The book opens with a scene of the young X-Men being trained by Professor Kitty Pryde. This is something that I've been waiting for since they first introduced Kitty as the instructor of the young X-Men, and it's nice that it's finally happening. Predictably, the team is inexperienced, unbalanced, and a total mess. Seeing Kitty, a previously "new" X-Men member, coaching the senior X-Men of her time is surprisingly satisfying, and the interactions between the characters are very much on point. The clash between Jean and Kitty is also well-written, showing how Jean's manifestation of telepathy has gone somewhat awry without the tutelage of Xavier.
Perhaps where the book begins losing some of its steam is when the plot shifts over to Mystique's story. Her true intentions are really not quite clear yet, and there is no real indication of how she ties in with the big picture other than her previous interaction with Scott. At this point, it all seems pretty extraneous.
As always, this issue of All-New X-Men ends with a bang, accompanied by the art of Immonen. While I am a little disappointed with the pacing of this issue, my excitement for what inevitably comes next somewhat overshadows that opinion.
Score: 8/10
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