Spider-Man and the X-Men #1

Background

Spider-Man has been tasked with the job of a Special Class Guidance Counselor by Logan (Wolverine). This is a continuation from Wolverine & the X-Men VOL. 2 as the series can no longer use the title name, since Wolverine is dead.

Story Details

After the death of Wolverine from Wolverine & the X-Men, Spider-Man is requested to become an instructor at the Jean Grey School for Higher Learning. The X-Men are in the middle of a battle with Unus the Untouchable and for some reason the X-Men do not trust Spider-Man, “What’s a non-mutant doing at a school for mutants? What secret suspicion has fueled the formation of his special student class?” Writer Elliot Kalan, disregards the history of the X-Men and Spider-Man and somehow Spidey is an “outsider”? I am not sure on the angle that Kalan (Daily Show writer) is taking but it should make for an interesting read.

Spidey has been tasked in his new position to find out who the mole is within the X-men ranks. Spidey’s new class of X-Men consist of returning and new characters (Julian Hellion, Rockslide, Shark-Girl, Ernest and Martha, Eye Boy, and Glob Herman) whom appear to be the most difficult students (possible super-villains) at the Jean Gray School of Learning. He is quickly met with his own snarky persona in each character as these X-Men characters try to pull something on Spider-Man in class, within the danger room, or at the local museum. It is humorous and it is interesting to see Peter taking on the role of a teacher, but this has happened before with the Avengers Academy story-line. I believe this is a setup for the Web-Warriors Ultimate Spider-Man TV show that incorporates Spidey teaching young heroes how to be responsible and smart within a battle. It seems that this book is geared more towards this audience (Y-7yrs) anyhow.

At the museum, Spider-Man is still trying to figure out who the mole is against the X-Men. He believes it to be Rockslide but after a quick conversation with Martha and Ernest, his theory is quickly debunked. The scene of Spider-Man teaching the students quickly becomes violent as Stegeron: The dinosaur man, is ready to attack Spider-Man and as Julian Hellion questions “That mess with the extras esses a friend of yours?” Spidey quickly responds “Unfortunately, yes. Kids, welcome to the wild and wooly world of the Spider-Man rogues gallery…” This is so true of Spider-Man and his random attacks throughout most of his entire series run on many comic labels. These X-Men attack with much haste and quickly learn that they cannot defeat their opponent as Sauron enters the scene and quickly subdues the X-Men and Spidey with his hypnosis. As they awake Staten Island has become the new Savage Island. This is an interesting turn for the comic, but expected as Savage Island is back!

General Comments

Writer Elliot Kalan and artist Marco Failla do a fair job in creating a fun, but simplistic story line that has no substance to any X-Men/Spider-Man title to date. It is disappointing that Beast and Storm forgot about Spider-Man. The book is visually satisfying, it is fun, energetic, cartoonist style art, and this first issue was released in February of 2015. I remember vaguely reading the first series and I was always perplexed on the title of Wolverine and the X-Men, as I thought Wolverine is an X-man, but whatever. I have not read the first volume in some time, so I had to go back and refresh my memory. It is different in terms of language, style, humor, and although a continuation after Wolverine died, it is the start of a fair series cut short by the Secret Wars. This series will not fit within any core X-Men or Spider-Man title on the current market.

Overall Rating

For the heavy Spidey fans, it will not fit within the Superior Spider-Man title and it will not provide any real substance to that world. It is an average title entrance book that plays on humor, light-heartedness, and it does not take itself so seriously.

For those who enjoy a light read, I recommend a read through as it does have an appeal of simpler times within the Spider-Man world. It is also a good read if you are tired of the complexity of the current line and/or want a story that is much more linear and it is visually appealing.