(Apologies for the lack of updates to this - I work in the health service here in Bonnie Scotland, and things are a bit mental just now. Hope everyone is keeping safe!)
Uncanny X-Men #403: Lurking
Uncanny X-Men #403 hit shelves on the 20th of February 2002, a mere two weeks after issue 402. It was one week late, as Marvel again strove to get back on schedule (they made significant improvements around this point, with both Uncanny X-Men and New X-Men almost never shipping late for the remainder of the year). The estimated report from Diamond to North American distributers had it shipping 104,311 copies, making it fourth-highest for the month. New X-Men, Ultimates and DKII would be the ones higher than it.
X-Corps continues its upswing, as Casey continues to flesh out the organisation and reintroduces familiar (and some not-so-familiar) characters, as well as bringing another villainous organisation to the fore. It’s all decent stuff, and there is a nice pervading sense of unease running through the book as to something not being quite right. There are a few notes of interest in the plot, which we will cover as we get to them.
Fever Pitch, following his capture by the X-Corps last issue has apparently now gotten in line and is a member of X-Corps. Also cropping up are Jubilee, Husk and M who have joined on the strength of their past relationship with Banshee but are beginning to have their suspicions also. There’s a nice scene where Iceman confronts Blob, Avalanche and Mystique in a bar, which nicely touches on the characters’ shared history over the years. For someone who has no love for the X-Men, this scene (and the Sean/Kurt one) indicate that Casey certainly did his homework.
The characterisation of Banshee remains problematic here, although he has a powerful scene with Nightcrawler, reminiscing about their All-New, All-Different days, but he still doesn’t sound convincing as a quasi-fascist. If he were indirectly being controlled by Lady Mastermind - as it is hinted the other villains are - it might make more sense, but he appears to have had all these grand notions long before he considered busting Lady Mastermind out of prison. Avalanche mentions Cassidy getting immunity for them, so it's unclear exactly what the legal status of X-Corps is.
Elsewhere an organisation called A.R.M shows up and they’re basically just another generic mutant-hating group, but this time in Europe. They are led by Jakob Eisen, and in a scene which would cause some confusion at the time, are merrily slaughtered by newcomer Surge.
One of the themes of this arc would be that the X-Corps are maintaining mutant order but the X-Men see it as a public relations nightmare. Unfortunately we don’t get any reaction from members of the public, as the only people we see besides the X-Men and X-Corps are Eisen’s hate group.
The art duties on this issue are handled by Aaron Lopresti who turns in a solid issue which is mildly reminiscent of Tom Raney’s work on #399. The opening scenes with Archangel and Stacy are the strongest work in the issue, although it does noticeably deteriorate in quality after that although Iceman’s chat with the former Brotherhood members is good too. Lopresti is capable of a lot better but this is perfectly good, solid, safe superhero fill-in work.
What is not suitably safe, solid and good is the cover, which is bad. We have Blob in the background, looking absolutely nothing like he does in the book (or any book ever) in fact he looks like The Kingpin. There’s a bloke in a hat, who I assume to be Avalanche and also Jubilee and Husk. You can tell who they are because one has gum and the other is blond. If you weren’t reading the storyline I’m not sure you could name any of the characters, bar possibly Banshee, who is doing the old “eyes in the back of the head” expression WWF wrestler The Undertaker did, as well as the accompanying “reach out towards the urn” gesture. Not Ariel Olivetti’s best work by any means. I’m honestly not sure if it was a repurposed cover for something else, or if he was just taking the piss.
More Recognisable In The Interior Pages Casting call!
Archangel is present in the opening scene as he and Stacy find themselves stuck in the middle of an X-Corps/ARM standoff. His relationship with Stacy seems to be growing. He sensibly backs down rather than fight Madrox.
Nightcrawler is more likable than he’s been in a while as he has a genuinely touching scene with Sean before sending Chamber off to snoop around.
Iceman has a strong scene in the boozer with Blob and Avalanche, with some decent dialogue being thrown out on both sides.
Wolverine isn’t in this issue.
Chamber has a nice reunion (although slightly awkwardly in Husk's case) with the Generation X girls and then pops down to the basement to investigate rumours.
Stacy has a nice few exchanges with Archangel and then unfortunately gets to meet Radius. Poor girl.
Best cover thus far – 397.
Worst cover – All change as this cover boots Warp Savant into touch, quite possibly whilst drawing him looking like someone else entirely.
Who died and will HoXPoX resurrect them? No mutants were harmed in the production of this issue, although some ARM goons were murdered by Surge. More fodder is brought in with M, Paige, Husk and Radius all reporting for possible death duty.
What I Thought Then – I wasn’t sure if Banshee was being mind-controlled, but there was enough here to enjoy. The ending was odd, because I hadn’t really grasped the dream bit from 401.
What I Think Now – Another solid issue.
For those reading this – did Banshee work for you in this role? After the books abrupt cancellation did you enjoy the mini-Gen X reunion?
Next time – the artist I would associate most with Casey’s run gets a full debut, and it’s time to kill people. Uncanny 404!