X-Men Fairy Tales

(Marvel, 2006)
™ and © Marvel Characters, Inc.

In this series, the X-Men don’t just meet the Fables—the X-Men become the Fables. Incorporating the X-Men into classic Japanese fairy tales, the series opens with the story of Momotaro, in which a childless couple discover a baby hidden inside a giant peach. A peach pit covers one of the baby’s eyes; when the pit is removed, it unleashes Cyclops’ patented optic blast. He’s named Hitome and raised to be a woodsman who needs no tools.

Other X-Men appear in different guises. Angel is a pheasant and Iceman a white dog. The Beast is easily recognized as a blue monkey named Aoi. And Professor X provides a few surprises, plus the news that the Emperor’s daughter has been kidnapped by the Demons that we recognize as Magneto and his Brotherhood of Evil Mutants. Hitome gathers his own team of extraordinary beings and sets out to rescue the princess.

Takeda’s colorful art is beautifully done with the flair of painted watercolors. But among this first issue’s positive attributes is that it’s a complete, Done in One story.

— Michael Tierney

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