World Famous Comics: X-Men Mutant Empire 2: Sanctuary (X-Men)
X-Men Mutant Empire 2: Sanctuary (X-Men)
By: Christopher Golden Publisher: Berkley Average Rating: Binding: Paperback Label: Berkley Number of Items: 1 Number of Pages: 345 Publication Date: November 01, 1996
Product Description: When Magneto, their deadliest foe, takes over Manhattan and declares it a haven for mutants, the X-Men, under the direction of Professor Charles Xavier, realize that Magneto has achieved his first step in a plot for world domination. Original.
The "Two Towers" of this trilogy... Don't get me wrong, this is still a good book, but it seems more "filler" than not. Just like the "Two Towers" this isn't the beginning or the end, it is just....there. I agree with most that the space subplot is pretty boring. It seems more like and excuse to keep them out of picture until book three. Wouldn't want Magneto to lose TOO quickly after all. Besides, does anyone write a series to JUST be two books, or is it always at LEAST a trilogy? Anyways, this is good readin', and any X-Men fan will enjoy it. If you're keeping score.... 1) X-Men: Mutant Empire (series); Christopher Golden 2) Daredevil: Predator's Smile; Christopher Golden 3) Hulk: What Savage Beast; Peter David 4) Fantastic Four: To Free Atlantis; Nancy A. Collins 5) Ultimate Spider-Man; Stan Lee, editor 6) Spider-Man: Carnage in New York; David Michelinie & Dean Wesley Smith
Solid cornerstone of the Mutant Empire series (For an explanation of my background, please read my review of the first book in this series. Be warned that this review will spoil some of what happened in the first novel, although I took care not to reveal the plot points of this one.)
Sanctuary, the second book in the Mutant Empire trilogy, picks up exactly where the first one left off, and develops the story further toward the resolution in the last novel.
Just as with Siege, Sanctuary keeps the X-Men team divided into two halves, with one half dealing with a crisis in space while the other half begins to fight Magneto's takeover of New York down on Earth.
I should mention right off that this novel's development is a little slower concerning the "away" (space) team. It should be noted that they came a long way in Siege - they traipsed halfway across the galaxy to another planet, fought through a legion of soldiers to rescue two prisoners, fought their way back out to teleport home, and then were stranded in a dead ship. But Sanctuary spends the WHOLE novel detailing this team's attempts to get home in a poor attempt at stalling. In essence, this team remains in space for the whole novel, and this subplot overstays its welcome.
Meanwhile, back on Earth, Magneto's empire in New York City is slowly growing. The other half of the X-Men fly in to infiltrate it and fight the entire city. They run into many familiar villains, from the Marauders to the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants, before charging Magneto head-on in the Empire State Building.
Where the space subplot fades out, another one comes in. This one deals with Charles Xavier's attempts to deal with the crisis. He does some spin-doctoring on the major news networks, but the major conflict in this subplot is the test of his ethics. Will he violate his code of honor and use his telepathic powers to avert the greatest crisis and setback in the struggle for mutant rights and acceptance? The answer will surprise both old and new readers - I was totally floored.
And Golden develops yet another layer - the rivalry between Valerie Cooper and Henry Peter Gyrich, which previously merited only a few pages, now takes a level of importance in Sanctuary. Cooper wants a relatively clean end to this crisis, but Gyrich naturally obstructs her plan and proceeds to set up an assassination attempt called Operation: Carthage (and before it happens, you KNOW it will make Bay of Pigs look like a cakewalk). I also liked the portrayal of Gyrich as a slightly deranged bigot, as his reasons for hating mutants come to light and expose a very twisted mind.
In essence, where Siege was the exposition, Sanctuary obviously serves as the buildup to the climax. While parts of the novel seem like filler material, Golden still continues his masterful pacing and excellent characterization toward what will be one amazing finale.
A must read for anyone that has ever heard of the X-Men 'The idea of the team being split up is so over done' thats what I thought when I started this trilogy, along with, 'I don't think that the X-Men in space is a good idea' and 'haven't we heard enough out of Magneto all ready?'. Well after I was through with the first book I was begging for the second! And this book is certainly as high quality as the first. The way he analyses the characters and their personalities is absolutely spectacular! I thought that I would die when I finished this book, the anticipation for the third has gotten me to read the first two again!
I tip my hat Christopher Golden on his stunning accomplishments!
Way over-written Magneto wants to make a safe haven for all mutants, that haven turns out to be New Yok City,then the X-Men have to fight both the Master of Magentism and human bigots to save the city from total destruction. Like we haven't seen this in the comics a million times before, only here the story was over 200 pages long and all of it was a complete "been there, done that" story all over again.
very good! This book was, like the first one, fantastic. Again, great characterization and great plotline. Well, I didn't really like the "X-Men in Space" idea, done way too many times, but all the scenes on Manhattan were great.
Anything Goes Trivia
Trevor
Megaton Man
