The entire premise of X-Men United relies on the mighty mutants working together, even though they’ve split off into different teams. Yet it hasn’t been as easy as it seems: while Emma Frost is actually dedicated to making Greymatter Lane a haven for learning, Cyclops sees it as little more than a trap. As a result the two are at odds, and the only person who can fix it is…Iceman? Yes, the frosty founding X-Man has come up with his own unorthodox way to get Scott and Emma to stop fighting in X-Men United #4, and it involves role playing games of all things.
This means that Iceman gets the spotlight for most of the issue, and it’s a wonderful thing to see. Bobby Drake has always been the member of the X-Men who rarely gets to shine, unless it’s under the right writers. Luckily, Eve L. Ewing happens to be one of those writers, as she perfectly captures Bobby’s sense of humor and his desire to get the X-Men working as a singular unit. Whether it’s making sure his teammates actually listen to each other, or his crazy role playing idea, the frosty founding X-Man is working overtime.
Iceman’s idea of using a role playing game as a way to connect is also genius. Speaking from experience, I can tell you that Dungeons & Dragons is an excellent way to make friends and learn to work together, and Bobby’s role playing scenario has a similar effect. It also means that Tiago Palma gets to put a fantasy-themed spin on the X-Men: Rogue is a barbarian with a getup that resembles her fan-favorite Savage Land outfit, Cyclops is a ranger with a crimson stringed bow meant to resemble his optic blasts, and Iceman is a wizard with a ice-tipped staff and a frosty fox as a companion. No matter if it’s the real world or the fantasy, Palma also makes sure that Emma is immaculately dressed, while Brian Reber brings a brilliant white hue to her ensemble.
Marvel
X-Men United #4 also contains two subplots. The first features a ghost from Emma’s past in the form of Lourdes Chantel, the former Black Queen of the Hellfire Club. Lourdes is less than happy with the actions that Emma took to “save” her from Sebastian Shaw during the Age of Krakoa, and pointedly reminds the White Queen of other sins she’s committed. It’s a reminder that even though she might be on the side of the angels, Emma’s actions tend to be anything but angelic. And with the list of enemies she’s made over the years, she might need to patch things up with Cyclops more quickly than she thinks.
Less effective is the big twist concerning the fantasy scenario. It isn’t surprising that the X-Men find themselves in danger, even in a telepathically constructed fantasy; as Cyclops wryly notes, it’s rare for the X-Men to actually have a good day. What takes the surprise out of this development is that solicits for next month’s issue have already revealed the mysterious figure behind this development. It’s the double edged sword of following a comic: solicits can stoke excitement for future issues, but they can also take the fun out of reading month to month and seeing a story unfold.
X-Men United #4 brings a sense of fun with its roleplaying elements, and plenty of danger from all angles. It’s also another reminder that getting all of the X-Men to work together is easier said than done.
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