Prisoner X #1
Writer: Vita Ayala
Artist: German Peralta
Colors: Mike Spicer
Letters: Joe Sabino
Publisher: Marvel Comics
A Review by Greg Brothers
For those of you that may have missed the last few months a bit of a refresher. Nate Grey decided that the conflicts between mutants and humans was becoming a major problem. He had a plan to fix it. But of course the X-Men stepped in to try and stop him. In the end Nate was able to create this new reality in which everyone is a mutant and the world is a perfect place. The problem with a utopia that you created, but is filled with other people, is that eventually people may make choices that you do not agree with. So the question become what do you do with those people? Well in Nate Grey’s case you create a prison where you work to re-program those people into bliss.
After spending last two weeks checking out personal relationships in this new world in X-Tremists and Nightcrawler. We return to the more dystopian society theme with Prisoner X #1. Last time we saw Bishop he was getting arrested for having a relationship with Jean Grey. Since it was his third infraction, he was sent to the Danger Room prison complex. Here Forge and his staff are tasked with taking some of the most difficult members of this society and helping to reprogram them. Bishop does not want to ignore the rules just to rebel, he is also haunted by visions of a life that he does not remember. Within the prison walls Bishop starts to learn that he may not be alone, but he will have some familiar foes to go through to get his answers.
While I enjoyed the last two weeks it was refreshing to once again visit the dystopian society side of the universe again. The story that Ayala starts to set up here has a ton of potential as far as where to go, while also plugging directly into concerns that people have about some current regimes. The throwback to Bishops history shows that Ayala has also done the research to make the story seem authentic and natural. It also ties directly into Bishops history of time and universe travel as he may have a better connection to what is reality and what is created. The addition of several characters who have been mentioned tie the story directly to several plot points that have already been touched on.
The character designs are done in a way that the characters are easily recognizable but done in a way that they are not confused with their true selves. Beast in particular is given a look that represents his status within the prison. The colors are a bit more muted within this series. It helps to push the idea of this dreary world that the prison is set in.
Verdict: Buy!
Prisoner X #1 helps to move the story forward and gives answers as to where many of the heavy hitters have ended up. Ayala is able to create a story that is both dystopian, with connections to real life concerns of police states.
