I'm sharing some positivity about an announcement I'm truly looking forward to. Although I try to stay resilient online, the pervasive cynicism can be draining. Still, it’s all worth it when Paul Jenkins responded to my tweet about my excitement for the series!
I was also very happy to get that Peach Momoko variant cover for issue 11. I felt it was really important for me to read these final five issues because of Sara Grey's inclusion in the recent Spider-Man movie.
I re-read the first ten issues of the series, and I have new opinion on the run. Initially, I thought the first ten issues were pretty mediocre with some good parts. After re-reading it, I now think the first ten issues are okay with some really good parts.
My main gripe of the first ten issues has always been the art. Nothing personal to Alessandro Miracolo, who I have no doubt is a very talented artist, but the pencil work in Phoenix feel really rush and inconsistent. A lot of characters' bodies and faces look ugly. There are some impressive line work in the first ten issues, mainly depicting the Phoenix in space, but it is very disheartening that Marvel Comics didn't want to put an A-List artist on this book, even though Jean deserves it. Adani is also an annoying antagonist who's motivation really doesn't make sense.
However, Phillips' voice for Jean is very solid and some of the set pieces are pretty fun to read, even if the art doesn't capture the same majesty. It's also cool to have Jean interacting more with the cosmic side of the Marvel Universe, even fighting against Thanos, something previous comics haven't really touched on. Oddly, the Gorr fight is probably my favorite part in the first ten issues. Gorr is perfect antagonist against Jean, and the moment leads to an interesting conversation about Jean ascending into a further plane of godhood. In general, I appreciate the arc of the first ten issues is Jean accepting the destructive side of the Phoenix without forgoing her humanity or empathy.
It's still not, like, my favorite Jean Grey story in recent memories. Yet I have a greater appreciation of it now than when I recently read it.