Review: X-Men #166

X-Men #166
Marvel Comics
Writer: Peter Milligan
Artist: Salvador Larroca

Uncanny X-Men #240 and Wolverine #1 (Claremont/Buschema) were the first two comics that started my comic book collection. Sometimes, it feels like I still buy these titles just to keep getting them.

This X-Men book started with Chris Claremont and Jim Lee then continued on to lengthy Fabian Nicieza and Scott Lobdell runs (with a little Mark Waid sprinkled in). Joe Kelly then came on board, followed by Alan Davis and a forgettable/confusing Chris Claremont return. Lobdell came back, killed Colossus, and then Grant Morrison took over for a bit, changing the title's name, and writing a somewhat contraversial story. After Morrison, the title changed back to plain old "X-Men" for Chuck Austen (about whom enough has been said). Now we bring in Peter Milligan, who by my crude count is about the eleventh regular writer on X-Men.

For the most part, this book has had some fine caretakers. The lowest moments have been the Claremont "Revolution" and Austen runs by far. Now Milligan tries to follow up the Austen debacle with "Golgotha."

I've never read any of Milligan's material, save for a few X-Statix issues. X-Statix was a pretty novel book, but also a niche book, and I've never seen Milligan on anything mainstream before. I must say, I'm hopeful for something good here, but you can't judge a story very well on just one issue.

On to the issue itself -- it's not that interesting. There's a lot of set up and a number of X-Men who usually take the back seat in terms of action. I'd like to see where this goes, because even if it just was average super hero/adventure fare, that's better than it's been in a while. I could really go for the X-Men just going on random missions here and there about now.

One other side note: I never liked how the characters' accents were written out, like Rogue's "It's okay sugah, ah'll take care of it." or Gambit's "Dis is a tricky situation, chere." But in this issue (and who knows how long before that) the characters haven't been doing that, and oddly enough it's taking away from their individuality a little. At this point I think it's a subtle contribution to the characterization, and probably one that only as a long time reader that I've missed. I don't read Rogue or Gambit's solo books. I wonder if they have those mannerisms in those titles.