The Trial of Juggernaut

• Writer - Chuck Austen
• Penciler - Ron Garney
• Inker - Mark Morales
• Colorist - Peter pantazis
• Lettering - Virtual Calligraphy
• Lettering - Rus Wooton
• Ass't Editor - Cory Sedlmeier
• Ass't Editor - Stephannie Moore
• Editor - Mike Marts
• Editor - Joe Quesada

Summary

  Maybe it's the Christmas spirit infusing me, but Chuck Austen's actually having a decent week.

  Uncanny X-Men #435 is the first half of "Trial of the Juggernaut." Or "The Trial of Juggernaut", depending on whether you're reading the cover or the story itself. Consistency, people, please! A two-parter is a little unusual these days - they don't fit very neatly into the trade paperback. Why, it's almost concise.

  The Juggernaut's subplot has, in fairness, been one of the stronger aspects of Austen's run. Largely that's because he's kept it fairly simple, with none of the strange and dementedly elaborate schemes that have plagued other plotlines. Cain is just having a subplot about redemption, and it's been comparatively straightforward and direct.

  That's the approach here, as the Juggernaut awaits trial in Canada following his fight with Alpha Flight in the previous issue. When the Rhino escapes from the neighbouring cell, Cain gets to redeem himself. And that's basically it. It's not flashy, but it works.

  Ron Garney - one of this title's flotilla of "regular" artists - turns up to provide a couple of issues. Fortunately, this one plays to his strengths. Nice big fight between large men. That's a Ron Garney sort of scene.

  Now, granted, there's a really terrible final scene. Desite the fact that Cain was pleading guilty and looking for a plea-bargain, the Canadians are apparently so fantastically impressed by him that they let him head off to have sex with the She-Hulk. Aside from the obvious "what the hell is he doing out of jail" question - for christ's sake, he's the sodding Juggernaut, and they're giving him bail? - it also results in one of those eye-rolling scenes where, yet again, Chuck can't seem to think of anything to do with his female characters that doesn't involve sex or motherhood.

  The boy's got issues. Seriously, can you think of a prominent female character in a Chuck Austen comic who wasn't either obsessed with sex, or defined primarily by reference to a romantic of maternal relationship? Jubilee, I suppose, but only because she never does anything at all.

  Still, if you can ignore that scene, the rest of the issue is actually okay.

  Rating: B-