Comic Book Review: Uncanny X-Men #502

Uncanny X-Men #502

Writers: Matt Fraction and Ed Brubaker
Penciler: Greg Land
Inker: Jay Leisten
Colorist: Justin Ponsor
Letterer Joe Caramagna

Story: SFX 3: Beginning to See the Light

Following the assault on Pixie, the X-Men take the fight to the Hellfire Cult. They capture and interrogate a member of the cult to find out what they can about the hate crime organization.

I'm a little troubled by the continuing blurring of powers with Karma showing a degree of mind-reading and discovering people's phobias a la Danielle Moonstar. And while the "torture" scene was interesting, why didn't the X-Men just let Emma Frost pry the information from him?

The assault on the Hellfire Cult that this issue was leading up to was cool, except for a random throwing in of Storm out of nowhere. Also, another problem with powers, it's unclear what Empath is doing to Wolverine. He used to be able to control people, but it just looked like he was causing Logan pain. Why wouldn't he turn Wolvie to his side? He also describes an encounter with the White Queen (Emma) where he wanted to "look inside" her mind. There are already enough telepaths. Now people who can control people also have telepathy.

Anyway, Dazzler pops by to visit Pixie and offer her a job as one of her dancers after she heals up, and finally Dazzler has a decent costume. Actually, I get nostalgic for her disco uniform, and the blue tights from her stint with the X-Men wasn't exactly bad.

And we got to see some more of the dominatrix leader of the Hellfire Cult, the Red Queen, although we don't really learn any more about her except she's taken on Emma's appearance. The fight between the Red Queen and Emma is going to be great!

Land's art is good, but page two is a tally of prominent X-Men seen in the issue (except Storm, again like she was thrown in as an after thought), and other than make-up, there's no clear difference between Emma and Dazzler in the face.

That page two is a problem. It's a black page with small dark purple writing which makes it nearly impossible to read. Also, it's titles "Cyclops' Strike Files" and it should be "Cyclops's". I know technically, these days, that rule seems optional, but I ask you...when you say it out loud or in your head, do you say it with an extra S at the end, like "Cyclopses"? I do...It needs an extra "s".

Rating: - 3 Worms - The plot's good, but too many things making go, "Whut?"