Age of X-Man: NextGen #2 // Review
Students at the Summers institute have a rough time. In addition to all of the other issues facing kids just trying to focus on studies, they’ve all got superhuman powers, and they’re living in a world that might not be real. Problem kids who mention anything about it tend to disappear as the mystery deepens in the second issue of the Age of X-Man mini-series NextGen. Ed Brisson writes a story drawn by Marcus To with color by Jason Keith. Physical action fades out into the background of an issue which intensifies the intrigue as various students encounter the fragmented edges of a sinister conspiracy.
As the issue opensGlob has just covered fellow student Hisako in his weird ectoplasm-like wax. She would be forgiven for thinking he was attacking her, but he really did have a good reason to do so what with all the strange memories and students going missing. A more tense conversation takes place in the cafeteria, and a physically imposing student is asking uncomfortable questions of a librarian in the interest of completing a simple research paper. There’s also a small matter of a glowing vial of a substance known as Unveil...something of an anti-hallucinogen that allows the user to see beyond the illusions they are being fed.
Brisson is constructing a compelling interpersonal politics for the students of the Summers Institute. He’s developing an intricate mix of students who know that there might be some kind of conspiracy at work. The establishment of momentum towards a revelation of some sort invites revolutionary energies that could be handled with a bit more of a nuanced hand than Brisson is managing here. The gaps between apparent reality and phantom memories supported by niggling, little details could be woven together with more sophistication than Brisson is rendering here, but the overall intrigue that Brisson’s building is compelling enough to carry through the rest of the mini-series.
Drama comes to the page in emotional expressions and delicately-rendered body language thanks to the efforts of Marcus To. There’s enough personality in To’s world that yet another Age of X-Man scene in a cafeteria feels fresh and engaging. Even Glob seems very, very expressive physically, which is a considerable accomplishment given the fact that he’s nothing more than a skeleton encased in a shiny pink jelly. That jelly looks healthy and natural in the hands of colorist Jason Keith, who also lends depth to nearly every panel with atmospheric highlights that seem present almost everywhere that To allows him room to work. There are some really dark moments off-campus at the end of the issue with plenty of vast expanses of black, but there’s a lot of room for Keith to conjure rich, dark color.
A solidly entertaining issue for the second month in a row lends Next Gen the distinction of being one of the better (and possibly the best) of the Age of X-Man mini-series. Exciting characters are going through exciting things. The danger is right around the corner from everybody, and there isn’t a character in this issue which isn’t in over his or her head in ways that aren’t totally apparent to them just yet. Hopefully, Brisson and To can maintain this quality through the end of the series.
