Brandon Yates
Aug 2, 2002, 10:19 pm
<a href="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/covers/mutxtv-dd1.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/covers/mutxtv-dd1t.jpg" align=left alt="Mutant X: Dangerous Decisions"></a><b>Reviewer:</b> Brandon Yates, nyphase@hotmail.com
<b>Quick Rating:</b> Below Average
Two stories for the price of... well, two! The first, a tragic story of a young mutant sought after by both Mutant X and Eckhart, followed by the untold origin of Shalimar Fox!
"Stillwater"
<b>Written by:</b> Kathryn Kuder
<b>Penciled by:</b> Stuart Immonen
<b>Inked by:</b> Karl Story
<b>Lettered by:</b> Tom Orzechowski
<b>Colored by:</b> Hi-Fi Designs
"Dangerous Games: The Untold Origin of Shalimar Fox"
<b>Written by:</b> Paul D. Storrie
<b>Penciled by:</b> Stefano Caselli
<b>Inked by:</b> Rich Perrota
<b>Lettered by:</b> Letterin' Fool
<b>Colored by:</b> Hi-Fi Designs
<b>Assistant Editor:</b> Lynne Yoshii
<b>Editor:</b> Andrew Lis
<b>Editor-in-Chief:</b> Joe Quesada
<b>President:</b> Bill Jemas
Unlike the first Mutant X one-shot, Origin, this book is more in line with the television show; campy, unoriginal and glorious in its mediocrity. Oh, sorry, did I say “unoriginal”? That was clearly a mistake, as the first story begins with Mutant X training in a metallic arena that ISN’T the Danger Room, receiving orders from someone who’s moniker ends in “X” but DOESN’T begin with “Professor,” using a mutant-tracking machine that ISN’T Cerebra, then jumping into a black jet, which ISN’T the Blackbird, hoping to catch up with a young mutant who may soon fall into the hands of Mutant X’s white-haired nemesis who ISN'T Magneto. Nah, no similarities. Like comparing apples and apple-flavored oranges.
If I were to go with what I’ve seen in this book, I would say Mutant X are a rag-tag group of irritating youngsters, juvenile in their attitudes and behavior. These are super-heroes?! There are plenty of young superheroes in comics now that prove that “teen-heroes” doesn’t necessarily mean “whiny, teasing, and overanxious.” If that were the case, I’d sign up ASAP if this whiny review were any indication.
I've never read anything from writer Kathryn Kuder before and, believe you me, this isn't the best of first impressions. Even going on what I said before, about the characters being immensely annoying, sometimes those could be valid character traits but the characters are just boring and static in their archetype. There are no sympathetic characters to be found in this story until you meet the supporting players.
Cal, The Boy With The Cancer Touch (step right up) is at the center of what becomes a mutant-hunt conducted by Mutant X and their evil archenemy Marcus Eckhart, when he takes his sister, Chris, and his mutant friend Lee on an excursion into the woods, for as-yet-undisclosed reasons. I'm already bored just getting into the details of this because though Cal, Chris and Lee were sometimes likeable characters the story around them was just so congested with cliché, over-the-top dialogue, and convenient stupidity among the players involved that it was a chore to read through. To wit: two of the kids, Lee and Cal, have the uncontrollable ability to kill people with their merest touch. Why in the world haven't they invested in gloves?! I'll tell you why not: it would have inconvenienced the story. God forbid.
Stuart Immonen is a veteran artist in the industry and I have much respect for his work, but as with all things in the first half of this book, I can barely say more than "blah" and "guh." There were a couple of nicely rendered moments, particularly with Lee The Water-Manipulator, but other places, especially the pages featuring Mutant X, were messy and convoluted.
Once Eckhart's henchmen appear out of nowhere, not unlike the dreadfully ridiculous Putties of Power Rangers fame, the rest of the story didn't stand a chance.
I suppose the editors decided to save the best for last because the second half of Mutant X: Dangerous Decisions offers us a more down-to-earth telling of the origin of Shalimar Fox, the Mutant X member who is all feral-like but without the icky body hair that usually comes with. Because, of course, why give us a visually distinctive mutant character with an effective make-up design, when you can have a hot blonde jumping around in halter-tops explaining to uninterested passer-by why she's named after a town in Florida? Feh...
Shalimar and her homely friend, Doreen, attend a "Granger Island Party" courtesy of their preppy, sexually eager male acquaintances. Apparently Fox has a history with the lead prepper, Lee (there's that tired name again), so the testosterone fueled jock makes a beeline toward Doreen instead. It's up to Shalimar Fox to keep Doreen's saintly innocence intact, while at the same time keeping in check the mutant ferociousness within.
Besides the ferociousness (or maybe not) this story was no different than what you've seen on the Lifetime Network many times before, and, if that's your thing you will probably appreciate this story and maybe even get into it more in light of the mutant aspect. It's not my thing, however, because such obviousness can never be worth $3.50.
I will commend Paul Storrie for his knack for character interactions (as seen in his Justice League Adventures comic), which probably saved the entire tale from being a miserable read. Caselli's artwork is not my cup of tea, but it was indeed appropriate for this story, which was very light and harmless. Unlike the first half of the book.
<b>Art:</b>
http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xnone.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xnone.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xnone.jpg
<b>Story:</b>
http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xhalf.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xnone.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xnone.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xnone.jpg
<b>Overall:</b>
http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xnone.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xnone.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xnone.jpg
Buy this issue online now from X-World Comics and save! (http://www.x-worldcomics.com/yourvirtualstore)
<b>Quick Rating:</b> Below Average
Two stories for the price of... well, two! The first, a tragic story of a young mutant sought after by both Mutant X and Eckhart, followed by the untold origin of Shalimar Fox!
"Stillwater"
<b>Written by:</b> Kathryn Kuder
<b>Penciled by:</b> Stuart Immonen
<b>Inked by:</b> Karl Story
<b>Lettered by:</b> Tom Orzechowski
<b>Colored by:</b> Hi-Fi Designs
"Dangerous Games: The Untold Origin of Shalimar Fox"
<b>Written by:</b> Paul D. Storrie
<b>Penciled by:</b> Stefano Caselli
<b>Inked by:</b> Rich Perrota
<b>Lettered by:</b> Letterin' Fool
<b>Colored by:</b> Hi-Fi Designs
<b>Assistant Editor:</b> Lynne Yoshii
<b>Editor:</b> Andrew Lis
<b>Editor-in-Chief:</b> Joe Quesada
<b>President:</b> Bill Jemas
Unlike the first Mutant X one-shot, Origin, this book is more in line with the television show; campy, unoriginal and glorious in its mediocrity. Oh, sorry, did I say “unoriginal”? That was clearly a mistake, as the first story begins with Mutant X training in a metallic arena that ISN’T the Danger Room, receiving orders from someone who’s moniker ends in “X” but DOESN’T begin with “Professor,” using a mutant-tracking machine that ISN’T Cerebra, then jumping into a black jet, which ISN’T the Blackbird, hoping to catch up with a young mutant who may soon fall into the hands of Mutant X’s white-haired nemesis who ISN'T Magneto. Nah, no similarities. Like comparing apples and apple-flavored oranges.
If I were to go with what I’ve seen in this book, I would say Mutant X are a rag-tag group of irritating youngsters, juvenile in their attitudes and behavior. These are super-heroes?! There are plenty of young superheroes in comics now that prove that “teen-heroes” doesn’t necessarily mean “whiny, teasing, and overanxious.” If that were the case, I’d sign up ASAP if this whiny review were any indication.
I've never read anything from writer Kathryn Kuder before and, believe you me, this isn't the best of first impressions. Even going on what I said before, about the characters being immensely annoying, sometimes those could be valid character traits but the characters are just boring and static in their archetype. There are no sympathetic characters to be found in this story until you meet the supporting players.
Cal, The Boy With The Cancer Touch (step right up) is at the center of what becomes a mutant-hunt conducted by Mutant X and their evil archenemy Marcus Eckhart, when he takes his sister, Chris, and his mutant friend Lee on an excursion into the woods, for as-yet-undisclosed reasons. I'm already bored just getting into the details of this because though Cal, Chris and Lee were sometimes likeable characters the story around them was just so congested with cliché, over-the-top dialogue, and convenient stupidity among the players involved that it was a chore to read through. To wit: two of the kids, Lee and Cal, have the uncontrollable ability to kill people with their merest touch. Why in the world haven't they invested in gloves?! I'll tell you why not: it would have inconvenienced the story. God forbid.
Stuart Immonen is a veteran artist in the industry and I have much respect for his work, but as with all things in the first half of this book, I can barely say more than "blah" and "guh." There were a couple of nicely rendered moments, particularly with Lee The Water-Manipulator, but other places, especially the pages featuring Mutant X, were messy and convoluted.
Once Eckhart's henchmen appear out of nowhere, not unlike the dreadfully ridiculous Putties of Power Rangers fame, the rest of the story didn't stand a chance.
I suppose the editors decided to save the best for last because the second half of Mutant X: Dangerous Decisions offers us a more down-to-earth telling of the origin of Shalimar Fox, the Mutant X member who is all feral-like but without the icky body hair that usually comes with. Because, of course, why give us a visually distinctive mutant character with an effective make-up design, when you can have a hot blonde jumping around in halter-tops explaining to uninterested passer-by why she's named after a town in Florida? Feh...
Shalimar and her homely friend, Doreen, attend a "Granger Island Party" courtesy of their preppy, sexually eager male acquaintances. Apparently Fox has a history with the lead prepper, Lee (there's that tired name again), so the testosterone fueled jock makes a beeline toward Doreen instead. It's up to Shalimar Fox to keep Doreen's saintly innocence intact, while at the same time keeping in check the mutant ferociousness within.
Besides the ferociousness (or maybe not) this story was no different than what you've seen on the Lifetime Network many times before, and, if that's your thing you will probably appreciate this story and maybe even get into it more in light of the mutant aspect. It's not my thing, however, because such obviousness can never be worth $3.50.
I will commend Paul Storrie for his knack for character interactions (as seen in his Justice League Adventures comic), which probably saved the entire tale from being a miserable read. Caselli's artwork is not my cup of tea, but it was indeed appropriate for this story, which was very light and harmless. Unlike the first half of the book.
<b>Art:</b>
http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xnone.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xnone.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xnone.jpg
<b>Story:</b>
http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xhalf.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xnone.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xnone.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xnone.jpg
<b>Overall:</b>
http://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xfull.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xnone.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xnone.jpghttp://x-mencomics.com/xfan/images/xnone.jpg
Buy this issue online now from X-World Comics and save! (http://www.x-worldcomics.com/yourvirtualstore)