CODENAME: X-MEN #1

(from the pages of Advanced Iron #48)

CODENAME: X-MEN #1 (ONE-SHOT)

July 2000
Writer: Mark Millar
Art: Sean Phillips & Duncan Fredo

This is what the X-Men comic would be like if it was published in the actual Marvel Universe by people who share their daily lives with superheroes.

In this biased and rather racist anti-mutant view of the X-Men, a guy called Colonel America assembles a group of mutant criminals and turns them into living weapons in the service of the United States government. The team is composed of Wolverine (of course), Mastermind, Goblyn Queen, Cyclops, Deathbird and Iceman. These "threats to society" are offered a choice: to be executed or serve mankind. To quote Cyclops: "Unless you find electric chairs unusually comfortable, I'd do whatever Colonel America says, man."

This team's particular mission is to retrieve a prototype "nano-bomb" and to rescue our very own Iron Man from the clutches of the "self-proclaimed mutant messiah and indestructible high-priest of the church of the splitting atom". No, it's not Magneto, but rather Doctor Strange! Believe it or not!

I'm a big fan of What Ifs and alternate realities so the concept of this book was very interesting to me, especially since Iron Man appeared to be involved.

The fake Marvel Bullpen page (renamed Marvel Mania) is really cool. Especially the part where they say they've been receiving letters of complaint from people accusing them of publishing books that "promote the agenda of the mutant conspiracy and (…) undermine the fabric of our nation." Nice touch.

Well to begin with, the story is simply boring and the art is pretty mediocre, in my modest opinion. I was buying this book with the hope of seeing some new alternate Iron Man but we only see him once in a flashback panel.

Do the X-Men succeed in rescuing him, you ask? The answer sends chills down my spine. Not only are they too late, not only is Iron Man dead, but the evil mutants actually took him out of his armor and are in the process of eating him for dinner! What a revoltin' development, literally! Unless you're a really big fan of the X-Men, stay away from this one my friends!

Doctor Strange holding a fork with a dripping piece of meat impaled on it says: "Let's just say we were lucky we had a good can opener… hold him down and heat up the stove again! I've got room for desert!" (Ech!)

Back to the TWOTIIM menu