Hasty Decisions
After facing Magneto five times in their first seven encounters, the X-Men finally get a break against Unus the Untouchable. We have been waiting for sensible strategies from both the X-Men and the Brotherhood, and strangely enough Magneto is the one to provide it: sending Mastermind as a scout to persuade Unus to join them, instead of attacking full force like with Namor and the Blob. Fortunately there is no scene of Magneto's inexplicable mental powers; having seen him explore the spaceways and undersea depths in his astral plane like he's Doctor Strange, it's a bit refreshing to see some limitations and even sensibility in Magneto. Unfortunately, the X-Men do not seem to be on the same plane yet; they are still teenagers, despite now doing their "post-graduate" work. Why is Jean always training on hands-free huswifery? When would it possibly be necessary in their mission for Jean to be able to overhand stitch without any hands? Though Unus's power is never explained or explored to any meaningful degree, Jean's telekinetic power certainly could have been of some use - she doesn't even get to join in the attack! Considering how careful the X-Men have been for each other's safety so far, Scott certainly doesn't need to shout out a secret attack code for "catch me and lower me gently." Hank is the most intriguing aspect of the issue, first in his resignation from the team and his apathy toward the fate of humanity. Though we are shown the first real signs of homo sapiens' antagonism to homo superior since the Toad's track and field display in issue 5, surely Hank hasn't faced so much that he can really be fed up, especially since he was carried away in a triumph out of the coffee bar last issue. Beast's mathematical skill is finally demonstrated, but why he can't spend thirty seconds to explain to the team why he is back and enhancing Unus's powers is bizarre, reminiscent of Reed Richards's passivity in their recent FF crossover. The ending, again, is wrapped-up a bit too neatly, especially since the reason Hank quit in the first place still exists, and Cyclops's apology is thoroughly disingenuous. The issue is saved to a degree from its illogical aspects by the continuing tension of Angel/Cyclops/Marvel Girl, Bobby developing his ice form instead of his snowman form, the mystery of Xavier searching for Lucifer, Cyclops's growing leadership skill, and the advent of a new opponent.
