Oct
23
2014
0

Axis #3 Review

Written by: Rick Remender

Art by: Leinil Francis Yu

Publisher: Marvel

It’s week three of Axis as Leinil Yu takes up the pencils from Adam Kubert for this third installment.

Can the Avengers and the X-Men ever get along? This question has remained the crux of Rick Remender’s Marvel work since the first issue of Uncanny Avengers and has remained the central thesis for his storyline up through Axis. While issue three features the introduction of many more supporting players to this event, it is this central question that remains the crux and focal point for this series. One of the best aspects of this issue is the introduction of Deadpool into the chaos for it gives Remender another chance to write the Merc with a Mouth since his famed run on Uncanny X-Force. Deadpool can be an incredibly irritating character when used incorrectly, either disrupting the tone or plot of the story with his silly shenanigans. However, Remender sidesteps this by tying Deadpool’s interactions in Axis soley to the character of Genesis, his one relationship in all of the Marvel books that brings out his morality. Genesis remained a central crux of Uncanny X-Force as well and seeing these two interact again is a treat for longtime fans and hopefully prospective ones, too.

The dialogue in this book shines when it relates directly to each characters motivations. Doom, Loki’s, and surprisingly Carnage’s prose remains highlights of this installment. However, the rush pace of this series don’t allow for a lot of time to process the dramatic events that permeate it. Havok acts very drastically near the end of the book, and while his reasons are justified (and may be explained in a future issue), it is still a jarring reaction from the character that seems to betray everything his stood for prior. This is partly due to the rushed nature of this event title but one hopes all of these plot threads are dealt with in the future.

Leinil Yu’s pencils are a treat, as always. Highlighting action scenes with a speed and gravitas unseen in most other comic book art contemporaries. His depiction of Genesis in the latter half of the book completely conveys all the sort of physical intimidation brought about by such a character transformation. Some scenes remain a little rushed, however, especially characters outside of the foreground. Many of the characters faces aren’t rendered if not in immediate view and while this is entirely forgivable, it does tend to hinder the readers suspension of disbelief. Still, his art is always top notch and makes one wish that he’d stay on for the majority of the rest of the series.

Axis is pushing forward at a breakneck pace and while it’s taking a break next week, I hope we all can catch our collective breath for the shocking revelations to come.