This was an entertaining and fun issue. Pak is definitely turning up the heat for Ororo in part 2 of this story arc.
The issue opens up with the preview pages we have all seen. Storm, after passing out from the strain of saving the plane in the previous issue, was in the custody of the FBI. She was restrained and had been drugged. Storm’s X-Men (Beast, Nightcrawler, and Rachel Grey) saw the senator's accusations against Ororo on the news, and got in contact with her via Rachel's telepathy. They were ready to come to her aid but Ororo had them stay away out of concern that their involvement could put their students in danger. Rachel also brings to light that in addition to Storm’s concern about a potential backlash to the JGS a large gathering of human supporters have gathered outside her location to protest her arrest and demanding her release, so they too could be at risk.
Storm made an attempt to reason with the FBI but the agent didn’t believe her and wasn’t going to let her go. That clearly didn’t matter to Storm though. Thanks to years of training as a master thief and in hand to hand combat Storm, in spite of her injuries, managed to make a daring escape. She also had the crowd of people that gathered on her behalf disburse peacefully, and continued her escape by creatively blending in with the crowd.
Once she had a moment to breathe she had the X-Men research Davis Harmon (one of the clan leaders under Yukio and the head of Eaglestar International), which they found a connection between the senator that accused Storm and Harmon, and the senator’s whereabouts in a hideout in Louisiana. When Ororo arrived at the mansion hideout she pretty much let her winds do the talking, ripping a massive hole in the roof, pounding the senator’s lame ass security and then scaring a confession out of him. The issue concludes part 2 of this story arc with Storm getting ready take off to find Davis Harmon with the senator in tow, but the FBI just arrived on the scene in force.
Highlights
**Despite the way she has been treated by the government authorities, the discrimination, being drugged against her will, and being framed Ororo still remained compassionate, patient, and a hero.
**Outside of leveraging her skills and resourcefulness I loved the use of her powers. Pak leveraged them quite creatively and in meaningful ways to the story. Deflecting bullets, bursting the roof of the corrupt Senator’s mansion hide out, localized freezing winds, and (this never gets old for this long time Storm fan) changing her clothes (technically the infamous unstable molecules) with her lightning. All very cool and handled pretty well visually.
**Seeing that her adventures thus far continue to have an impact on the world at large (both good and bad). The public has been inspired by Storm helping those who needed it. It’s a nice payoff seeing people coming together in mass, even putting themselves at risk, in order to support and protect a hero they have come to respect.
My only criticism is the inking. I initially thought Barrionuevo’s art was just…nightmarish, but after seeing his pencil work in Pak’s last CBR interview, which was gorgeous, and we all know Ruth Redmond’s colors continue to be awesome on this book, the inking is what has been really hurt the quality of the artwork.
Despite the inking this issue was a great and enjoyable read and is still a 10 out of 10 for me.