Sentinels #1 Review

Guardian is one of the latest X-Men titles from the “From the Ashes” era, set to release on October 9. It takes a unique approach to X-Men, with human cyborgs working on behalf of corporate interests to reclaim the Sentinel name for good. Oh, and peace between humans and mutants. How about an advance copy in hand? Guardian #1 Stacking?

This first issue has a lot to cover, including the introduction of those cyborg soldiers, the complexity of turning Xavier's school into a prison, and the manipulative nature of the entire program. Alex Paknadel and artist Justin Mason create brand new characters in a way that makes you grow to love them, especially since we learn pretty quickly that they're expendable to the powers that be that run the program.

The complex situation they find themselves in is quite compelling. Essentially, each soldier is a broken person due to past Marvel events, which connects them to superhero vs. supervillain moments. They are human, but they are somehow connected to unbelievable events. They have been given a chance to do something “good” as far as they know, and also give them a piece of life back.

Meanwhile, politics rage on after Krakoa. This series presumes that after Krakoa and the breakdown of the treaty the nation had with Earth, supervillain mutants are running amok and need to be locked up. With advanced technology and the help of Larry Trask, the Sentinels have the best interests of mutants in mind in some ways, but they are also run by corporations. We all know how it is in fiction!

As for the events of this issue, there is a good pace and a solid plot. The introduction includes a covert operation and a Aliens Movie-like feel, with good suspense and action as we get to know each character. Once the first mission is over, the book moves along at a brisk pace, introducing us to how the Sentinels program works. Since these are brand new main characters, it's a testament to the writing that you'll find yourself engrossed in each of them.

In addition, there is a great story within the story that you shouldn't miss. It's a compelling narrative that fits well into the logic of this post-Krakoa era.

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Mason delivers a detailed style reminiscent of comics by Rob Liefeld or Marc Silvestri. The book is never completely gory, but the suggestion of extreme violence is obvious. The cyborg abilities are well drawn, with some interesting nano-renderings and mech-like suits that look pretty cool. Mason gives the book an organic feel that fits the themes, while also adding a human touch to characters who are in the process of losing that humanity.

Mason is assisted by color artist Federico Blee and letterer Travis Lanham. Aside from the choice of purple costumes, this book has a muted tone that gives it a more grounded feel. Most of the environments are dirty and muted, which helps convey a sense of the underworld. The lettering is quite clean and well-promoted, especially on the cliffhanger page.

Guardian #1 is an excellent start for a new kind of X-Men book. It uses a unique group of soldiers who are just as much victims as the mutants themselves. The action is intense and the uniqueness of the team gives power to the narrative. This is Aliens meets Jarhead for the X-Men fan who wants to explore the seedy side of From the Ashes.