By: J. Steven York Publisher: Berkley Average Rating: Binding: Mass Market Paperback Label: Berkley Number of Items: 1 Number of Pages: 272 Publication Date: November 01, 1998
Product Description: Mighty mutant road trip! The young mutants of Generation X have rented a pair of RVs and are driving across the country on their first-ever road trip. But there's more than sightseeing on their agenda. Between trips to Devil's Tower and Mt. Rushmore, they find themselves caught up in a popular anti-mutant radio talk show--and shadowed by a vicious terrorist with a vendetta against all mutants!
ROAD TRIP!!! Somehow, seeing the Generation X kids acting, well, like kids makes them even more endearing. Adult mentors Banshee and the White Queen boldly go where no X-chaperone has gone before, hearding teenagers on a cross country journey of discovery.
Just being ouside the bounds of the normal super-hero genra allows the characters to streach out. This book also brings back M.O.N.S.T.E.R., for those of us old enough to remember the six-fingered hand, and introduces three M.O.N.S.T.E.R. members, Chill, Recall, and Dog Pound. (I can't wait until Dog Pound meets up with Danile Moonstar, they're both telepathic with animals, so are they telepathic with each other?)
For me, the high point of the book was the sonic attack that even Banshee's ears could not endure, but there is enough characterization, action, and humor here for every X-Fan.
Sometimes a bit preachy, but great characterization. Okay, I'm a Generation X fan, but I've never read acomics-based novel until this one. I actually decided to read the thing because it featured Mount Rushmore and Idaho prominently (long story... well, maybe not such a long story, but I'm not going into it anyway). Anyway, it's a very quick read, and fairly painless. There are many genuinely funny scenes. Should definitely appeal to young people, but if a person isn't a fan of the "Generation X" comic book series, I don't think there would be much point in reading this.
Plot: Briefly, the young mutants from Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters (Skin, Synch, Jubilee, Husk, Chamber and M), along with their teachers Sean "Banshee" Cassidy and Emma "White Queen" Frost, buy a couple of RVs in Seattle and embark on a road trip back to New York. En route, they stop a few remaining chapters of M.O.N.S.T.E.R., a college campus-based support group for mutants.
They inadvertantly get embroiled in a terrorist plot and end up going against a group of evil arms dealers, one of whom is in control of a mutant-bashing talk radio show.
There are a lot parallels in all this to tolerance issues (racial, GLBT, etc.), some of which are handled well and some of which are handled somewhat clumsily. The scene where the GenX gals used TEAMWORK to decide which RV to buy made me gag. The last chapter kind of hits you over the head with the idea that mutants should come out of the closet. Overall, it's not an overly preachy book, but a simplistic "moral of the story" is definitely there.
Aside from its brevity, humor, and fast pace, another strong point is the book's characterization. While not vastly deep, the book does get under the skin of its characters (no pun intended), without being tedious or overwrought about it. Even the minor characters and bad guys are surprisingly three-dimensional and realistic for a comic book-based novel.
Road Rules meets X-men I thought this was a very supurb book. I mean it was a clever idea to make road trip with the gang. I mean it gives a good look of the {hopefully} future X-Men.
Like are there six stars? This is the best of the best if you are looking for a book that is just fun.
Psycho Disk Jockeys and more... I have too say for the newest group of mutants, this was a wonderfully put together book. I enjoyed very much. Keep them coming, oh and by the way, Skin kicks some major rumpage. He was my favorite character.
Anything Goes Trivia
Trevor
Megaton Man
