Uncanny X-Men #490 Review

Uncanny X-Men #490
Written by Ed Brubaker
Art by Salvador Larroca

How can Brubaker write things that are so good, like Iron Fist, Criminal and Daredevil, and then write something so average at best like his current Uncanny run?

This issue continues The Extremists arc and it is another lackluster issue in what is turning into a very sub par run on this book by Brubaker. This is the fourth part of the five part storyline and, so far, nothing has happened that could be classified as any kind of major plot thread.

Supposedly, this storyline would see the return of Magneto, but as of this issue, he may or may not have made an appearance, as there is only a cameo of an older man in a purple trench coat and hat in this issue. I gather we are supposed to believe he is Magnus, but that is yet to be seen. The rest of the issue deals with Masque and his crew being pursued by Warpath and Hepzibah through the sewers. The duo are easily subdued by Masque's group and there is talk of prophecies predicting the outcome of the fight before it took place.

Meanwhile, Storm and company learn of the Morlock Qwerty and her ability to see the consequences of every action ever taken. Before M-Day, she dedicated herself to writing down all possible outcomes to prepare mutants for the future. Masque is using this knowledge in his quest for...well, we do not really know what he wants to be honest. He said he wanted to find Magneto in the opening issue of this arc, but nothing has been said of it since then and he has not really done anything that would really lead to his finding Magneto in my eyes. The issue ends with Masque's group destroying the Morlock sanctuary that Storm is currently located at. The Morlocks keep saying it is her destiny to witness their destruction and the last page has Storm trapped under the collapsed tunnel as the panels fade to black.

The art for this story arc has been very inconsistent as well. Many pages this issue have people, especially facially, looking quite odd. There's a splash page with Storm featured that looks especially bad. I do not know if it is the colourists fault or if it is the art, but a lot of the images come off flat and, while not bad art, there is nothing to it either, as if there is no emotion or feeling to each image.

The Endangered Species back up is very similar to previous chapters. Beast searches Mutant Town with Bishop for someone that might have Mutant Growth Hormone, the designer drug that gives non-mutants the powers of whoever's tissue sample was used in the drug's creation. After finding out that the drugs from pre-M-Day are all inert, Beast lashes out at the drug dealer when he offers to buy some blood samples from him to create more MGH. Nothing new happens and, aside from the forced outburst by Beast, Endangered Species has yet to impress. Do not feel compelled to buy any X-titles for these backups.

Verdict - Avoid It

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