X-Men Icons: Chambers #1-4
By Patrick Bérubé
June 27, 2009 - 07:20
Marvel Comics
Writer(s): Brian K. Vaughan
Penciller(s): Lee Ferguson
Inker(s): Norm Rapmund
Colourist(s): Jose Villarrubia
Letterer(s): Dave Sharpe
Cover Artist(s): Chris Bachalo
$2.99 US each
Newly accepted in the X-Men, Jonothan Starsmore aka Chambers is sent undercover to Empire State University to find out who murdered some of the mutant students. Passing as newly accepted at the university, he will soon run in the dead mutants' old acquaintance, a group of Homo Superior revering Magneto's way and a lonely mutant girl. But who exactly committed the murder and why? Chambers will soon discover that first appearances can be deceiving and that thing are not always black and white.
Now the big question on everyone's lisp: does Brian K. Vaughan early work is as good as is more recent series? I will have to answer yes and no to that. Yes because it is probably it's best "mutant" work (except for Logan). I always felt that Mr. Vaughan wrote his creator-owned characters better but he does a decent job here at presenting us Chambers as a unique X-Man. It is not just a let's fight the bad guy and get out of here kind of story and I would not have expected less from one of my favorite writer. In fact, there is little action and everything is centered on the detective aspect of the plot and on character's development. Of course, the last page cliffhanger and the witty dialogues that have become some of Mr. Vaughan most easily recognizable aspect of his writing style are also present.
Visually, I have to admit that I almost have nothing particular to say about Lee Ferguson's pencil. When I first opened up the comic book, I was surprised at the quality of the art probably because I wasn't expecting anything from it except a peek at Brian K. Vaughan early work. This first impression soon changed and I quickly started not noticing the art at all which is a good or a bad thing depending on how you look at it. The minimal background did not help the matter and the dialogue-heavy scenario neither.
If you are a fan of Brian K. Vaughan, you should definitely start searching for this mini-series. Even if his inexperience shows, his writing style is easily recognizable and it is always a threat to read a very good writer's early works. X-Men completists should also be on the lookout for it since it is better than most spin-off of it's kind even if it focus on a c-list character.
Rating: 8.5/10
Related Articles:
Astonishing X-Men Cyclops
Review: X-Men God Loves, Man Kills Extended Cut
X-Men Dark Phoenix – the Rebirth of a Franchise?
Review: Astonishing X-Men #7
X-Men: Grand Design #1 comics review
Review: X-Men Gold #9
X-Men Gold #2 And The Rebirth of Progressivism at Marvel Comics?!
X-Men Gold #1 and the Death of Progessivism at Marvel Comics
Marvel's X-Men Separate But Equal
Review: Amazing X-Men #8