Comics / Comic Reviews / Marvel Comics

Uncanny X-men #475

By Hervé St-Louis
July 20, 2006 - 07:17

It’s a new direction for the X-men as a new creative team has inherited the task of chronicling the mutants’ adventures. This time, it’s a powerless Professor X who tries to recruit a team to go to the stars and prevent the third Summers’ brother, Vulcan from destroying the Shi’ar empire. The Professor’s recruits don’t like him very much but before they can complain, they have to rescue Polaris who is on the run in Egypt.

This is a perfect introductory issue for people too confused to understand the X-Men’s world. I still don’t understand who has powers, who doesn’t, why and how can the Professor walk, but it doesn’t affect the reading of this story. There is a formula underlying the script as this is evidently the “recruiting issue,” while the next will probably be the first fight or escape from Earth story. It’s not bad writing, but I don’t like knowing what to expect next in my comics. I doubt another dip and destruction of the space faring Shi’ar empire is a groundbreaking event. Been there, done that.

The artwork really set the tone for the series. I would call it retro 1990s. It looks and feels like Wilce Portacio. After a period of ultra realism in comic book art, we are back to more expressive books. I don’t mind as the artist is very good and adds a lot of fluidity to the series. Actually, this is improved Wilce Portacio with some lingering realism inserted in.

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Uncanny X-Men #474

Last Updated: November 29, 2025 - 16:51