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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-
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