Comic Review: Children of the Atom #1

Marvel Comics

Writer: Vita Ayala

Artists: Bernard Chang & Marcelo Maiolo

Letterer: VC’s Travis Lanham

I’m not sure just how long I have been waiting for Children of the Atom to come out, but I know it’s been a ridiculously long time. After many delays, the anticipated new X-Men series that features mutants outside of Krakoa is finally here.

Vita Ayala handles the script in the first issue of this new series. For those who haven’t been eagerly awaiting this series, the premise is simple: There are quite a few mutants who never made it into Krakoa. Children of the Atom #1 puts a spotlight on a small group of young mutants who clearly look up to the X-Men. It’s looking like this will be a “Young X-Men” kind of series as the group inevitably runs into those they look up to and get some guidance.

Vita Ayala has recently taken over writing duties in New Mutants and has done a fantastic job of handling the younger characters in Reign of X. Now, they are taking on a new set of mutants, all of whom are completely new characters. Their handling of this new batch of characters is done quite well. Everyone gets a great moment or two in the spotlight without making the issue feel too crowded. A cold open-action scene gives readers a look at the chemistry between everyone and how their personalities fit in with their abilities.

The new group is young, so there is a lot of drama scattered throughout this debut. It’s all great for character development, and it’s easy for readers to fall in love with this group quickly. No one feels like a static character, and under Ayala’s care, these characters are sure to be a great fit for Reign of X.

The new characters all feature quirky designs that are inspired by the X-Men legends that came before them. Bernard Chang makes all of them look great, somehow making everyone look original despite their influences. The art itself looks great too, with clean lines and detailed environments. There aren’t any superb panel layouts, but all of the action naturally progresses from page to page. Marcelo Maiolo‘s colors add even more beauty to the issue. Every page has a clear tone set up thanks to the coloring. This is an easy issue to get sucked into thanks to the atmosphere set up by the creative team.

Children of the Atom #1 is a strong start to a series that many have highly anticipated. The new characters are a breath of fresh air and will be a wonderful addition to the already exceptional cast that this line has. X-Men fans who want something a little different will want to pick this issue up.