Way Of X #2
Nightcrawler helps a very dangerous mutant in Way Of X #2, by writer Si Spurrier, artist Bob Quinn, colorist Java Tartaglia, and letterer Clayton Cowles. This issue not only expands on the mystery of the Patchwork Man but brings a chaotic element to Krakoa, one that will make the future very interesting.
This entire issue revolves around Nightcrawler doing a favor for Legion. At the beginning of the issue, Legion goes into Nightcrawler’s mind and removes, doing a favor for him, one he wants repaid. Kurt goes to Krakoa and assembles a group, Dr. Nemesis and Pixie, to help him. They find Legion at an Orchis facility in Saudi Arabia, where they were using his brain to simulate the destruction of Krakoa. With no other alternatives, Nightcrawler kills him, and they resurrect him back on Krakoa, where he reveals to Nightcrawler the secret of the Patchwork Man.
Bringing Legion into this book is a great idea. Legion is one of the more interesting characters in the X-Men pantheon, and he brings something very interesting to a comic like this. He’s always been an agent of chaos, so his coming to help Nightcrawler could go in just about any way. The real interesting thing, of course, is how Orchis got him and what they were using him for. He doesn’t remember how he got there, but he knows what they were doing with him- using his mind as a test for how they could destroy Krakoa. It’s actually an ingenious little idea of Spurrier’s- Legion’s mind is a fertile ground and using it as a testing ground is a great idea, one that Orchis would definitely use. Legion reveals that he hates being called that, but Nightcrawler tells him about the origin of his own name- nightcrawlers being an ugly blue worm- and how he made it his own, something that Legion takes to heart.
The book brings the new mutant that was rescued in the last issue- now called Lost- back into and again; Nightcrawler has to blow her off for a mission. It’ll be interesting to see just what she wants from him and how it plays into his mission to create a new way of thinking in Krakoa. Another interesting wrinkle is Fabian Cortez, recently kicked out of S.W.O.R.D. What he’s doing in this book and if he’ll be back. Cortez is a very interesting character, especially on an island where killing humans is frowned upon, and a book where Nightcrawler is trying to bring a new doctrine to its people. Finally, the book reveals just what Orchis has been working on and the identity of the Patchwork Man, and… well, it’s a doozy.
Quinn’s art is pretty good throughout. Some of the best scenes take place in the Legion’s mind, as the people in there slaughter each other for Orchis’s experiment. Elsewhere, his character acting really sells the scenes since a lot of this book hinges on that sort of thing. That said, there’s something that is a little bland in some panels. It’s sound, but Quinn’s style isn’t exactly electrifying.
Way Of X #2 is an intriguing little comic. From the end of the book on bringing Legion to Nightcrawler just being a great person, this issue is building something worth reading. The little moment between Nightcrawler and Legion talking about their names is perfect, a highlight of Spurrier’s script. Quinn’s art has its upsides, but his style is nothing special. Way Of X has a great premise, and it will be fun to see where it goes.