Is it Good? Wolverine and the X-Men #42 Review

Jason Aaron has written one of the best X-Men runs in recent memory while on Wolverine & the X-Men. This issue is the (grand) conclusion of his run, ending some plot threads and then segueing into the reboot. Is it good?

Love the ‘Doop’ in the corner and the ‘Bamf’s to its right. Great touches.

The story is told through two separate threads: one following Quentin as he (begrudgingly) attends graduation, and the other a story of Logan and Idie several years in the future. Storytelling much like this was used in the same series not 13 issues ago (#29). I really enjoy this format and the way it can show great character development.

Both stories are equally charming and funny and have a nostalgic quality that could only be expected from this issue. The one set in the present showcases the fact that this whole series was really just the journey of two lost souls, Logan and Quentin. Quentin has smartass turned up high and he and Logan are both fun and enjoyable characters. I was skeptical about how this seemingly normal story of Quire and Logan would make for a satisfying finale, but the conclusion of the short little story makes it all worth it. Something was accomplished at the JGS, and many people were changed for the better. This ending really makes the point that this whole journey was worth it, and we are all glad that we were a part of it.

While I enjoyed the graduation story, I loved the future story. It’s an uplifting story that drives in the ever popular idea in comics: it’s never the end. The Jean Grey School will trudge on and a new era of X-Men always awaits. It’s charismatic, it’s a lovely message and it’s great to see that two amazing characters have made peace.

Jason Aaron does a commendable job on the writing of his grand finale. The dialogue is just as funny as ever and the ‘Doop’ scene was kick-ass. I liked the Captain America involvement and thought that the juxtaposition of Cap to some of the characters at the Jean Grey School was a very thoughtful touch. It doesn’t delight me that as a master scribe of the X-Men is capping off his brilliant run on a series with an ending that ties together everything he’s done for 3+ years and that can only be followed up with a reboot. But alas, I will be reading WaTX #1 next week because Jason has truly made me care about these characters.

The giant cast of artists at the end of a series is a great idea on metaphorical paper, but on actual pages, it’s a tad too daunting. I love almost all of the artists on this comic, but when they come together, it’s just too much. I would have preferred if there was a collection of short stories with different artists, each story showcasing the artist’s style and spirit and revisiting what section of the run they drew. I’m not sure who was on pencils during the scene where Logan gets all the new students, but I really loved his style, especially cause I hadn’t ever seen it before.

Is It Good?

Yes, I am very pleased with this finale. It was a solid story with a great closing sentiment. I think that it made the run as a whole very worthwhile and would definitely recommend this series to binge-read. It distinguished itself as a completely unique and brilliant X-Men story and is one of the greatest Logan stories ever.