Written by Joe Kelly.
Art by Carlos Pacheco; Art Thibert; Richard Starkings; Comicraft; Chris Lichtner; Aron Lusen; & Liquid!.
Cover Art by Carlos Pacheco; Art Thibert; & Liquid!.
SUMMARY:
Entitled “A House in Order,” Marvel Comics released this issue for January 1998. With the X-Men in functional disarray, the team’s future appears troubled. With their temporary departure imminent, Jean Grey-Summers/Phoenix psychically cleanses lingering tension amongst her teammates; simultaneously, her injured husband, Scott Summers/Cyclops, reconsiders leaving the makeshift X-Men.
The team’s remaining veterans include Dr. Hank McCoy, Bobby Drake/Iceman, and Sam Guthrie/Cannonball. Still, the team’s leadership falls to a skeptical Logan/Wolverine and Ororo Munroe/Storm, to keep new recruits Marrow, Maggott, & Cecilia Reyes in cohesion, along with getting by on far-reduced resources.
Accompanying their new recruits on a tour of nearby Salem Center, Jean gains a reinforced sense of optimism from news re: the Avengers and the Fantastic Four. Along with her husband, Jean wistfully departs the X-Men for some much-needed downtime. Meanwhile, in Venice, Italy, there’s an ominous interlude featuring the Hellfire Club’s Sebastian Shaw. Similarly, a new sub-plot is arising from Ororo’s past in Cairo, Egypt.
Note: Despite his presence on the cover, Warren Worthington III/Angel is absent from this issue.
REVIEW:
Writer Joe Kelly delivers solid X-storytelling in this transitional issue, as it sets up Wolverine’s new role as a reluctant mentor. Also, the dual importance of Phoenix & Cyclops wishing to preserve the X-Men’s long-held ideals is well-played. Kelly, in that sense, effectively balances familiar personalities (i.e. Jean, Scott, Ororo, & Logan, etc.) amidst inklings of new storylines coming into play.
Along with the art squad’s reliable visuals (i.e. the likable cover image), X-Men # 71 is a welcome read heralding integration of some intriguing new X-Men.
ADDITIONAL CONTENT:
The fold-out cover includes quick character synopses for: Cyclops; Phoenix; Marrow; Cecilia Reyes; Maggott; Cannonball; & Iceman, along with a current plot summary. There’s also a “Bullpen Bulletins” column and an “X-Pressions” letters-and-answers column.
BRIAN’S ODD MOON RATING: 8 Stars
