GIANT-SIZE UNCANNY X-MEN FIRST CLASS #1
Writers: Jeff Parker, Scott Gray, Roger Langridge
Pencilers: Craig Rousseau, David Williams, Dennis Calero, Sean Galloway, Joe Infurnari, Cameron Stewart, Jeff Parker
Publisher: Marvel

X-Men First Class was a comic that took place during the days of the original five X-Men (Cyclops, Marvel Girl, Iceman, Beast, and Angel), the first class of students Professor Xavier ever made into X-Men. It was a fun series that updated the early days of the Xavier School for Gifted Youngsters, highlighted the characters as they were in their teens, and told single-issue stories that often called back to the Silver Age of comics. Uncanny X-Men First Class is set to be a continuation of that series, set in the early days of the “All New, All Different X-Men” of the 1970’s.

In the last part of the final issue of X-Men First Class Finals (the conclusion to X-Men First Class), Professor Xavier sent the team to investigate mutant activity on the island of Krakoa. Longtime fans will remember the adventure on Krakoa as told in the 1975 special Giant-Size X-Men #1, where the original X-Men were captured, and Xavier & Cyclops had to assemble a new team to rescue them. Giant-Size Uncanny X-Men First Class picks up soon after that adventure, with Cyclops learning to adjust to leading this all new team. This special stars Cyclops, Banshee, Storm, Wolverine, Colossus, Nightcrawler, and a special appearance from Moira MacTaggert. Much like X-Men First Class, this story is heavy on humor and light-hearted adventure, with just a bit more emphasis on the characters’ origins.

The issue starts with Moira walking into the school’s lab, where Cyclops is attempting to examine a specimen sample in Beast’s absence. This leads to Cyclops complaining about the new X-Men, and the story of how he almost didn’t obtain the sample at all. Cyclops remembers walking into the Danger Room, only to find Wolverine, Banshee, and Nightcrawler goofing off with the Danger Room’s laser equipment by shooting pumpkins and melons. Cyclops scolds the three, sets the Danger Room to clean itself, then storms outside. Banshee follows and attempts to calm him down, but Cyclops is further frustrated when he finds Colossus plowing the school’s lawn for planting crops. This is interrupted when Storm begins to miss her home in Kenya, and her sadness accidentally creates a rainstorm. Cyclops gives up, then runs to Cerebro and attempts to use it to find any new mutants to join his team.

After detecting an unusual life form, Cyclops gathers the team and takes the jet to Kentucky. They’re then attacked by a large creature made entirely of mold. The team springs into action, annihilating the mold until the only bit of it left is hanging off of one of Wolverine’s claws. And that’s why Cyclops is upset at the team, and why he almost didn’t get a sample of the specimen.

Moira then tries to change Cyclops’ mind about giving up on the team by recounting her conversations with them. Moira decided to ask them all about their pasts, and what follows is a series of brief and interesting flashbacks:

Storm told the story of how she grew up in the streets of Cairo, trained by a thief-king named Achmed El Gibar to be one of his most talented students. On her first solo mission test, she retrieves a box that contained a picture of her parents. This turns out to be a bit of a touching moment, as young Ororo had since suppressed all memories of her parents and their death.

The next story is of Banshee in his younger days. Sean was riding his motorcycle through the Irish countryside one night, when he encountered a young woman being attacked by trolls. Upon saving the woman’s life, she revealed herself to be an actual banshee, a fairy spirit that sings to warn of a coming death. Sean and the banshee fell in love, but couldn’t be together. As she departed, the spirit promised to be there for Sean upon his own death. This is an interesting tale, told entirely in rhyme, and in a way puts a slightly romantic spin on Banshee’s death during the Deadly Genesis comic a few years back.

Then there’s Nightcrawler’s story of growing up in the circus. He loved being adored by the crowd, but when he stopped a group of men from robbing the circus owner, one man looked Nightcrawler in the eye and realized he wasn’t just a man in a blue costume. He called Nightcrawler a demon, reminding him that he’ll always be seen differently, and that the only way he’ll survive is to allow others to think his appearance is a lie.

Colossus‘ story takes place shortly after discovering his mutant powers. He and his friends had gotten a day off from their jobs, and decided to go picnic by an old abandoned zinc mine. Peter’s friend Sergei fell into the mine, and everyone climbed down after him. When the mine began to cave in, however, Peter had to reveal his power to save their lives. Rather than fear or hate him, Peter’s friends agreed to keep it a secret at his request. This inspired Peter to become Colossus, and use his powers to help others.

The final story is Wolverine’s. Of course, in those days, nobody knew Wolverine’s true origin. Not even Wolverine knew all of it. Rather than angst about his troubled past, however, Wolverine instead decided to bullshit Moira. He told her an obviously false story that involved getting bitten by a radioactive wolverine and a brief career as a folk singer. It was the comedic highlight of this entire issue. It’s four pages long, and every single panel is filled with comedy.

After hearing their origins from Moira, Cyclops decides to give the team another chance, and joins them in the Danger Room for an hour of wanton destruction and fun.

Some of the origins in the middle got to be a little tedious, but this was still an overall fun issue to read. Wolverine’s segment was especially funny, and I’d recommend picking up this issue just for that. Just like X-Men First Class, this book looks to be taking a lighter approach to its stories, and there’s nothing wrong with that. If you love classic superheroic fun, want to give an inoffensive comic book to a kid, or just want a break from the cynical world of Marvel’s Dark Reign and Messiah War, then this is definitely a comic to look for in the future.

Oh, to hell with it. Here are the pages from Wolverine’s supposed origin: