Art of Light
As Hope and the 4 Lights rush into Tokyo´s heart in a Blackbird piloted by a shy and shadowed Rogue, Kenji Uedo (the 5th Light) starts to spread chaos throught the city in search of the freeing art. Gillen´s credits for this book are the cool narrative, based in the thoughts of the new mutants (the 5 Lights) and Hope´s herself, what sets the mood for the adventure and the conflicts arosing into their lifes: how to conciliate these new powers with their goals and objectives in life? For some, like Idie, it´s a mix of fear and hope that they´re not monsters and for others, like Gabriel, it´s about being a heroe and trusting Hope. Laurie and Teon haven´t shine in this first issue. Now the really strong point (and as paradoxal as it can be it´s weakest too) is the complete militarization of Hope´s character in an attempt to make her a true leader, so confident in her habilities that she can avoid Cyclop´s leadership and deny Rogue´s assistance. It´s weak ´cause shows her like very independent and mature, what´s inconsistent with her recent past (sure, she was Cable´s soldier, but is she ready already to take the role of leader in a point to refuse other´s counsels? Or even other´s experience?) and make other characters (like Scott, Logan and Marie) look completely obsolet, like they didn´t even needed to be in the book. This book shows great potential to become an interesting comic book, since it has consistent, interesting and decent art by Salva Espin and a bright and easy going story, but it has to improve in the development of characters, specially Hope that sure needs to be a true leader and heroine, but also with respect and humbleness, instead of arrogance and bravatas.
3.5 out 5
