X-Men: Hidden Years #22
Review by Tobias Clutch
Story:
Art:

Written & Art by John Byrne
Inks by Tom Palmer

Published by Marvel
Price: $2.50

My Verdict: Sorry to see it go.

I like John Byrne.

There. I've said it.

John Byrne's Fantastic Four spawned my love of comics, and I've had a soft spot in my heart for his work ever since.

So, admittedly, I'm biased.

Having disclosed that, I can now say that I did enjoy this final issue of Byrne's tour through the missing adventures of the children of the atom. Unfortunately, I was a bit dismayed by the pacing in the issue--Byrne's attempt to wrap up his dangling plot threads after the announcement that the series would be ending--leaving the reader with a feeling of being rushed along through checkpoints.

Overall, it was a fun little read, and a welcome return to the solid storytelling of yore. It's a treat to visit with the unencumbered characters you grew up with--before modernity sucked away their innocence.

As a side note: God, how I love to see Byrne tackling the FF, even if they're supporting players.

Here's hoping Byrne will eventually get to return to these lost tales...

QUOTE: "And this blasted landscape, torn by the nuclear blast the Mole himself unleashed at the end of that encounter… is all that remains of once fabled Monster Island!"