It's a good week for fans of DeFilippis and Weir, as back in the real world (well, the slightly realer world), New X-Men: Hellions continues.

The second issue of this miniseries came out during one of the weeks I skipped, so a word about the general concept.  If we're being honest, this is one of those stories where you can see the plot lumbering towards you from a mile off.  The Hellions accidentally summon a guy called the Kingmaker, who offers to fulfil their dreams as long as they do unspecified favours for him.  After a delightful trial run, the Hellions duly accept.  And what a surprise, it turns out the Kingmaker has nefarious intentions.

This issue, the Hellions are duly despatched to steal a new weapon.  And, unusually for DeFilippis and Weir, the result is an action issue, with the Hellions squaring off against the unlikely duo of Diamondback and Paladin.  It's a good one, too, and makes me wish they'd done a bit more of this sort of thing in the parent book - although admittedly, it's hard to see how it would fit the tone.

The predictability of the story isn't really a problem here, because this is the sort of plot where it works to advantage.  We can see it coming a mile off, the Hellions kind of see it coming, and yet they blunder gamely on regardless.  There's a neat inversion of expectations at the end of this issue where Hellion, having finally learned exactly what's going on, fails to obey the normal plot and simply hands over the weapon anyway.  Because, you know, a deal's a deal.  He doesn't even seem that bothered about it, although the rest of the Hellions are suitably alarmed.

It's a simple and direct story, and it works.  If anything, the book serves to confirm some of my pet theories about why New X-Men doesn't quite work.  It's just too cluttered with characters and stories jostling for space.  Hellions only has to worry about the core team, and has four issues to tell a single story.  And it works much better.  Stripped to the basics, DeFilippis and Weir's writing becomes much more effective.

In some ways, this is the series that New X-Men itself had the potential to be, but never quite achieved.  This is the formula clicking, and it's a shame we won't get to see more of it.

Rating: A

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