This issue was a bit of a downgrade from the past few. The plotting and dialogue don’t feel as strong or cohesive as they did in the previous five or so issues. Nor are there any real crazy stand-out character moments, like there have been recently (for example, the emergence of a possible Beast-Jean relationship). It was interesting to see Graham Nolan pencilling again, but as with Paul Smith’s work on this title, the sad fact is that this past favorite just isn’t that good anymore (or he didn’t have time to put adequate effort in, or he’s being inked improperly, or something). The art isn’t bad by any means, but it’s a bit awkward at times. Overall, this isn’t a bad comic at all…it’s just “(2) Average”.

X-Men Forever #16 does, however, contain the best line of dialogue so far this year:

“My bottom feels funny.”