CYCLOPS / ULTIMATE SPIDER-MAN / CHAOS [Reviews]: Set me up, Scotty!

In keeping with our Spider-Man theme this week — you know, our must-listen Spidey-Cast and Amazing Spider-Man 2 video game review (coming soon, so hold onto that web-fluid) — allow one of our newest clergy-members, “Deacon” Dana Keels, to give you the spiel on the All-New Miles Morales: Ultimate Spider-Man and four other sinfully tasteful blockbuster funnybooks. It’s oh, what, hell, uh, yes — #Fistful!

CYCLOPS #1

“Real funny, DAD!”

What do you get when you take a 16-year old Cyclops, drop him into the present, and then send him into space with his long lost father?

An incredible start to a very promising story.

Greg Rucka (Batwoman, Lazarus) handles scripting duties and Russell Dauterman (Nightwing, Supurbia) lays down the art. Having previously seen his future self and the not-so-nice man he’s become, one can only imagine the internal strife that young Cyclops is facing. With the revelation that his father, Corsair, isn’t actually dead, but instead has been raiding the stars — as space pirates tend to do — it’d be ridiculous not to join in on his swashbuckling adventures.

Once in space, this Demon Deacon really got the feeling that this book could go anywhere, and Thank God it goes into all the right territories so far. The main focus seems to be on Cyclops and Corsair’s relationship so far, with the Starjammers filling out the necessary supporting roles. The comic also takes on a coming of age tone, with young Cyclops playing the part of the wide-eyed youth in awe of his mentor, in this case his very own father. Rucka’s situation is certainly an interesting one.

Having felt like he let down Scott in the past, the brash privateer sees this as his chance to make things right with a second chance. It reminded me a lot of Treasure Planet, or even A New Hope. How might Corsair’s presence in Scott’s life alter the timeline and even alter the man his kid will even become? Expect at least minor repercussions in the future.

The only fault had with this issue is that a good deal of it feels like set-up, more introductory than substantial. Nonetheless, the end of issue #1 left me optimistic about the future of this series! Rucka does a great job of keeping the pace strong and Dauterman’s art is simply gorgeous.

Wherever Cyclops goes from here, I’m down for the ride.

4.25 (out of 5) Bibles.

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