Giant-Size X-Men: Jean Grey & Emma Frost

Marvel Comics

Writer: Jonathan Hickman

Artist: Russell Dauterman

The first in a series of Giant-Size X-Men is here and it stars – wait for it – Jean Grey and Emma Frost! Brought to you by the mastermind behind the Dawn of X relaunch, as well as long-standing Thor artist Russell Dauterman, the issue follows the eponymous characters as they travel the mind of their fellow X-Men, Storm.

The issue serves as an homage to New X-Men #121, not only following the same basic idea and execution of that issue but directly lifting some of the imagery of that book. It contains no dialogue until the end when Jean offers some explanation of what the duo saw in Storm’s mind. Well, there is some text in the intro… But it’s by a bunch of mutant kids, so basically it doesn’t count.

Now, some might wonder how a good and understandable of a story can one tell without the use of text. How does one even do something like that? Well, good for us Russell Dauterman exists and even better for him that he’s such an amazing artist. He delivers his A-game with this book, serving us an amazing scene after an amazing scene. Dauterman is notorious (not really) for doing some really wacky panels and those fit amazingly with this book. As the two heroines embark on a metaphysical Trip through the mind of their friend, we get a glimpse in their long and storied history with an added dash of Storm’s perception of the duo.

There isn’t enough praise I could shower Dauterman’s work with. It’s crisp, it’s clean and it’s hella gorgeous. The only complaint I can think of is Jean’s costume. Truth be told, I’m rather fond of her Marvel Girl costume. Its simplicity has really grown on me and I was a bit saddened when I saw it was missing. It’s not a deal-breaker, mind you. But I HAVE to complain about something and this was the best I could think of.

Also, the ending twist left me a bit stunned. It seems to tie in with X-Men #5 in a way, but there is an overall feeling like a huge chunk of the story is missing. It might be expanded on in some of the future Giant-Size issues. But for now, I can’t shake the feeling that this development is rather sudden.

Giant-Size X-Men: Jean Grey & Emma Frost is a great art-focused issue, one that moves the story forward in a new direction. Jonathan Hickman is slowly setting up the Domino pieces for his story – as he always does – and he couldn’t have chosen a better artist to help him out with this particular… uhhh, Domino piece.

If you have to pick up one X-centred book from February, then most definitely get X-Men #7. But this one comes in second place, easily.

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