User blog:GrnMarvl14/X-Men: Prelude to Schism 3 Review by GrnMarvl14

The third issue in our lead-in to the big X-Men event Schism. Past issues focused on Magneto and Charles Xavier as they sought to give advice to a worried Cyclops. This one, we finally get a look inside Cyclops' head, as he makes a decision he may come to regret.

I've really been loving this series, and this issue was another good installment. The deeply personal looks at these men as they deal with a matter of, quite literally, life and death, has been phenomenally handled by Paul Jenkins (whose best work has always been of this nature). The artwork, changing hands with each issue, has kept up a fairly good (not great) level of quality, keeping the tones very dark and somber, clearly conveying the message that something bad is about to happen. The interplay between Cyclops' and his advisers (especially among themselves) has been great, with Namor's arrogance and Wolverine's fighting nature playing as a great counter to the somberness of Cyclops.

This issue, especially, was a great look at Cyclops. What makes him tick. Where his need to protect others comes from. Looking at his early life, and the infamous abduction of his parents is great. Looking back on the life he's lead, all the mistakes he's made, and the promise he sees now in Utopia. And realizing what he needs to do to protect it.

Frankly, it's great to have an issue where we FINALLY get inside Cyclops' head. Too often he's just the guy sending others off to do battle, or even going into battle himself. Rarely, of late, do we get a look at what makes him tick. This issue does that, and does it well. You realize he's a man with a lot of weight on him, and you realize that he has to put aside a mountain of doubts with every decision he makes, weighing every factor. And the respect he's earned for making these decisions.

I'd give this a 4 out of 5. Art could be better. And the story itself could take up twice the space and still not be as deep as would really be needed. But it does great with the space given, and has really geared me up for Schism. And made me wonder what the last issue of the Prelude holds.

GrnMarvl14 23:37, June 17, 2011 (UTC)