The X-Men #22

Okay, Roy Thomas, we get it: you've read a lot of comics and you are familiar with them. While that is admittedly better and far more appreciated than the current group of writers who have no clue about the history of X-Men or Avengers characters and conflicts, but "knowing them" and "feeling compelled to show off your knowledge and bringing back minor characters just for the sake of doing it" aren't the same thing. Plantman? The Porcupine? Come on, son. Part of the whole point of these new series and characters is the new Marvel Age is better than the trite past - let's not rehash it. All Thomas has done so far is recycle - again, while continuing a heritage and keeping the universe real with returning villians/supporting characters is necessary and good, one does not need to do it with the stupid stuff/characters like The Eel and The Unicorn (what self-respecting male villain would even call himself "the Unicorn," I ask you?). As if this wasn't enough, Thomas recycles similar plot structures: the X-Men are allowed to go on vacation again, but two minutes in they are ambushed and captured. It's one thing to have Magneto capture the X-Men, but these clowns? chasing after replicas of each other? They know they all went on vacation. They know where each other went. Disappointing. What saves this from being a complete failure (though Xavier's overly-melodramatic "why me?" panel does its best to ruin the whole issue) are the few panels of Scott-Jean-Warren: it's not terribly new, but it does have a few twists to make it at least some semblance of movement among that conflict. Let's not even talk about "Colosso." You've got to start showing me something, Mr. Thomas. This is not what I'm paying to see.