The new (and younger) Hellfire Club had attacked and demolished the school. The fight's not over and Wolverine and his school is really being put to the test.
The Good
When it comes to reading comics, there are times when you're looking for different things out of a title. We're used to heavy action and drama in the X-Men titles. Things have been so dour lately the old feeling of fun and adventure is long in the past. What happened to the days of playing baseball or the development in relationships and friendships among the mutants? WOLVERINE AND THE X-MEN manages to combine the deadly threat that is constantly knocking on the X-Men's front door but also manages to contain a huge level of fun.
Jason Aaron is not trying to ignore the obvious. Taking matters like Quentin Quire being an ass or the new Hellfire Club being a bunch of kids that kicked the X-Men's butt, he can make light of them without feeling like he's coming down on what the book is supposed to be about. There is so much humorous moments mixed in with fighting and destruction. Never does it come across as an absurd combination.
Chris Bachalo's art captures the frantic action and also conveys so much emotion and feeling in the expressions on the characters. The characters don't all like each other and that's exactly how it should be. Aaron's words obviously tell what's going on but it wouldn't be the same without Bachalo's touch.
Throughout all of this, the big question is how the heck can Wolverine be the suitable choice to run a school? As we're seeing some of the characters evolve (like Iceman), Wolverine is also evolving a little as well. Normally he's quick to act but we're seeing that sometimes there are other choices. All this plus another new student is added to the school.
The Bad
I thoroughly enjoyed reading this issue. Nothing wrong here.
The Verdict
Is this the greatest X-Men comic in the history of...comics? Not necessarily. Did I have a helluva great time reading it? You bet. Jason Aaron and Chris Bachalo are bringing back the fun times to the X-Men. There's been so much drama and hatred the mutants have had to face that it's great to read a series where you can actually smile when reading. That isn't to say this issue is all about having fun. There is still the attack by the new Hellfire Club they have to deal with but with multiple humorous moments and dialogue, you'll have a blast reading it. Wolverine is showing that he does have what it takes to run a school and deal with the consequences of attacks in a nature that he isn't known for. There may be a bunch of different X-Men books on sale but this one makes me happy to be reading comics. Action, humor, great art and story...what else is there to ask for?