‘Uncanny X-Men, Vol. 1: Revolution’ review
By Brittney MacDonald, Senior Columnist
5/5
As a long time X-Men fan, I am conflicted about the contents of Revolution, but I cannot deny that it is a truly amazing graphic novel. Featuring experimental art styles and a plot that delves deep into the anger and frustration of a marginalized society with the power to fight back, Revolution gives us a window into what would happen if the heroes stopped caring about helping the “greater good” and instead decided to make it better for themselves.
In the story written by award-winner Brian Michael Bendis, the team is suffering as members have lost control over their powers due to battles with the all-powerful, psychic entity, Phoenix. They have become unstable, none more so than Cyclops. As leader to the X-Men, Cyclops has one mission: to ensure every mutant has their equal rights. With no Jean Grey or Professor Xavier to convince him of a better, less violent way, Cyclops, now allied with the volatile Magneto, has decided an all-out violent revolution is the answer.
Featuring art by Chris Bachalo and Frazer Irving, the style is definitely unlike anything I have seen before. It’s highly stylized, with less emphasis on heavy blacks and a simplicity to the colours that compliments the new character designs well. Cyclops in particular is made to look more intimidating. Gone are the royal blue and yellow spandex suits, instead replaced with a demonizing red and black number.
My conflict comes from my love of the X-Men as a team devoted to maintaining the often strenuous peace between human and mutant. This is a very different kind of X-Men—but I can’t say I don’t like it.
The graphic novel is intriguing, dark, and thoroughly believable in the context of the world. In short, a very good read.
