Mutant X '99 Annual

Written by: Jay Faeber

Art by: Paschalis Ferry and Andrew Pepoy

Ever wonder how the Defenders formed in the crazy world that is Mutant X's everyday? Yeah, neither did I. But Jay Faeber sure does want to tell us and I'm just masochistic enough to want to read it.

So, Alex got cold cocked through a plate glass window (not a cool as I make it sound) by Maddie at the end of last issue sending him falling to his supposed death. Well he's saved at the last minute by the remaining Avengers - a female Yellowjacket and some dude named Stingray. They call in Doc Samson to help over throw the Goblin Queen.

Fury and Maddie show up in some swamp, Alex follows them, The fight Dr. Strange and lose. Strange teleports our heroes away and destroys the nexus of reality (which Maddie was trying to control and Dr. Strange was trying to protect) and ends up absorbing it into himself. Stingray, Yellowjacket and Doc Samson decide to team up as the - you guessed it - Defenders.

Oh, and Reed Richards (who turned on our heroes a issue or two ago) is now President.

Compared to the previous issues in this series, there is some action, some psyco babble, and this story actually moves the overarching story forward. In short, this issue has a beginning, a middle and an end - something mister Mackie seems to have a problem with. The art is standard 90's fare, not terrible to look at but nothing to write home about. One of the better issues this stinker of a series has turned out.

Can't wait until I hit issue 12 - I'll start Promethea or Behold the Devil to wash the foul taste out of my mouth left from reading this series.