Comics: Uncanny X-men #2

With Cyclops’ new revolution just beginning, and Magneto acting as a SHIELD spy within the team; what’s Emma Frost’s place in all this? This issue attempts to answer that question, as well as generally explaining what the hell she is doing there.

“All those years I could read everybody’s thoughts. All those little insignificant thoughts and dirty secrets that dance in front of me. And I spent all that time shutting it out.”

Opening with Emma screaming in the snow just to make her life less quiet, this comic really establishes just how broken she feels now she can no longer read minds. Throughout All New X-men she felt almost forgotten among Cyclops, Magneto and the new mutants; this being the first time we really get a sense of where she is at mentally. In fact one of the very criticisms I have levelled against Bendis since he took over X-men is that he didn’t seem quite able to figure out what to do with her. 

This issue disposes off all those doubts, stating why she’s there and her current feelings for Scott; proving that Bendis can write her just as well as anyone. Her conversation with Cyclops as they just decide to be totally frank with each is fantastic, showing how much self-pity they both carry. While Emma doesn’t hate Scott for what happened back in AvX she also doesn’t love him anymore. Their relationship is over and while I wasn’t one of it’s (many) detractors, I don’t find myself too sad about their break-up. Their relationship has run it’s course and its end feels in no way forced. 

Chris Bachalo illustrates with an incredible depth, while still keeping his character models fairly simple. During the aforementioned Emma scenes he’s able to fully express her emotions. He makes interesting use of the captions so that they fit around his art rather than the other way around. While this issue features no action he does still get to provide some exciting visuals, the scenes of Illyana teleporting for instance which look fantastic. I still find the female costumes a bit too skimpy but think I’m getting used to them, although Illyana’s is a little much in some scenes. Is she really shocked the teenage boys are so excited to see her?

After these initial scenes the issue unfortunately loses focus a little, centering on the new student’s wishes to see their parents. While it’s easy to sympathise with the character’s desires to see their families after being pulled away so suddenly, there isn’t much to this plot. For no real reason Cyclops decides this will be a great idea, only for Magneto to inform SHIELD of their location; bringing probably their worst nightmare down upon them. So I’d imagine anyone who found this issue too slow is in for a treat in the next.

Overall a great insight in to one of my favourite X-men, a must read for any Emma Frost fans.