
Colors: Guru eFX
Letters: Joe Caramagna
Cover Art: Will Conrad
Editor: Jeanine Schaefer
Publisher: Marvel Comics

Writer Victor Gishler finishes off his X-Men run in style. Pixie was first tricked into breaking into the Baxter Building by Skrulls, and then was spirited off by Skrulls pretending to be the X-Men. Now, the X-Men and Fantastic Four are doing battle with some weapons leftover from the Secret Invasion, while Pixie, Spider-Man and friends try to stop a Skrull escape craft with a human hostage.

The biggest strike against this issue is really one of timing. It’s very clear that this is a story that takes pre-Avengers Vs. X-Men, and probably even before Fantastic Four #600 (as the Human Torch doesn’t make an appearance and the FF are still wearing the “Future Foundation” versions of their costumes, with no 4 insignia). Putting out a comic that clearly predates a book published last November makes it feel a little anachronistic, but it’s still a fun issue despite any of that.

This book has been called “X-Men Team-Up,” and for the most part that’s been a fair assessment (the cover even features a jam piece of the X-Men with all the guest-stars who have appeared in the series), but that’s not a bad thing at all. To the contrary, considering the immense weight the rest of the X-titles have been carrying these days, this story (and this book in general) has been a nice way to kick back and have a little more fun with the X-Men serving more of a pure superhero role than they have a chance to do elsewhere. Pixie is obviously starstruck in the presence of Spider-Man, which makes for some really entertaining exchanges. And while we’re on the subject, Gishler writes Spidey dialogue incredibly well – I’d love to see him tackle the wallcrawler himself some time.

Will Conrad and Guru eFX put out beautiful artwork. The layouts and action scenes are very strong, the colors aren’t garish but at the same time pop just enough to have a real energy to them.

It’s a good issue and a fine end to Gishler’s run.

Story:

Art:

Overall: