Reprinting Stories from: ‘House of M’ #1-8 and ‘The Pulse: House of M Special Edition’
Writer: Brian Michael Bendis
Artists: Olivier Coipel, Tim Townsend, Rick Magyar, Scott Hanna, and John Dell
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Call this ‘X-Men: Disassembled’.
Wanda “Scarlet Witch” Maximoff is loosing her grip on reality. Since she has the power to change reality, this makes her dangerous to everyone on the planet. The X-Men and the Avengers argue about whether or not they should kill her. When they go to see Wanda, they’re suddenly enveloped in white light. Suddenly, everyone lives the life they always wanted. Mutants are the dominant species. And Magneto rules the world. Only Wolverine remembers how things are supposed to be. With the help of a young girl, they reawaken the memories of Earth’s heroes. Their attack on Magneto and his family has disastrous consequences that change the Marvel Universe for the worse.
Some people complained ‘Avengers Disassembled’ was sexist because the Scarlet Witch’s madness was rooted in her desire to have children. I disagreed with that opinion. By the end of this story, Wanda declares all mutants freaks and changes nearly every mutant into a human. Thus does Bendis strike the final blow against Wanda’s nobility. First he ignores established facts to make her the villain his story needs. Now he fills her with self-loathing enough to ruin millions of lives just to spite her father, Magneto. What does Bendis have against her, anyway?
But enough about why Bendis is wrong; Let’s focus on the thin story he pulled out of his ass. We see very little of this new world Wanda created. There are quick glimpses in issue #2, but detailed and in-depth views are only found in the tie-in issues. (I recommend ‘Hulk’, ‘Fantastic Four/Iron Man’, and ‘World of M’.) This story is about Wolverine and Layla “Story Shortcut” Miller getting the X-Men and Avengers to realize their lives are lies. There’s an interesting debate between Jessica Jones and the other heroes about whether or not they have the right to change the world back. It’s these personal monologues and little character moments where Bendis is at his best. But the overall story is slow, fragmented, and narrow in focus. I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: Bendis can NOT write team books. He sure as hell can’t write a crossover.
Coipel uses an unusual technique twice in this series. On a two-page spread, he’ll start a line of panels on the bottom of the first page that leads up and across to the top of the second page. Then the final panel is at he bottom of the second page. It’s very awkward and through me off my rhythm both times. Aside form that, he does a great job. Wonderful figure work, very lively action, and beautiful details on the environment. The Sentinels with their gold inlay armor were labors of love. Coipel proves himself highly skilled in drawing big fight scenes and quiet, human moments. Just looking at this book was better than reading it.
So ‘House of M’ led to the most devastating and shocking change to the Marvel Universe in years. It’s resulted in ‘Decimation’, which will certainly lead into ‘Civil War’. Fans may very well point to this crossover as the point where Marvel ceased publishing individual series and started telling one, massive monthly story in all its titles. I just wish the journey there was more enjoyable.
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