How to Read Uncanny X-Men #2
Uncanny X-Men is the very first Marvel comic book that introduced us to the world of mutants and of course the team of the X-Men. While it may have been almost impossible to pick up such an early comic book issue without emptying your life savings, Marvel Comics have made reading this piece of Comics history so easy with their Marvel Comics app called Marvel Unlimited.
RELATED: How to Read Uncanny X-Men #1
Where else can I read Uncanny X-Men #2?
Unfortunately, the Marvel Unlimited app basically holds the monopoly over the entire digital Marvel Comics catalogue. As they advertise having over 28000 readable comics in their App’s database. So there isn’t any other options to read this comic book digitally.
However, there are other avenues at your disposal that you can take advantage of. With eBay and Comixology being the most obvious and then there’s your local comic book store. Then there’s the less than scrupulous websites out there which allow you to read comics for free (if the idea of millions of gambling banner ads appeals to you).
Good luck finding a physical copy of this piece of Comic Book History out in the wild. You’re going to need it!
What is Uncanny X-Men #2 about?
Uncanny X-Men #2 continues it’s strange takes of super heroism. With Stan Lee continuing to bill the five young teens as the “strangest heroes of all time” in the first panel of page one.
Uncanny X-Men #2 kicks off the strangeness with the X-Men being called for a meeting with Professor X. With the events of issue one and saving the Military base from the clutches of Magneto, the X-Men are now enjoying a new status of fame. Fame which, during this scene, gets in the way of them trying to make it across town to the X-Mansion and their mentor, Charles Xavier.
Once at the Mansion, Professor X shows them a slideshow presentation of this deadly new and ridiculously dresses for: The Vanisher. An evil mutant who seems to be able to vanish through sheer will and some mental ability which is unclear to the X-Men and will remain unclear to the reader until the end of the issue.
With Charles Xavier sensing the time will come for the X-Men to face off against the Vanisher we are introduced to the first appearance of the Danger Room. An empty room equipped with all sorts of hazards to help train the X-Men. Although, Angel fails in his Danger Room trial, Beast doesn’t and so with the assist of Marvel Girl manages to avoid falling to his doom.
As Marvel Girl faces her Danger Room training challenge we cut briefly to a scene where The Vanisher appears to some military personnel bragging about the might of his powers and plans to steal some Defense Plans to then use as ransom for millions of dollars. Or, in true 1960s super villain fashion, sell them to the Communists.
With the Vanisher’s abilities seemingly unstoppable the gangsters of New York flock to him and pledge fealty. A bizarre scene if ever there was any. Which is soon followed by the X-Men heading to the Vanisher’s location via military helicopter thanks to Professor X’s connections.
The X-Men try to take on The Vanisher with brute force but are thwarted at every turn. Marvel Girl is sprayed by sleeping gas, Angel’s mid flight bear hug does nothing, Iceman’s flying “snow fist” misses the mark, Beast isn’t agile enough and Cyclops’ optic blast is mostly quite useless. Leaving The Vanisher the perfect opportunity to vanish while the X-Men are helping Marvel Girl to not pass out.
Back at the Mansion, there’s a bit of infighting between the X-Men due to their failure to capture The Vanisher. Iceman’s jealousy of Marvel Girl becomes clear and Xavier instructs them all to be silent while he gives them the classic lesson that brains over brawn is the solution here. As Xavier demands to be with the X-Men at their next encounter with The Vanisher.
At their next and last encounter with the Vanisher, which bizarrely enough seems to be just out the front of the White House, the X-Men go head-to-head with The Vanisher and the Gangsters that have pledged loyalty to him. Rather than rush straight into battle, this time the X-Men stand to the side and reveal Professor Xavier to the Vanisher.
After a brief swashbuckling of insults, Professor X invades The Vanisher’s mind thanks to a show of telepathy and makes The Vanisher forget not only who he is but also how to use his power. This angers the mob of gangsters who then try to kill the X-Men but not before some quick thinking of Iceman and Beast thwarts their efforts.
As a team effort, the X-Men trap the gangsters in a hole in a ground behind a prison of Iceman’s ice. Leaving them for the military, who conveniently appear at the end of the issue, to pick them up. Xavier’s ruse as a defensive old man is maintained as Uncanny X-Men #2 comes to a close with a life lesson for the kids of America:
“The greatest power on earth is the magnificent power all of us possess – the power of the human brain.”
What did you think of Uncanny X-Men #2?
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