I'd give the Uncanny X-men stories 4 stars, and Nation X 2 stars. Both parts tell the story of the X-Men and various mutants living on Utopia, after the confrontation with Osborn. Various troubles ensue, some related to the island, some caused by various mutants and others. Nation X #1-4 consists of several stories per issue about individual mutants and their experiences on or because of Utopia. The style is all over the place, and didn't do it for me. ( )

***this review contains spoilers***

In spite of the rather blah cover of this trade, the story line is pretty good. I still can't stand Matt Fraction's little introductory boxes; they're ridiculously corny most of the time. Still, the rest of the story is worth spending an afternoon reading.

First is the Dark Reign: The List - X-Men one-shot, which has to do with the current Marvel big event. Basically, Norman Osborn wants to mess up Namor's head, and he doesn't get the results that he wants.

Next are the Uncanny X-Men issues, which are authored by Fraction. Okay, not a big fan of this guy so far, but these issues were pretty good. Magneto (yes!) joins the X-Men and other mutants on the asteroid, but he doesn't exactly get a warm reception. He spends most of his time trying to prove that he's not evil. He gets mixed results. Still, some interesting Magneto moments, and I love that he retrieves Kitty Pryde from that space bullet she's been in since the end of Whedon's Astonishing X-Men.

The Nation X issues are a mixed bag, mainly because they are a bunch of little stories about how things are going on Utopia, all authored and illustrated by different creators. Some are good. Some are mediocre. Some are blah. A few stand out, but most are rather forgettable.

Looking forward to reading Second Coming. ( )

Cyclops has successfully built a new mutant sanctuary off the coast of California from the remains of Magneto's first Asteroid M, or has he? In the midst of an attack by a pack of Predator X's, the X-Club discovers that they don't have enough power to keep the island floating. Magneto arrives, and wants to help Cyclops, realizing that his and Professor X's time as the leaders of the mutant race has passed. He strikes a deal with Namor; the Atlanteans will build a pillar from the ocean floor to the the underside of the island to keep it afloat, and they can rebuild Atlantis at the base of the pillar, giving both races a new home.

Meanwhile, no one is really sure of Magneto's true reason for coming, and in wanting to prove his intentions are good, he secures the one thing that has been missing in all the X-Men's lives.

I really like where the X-Men stories are going lately. It's not necessarily all about the villain-du-jour, but there is some real character growth going on here, especially with Cyclops and his relationship with Professor X and as his new role of leader of the entire mutant race. I'm anxious to see where things will be going after Second Coming, the next story line that should finally resolve the issue of mutant child that Cable took into the future. ( )

Collects Uncanny X-Men #515-518, Dark Reign: The List - X-Men and Nation X 1-4. ( )