The war between the Inhumans and the X-Men takes a dark turn leaving Inhumans hopelessly outmatched. Emma Frost, the White Queen, faces off against Medusa, queen of the Inhumans, as both fight for the future of their people. It all ends here.

Inhumans vs. X-Men #6 is the conclusion to what has been Marvel’s best event in quite some time. Written by Charles Soule and Jeff Lemire, Inhumans vs. X-Men has generally paid off focusing more on details than giving us giant battles. This issue though is mostly giant battles as revelations come out that Emma has been manipulating events and Medusa comes to find out why the X-Men attacked.

This final issue has its issues. Things are focused on the battle and events come quickly in a pace that doesn’t let events play out naturally. Instead, it’s quick cuts and it doesn’t quite feel like a natural flow. This is the case of a comic that could have used another half an issue to help give more time to focus on some of what’s presented. That ideally would also allow for more decompression at the end, but as presented we’re given some epilogues in a way that sets things up for the future of the X-Men and Inhumans franchises. We get two villains coming out of this that I actually look forward to seeing the X-Men and Inhumans face.

The issue does address the biggest flaw of the event. Why didn’t the X-Men just approach the Inhumans to start? When you think of things, it’s a bit silly when you think about it, and the case for the attack is never quite made. There is some debate and the desperation is laid out making a case for the X-Men’s actions. A debate and discussion for another time.

Leinil Francis Yu steps in on art and instantly things up a level. The battles are tense with solid perspective and sequences. Some of the art of previous issues has been hit and miss, but this is the art I was expecting for an event of this level. There’s some classic scenes and spreads that had me lingering on the page. Yu delivers the visuals befitting this epic wrap up.

Inhumans vs. X-Men #6 flips the status-quo for the Inhumans and X-Men in many ways setting each on a new course but one that’s familiar in some ways. Hurdles the X-Men have faced looks to be one for the Inhumans now, while the X-Men must again plot their course in the world. And for that, the event succeeds and succeeds immensely. It addresses some of the more bizarre theories out there about how the X-Men and Inhumans are viewed in the Marvel world and when it’s all over shakes things up again.

Story: Charles Soule, Jeff Lemire Art: Leinil Francis Yu
Story: 7.8 Art: 8.15 Overall: 7.9 Recommendation: Buy

Marvel provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review