So Where Is My Dazzler and the X-Kids Book?
X-Men: Regenesis picks up the slack of Schism and dives into the matter of which X-Men choose what side. It's largely a foregone conclusion since we mostly already know the casts of the post-Schism books, but this is more about trying to explain their positions than shock us with who goes where. In that regard, it is mostly successful even though some scenes don't do such a great job and there is overall the sense that a single issue really isn't the ideal way to try doing this.
Since X-Men: Schism focused almost exclusively on Cyclops and Wolverine, this really is a necessary story to tell. It's just not the best way to go about telling. Personally, I would have preferred it if Schism had more tie-ins than just Generation Hope so that we could have gotten more fleshed out perspectives from the other characters. Cramming all of that into this one issue leaves a lot to be desired, though it does at least do its job. Kieron Gillen and Billy Tan frame the story in a pretty creative way with this symbolism of a primitive tribe splitting apart. It may not be anything amazing, but it is enjoyable and elevates the story much more than it distracts from it.
In that framework, we are treated to several independent scenes where characters are either approached by Cyclops or Wolverine or make the decision on their own. There is a lot of variety to these scenes, in some good ways and some bad ways. Some are given extra room to breathe while others get straight to the point. Some make compelling cases while a few gloss over things and fail to be very convincing.
Perhaps the weakest scene in the book is unfortunately also the first one. Wolverine's recruitment of Iceman is an awkward conversation between two characters who behave more like they're towing the storyline than actually like themselves. Wolverine's reasons for coming to Iceman ring pretty false for the character, and Iceman's reasons for siding with Wolverine over one of his oldest friends are... basically nonexistent. And no, it's not because of Beast. This is before Beast throws in with Wolverine's side. It's just a scene that feels more driven by Jason Aaron drafting Iceman to his book rather than the characters.
Not all scenes are like that, though. Psylocke's is a rather good one, as is a surprising one with Dazzler. The situation with the younger generation is better explained as well. Colossus and Kitty Pryde's scene is one that goes straight to the point but is actually very effective in that way. Storm does finally get some involvement in all this, and Beast's is particularly entertaining as well. It's just that some of the other scenes read like the characters really have no substantial reason for choosing their side or that Gillen simply doesn't know what it is supposed to be.
Another problem is that Wolverine is still not very convincing in the role he has been cast into. This is Wolverine in Professor Xavier's role, and it's a really uncomfortable fit for the character. Not a whole lot of what he says or does in this issue feels natural. It's all a far cry from the Wolverine who is known for berserker rages, a bad attitude and a loner streak. This is Wolverine probably at his most domesticated.
On another note, this issue has the confusing habit of setting up things that... may not be coming. We have Dazzler being asked to choose a couple other X-Men and work with the kids who are remaining on Utopia to make them into loved heroes of San Franciscio. ...Where is this book? That sounds like a fun and interesting premise, but I have no idea where I'm supposed to go to read that. Similarly, there's Psylocke being drafted into a stealth-oriented team. Is that going to be X-Men? Is that where I go to read about this premise? Cannonball and Husk get a scene where they pick a side, but I have no idea which, if any, of the titles they will be in. We have this big deal being made of all the younger generation characters yet we aren't getting a new Young X-Men or New X-Men title. This issue brings up a lot of stuff that I am interested in. The problem is that I have no idea where it will be followed up on, if it even will.
On the flip side, this issue does a poor job of setting up some of the titles that I do know about. I don't know if X-Men is supposed to be this espionage team or not. The cast of X-Men Legacy do get page time in this issue, but I'll be damned if I have any clue why I should go read X-Men Legacy after this or what it will possibly even be about. New Mutants gets practically nothing with just Dani Moonstar vaguely saying she wants to kick some asses. X-Factor gets namedropped in a scene that is probably the one that rivals the Iceman scene for the weakest and most glossed over one of the book. Uncanny X-Force gets mentioned, I guess. This is honestly kind of ridiculous. The series that this issue got me the most excited for is one that doesn't even exist.
It's a solid aftermath issue with quite a few good parts, but X-Men: Regenesis comes short of really being a satisfying story that addresses the split of the X-Men in a more general way. Some of these characters really needed more room to develop their positions, and there was really no way that a single issue could have done what this one sets out to do. It feels strange to actually wish an event had more tie-ins, but the overall character development here would have been much better if some of these characters and teams got to have some of the spotlight during the event. Still, X-Men: Regenesis manages to do a good job at a task it really never had a chance of nailing.
