About Heroes

Story: Ed Brubaker & Matt Fraction
Pencilers: Greg Land & Terry Dodson
Inkers: Jay Leisten & Rachel Dodson
Colors: Justin Ponsor
Covers: Alex Ross, Terry Dodson, Greg Land, and Michael Turner

It's been a long time since I reviewed an X-men comic; let alone an Uncanny X-men comic. But the X-men fighting hippies in San Francisco weren't the X-men to me. So I just kept reading and saved everything I had to say for the podcast. But how could I not review the 500th issue of one of my favorite books of all time? Even though I haven't enjoyed a 00 issue of Uncanny since 200, but something always get me excited about an anniversary issue, even though it really starts showing my age.

The plot is really simple and I think it's just used as a set up for the latest crossover; Manifest Destiny. The X-men are now in San Francisco and give the mayor a tour of their new base/house/school. Meanwhile a conceptual artist Guy Demonde establishes a "Celebration of Mutants Kisch" in the downtown area. He even goes as far as putting depowered Sentinels in the area. Everyone is dressed like their favorite mutants and the X-men fit right in with these people. Magneto makes his return in the lamest way possible wearing a suit that gives him his powers back. In the end he is easily defeated by the X-men, had really no point in this issue other than to bitch, and takes off with the High Evolutionary. For some reason the next great threat seems to be a bunch of thugs wearing Hellfire Club mask and a relative of Bolivar Trask makes an appearance.

There was a nice nod to the Night of the Sentinels story and I loved Emma's reaction to the Sentinels being part of this rave. I have no idea where to start with the problems in this issue. The dialogue seems really off, specially Magneto, who comes across like a whining bitch. Where the hell did he come from anyway? Does it even matter these days? Was it supposed to be a big deal that he came back, because it didn't really feel like anything special. And that was the problem with this issue, it didn't feel like an anniversary issue; it just felt bland. I'm wondering why the High Evolutionary gave Magneto a suit instead of his powers back? This is the guy that took away all of the mutants' powers and gave it back to them, what a fucking dick! Say what you will about Chris Claremont, but the man knew how to plan ahead and foreshadowed things to come in one panel 50 issues before it happened. This story just feels like it came out of left field and I have no reaction as to the future of this title.

Terry Dodson and Greg Land...well they get the job done. Land's photoshopping style is so much different the Dodson's over exaggerated tits and ass style that the two of them can't make this book work. Land as always has poorly layed out panels with odd perspectives and all his characters have stiffness to them. Dodson's women (although ridiculously shappened and I am an ass-man) are at least clear and crisp and look different in every panel. The only thing that works are the fight sequences with Magneto and the Sentinels. At least Dodson gives the book a sense of realism in his characters, Land just thinks the team is made up of porn stars and underwear models. I fear for the future of one of my favorite books, but to be honest with you, it hasn't been in good hands in years. D+ It's a shame those variant covers are worth so much money and a shame that Michael Turner's last piece of work was wasted on a dull book like this.