Uncanny X-Men #21

If your excitement for this series has waned at all in recent months, it's hard to imagine Uncanny X-Men #21 not reinvigorating it. Read Full Review

Uncanny X-Men is my favorite X-comic these days, and for good reason. Bendis is crafting a wonderful, character-based adventure that doesn't shy away from dealing with the nitty and the gritty. It's Cyclops vs. the Jean Grey School vs. SHIELD vs. the unknown bad guy, and it is awesome! Read Full Review

Chris Bachalo's pencils and colors seem like they've been streamlined to deliver maximum impact. The composition is great, and the delivery is amazing, particularly in the panels with Erik and Frederick where the tension can be felt. Last time Magneto was in an issue of Uncanny X-Men, he caused havoc for Mystique and her crew, then leveled the building they were standing on. Read Full Review

My only concern going forward is that the mystery man behind the sentinel attacks on our mutants won't be quite as impressive of a reveal as the build up we've been given. I suppose we'll find out in another issue or two! Read Full Review

With strong pacing and atmosphere this is certainly a standout issue of this most recent volume of Uncanny, but both writer and artist are a bit too unreliable to match their best efforts. Read Full Review

The issue's back-up story takes Magneto back to Madripoor (for unexplained reasons which only marginally really fit his current path in his own ongoing series). There the team's former member discovers the true fate of Dazzler at the same time Beast makes a discovery concerning the identity of their unseen enemy. With those insights and Hill's realization that someone has been forcibly maneuvering a war between the X-Men and S.H.I.E.L.D. should hopefully lead to a big reveal and some real answers beginning next month. Worth a look. Read Full Review

The beef between Cyclops' faction and S.H.I.E.L.D. has been a focal point of the title since issue one but there's been very little payoff and no momentum. Maria Hill is no closer to finding Cyclops then she was in the opening arc and Cyclops is still clueless as to who's building sentinels. Fans will rejoice when at the double-page spread of missiles hitting the Jean Grey School simply because it means we've reached the point of no return. There's no way either side is going to just walk away from this. The characters, like the readers, are finally going to get some answers" Just not in this issue. Read Full Review

Bendis has been building up to the mysterious identity of who is behind the bubble mask and we may get the answer soon. Brian is riding a nice hot streak of quality issues for quite some time, which will hopefully continue. Chris Bachalo didnt have his best issue, but there is nowhere to go but up. Hes very capable of turning in excellent work and hopefully well see it next issue. Read Full Review

"Uncanny X-Men" #21 is a book that needs some consistency. I feel like Bendis is steering the book in the right direction, but Bachalo's art -- as much as I'm a long-time fan -- is taking a lot of missteps. It's not a bad book, but it could also be a lot better. Read Full Review

Brian Michael Bendis really withholds a lot in Uncanny X-Men #21, and instead of being intriguing, it's just frustrating. Read Full Review

JBL Reviews

May 27, 2014

Loved it! Finally we get to see Storm be a badass. More with Dazzler! Magneto and Blob! So good.

Nomadic Avenger

May 24, 2014

This is the best this series has been so far (and it has been a good series)! Excellent art by Bachalo sets the mood for this action packed issue.