The (White) Man Show: Reviewing ‘Uncanny Avengers’ #5

As Orchis continues their work to rid the world of mutant kind, Captain America’s new Unity Squad accomplishes their mission. They’ve beaten the new Mutant Liberation Front/Brotherhood, and the imposter Captain Krakoa stands revealed. The question: how do they stop someone who knows their leader as well as he knows himself?

Unity might be all that gets them through the day in Uncanny Avengers #5 from Gerry Duggan, Javier Garron, Morry Hollowell, and Travis Lanham.

Mystery reveals are not an easy thing to do in storytelling.

Generally, there are really two outcomes for these types of stories. On one hand, the reveals can be so shocking or brilliant that the audience is left reeling trying to piece together the how. On the other, they can be so predictable that it was clear from the opening beats what was coming, bringing nothing but a shrug. Not a ton of middle ground to be found.

Bet you can guess which one this series fell into. Don’t worry, I can read your mind and know that you’re on the right track, count to three and we can shrug together.

Mutants are in the midst of another extinction level event, and, somehow, Steve Rogers is taking all the spotlight as both the hero and the villain of the story. If I thought that the sigh let loose during good Steve’s speech a few issues was huge, the one let loose at seeing evil Steve (I refuse to call him Grant or Stevil) probably could be heard throughout space and time. Only to be beaten by the fact that the evil counterpart gets his very own pedantic speech scene.

I’m sorry, but this series just felt utterly pointless.

Duggan is a writer who has been very hit or miss for me lately, after historically being far more on the hit side. This felt so rushed and, basically, was a Captain America solo story with cameos by some mutants. Captain Krakoa is soundly defeated, there is some bogus stuff with Rogue and Deadpool surviving being obliterated by a nuke, more ridiculous amounts of weeks pass (what even is the FOX timeline?), evil Steve gets a trial, and it all ends with some “friends along the way” stuff. Also, there were a bunch of overly hyped “shocking” romances that are whatever and go nowhere and mean nothing with the whole line is getting relaunched in six months.

Oh, and the whole thing about teasing Rogue getting a more classic costume for “reasons?” Yeah, those reasons are just after being blown to bits she suddenly has her original short haircut and costume just because. I swear this feels like a bunch of ideas glued together with little cohesion. There is no way anyone in the X-Office could conceivably convince me that the overall planning and execution of Fall Of X as it currently stands was not rushed. It truly feels like while they had an end in mind, the sudden editorial move and upcoming relaunch of the entire line pushed that ending up significantly.

Garron is a fantastic artist and feels wasted here.

An energetic, solid, bright, fun and deep art style with plenty of emotion clear upon all the characters faces and movements. There is a great kinetic styling to the action, making many of the movements such as super speed feel quite real. So much motion, letting the characters dart across the page before our eyes. The same goes for all the settings, plenty of depth and focus added to let the spaces feel lived in at all times.

Some of the whimsical, almost cartoony, appearances feel out of place with how bizarre and faux-serious the story is trying to be. The same goes for the very vibrant patches of color that Hollowell adds to the pages. While it’s a whole Steve story doubled, the others get some good moments, and the art really makes the action work. Even if the bomb moment is just bad bonkers, at least it looks pretty dynamic. Many of the colors are washed out, as the bomb strips things away, giving it a different impact.

Plenty is said as there is another speech to fill the pages. Lanham does solid work to balance everything on the pages. Letting the emotion seep into the words, even if at times it all feels melodramatic. At least visually the lettering is fun to behold with the changes to bubbles, font, and SFX to keep things moving and a bit fun.

Once upon a time I assumed this would be the top Fall Of X book on my list. Sadly, the perception and reality did not match up.

Uncanny Avengers #5 is now available from Marvel Comics.