X-Men: Legacy — Emplate

This volume of Mike Carey’s “X-series for the hardcore fan” finds the book in transition.  Having wrapped up his multi-volume tale of Professor X’s quest for identity and coming off its tie-in to the “Utopia” crossover, the series had four months to kill before plunging headfirst into more crossover action in the “Necrosha” and “Second Coming” events.  While such a schedule would seem to preclude the forming of any long-term plans for the book, Carey makes his case here for the title becoming a Rogue-centric book with the younger X-characters serving as a supporting cast by having Cyclops ask her to be a leader of sorts to these kids since her energy-absorbing powers put her in an ideal position to show them how their own powers can be used with some experience.  She doesn’t initially agree to it, but her hand is forced when old “Generation X” villain Emplate arrives on Utopia in his pan-dimensional lighthouse looking to snack on the marrow of the island’s mutants. 

Fans of Rogue will particularly enjoy this volume since she gets a chance to show off her newfound control of her powers and display some real ingenuity in dealing with an enemy who can move between dimensions.  I also really enjoyed the art from Daniel Acuna who has a very lush, retro style and is equally capable of drawing mutant superheroes fighting as well as other-dimensional Lovecraftian horrors.  As is the case with just about all of Carey’s “X-Men” books, they’re not something I’d recommend to the general public, but they’re great fun for X-fans like myself.