The clock strikes midnight, and it’s the dark dawn of a new era. The shadows of New York City are stalked by vampires and the mutant empyres. The sword of Damocles hangs over the peace between these two species and the factions within them. An outright war is brewing and the unturned will be caught in the crossfire. Midnight X-Men #1 is an interesting start that teases an expansive thought out world taking the best from modern vampire properties.

Written by Jonathan Hickman, Midnight X-Men #1 takes the classic X-Men and mixes them with vampires. There’s humans. There’s mutants. There’s vampires. There’s also mutants who have been turned into vampires. And with that there’s alliances, rules, clans. It’s the X-Men larping Vampire: The Masquerade.

Midnight X-Men #1 is an entertaining start doing it’s best to lay out the various factions in the best way it can while teasing the specifics. Who are empyres? Who are vampires? It’s not 100% clear but we do know some of that reality and what remains of the X-Men. Set in New York City, Hickman also includes the more fanatical religious elements to throw into the conflict as if everything else wasn’t enough to entertain. With classic throwbacks and teases, the stage is set for a drama that takes the mutant metaphor to another level. And, it works.

The comic does a solid job of winking and nodding to the decades of stories while plotting it’s own path that at times feels like a sourcebook for a tabletop roleplaying game. But, that’s not a bad thing. The concept of the World of Darkness mixed with Marvel’s mutants is a cool one that has us wanting that sourcebook! Drama with mutant powers? Hell yes!

There are some bumps in the issue, a battle leaves survivors, for what purpose isn’t clear. It’s an odd choice that maybe we see play out but left as is feels a little weird. Add in that Midnight Spider-Man also takes place in New York City with no signs or concerns of the issues present in Midnight X-Men #1 is also a little odd. It’s small quibbles but enough to notice.

The art by Matteo Della Fonte is fantastic. With color by Arthur Hesli and lettering by Cory Petit, the comic feels like it’s a mix of classic Vampirella and modern X-Men. The new designs for some characters are solid as can be and the choice of colors look great. There’s also special care in the art to leave readers guessing who is and isn’t a vampire, it’s not always clear right away. The issue is solid like that mixing in quiet religious power play drama with multiple battles. It’s a comic that delivers the action and the drama well and has an underlying sadness to it manifested in Kurt Wagner, a character who is the center of the first issue.

Midnight X-Men #1 is a great first issue that feels like it could fit in as a story arc in Marvel’s main line for the X-Men (especially with their numerous run ins with vampires). Most importantly, it keeps the basics of the X-Men with its factions, power plays and of course cool use of powers mixed with personal drama. Another solid start for Marvel’s “Midnight Universe.”

Story: Jonathan Hickman Art: Matteo Della Fonte
Color: Arthur Hesli Letters: Cory Petit
Story: 8.25 Art: 8.25 Overall: 8.25 Recommendation: Buy

Marvel provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

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Purchase: Zeus Comics – Kindle