PopSyndicate.com

What would the next generation of mutants have been like if Chris Claremont was in control of the Marvel Universe?  This series gives you a glimpse into that very idea…

When I went to pick up my Random Purchase to read this week, the only thing I knew about GeNext #2 came from blurbs I saw that stated it was the future of the X-Men in a world where time had progressed with our world.  It certainly sounds like a… interesting concept.  Then I saw the name on the cover.  The writer.  Claremont.  Chris Claremont.  Rubbing my temples and clearing my mind, I opened the issue…

GeNext presents itself exactly as the blurbs stated.  In this world, 30 to 40 years passed by with the heroes growing up, retiring from the business, having children, and some even becoming teachers. GeNext focuses on these children and grandchildren of some of the world’s oldest heroes who have made their way into the Xavier Institute’s next group of students.  GeNext focuses on five of them: No-Name, “Rico”, Becka Munroe, Olivier Raven (Gambit & Rogue’s son), & Pavel Rasputin.  Issue #2 focuses on a budding romance between the mysterious No-Name and Pavel that get them mixed up with some new/old enemies called the Shockwave Riders.

I have to admit, this issue was better than the average of Claremont’s scripts for the last few years that I have seen.  Despite the fact that I feel like I am reading the Dawson’s Creek version of X-Men, with all the misunderstood innuendos and overwrought emotions to go with it, I was pleased that not even once was there a 3-paragraph diatribe by any character on every little thing that made up their powers.  I honestly did not think Claremont could write a superhero without consistently shoving what their powers were in your face.  All the little “touches of ‘Claremont’ Marvel future throughout the book were interesting as a way to broaden our understanding the world the kids are growing up in, but also served to reinforce the fact that Claremont probably hates the direction of the mutant books in current Marvel mainstream.

Even if the story had been completely horrible, the masterful art by Patrick Scherberger could keep someone hooked.  Very detailed and clean, his style practically leaps off the page as an evolution of Art Adams handiwork.  The ‘sketches’ from Pavel’s sketchbook interwoven throughout the pages provide wonderful background styling to the story, giving us the slice of life that this world reflects.  Norman Lee’s Inks and Chris Sotomayor’s colors only enhance this particular art, pulling the details out and making things as vibrant and as dark as necessary.  I definitely hope to see this art team on one of the mainstream books sometime soon. 

GeNext #2 actually held a few surprises for me.  I expected to hate it. I seriously have not liked almost anything Claremont has done in years (Mekaniks being the only bright spot) and expected this to follow that trend.  However, it really shocked me that I found myself enjoying the bit of superhero teen angst.  The story does not feel overwritten and the art blew my socks off.  I would suggest picking it up and trying it and seeing where it goes to see if you like it.  I think I will actually give it a few issues myself.

GeNext #2
“Datenight (Runaways, Part 2 of 5)”
Writer: Chris Claremont
Artist: Patrick Scherberger
Inker: Norman Lee
Colorist: Chris Sotomayor
Letterer: Ed Dukeshire
Cover Art: Doug Alexander Gregory

4