Comics: All New X-men #4

The original X-men (Cyclops, Jean Grey, Angel, Beast and Iceman) have travelled from the past to confront modern day Cyclops about the road he is heading down; seemingly the road of villainy. This issue sees the first confrontation between the two sides.

Unfortunately this is also the second issue in a row where I really feel the story is dragging. I'm still loving the way Brian Michael Bendis writes the characters, and the artwork is fantastic just the story is barely going anywhere. Starting with modern Cyclops' reaction to seeing the former team, the first few pages focus on his thoughts of shock and disbelief. As Scott thinks through who could of possibly done this it becomes clear just how far he has fallen in to madness; questioning if it could even be some fragment of Professor Xavier still in his mind. His reactions feel genuine but it is a little wordy, Bendis really needs to learn that sometimes less is more.

The reveal that Jean is reading his mind works incredibly well, as she becomes aware that this is truly a future version of the man she loves and astonished at the monster he has turned in to. These moments really ham home the point of the series, that for these young X-men this is the worst possible future they could imagine. After this Jean loses control and begins the fight of the issue. While the action looks fantastic, as I have stated in previous reviews I believe this is Immomen's greatest skill, it is over a little too fast with Magneto calling a retreat. Considering that the whole series has been leading up to this moment I was rather underwhelmed by the conflict, hopefully there will be a bigger scale fight to come.

Having had his worst fears confirmed past-Cyclops resolves to never forgot what he has seen, seemingly deciding to change this future. Meanwhile present-Cyclops and Emma Frost decide who must have brought the original X-men here, Beast; leaving Cyclops full of rage.

A well written, fantastically drawn series that is unfortunately moving a little too slowly for my liking; yet for some reason I feel compelled to read on. Hopefully at least some of the plot points from the first issue will be developed soon.