Comics / Comic Reviews / Marvel Comics

X-Statix #15

By Leroy Douresseau
November 16, 2003 - 09:59

I read an online critique in which the reviewer wrote that "Back from the Dead" was a padded X-STATIX storyline. Not only is that a poor review, but its born of a lazy and cynical mindset. Too many comic book storylines are padded and stretched into six issue epics that are easier for companies to later publish as trade paperbacks. However, in the case of Milligan, size does matter; the longer his storylines, the longer his readers' pleasure.

The fun in reading X-Statix is not just in the plot, but also in the entire story: the plot twists, the characters, the snarky scenes, the crisp dialogue, the pointed social criticism, and the witty examinations of American life and pop culture. Milligan is writing a comic truly meant for grown ups with mature minds. This isn't some comic in which the idea of adult means mindless violence and insipid sexual innuendo. This is just fun - superheroes with a knowing wink at the real world while retaining its wild fantastic aura.

The beautiful art of Mike Allred and the lush, bright colors of Laura Allred is lagniappe. This is art that harks back to a simpler era of comic book illustration where cartoonists told the stories and were not anal retentive, fanboys drawing overly rendered page after page of "realistic art." GRADE A-

Last Updated: August 31, 2023 - 08:12