Uncanny X-Men #16 continues to rollercoaster ride writer Matthew Rosenberg has put together. Last issue had teammates cleared of infection with horrifying results (that isn’t addressed here), Cyclops was shot in the head, and some classic team members were captured. Uncanny X-Men #16 rockets along addressing some of that, dropping other bits (hopefully to be addressed later).

The issue really revolves around Cyclops’ leadership and direction and if it’s the right one. Cutting deals with Captain America, saying that Xavier’s dream is dead, this is a new Cyclops with a new attitude and it’s not going over well with everyone. So decisions are made by the team as to how it should be lead and it should be interesting. The leadership shake-up already creates some interesting shifts and dynamics and from there the action really takes off.

Magneto and his Brotherhood are back (with some new members) but how is Magneto here and in the Age of X-Man!? That is all explained and it’s the biggest issue with this particular part of the story. There’s so much packed in, things feel like they’re just thrown in there without a lot of explanation. From Magneto we get the return of another character, spoiler she’s on the cover, and a result that’s shocking. Then there’s a revelation at the end of the issue as well that has to be a headfake. So, as more is added to the story there’s still a lot left hanging too.

The art by Salvador Larroca, with color by Guru-eFX and lettering by Joe Caramagna, is solid. The characters look great and battles fun to follow. There’s some classic characters present and Larroca’s style just brings back the nostalgia. There’s also a good use of the panels so that the shocking moments make you really do a double take or have you linger on the page and panel (or both).

The issue could have used some extra length or a weekly release. There’s a lot packed in this issue and not all of it is fleshed out but then again that feels like a tradition of X-Men comics. There’s a moment you just roll with it. This might be it and hopefully Rosenberg slows things down a little because there’s a lot of great ideas packed in to this issue and the last that with a little more focus would make this run really stand out in the long history of X-Men comics.

Story: Matthew Rosenberg Art: Salvador Larroca
Color: Guru-eFX Letterer: Joe Caramagna
Story: 7.5 Art: 8.15 Overall: 7.65 Recommendation: Read

Marvel provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Cyclops and the X-Men have set out to save mutantkind…but the Mutant Liberation Front isn’t going to just wait for it to happen! Led by one of the X-Men’s own, the MLF is willing to do whatever it takes to stop mutant oppression…even kill any mutant who stands in their way…

Writer Matthew Rosenberg continues his take on the X-Men in this issue which is full of shocking twists and turns as Cyclops and the team confront Hope and the MLF.

While we get a tease of Hope’s motivations much is left for later issues. There’s also one hell of a statement by Wolverine concerning the situation. Instead, the focus here is shaking things up further with an injury to a character that will surely shake things up in the future. There’s also a focus on Dark Beast who does some good!? Yeah, multiple characters have their status shaken up with an end that’s shocking and horrific at the same time.

What’s really interesting though is Rosenberg’s focus outside of the X-Universe. Captain America pays a visit and after AvX, this is a pretty big deal as far as a meeting between Cap and Cyclops. While there isn’t an admission of him being wrong, there’s a lot of interesting moments that set up the X-Men’s status for the future in the greater Marvel Universe.

The art by Salvador Larroca, with color by Guru-eFX and lettering by Joe Caramagna, is excellent. There’s some fantastic spreads and really interesting use of panels when things really ramp up. The action is solid, the characters look great, the comic just nails it in the visuals, especially the brutality of some of the moments and injuries sustained.

Rosenberg has been mashing together some of the best of various eras of X-Men to deliver a story that’s action packed and entertaining. He’s putting his stamp on the X-Men status quo and history and brought the series back the excellence of what was.

Story: Matthew Rosenberg Art: Salvador Larroca
Color: Guru-eFX Letterer: Joe Caramagna
Story: 8.25 Art: 8.25 Overall: 8.25 Recommendation: Buy

Marvel provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Cyclops and Wolverine have drawn together a new team of X-Men from the ashes of “X-Men Disassembled,” and now they turn their eyes to setting their agenda. Cyclops has a list…a list of things the X-Men have to take care of…if it’s the last thing they ever do.

Writer Matthew Rosenberg continues his excellent run on Uncanny X-Men delivering an issue, and series, that blends so much of what has worked in the past and forging something new at the same time.

Uncanny X-Men #14 has the team going on the offensive but also thinking bigger as Cyclops continues to put together his new vision of this new iteration of X-Men. That includes the return of a classic character to cut a deal as well as their focus on dealing with Hope and the Mutant Liberation Front. There’s also some solid action as the team continues their quest to eliminate threats.

But, what surprises me about this comic is how it shows how much Cyclops has changed. He’s a blend between the more optimistic version of himself and the more militaristic version of himself. He wants to take action but also not burn everything down while doing some pretty questionable things. We see more what his X-Men team is doing with prisoners and it’s… different.

The art by Salvador Larroca with color by Guru-eFX and lettering by Joe Caramagna is solid as always. The style just exudes the desperation and balance of hope that the comic is able to juggle. There’s something that just clicks for it all and the X-Men haven’t looked this good in quite some time.

The team has been killing it with recent issues and this is an example of that. The X-Men are back to desperation and feel like they’re fighting an uphill battle, like they should. They’re no longer over powered to the point they have a mutant for every solution and now have a vision as to where they should be going with clear goals and something of a plan. This is the beginning of something that feels great and after a long time with some detours, the X-Men are back to greatness.

Story: Matthew Rosenberg Art: Salvador Larroca
Color: Guru-eFX Letterer: Joe Caramagna
Story: 8.15 Art: 8.15 Overall: 8.15 Recommendation: Buy

Marvel provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review