ICYMI! Children of the Vault #2: The End of All Dancing

Deniz Camp has chosen two of the best, most competent soldiers in X-Men mythology to form the core of this incredibly high-stakes buddy-cop drama. Even though the earth is being lost, and humanity itself is facing extinction, these characters are so good at what they do that it’s almost impossible to feel worried about the future of the planet. Indeed, the pair are so often one step ahead of the hyper-evolved soldiers they’re fighting that one almost feels a little sorry for the would-be conquerors of earth. 

Previous writers were only able to wrong drama from these two by setting them at ideological odds. It’s easy to generate friction when two people of equal capacity butt heads. It’s much, much more difficult when they team up. Indeed the only way that Camp has managed to avoid writing an incredibly boring book is through stacking the deck against the pair to almost cartoonish heights while also absolutely nailing the voices of these characters. 

We know, going in, that Bishop and Cable are going to win, therefore we can sit back, relax, and enjoy the spectacle buried in the how of their eventual victory. 

In other words, yes, the prospect of 99% of the population of the planet being eradicated is frightening. But don’t worry,Cable has his brains and Bishop has his guns, and they’re quipping at each other both brilliantly and incessantly, so sit back, relax, and enjoy the fireworks. 

Character highlights include watching Bishop utilize his powers so effectively that he renders himself invisible to Orchis, Cable first blowing an enemy’s mind before sending his body up in a nuclear inferno, and a glimpse into The Children’s convoluted politics.

Luca Maresca’s art is fun, detailed, and fluid. His line work draws and directs the eye, bolstering the already considerable quality of the writing. Carlos Lopez’s colors are rich, dense, and never overwhelming. 

With fine pacing, excellent characterization, and exquisite art this is, in every sense, a beautiful book.