X-Men Legacy #272 Review

Technically X-Men Legacy can still be considered a tie-in to Avengers vs. X-Men, if only because it's still taking place concurrently with the events of that series. But Christos Gage has plucked Rogue away from the battle and placed her in a "fish out of water" scenario on an alien world. At this point I'm growing weary of excess AvX tie-in books, so this arc is a breath of fresh air, pointless as it may be in the long run.

Rogue became acquainted with the Thundercats-esque Vray last time, so this issue switches things up by making her a prisoner of the insectoid Hive instead. Basically, this arc is Rogue's chance to play John Carter of Mars and use her great powers save an entire planet from a devastating war. The only snafu is that her borrowed Ms. Marvel abilities have run out.

I'm enjoying the fun, almost pulpy tone of this arc. The John Carter comparison is apt, as Gage is busy merging the X-Men franchise with a more old-school brand of science fiction than the norm. And fortunately, issue #272 is less burned by unnecessary narration than #271 was. While there's a bit too much dialogue at times, this still makes for a smoother reading experience. Gage seems intent on using both factions and their opposing philosophies to comment on Rogue's own troubled psyche. However, the connection is a bit too weak and tenuous to succeed. This is a fun, adventurous conflict that doesn't function on the deeper level it seems to strive for.

Rafa Sandoval returns to the series for this arc, and unfortunately his pencils are mixed once again. His work is more detailed than before, and he delivers some engaging action scenes and general design work. However, Sandoval's chronic problems with female hair remain, and his tendency to reuse facial expressions and poses can be aggravating.

We now know Gage's run will be ending shortly. Unfortunately, that fact may be the biggest flaw with this whole arc. With so little time left, is it really worth ignoring the rest of the Legacy cast for what is ultimately a fun but forgettable field trip?

Jesse is a writer for IGN Comics and IGN Movies. He can't wait until he's old enough to feel ways about stuff. Follow Jesse on Twitter, or find him on IGN.

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