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Amazing X-Men 15 cover by Kris Anka

"The Once and Future Juggernaut" (Part 1 of 4)

The great elder demon Cyttorak has been left without an avatar for some time now. Cain Marko and Colossus had both previously found ways to throw off the awesome power bestowed by Cyttorak's ruby crystal, and along with it, the manacles that bound them to that power.

Colossus has struggled of late. Life has always been hard, but the once optimistic and caring soul has been tarnished by rash and, at times, corrupting choices. As a result he has become estranged from some of his oldest friends in the X-Men. However, Wolverine was willing to give him a chance at redemption. With Wolverine gone, this responsibility falls to the de facto leader, Storm.

As the reemergence of the ruby of Cyttorak occurs in Southeast Asia, Colossus and the X-Men are drawn to it to stop the rise of another Juggernaut, the avatar of destruction. Current Amazing X-Men series writer Chris Yost is without his usual partner on this arc, Craig Kyle. However, the story begins strongly. The premise is sound and throws open what could be a fun arc.

The elder demon Cyttorak

The exploration of less mainstream characters on the X-Men roster of the Jean Grey School is where the Amazing X-Men excels. Previous issues dealing with Anole, Nightcrawler, Firestar, and Northstar have been rewarding reading experiences. With the emotional baggage and the history that Colossus brings, choosing him as the central character in this arc could allow for a story that carries a lot of weight.

Amazing X-Men #15 begins a new run for a new artist, Jorge Fornes. From the start of this comic, the art feels really comfortable for this type of story. Fornes's panel arrangement and the storytelling as a result is dynamic and fluid. The characters have a lot of emotion in their eyes, matching the tone of Yost's story.

The jungle of South-East Asia holds a terrible secret

One of the most engaging aspects of the issue is that it is very character driven. Yost continues a strong interaction between Colossus and Storm, which gives a nice nod to their history in previous X-Men series and their current standing in continuity. Both Yost and Fornes have a little fun with other characters, such as Iceman and Rockslide, who continue to build rapport using witty remarks and comedic incidents.

Rachelle Rosenberg is a mainstay on the creative team. The colors Rosenberg brings to Amazing X-Men #15 are bright yet serious. They catch the eye and bring life to the pages. This brings a great sense of belonging as a result, with Rosenberg letting the reader fit right on in and enjoy the experience of this issue.

The allure of Cyttorak is hard to deny

The whole creative team has set up an intriguing new story in this issue. I look forward to the next and seeing how this develops. The aim of Amazing X-Men, as a series, has always been to tell fun stories that don't get bogged down by the events of other crossover or continuity-driven series. Issue #15 shows just how that can be achieved.

Do you agree? We want to hear what you thought about this issue. Make sure you leave a comment below or on our Facebook or Twitter and come back next time for the "Once and Future Juggernaut," part 2.