Review: X-Men Legends #2

Fabian Nicieza is one of the most important creators of the X-Men lore during the heyday of the 90s mutant boom. He was vital to the creation of many of the secondary characters and stories we have come to love. So it is extremely sad to see a story like this steeped in so much exposition and explanation that it’s rendered a plot and nothing more. Add to this the rushed, stick figure art by Brett Booth and you are left with nostalgia and little else.

Cyclops and the Summers saga were a mainstay of the X-Men tapestry in the 90s and this issue revisits a vital moment where Sinister hinted to Cyclops that he had more than one brother. Adam-X was long rumored to be that brother until the story was lost in a creative team shuffle and eventually Vulcan was brought in as the third Summers brother in full villainous style.

The basics of this story are interesting with Corsair gunning down Adam-X as ransom to rescue his parents. Adam-X survives a shot to the head telling everyone that his brain is actually in his rear end before Corsair tells him, Cyclops and Havok the origin of Adam-X. Adam is the genetic offspring of the brothers dead mom Katherine and the Shiar villain D’Ken. Alex and Scott take all of this with almost no reaction beyond friendly ribbing and polite hugs. There is no registration of the shock of all these events, including the insanity that their father was willing to kill their half brother.

Once the team reaches the blue area of the moon, the Summers grandparents are rescued as the Starjammers and Shiar Imperial Guard face off. Adam-X gets to show off the full range of his blood burning powers before quickly ends with an agreement to mind-wipe all involved of the existence of Adam-X. The story ends with Adam wandering to a farm even as Mr Sinister watches from the shadows.

The plot here is very interesting and it’s always fun to revisit story threads long forgotten. Cyclops and Havok had such specific personalities during this era and it’s nice to visit a time before they flagrantly acted out of character in modern stories. Unfortunately the story is weighed down by too much unneeded explanation and exposition and the art by Brett Booth is inexcusable in the gaunt, rushed figure work overwhelmed by massive attention to each character’s hair.

This comic is a celebration of so much that we loved and hated from the 90s and in many ways the art, wordiness and character work mirror the excesses of the 90s X-Men run. Unfortunately nostalgia and the ending of a long held mystery alone aren’t enough to make this a book worth recommending.

Writing: 2.6 of 5 stars

Art: 1.4 of 5 stars

Colors: 3.0 of 5 stars

Overall: 2.3 of 5 stars

Writing: Fabian Nicieza

Pencils: Brett Booth

Inks: Adelso Corona

Colors: Guru-EFX

Publisher: Marvel Comics

Author Profile

M.R. Jafri

M.R. Jafri was born and raised in Niagara Falls New York and now lives with his family in Detroit Michigan. He's a talkative introvert and argumentative geek. His loves include Star Wars, Star Trek, Superheroes, Ninja Turtles, Power Rangers, Transformers, GI Joe, Films, Comics, TV Shows, Action Figures and Twizzlers.