Uncanny X-Men #471
	Story Title: 'Wan'dring Star' (Part 3 of 3) Writer: Chris Claremont Penciller: Billy Tan Inker: Jon Sibal Colorist: Brian Haberlin and Avalon Letterer: VC's Joe Caramagna Asst. Editor: Sean Ryan Assoc. Editor: Nick Lowe Editor: Mike Marts Publisher: Dan Buckley Published by: Marvel Comics
	Reviewed by: Bruce Logan

Although this was the last Uncanny issue I’ll be buying for the foreseeable future (at least until this whole Civil War brouhaha and its immediate aftermath ends), I am glad to say that it was/is a happy send off.

With last month’s lackluster issue, I bought this one more out of habit (and to complete the arc) than anything else, and I am glad to say I did. The story, the art, the character interaction, the action, all boosters were firing ‘correctly’ at the same time. Billy Tan’s artwork, good as ever (even with similar female faces), didn’t disappoint this time either. His aliens too (the Death Commandos), different as they were, were drawn well, with Jon Sibal’s inks and Brian Haberlin and Avalon’s colors complementing it perfectly.

As with the last issue, this issue too starts in Africa. With the current going-ons with the Marvel Universe and its writers, it comes as a respite that at least there is one writer out there who tries to keep true to continuity and actually try to follow character movements outside the title he is writing. An applause for Mr. Claremont please.

Flash to New York and the show down that started on the last page of the previous issue gets full blown. Rachel, given the situation, does the only thing she can do, she saves the innocent ‘non-powered’ bystander, in this case, her shrink….but not before launching a telepathic attack to gain some distance between her and her pursuers, and earn some time until the others (x-men) show up.

As for the X-Men, for once (in the recent times), they behave as themselves and not as group of bum-headed idiots (as in the ‘Adjective less’ X-Men). This only strengths the point that there are very few writers who can even approach Claremont’s expertise at handling and portraying these characters. They know what to do and working as a cohesive unit, they do it.

What I don’t get is why is Val Cooper lugged around or why does she just have to go everywhere. Except for a couple of dialogues and a general ‘damsel in distress’ posture, she doesn’t do much…even here. Even when the accompanying Sentinel gets attacked and taking out of (aerial) commission, it is Bishop who uses his brains and avoids a possibly mass-life threatening situation. (I hate smoking and smokers, but come on, Wolverine and cigars are like him and his claws) Also, while Joe Q and his non-smoking policy has taken away Wolverine’s stogies, he still can’t get his writers/characters to wear seat-belts. Last week it was the New Avengers and this week it is Val. The X-Men can build a supersonic jet, but they can’t build a sensor to point out when the occupants/passengers don’t have their seat belts on. Heck, they can just raid Ford or General Motors or any other car manufacturers plant/research departments and get the needed technology and hardware.

With the next issue we begin Psylocke’s ‘Return from the Dead’ story, and although I am sure CC will do great with that too, but as with this arc, the excitement that used to come from reading the X-titles and this one in particular is just not there….except for flashes in the pan like this one.

Conclusion: Great ending to an Average arc.

Rating: 8/10