Review: Giant Size X-Statix #1

Once again back is the incredible! To paraphrase Public Enemy Prophet of Rage, Chuck D, but I couldn’t think of a more appropriate opening for the return of such any amazingly inventive and entirely imaginative team as the X-Statix. Not only is the team on the page brilliant but, the team that brought them to the page is equally brilliant, writer Peter Milligan and artists Mike and Laura Allred. If you are like me and have been following the exploits of this unique team since their inception way back in 2001 when then made their first appearance in X-Force #116, then you already know how extremely unlike any other team of Marvel Mutants they are. Consisting of an expanding and changing roster of characters more like DC’s Doom Patrol, X-Statix have gone on to scratch that “weird” itch some readers have that just can’t be accessed by the “average” Marvel Mutant teams. So is this a re-introduction of the much loved misfits or just a wonderful one-shot? Mild spoilers ahead.

As is the case with the entire run of X-Statix, there is an aura of the unorthodox at work here that permeates the pages with a strangeness, an utter otherness that would make Grant Morrison smile. Milligan does a fabulous job of introducing new readers to the vivacious world of the X-Statix as well as bringing returning readers back up to speed without an exposition-heavy info dump of an issue. Far the flip from it, in fact this issue is completely new reader friendly while maintaining everything that made first time readers into loyal fans of the title. The story unfolds through the eyes of Katie Jones, once thought to be the younger sister of deceased team member, Edie Sawyer aka U-Go Girl we now find out that her connection to the former teleporter is drastically different and dramatically explosive. As the narrative begins, Katie is ,like most of the world, following the exploits of the X-Statix as a fan, especially where Edie Sawyer is concerned. Milligan’s dialog expertise takes center stage in this issue as he fills just about single word balloon with razor sharp quips, authentic sounding banter and just plain brilliant dialog. There is a relevance to the narrative that comes across via the social media and reality show aspects of the story. These elements have long been a part of the X-Statix backstory and Milligan does a fine job of upping the ante in those areas, bringing those elements up to date and into focus through the lens of 2019. The urgency of Katie Jones’ story is enhanced by not only her personal stakes, but by the team’s very real need for her to become one of them.

There is a diversity in the ranks of the team roster that dwarfs most any other currently in comic books. Some of that may be misinterpreted as offensive, particularly the character of Phatty, a commentary on body image personified. There are characters that reflect a vast array of gender, race, orientation and species known within the Marvel Universe which has always been a characteristic of this title since the beginning. Milligan has never been the type of writer to shy away from a controversial subject, this has been evident is his work going back to HellblazerÂ as well as his prolific time as a major contributor to the iconic Vertigo imprint. That kind of bold, unconventional and courageous approach to writing makes him a perfect fit for this book.

The visuals have always been a major attraction for the X-Statix, but that is true for any work from artists extraordinaire Mike and Laura Allred. Mike Allred’s bold, clean lines and meticulously detailed environments have made his work readily recognizable and unique. His kinetic style bristles with energy and verve, there is a pop sensibility to his work evidence by his myriad references to popular culture as well as his obvious influences, like Kirby and Steranko. Mike Allred brings a glam rock ethic to his work while maintaining a punk rock sensibility much like the New York Dolls did musically back in the halcyon days of 1970’s NYC. There is an edge to his work that betrays the classical aesthetic underlying the mechanics of it. His visual storytelling is peerless, Mike Allred’s visual vocabulary is voluminous, he has the astute ability to say so much within the confines of a single panel, it’s nothing short of uncanny.The other half of this artistic duo is Laura Allred, in many ways the equal to Mike, Laura’s vibrant palette infuses the imagery with that electricity and verve I spoke of previously. In fact, not since Lynn Varley worked with her then husband Frank Miller on the Dark Knight Returns, have I seen such synergy in a creative team.

This book stands in testament to exactly why this title is still talked about and sorely missed by those of us who loved it in its original run. The only thing that has changed is that its even better now. Not only is the time right for this title to return, Milligan and Allred have created a perfect nemesis as well as some uniquely developed drama for our marvelous misfits to face. As someone who has always identified with the outcast, rooted for the underdogs and aligned myself with the exiled, I say we need teams like the X-Statix and the Doom Patrol to speak up for us. I was a punk rock kid who skateboarded, read comic books and watched Star Trek, I wasn’t the popular quarterback or cheerleader dating jock so I always identified with teams like the X-Men, Fantastic Four, Challengers of the Unknown and Doom Patrol. As long as there are divisive cliques and sadly bullies, we, the strange, the misfits are going to need heroes that look like us, act like us and stand up for people like us. The fact that a book like the X-Statix exists is proof that we need it. 5/5

[yasr_overall_rating size=”large”]

Writer- Peter Milligan
Artist- Mike “Doc” Allred
Colorist- Laura Allred
Letterer- Nate Piekos of Blambot Studios