District X #1
Marvel Comics
Writer: David Hine
Pencils: David Yardin
Inks: Alejandro ?Boy? Sicat
Price: $2.99

Rating: 3 ? stars

I fully admit to being an X-fan of embarrassing proportions. This condition causes me to buy almost every title that comes out, and usually be disappointed and disgruntled when it doesn?t meet my standards of what I interpret the X-Men to be. I can only thank God that my incredibly busy job and life doesn?t allow me to turn into a standard issue fangirl, writing continual missives to whatever message board will allow me.

On that note, my wallet could handle the extra $2.99 this week, so I picked up District X, the iffiest looking new X-title featured in the ?Reload? saga. To say I was pleasantly surprised would be putting it mildly. Writer David Hine takes the clever approach of introducing the police officers working the District X beat and focusing on the daily routine and dilemmas they face, rather then putting the spotlight directly on longtime X-man Bishop. From this point of view, issue one makes for an intriguing, scintillating read.

Izzy and Gus are two cops assigned to District X. Gus is a little older, and a lot more cynical then his partner. In the course of a day, they must deal with race issues, complications from mutant powers, and the ultimate awareness that deep down, our personalities function on a primal level. Since District X faces the unfortunate issues that any overpopulated, lower income level area has, the addition of powers beyond those of ordinary men severely diminishes the control that any law enforcement agency can exercise. When Izzy must explain to Gus the implications of a life threatening incident, it is a heartbreaking and eye opening moment.

The story flows beautifully, and the teamwork of the writer and artists goes a long way to bring this to fruition. I am not familiar with Hines?s work, though it impressed me greatly here. David Yardin penciled an Aria mini-series over at Image that I especially liked, and his work here paired with inker Alejandro ?Boy? Sicat really shines. Yardin doesn?t shy away from illustrating the most painful of moments, but his clean lines and superstar style almost cleanse each page.

District X was a great surprise in my stack of comics this week. I was fascinated and drawn in by the story being tol Bishop is to be the star of this series, I would like to see the focus remain on Izzy and his human counterparts. I think it would be fresh and interesting to see how human perception can interpret the most simple of mutant movements. Jaded fans everywhere, pick this sucker up. It has a slightly Powers feel, but with a new twist.

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