I have really enjoyed the X-Men Utopia storyline, and last issue’s attack by the Predator X’s was really enjoyable.

The current issue, however, was simply a disaster. The plotting was reasonable, as Cyclops entered Emma’s mind in order to flush the Void from her psyche. However, the book was essentially unreadable due to the truly awful Dodson art. Much criticism has been directed at Greg Land, and I think that it is deserved. However, I feel that the Dodsons are much worse than Land, whose characters are at least well-posed and easy to distinguish.

For the curious, please check out Dodson’s characterization of Magneto in bed. I had a very hard time figuring out who Magneto even was until I pieced things together. And this was not a matter of a stylized vs. a realistic version – just an issue of poor art. The use of broad lines and subtle details might work, if it weren’t lain on top of inscrutable, poorly posed characters. Crappy Iceman – check. Charles Xavier drawn as generic bald guy – check. Featureless Psylocke – check. Yuck!

I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I would prefer it if Land were the only artist on this book. It might be awful, but at least it would be awful and comprehensible.