I found this issue a fun read as we see younger versions of a assorted people like Chas. Guy Davis's art is nice and he does an excellent job in transmitting facial expressions and emotions. It's interesting the highjinks and humor of John's youth and one wonders if it's a sort of calm before the storm that generally accents John's life. There is no doubt that Orwell was named Orwell by X because of how it alludes to George Orwell and 1984. Similarly, there's Oswald, the man who assassinated JFK Jr., and Hoffman, of the activist Abby Hoffman.
Names are symbolic of the greater picture.
When Fagin appears, having nothing to lose Mikey goes with him. I had high hopes for this series but, unfortunately, it doesn't live up to them - after all the press and the controversy, it just doesn't live up to the hype. It never offers anything overly original or groundbreaking as we've seen this story played out numerous times and The Brotherhood doesn't take it that extra needed step to be groundbreaking. Definitely the setup for the main event of next issue. We get our information about this universe's Iron Man from Peter Parker doing a presentation to the school at the beginning of the issue.