"I can't do it this time. I can't raise the dead."
This book collects the Mutopia X mini-series that was written by David Hine a British artist and writer who seems to be more well known for his writing duties these days. He wrote the District X series for Marvel out of which this series is descended. The art was by penciller Lan Medina and inker Alejandro Sicat - a pair of comic book artists from the Philippines who also worked on District X.
Ismael Ortega is a human cop working in Sapien Town. When the Sapien League narrowly fail to assassinate a mutant singer, Ortega is teamed with Lucas Bishop to protect the League's next suspected target film director Daniel Kaufman. In the course of his duties, Ortega becomes close to Kaufman's shape changing wife, Lara, prompting retaliation from Kaufman leading to tragedy for Ortega and his family.
This book was OK but given its pedigree - all the creators having worked on the parent title District X - it may have had more resonance for those familiar with that series and the background of the main characters. There is a sub-plot concerning tensions with Ortega and his mutant wife over their daughter who has the chance of awakening her dormant mutant abilities in a rite of transformation. There was an opportunity to explore this more and elevate the story above the average but it was only touched upon and used as a plot device to enable the villainous Kaufman a shot of revenge at Ortega. Ortega himself is not a very sympathetic character in this story and his plight did not touch me as much as it might have done for characters that I have an emotional connection with. So another House of M related title that adds little to the main story.
First published on RevolutionSF on Sun Jan 29, 2012
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