Stillanerd Reviews: X-Men: Gold vol. 2 #4 review

Everyone’s favorite Cajun, thieving, card-throwing mutant, Gambit, is back and getting his X-Men pals in trouble in this otherwise pedestrian outing.

X-Men: Gold vol. 2 #4

“Techno Superior, Part One”

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Writer: Marc Gugeenheim

Penciler: R.B. Silva

Inker: Adriano Di Benedetto

Colorist: Frank Martin

Letterer: VC’s Cory Petit

Cover Artists: Ardian Syaf, Jay Leisten, and Frank Martin

Variant Cover Artists: David Marquez and Marte Gracia

Ah, Gambit. You X-Men fans remember him, oui? The Cajun master thief and Casanova who could charge any object with explosive kinetic energy? Whose weapon of choice was a deck of playing cards? Back in the 1990s, he was the mutant who personified cool; and thanks to X-Men: The Animated Series, he almost reached Wolverine levels of popularity, with several attempts by Marvel in giving him his own ongoing series. Needless to say, he’s seen better days.

Seeing as how X-Men: Gold and nostalgia for the X-Men’s glory years are part of Marvel’s effort in reinvigorating their line-up of merry mutants, it only makes sense the latest issue in the series would also bring Gambit back. That and there’s also a Gambit movie with Channing Tatum in the works, too. And, as X-Men: Gold vol. 2 #4 opens, we see Remy LeBeau is up to his old tricks in committing a high-end burglary for a mysterious client.

Credit: R.B. Silva, Adriano Di Benedetto, and Frank Martin (Marvel Comics); from X-Men: Gold vol. 2 #4

…I couldn’t help but be reminded of New X-Men’s “E for Extinction,” and what Grant Morrison did with the [Sentinels]. Only in this case, it’s as if [Marc] Guggenheim offered us a meal created from Morrison’s table scraps.

What Gambit steals, and how it ties back to his former X-Men teammates, is hinted at in the title of Marc Guggenheim’s new story arc. Let’s just say for now that while the first three issues dealt with a new version of the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, this new story will involve a new version of yet another classic group of X-Men enemies: the Sentinels.

But where Guggenheim’s previous arc offered a somewhat different take on the Brotherhood, this new one appears less inspired. It’s only the first chapter of this larger story, but by the time I got to this issue’s last page, I couldn’t help but be reminded of New X-Men‘s “E for Extinction,” and what Grant Morrison did with the mutant-hunting robots. Only in this case, it’s as if Guggenheim offered us a meal created from Morrison’s table scraps.

There are, however, some potentially more interesting, long-running subplots Guggenheim does introduce. While investigating the death of a mutant, Old Man Logan and Storm discover that there’s a possible serial killer targeting mutants. Meanwhile, one of the captured members of the Brotherhood who was brainwashed by Mesmero isn’t a mutant at all, but an extraterrestrial alien of unknown origin. Even so, as a mystery, there’s still not enough to keep us fully captivated.

Credit: R.B. Silva, Adriano Di Benedetto, and Frank Martin (Marvel Comics); from X-Men: Gold vol. 2 #4

Guggenheim seems far more interested in plot development than he does character development. Even though it was character development….which made the X-Men so iconic in the first place.

And I think I know the reason. Despite this comic being an ensemble title—with some of the most noteworthy, fan-favorite members to ever grace the pages of X-Men—there’s a surprising lack of depth and emotional resonance with any of them. There’s only one scene of actual camaraderie between Kitty Pryde, Rachel Gray, and Nightcrawler as they foil a bank robbery by the Serpent Society. But it’s just an excuse for exposition dumping and having the three X-Men beat-up what the script brands as “D-list villains.”

In short, Guggenheim seems far more interested in plot development than he does character development. Even though it was character development (how these mutants resonated with their readers on so many levels) which made the X-Men so iconic in the first place.

Having R.B. Silva as the regular artist also seems like a weak choice to have on a supposedly banner comic book title. Not that Silva doesn’t have his strong points. His depiction of action is fluid and lively, as shown during Gambit’s heist. But Silva is in a class all his own when it comes to illustrating facial responses. He’s not afraid to exaggerate things just a little to instill some personality. He makes eyes a little wider than normal; arches eyebrows at different heights; and enlarges or shrinks mouths depending on whether a person is feeling tense, happy, or seething with rage.

Credit: R.B. Silva, Adriano Di Benedetto, and Frank Martin (Marvel Comics); from X-Men: Gold vol. 2 #4

The real disappointment of X-Men: Gold vol. 2 #4 is that it so desperately wants its readers captivated by nostalgia in the hopes they’ll also overlook just how paint-by-numbers it is.

But when it comes to composition, especially when showing more than one person on panel, his art literally goes flat. The thick outlines around his characters makes them seem too cut-and-paste, and gives his scenes almost no sense of perspective or depth. It certainly doesn’t help when Adriano Di Benedetto’s inking are sparingly used except for the purposes of highlighting. And despite having strong, vibrant colors from Frank Martin, it’s not enough to give Silva’s images that much more pizzazz.

The real disappointment of X-Men: Gold vol. 2 #4 is that it so desperately wants its readers captivated by nostalgia in the hopes they’ll also overlook just how paint-by-numbers it is. Bringing back Gambit isn’t enough. Having Kitty Pryde as the new leader isn’t enough. Having Storm, Colossus, Nightcrawler, and Wolverine (sort-of) together again isn’t enough. Because the X-Men are more than just superheroes doing standard superhero fare.

Stillanerd’s Score: 2 out of 5.

Next: Stillanerd Reviews: The Flash vol. 5 #22 review

Stillanerd’s Nerdy Nitpicks (possible spoilers)

One hand-held mirror to deflect all those electric eye-beams? Either Gambit’s really that good, or that complex has some really bad security considering what it’s safeguarding.
“… I kinda hold all the cards.” Oh, Gambit. You and your card-related puns. How I’ve missed them.
In case you need a roll call, the Serpent Society members shown in this issue are Anaconda, Bushmaster, Cottonmouth, and Sidewinder. As for why they’ve resorted to mere bank robbery? Well, just say they lost a lot of business after the Society’s Serpent Solutions scheme went belly up in Sam Wilson: Captain America #6.
Also, what banks still use money bags with giant dollar signs anymore?
Okay, I get how the X-Mansion, after being moved from Limbo to Central Park, wouldn’t have sewage and plumping. But how does it even have working electricity?
Hmm … good point, detective, about Storm still using her X-Treme Sanctions Executive (X.S.E.) badge. Then again, even with all the various depopulating of mutants like M-Day and the Terrigen Mists, it’s not as if the X.S.E. was ever officially decommissioned, right?
Good grief, just how many relatives does Bolivar Trask have? And he was old enough to be a grandfather?
So Gambit always has New Orléans and Mardi Gras on the brain?
See, guys? Colossus knows the value of listening to one’s date.

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