3.5 Razors

• Title: Uncanny X-Men #526
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Matt Fraction
• Artist: Whilce Portacio

Family is the common thread in two separate stories presented in this post-Second Coming issue. In the first Hope travels to Alaska in hopes to learn about her birth parents. Her journey doesn’t go quite as planned, but the experience does help fill-in some of her questions.

In the second story Magneto is shocked to learn of the existence of two mutants (Speed and Wiccan) who might, or might not, be his grandchildren. Warned to stay away by both Cyclops and Wolverine, Magneto agrees to give the children distance…but this is the Master of Magnetism we’re talking about. Anyone want to take odds how long he keeps that promise?

Other than the team saving a young woman dealing with her new-found mutation there’s little action here, but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth a read. On their own neither story is strong enough, but as two similar personal tales told together we’re given an issue that stands out for its emotion rather than bloodshed. Definitely worth a look.

[Marvel $3.99]

• Title: Time Masters: Vanishing Point #1 (of 6)
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Matt Fraction
• Artist: Whilce Portacio

As the cover tells us: “The Search for Bruce Wayne Begins!” (Actually, the search began two-and-a-half months ago with The Search for Bruce Wayne #1, but that’s neither here nor there.) Booster Gold, Superman, Green Lantern, and Rip Hunter will attempt to find Batman before he can cause irreperable harm to the timestream.

For the first time we’re given a reason (an analogy to a healthy body and a virus) why Bruce Wayne’s travel through time isn’t a good thing. It’s not the best rationale for the problem of why time seems to be unraveling, but at least we’re finally given one. I guess it will have to do.

I actually enjoyed this issue more than I have so far with The Return of Bruce Wayne. The perspective shifting to the group searching for Wayne instead of somewhat bewildered Batman (three issues in, it’s still unclear exactly how much of his real life the Dark Knight remembers) makes the quest more interesting.

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• Title: Birds of Prey #3
• Comic Vine: link
• Writer: Gail Simone
• Artist: Ed Benes

Things go from bad to worse for our plucky heroines. Gail Simone has a couple twists up her sleeve, one of which should stop the bitching over the deaths of two marginal characters last month.

By the final panel the villains will stand revealed, along with a much larger plot, and none of it looks good for our heroes. (I can’t be the only one hoping Hawk gets killed, right?)

There are a couple of really nice moments here including Oracle‘s stunned surprise, a tearful possible farewell between Black Canary and her mates, some lurid daydreams by the Penguin, and Zinda‘s distaste at Hawk’s attempts to shield her from danger.

Next month’s conclusion of this first story arc should be a doozy. Worth a look.

[DC $2.99]