Jean Grey #2: Phoenix Who?

Louise Simonson continues her exploration of the ‘What If’ stories which would have emerged had Jean’s story been written differently. So far, both issues have played out in a manner that was very much like those old stories from the ’80s and ’90s which ended with everyone dying horribly. This particular installment is reminiscent of two ‘What If’ stories involving the Phoenix, namely ‘What If The Phoenix Had Never Died’ and ‘What If Storm Had Become The Phoenix’. This issue comes to exactly the same conclusion as those two older stories, ie: history is better as it was originally written.

This is not to say that this story isn’t enjoyable (it is), or that it doesn’t have the potential to impact the outcome of the Fall of X story currently in progress (it does), it’s just that it feels, well, a little bit overdone. It’s fun. There are a few good moments and some interesting twists. But it nevertheless reads almost exactly like one of those What If? stories I mentioned before, and frankly I expected a little bit more from an icon of Simonson’s caliber.

Bernard Chang is obviously having a hell of a lot of fun with this art. He maintains a high level of energy, and a playful dash of fun, in his line work no matter how dark the story gets. It’s always a pleasure to see his work in a book. Marcello Maiolo’s colors are rich and lively, adding a welcome sizzle to the pages.