Sacred Vows

• Writer - Chuck Austen
• Penciler - Philip Tan
• Colorist - Avalon Studios
• Lettering - Chris Eliopoulos
• Ass't Editor - Warren Simons
• Ass't Editor - Mike Raicht
• Editor - Mike Marts
• Editor in Chief - Joe Quesada

Summary

  Meanwhile, over on Uncanny X-Men...

  Actually, this is up at the higher end of Austen's scale. It's a character-driven issue, based around Alex and Lorna's wedding. Of course, it's ludicrously soapy, but when Austen sticks to that territory he can do it reasonably well.

  I've raised the problems with the Alex/Lorna/Annie triangle in the past, and it goes without saying that they're here again in this issue. Annie and Alex's mutual attraction lacks plausibility unless you seriously buy into fate and star-crossed lovers. Lorna's over the top bitchiness is slightly more rounded this issue, but it's still way more than needed - the story would be stronger if it wasn't so cripplingly obvious that Lorna is insane.

  The main subplot introduces Bobby into the mix as well, which is a nice way of complicating things further. It's let down by some clunky scenes with him and Annie where she's left to bizarrely accuse him of homophobia on the basis of no discernible evidence at all. The general thrust of the plot is fine, the dialogue rather weird.

  Philip Tan debuts on art, with an odd style that seems to be a hybrid of manga character designs and western heavy detail. It's quite an attractive look, although there are aspects that need work; all his women look alike, and there are a couple of moments where figures of perspective (Cyclops addressing the bachelor party, for example). Still, he sells the melodrama pretty effectively, and that's the main thing.

  This is alright, in fairness. It's thoroughly soapy, but if you're prepared to take it on that level, you'll be happy enough with it.

  Rating: B