Review by Paul Steven Brown

“Utopia – Chapter Two”

Writer: Matt Fraction

Penciler: Terry Dodson

Inker: Rachel Dodson

Colorist: Justin Ponsor

Letterer: Joe Caramagna

Assistant Editor: Daniel Ketchum

Editor: Nick Lowe

Published by Marvel Comics

Uncanny X-Men lost its flagship status once X-Men #1 hit the stands back in 1991. Jim Lee, arguably the hottest artist at that time, moved over to the new title and took the cool, bad ass characters like Wolverine, Gambit, Psylocke, and Rogue. Uncanny X-Men got what some would consider the leftovers like Iceman, Colossus, and Jean Grey. After Lee left, both books were equal in importance to the X-Universe.

Then in 2001 along came Grant Morrison, who renamed the adjectiveless book New X-Men. While Morrison was making his title the premiere X-Book, Uncanny X-Men was languishing in the hands of Chuck Austen. After Morrison left, New X-Men reverted to its previous title now with Austen as the writer. Chris Claremont returned to Uncanny for a third, tepid tenure. At the same time television writer and wunderkind Joss Whedon launched Astonishing X-Men in accompanied by exquisite art by John Cassaday. Despite the constant delays, Astonishing had a lot of heart and felt classic, resulting in it becoming the new flagship X-Men title in 2004.

Since Matt Fraction joined Ed Brubaker as writer on Uncanny X-Men last year, and subsequently took over the chore fully after four months, the writer has been hell bent on making the book the premiere X-Book, again. He’s made sure to retain the more important and bankable characters of the franchise. Also, he’s had the help of a couple big names on the art team. Plus, there’s a feeling of freshness permeating the series once again. It doesn’t hurt that the former flagship book, Astonishing X-Men, has become limp and soulless under the reigns of comics madman Warren Ellis.

With Emma Frost being a member of Norman Osborn’s Cabal in the overarching, company-wide Dark Reign storyline, it was only a matter of time before Uncanny X-Men would once again establish itself not only as the X-Book to read, but a major player in the grander Marvel Universe once again. Fraction is making his boldest move in the re-establishment of Uncanny X-Men to glory with, Utopia, the current crossover with Dark Avengers.

Uncanny X-Men #513 is the debut of Osborn’s mutant counterpart to his version of the Avengers, the Dark X-Men. It’s a strange, yet intriguing, mix of characters. Namor has long been referred to as Marvel’s First Mutant. Now he gets be an actual member of a mutant themed team. Mimic isn’t a mutant, but his powers allow him the imitate those of people in his immediate vicinity, plus he permanently has the abilities of the five original X-Men. Weapon Omega was the recipient of all the displaced mutant energy following House of M. Daken is no-brainer. There’s a great line about Wolverine polling high amongst the general public.

While Utopia is the reinsertion of Uncanny X-Men into the main Marvel Universe, it also acts as great relaunch for Cloak and Dagger. Tyrone and Tandy have been popping up her and there over the years and played significant roles during Civil War, but they have yet to really make a huge impact again. Hopefully, these two will make their presence finally felt and we’ll get to see more this dangerous duo on a regular basis. Plus, they looked great when drawn and inked by Terry and Rachel Dodson.

Emma Frost puts herself in a very complicated position in this issue. By agreeing to lead this team, she’s putting herself in direct conflict with her boyfriend and would-be savior of mutantkind, Cyclops. Still, we this is only the second chapter of the story and all the cards are not on the table. This has been excellent set up and the Dark X-Men have already been given enough individual examination to make me very interested in how they will play into this grand scheme. I’m not completely sold on some of the actions of the more resistant mutants. There’s one character in particular who’s presence on another book and behavior in other the more recent past seems to run counter to him running with the more trouble-making faction.

It’s really great to have the Dodsons back on the art after four issues of plastic Greg Land cheesecake. Every character they draw looks stellar and iconic. Unlike Land, Terry Dodson has an entire tool box of expressions to convey an endless amount of emotions. The Dodsons can draw some sexy characters, but sexy is completely different than sexualized, which seems to be Greg Land’s style. My only disappointment is the apparent inability of the Dodsons to draw Venom; he looked very dinosaur-like.

Two chapters in and Utopia is off to a great start. I’m confident that we’ll get more from the Dark Avengers when the crossover switches over to their book for the third chapter. Unlike Messiah War, this feels like a crossover event that may very well have a lasting impact on the X-Men for next year or so.

Rating: 9 out of 10 (Excellent!)