Uncanny X-Men Special #1 Review

Comics that function as “specials” are always dicey. Often times, they end up being stories that function just outside of series primary plotline. Sometimes, this works out well as a nice departure for whatever tone the book has been conveying at that moment. Other times, it’s awkward. Uncanny X-Men’s special miniseries seems to spend time in both ends of the spectrum.

The book seems to focus mainly on the lesser known students of Professor Cyclops’ rebel squad, a nice break from the ongoing book that seems to put more emphasis on the more established members of the X-family. It’s just another day in Outlaw Mutant School until there’s a surprise visit from Death’s Head, everyone’s favorite smart-ass bounty hunter (and by “everyone”, I mean a person named Everyone that I’ve never met and may not actually exist because I’ve never met a Death’s Head fan in my life). It comes across a little awkward mainly because I don’t think this is something anyone asked for, but Sean Ryan seems to have a good handle on Brian Bendis’ characters. You’re not quite as punched in the face with snarky dialog the same way you would be in a Bendis book, but Ryan definitely replicates that same witty voice in more of a minimalist way. One highlight is a gut busting scene between Death’s Head and his employer where DH is trying to get paid and it’s going a whole different way than he had planned. The story is told in a very bare bones way, that, to its detriment, ends a little flat and doesn’t feel l…