jonathan jones Comic Reviews

Dark X-Men #1 is a lovely introduction and an appreciated flashback about the goings on at the Limbo embassy. Jean Grey is dead, and now Madelyne Pryor is stepping up as the new X-Men's heart... of darkness. Blood, demons, and drama are here because when the the going gets dark, it seems the X-Men will get even darker.

Dark X-Men #2 hits the ground running, keeping our protagonists on their toes and off-balance. It's a fun and spooky ride, but it's still anyone's guess where this train is heading. Will Madelyne and her X-Men save the world, or will their efforts put even more at risk than ever before?

For fans who've been wondering when Emma Frost and Kate Pryde's new class of students would get out there and earn the name "X-Men," Exceptional X-Men #9 is that first taste of what's to come. Sinister's larger schemes at Verate haven't been thwarted yet, but a little trust and teamwork gets these new X-Men safely through their first showdown with a genuine supervillain. Tune in for a fun fight, some decent developments, and a final twist that the climax of this arc is still to come!

Exceptional X-Men #11 sets the table for the story to come and has fun doing so. It's packed with a party, a slew of character beats, and emotions running high for ol' Ms. Pryde. Plus, Ironheart only adds to the fun for what will surely be an integral arc about what the meaning behind this book really is. Here's hoping they have enough time to tell that story before the whole X-Line gets swept up in the Age of Revelation this fall.

In Jean Grey #1, Louise Simonson makes a lovely reentry into the life and times of Jean Grey with stellar artists Bernard Chang and Marcelo Maiolo by her side. Jean's study into her own being is intimate, messy, and rewarding to fans of developed and nuanced character work. Her post-death journey has just begun, and the results seem to promise dramatic ramifications for herself as well as mutantkind's future.

As Jean Grey once said, "I'm the only 'me' that ever was." Jean Grey #2 reminds audiences why she's the best she is at what Phoenix does. Simonson, Chang, and Maiolo knock it out of the park again, and if they continue to do so, this series is set to be essential reading for any fan of Jean Grey or the X-Men.

Jean Grey #3 continues to add exciting new layers to Jean's afterlife. Just short of the finale and rooted more clearly in the broader Fall of X context, the intrigue underlying this miniseries has only grown. Sadly, the greater volume of meta-hijinks left the reflections on Jean's character a bit muddled. The next issue remains full of promise, and this installment is well worth the read.

In Jean Grey #4, Jean bonds with the Phoenix once more, rising from hellfires of her own making. She may not love every choice she's ever made, but Jean is beginning to understand that not giving herself some grace about those mistakes would lead to even greater disaster for her and those she loves now. Jean has to trust herself; at the end of the day, that's all she has.

Magik #3 finds the pain of Illyana's past remixed for the present with no time-travel required. Our mysterious Liminal becomes a more filled out character, and the tension rises as he forces our heroine into a devil's bargain. As we just saw with Storm and Eegun, such a deal may end up disappointing all parties involved. Only time will tell if this leads to the Darkchilde's return once and for all.

The clock is ticking, and only two seals remain fully intact. Dani Moonstar and her new magic gear are here to help one of her best friends, but Magik #4 leaves Illyana feeling even less secure than before. Liminal's victory seems well in hand, but I wouldn't count out either Mirage or Magik on their worst days. Better than that, they have each other, if Illyana can accept the support Dani is trying to offer.

NYX #4 continues to remind us why this book is one of the best X-books around. For those of us who still mourn Krakoa and loved X-Men: Red's blend of superheroics and building out of mutant culture, this book is for you. Prodigy's spotlight issue finds him in a place familiar to so many, and it's inspiring to see him fight to dream a new dream in the face of a world telling mutantkind that their only options are to regress or die. Don't miss this book!

NYX #5 may be Sophie Stepford's solo issue, but she sure isn't alone as the cast comes together in the first arc's finale. Superhero stories are inherently political stories, the X-Men moreso than any other, and even more than most other current X-books, NYX has made no attempt to pretend its not a political book. Saving the day for the oppressed doesn't seem to match the world outside our windows these days, which makes NYX #5 an interesting balancing act. Even in small victories, so many other hopes for change can end up in ash, but just as the ash remains so do we. It's not a call to hope or to celebrate, but to live.

Dazzler may be in town, but NYX #6 puts Wolverine at center stage. Laura Kinney's night out with her friends is shockingly interrupted by a hefty dose of bisexual panic thanks to Local and the return of Kiden Nixon. Mojo is the scariest he's been in years, and though his plan failed this time, it's clear that his plans for NYC are far from over.

Ejected from academia, Prodigy is no longer a scholarly spectator or a secret instigator of mutant culture. It's less glamorous than a cushy ESU gig, but David Alleyne is much better suited for community organizingdespite Synch's intense interruption. On top of all that, Ms. Marvel has a dramatic confrontation of her own that's not to be missed!

NYX #8 is a stellar character piece on the hell-raising Hellion. This comic is about communication, the violence we can do to our loved ones with words, how anger can be a mask over a cry for help. Hellion claims that he is a nail that refuses to break under the might of the world's hammer, but maybe he's learning that being broken doesn't mean losing yourself or what makes you a hero.

Charles Xavier has come to crash the party in NYX #9, and his bad vibes bring about the perfect opportunity for Mojo to strike. Part crossover story, part series' near-finale, the whole issue coalesces into a long hard look at Xavier. Professor X's best days inspired mutants to build communities like NYX, but the man has been rotting from the inside out for a long timeand no, I'm not referring to the tumor retcon. The mutants of NYX have weathered Xavier's latest betrayal, but none of that matters if they can't put a stop to Mojo's endgame.

Resurrection of Magneto #2 shows that this series is not just an all-timer Storm story but for the Master of Magnetism as well. Acknowledging the strengths and the flaws of its two leads, this issue expertly balances the plot with accepting Magneto and all of the multitudes that comprise him. Do not miss out on reading this book.

The last epic hurdle between Storm and Magneto and the land of the living is at hand in Resurrection of Magneto #3. The Shadow King and his legion of shadows have been defeated, but the definitive story that either character has had in years still has more in store next issue. Her name means Beauty. He is Power. Men call them Storm and Magneto.

In the Grand Finale of Krakoa, Resurrection of Magneto #4 is a can't-miss finish of a superb series. Rich storytelling is matched with artists at the top of their game to answer the question of who the Master of Magnetism has become in his return to the land of the living. It's the kind of comic that's great from start to finish and is more rewarding with each reappraisalgo get it now!

A strong development of the stellar foundation laid last issue, the second issue of Sabretooth & the Exiles puts in the work to better realize the dangers at hand. Furthermore, it develops the bond between Oya and Nekra's rising star, which is a rare relationship even within the X-Men franchise. While unable to provide good character moments to the whole cast, the insights we do get carry the development of the whole team forward.

Wild, bloody, and tinged with humor, Sabretooth & the Exiles #5 retains a sense of authenticity to the world around us to the end and surpasses that of its fellow X-Books.

Scarlet Witch #3 is full of action, magic, reflection, and reconstruction. However, there are signs of strain from an imbalanced pace that makes the penultimate piece of this opening arc fit in just a tad awkwardly.

Scarlet Witch #4 brings blockbuster action to the first arc's finale. Stellar art and story combine for nearly 16 pages of climactic battle between the Scarlet Witch and the Griever. What could feel perfunctory instead feels energetic and raring to go as the series gears up for future exploits, including next issue's team up with Daredevil. In a word, this issue is a delight.

Halloween is just around the corner, and Scarlet Witch #5 is the perfect spooky season adventure underneath Hell's Kitchen. A team-up with Daredevil that's no tick, all treat. A rematch with the monstrous Bricklayer. It's a well told story that gives the audience a chance to breathe and have a little fun coming down from the battle with Griever without running headlong into the introduction of Amaranth, Wanda's mysterious new apprentice. Pick it up if you have the chance.

Even with the excitement buzzing around Agatha's return and the debut of Amaranth, Wanda Maximoff firmly remains the center of Scarlet Witch #6. The Scarlet Witch's tte--tte with Harkness is a brief but fun treat, and Wanda's new apprentice tugs on the few parts of herself that she's yet to face head on. It's a skillfully made comic and an exciting start to this book's next arc. Issue #7 only seems to be adding to the fun with guest appearances from Wiccan and Speed.

It may not have been Agatha all along, but Harkness' shadow looms large over Scarlet Witch #7. As Wanda seeks to avoid her mentor's faults with her own apprentice, this holiday trip with Wiccan and Speed throws the Scarlet Witch's own trials in motherhood up in contrast to Agatha's as well. Underneath it all remains the dark secrets surrounding Amaranth, but no threat attached to them seems imminent.

Scarlet Witch #8 is a wintry jaunt where Wanda revives a classic Marvel hero even as her student's frustrations come to a head. There's something for all readers: Wanda using unique and weird magic, the return of an obscure Golden Age character as well as "fixing" his lore, and more Amaranth for those tuning in for all things New Champions-related. January is a hard month, but this issue of Scarlet Witch is an easy little escape for those who read it.

Scarlet Witch #9 is a heist gone awry, but the fun face-off between Wanda and Black Cat ends up just serving as a catalyst for more Amaranth-centric drama. It's a fine comic, but the concept feels a bit wasted. In a publishing era where the next issue never feels guaranteed, this installment draws out the intrigue of Amaranth's mystery for the sake of drawing it out. Thankfully, next issue promises some form of resolution.

For the X-Men fans burned by the loss of Krakoa, you're not alone. Rogue is just as hurt by it (if not more since she got to live there). It may seem silly from the outside, but it is a comfort to see our heroes grapple with the same sense of loss rather than be played for laughs; this theme is prominent throughout FROM THE ASHES books so far, but none so clearly as here in Uncanny X-Men #1. If that's not enough for you, Gambit's victory over the God-Snake is wily and fun, and there are ominous new threatshuman and nonhumanon the horizon that may pique your interest.

Uncanny X-Men #2 may not be as flashy as issue #1, but it proves to be essential for paving the way for the story Simone, Marquez, and Wilson have set out to tell. It seems that Rogue is not only set to inherit Xavier's compulsion to care for mutant teens but also the consequences of his past mistakes. Thankfully, she's not alone. All we're really missing is Nightcrawler, and then the Uncanny X-Men will be back in action.

Uncanny X-Men #3 builds upon the first two issues, deepening the lore behind the Outliers and the newly christened Sarah Gaunt. The momentum unfortunately slows even further, but it promises to pick up next issue for some scary scenes and Logan's life on the line. The X-Men have barely had the chance to get through a single training session with the Outliers, but is that enough for them to be put to the test against such a monstrous opponent?

Funny, dynamic, and shocking in the end, X-Men #20 raises the stakes of their ongoing Brood saga as well as setting the stage for the juicy drama to come.

Thoughtful, dramatic, and an all-around great issue for fans of Jean Grey, X-Men #21 is a satisfying wrap on "Lord of the Brood."

Action-packed and filled to the brim with drama, X-Men #23 is excellent. In a time when the looming FALL OF X has made many new fans anxious, well made comics like this instill confidence that the X-Office has plenty of great stories to tell and is not slacking off anytime soon. There's a lot of X-Men coming out this week, but this issue cannot be missed.

It's the end of this chapter for the X-Men, and it seems that the board is just about set for the most infamous Hellfire Gala in Krakoa's history. It's fun and filled to the brim with different story threads which unite to build anticipation for the upcoming X-Men roster. Time for the Pogg Ur-Pogg heads to unite hopefully the X-Men survive the coming blight.

Synch and Talon's relationship continues to keep us on our toes in X-Men #30. Though the issue does not fully fill in the gap left at the end of the previous installment, it gets the ball rolling. Filled with dream sex, drama, action, and set-up for another huge X-Men nostalgia pull (looking at you, Outback Era), fans excited to see Synch step up and lead the team have some fun to look forward to here and hopefully more to come.

When so much of the X-Line is firing on all cylinders, X-Men #31 doesn't quite hit the mark. The end of a romance that was more told than shown, and a fight with Nimrod that leaves us wanting more are brightened with the elimination of Orchis' most concrete threat to all the people of Earth. Despite this being a minor disappointment, next month's Shadowkat and Magik team-up issue still seems quite promising.

Swordwielding women slaughter fascists and so much more in X-Men #32. In one fell swoop, Magik's mutant gift is restored and she's reunited with two of her oldest friends. Though balking not once, but thrice at bringing Illyana and Kate Pryde's intimacy to the next stage, the issue as a whole is still a whole lot of fun.

X-Men #33 is all fun and games until you remember that this is the third to last issue of the series. Using fond memories of Marauders to cover for the title's Fall of X to-do list is only somewhat effective. That being said, the board is clear for the X-Men's showdown at Sentinel City. Who knows what excitement awaits when Nimrod's Death Star comes online.

X-Men #34 is a fun issue. It has exciting action and a good moment of character work ahead of Shadowkat's exeunt. Sadly, its flaws raise a number of questions that could have been easily avoided with a few more proofreads. In the end, this book remains the franchise's flagship title in name only, a feeling to which Synch ought to be able to sympathize with by now. However, things are set to change for both hero and book upon the arrival of the hotly anticipated Uncanny X-Men #700 in the coming weeks. We'll see you there.

For all that these previous months of the FoHoX/RoPoX era have shown the strain of being rushed and compressed in ways that were frequently confusing and disappointing, Uncanny X-Men #700 is the opposite. Every panel and every word feels intentional and layered with thought and care behind it.

X-Men Red #16 is the darkest hour of the Genesis War. In the midst of action and bombast, the drama remains intimately focused on Storm, and the choices she makes here will impact Arakko forevermore. The Fall of X has many battlefronts, but this may just be the most important one.

To call what Storm does in X-Men Red #17 Black girl magic would be an understatement of the highest order. After the battle has been lost, Ororo and Apocalypse's mutant sorcery grant our heroes one last chance to win the Genesis War. It may be the FALL OF X, but the mutants of Arakko might just rise stronger than ever before.

X-Men: Red #18 is a fond farewell to one of our favorite X-Men books in the last couple of years. It's packed with action and heart, capping off this Arakki epic while still leaving so much room to explore on the red planet. Hopefully, their rest is restorative but also quick because Storm and her fellow Arakki are some of the biggest assets to the fight for mutant kind as the Fall of X shifts to Fall of the House of X/Rise of the Powers of X. The people of Arakko do not fear a life that ends, and there is no fear in how this book ends either: only hope.

Easily its best issue yet, the third installment of X-Terminators remains bombastic and fun while introducing new mystical and cosmic elements to the merry mutant mayhem. Dazzler, Jubilee, Boom-Boom, and Wolverine are getting what so few at Marvel ever do: be raunchy, messy people while continuing to be great superheroes. Even if you can only get one Marvel book this week, X-Terminators easily proves why it's the best pull.

A satisfying conclusion that absolutely demands a follow-up, X-Terminators #5 remains can't miss X-Men fun to the very end.