The Krakoan era for the X-Men is over and the question now remains for many… what comes next? Some have banded together to proactively fight to save the world while others take a bit more militaristic approach to things. But there’s so much space left open and options on the table. Uncanny X-Men #1 kicks off a new pillar of what’s to come initially focusing on Rogue, Gambit, and Wolverine.
Written by Gail Simone, Uncanny X-Men #1 gets at the core of what makes the X-Men different. I grew up reading X-Men comics, taking me through the Claremont era to the massive shake-up in the 90s with multiple “color” teams, and initially petering out around the “Age of Apocalypse” (diving in and out of the line ever since then). For me, the X-Men are the underdogs. They’re hated by society, fighting for their right to exist and protect other mutants. But also, protecting a world that hates them. They are the stand-ins for any marginalized group that wants to fight the good fight.
Simone gets that as she explores what has recently happened and what is still needed. Rogue is the center of the series with both Gambit and Wolverine stating that she’s the one they’d follow, she should lead what’s next. The comic has a few “scenes,” each playing a key role in setting things up.
The trio initially need to take on a giant snake god. While it feels a little out of place, there’s a long game with this confrontation that will pay off down the road. The second involves a young man in a hospital who wants to meet the X-Men. I don’t want to give it all away, but this encounter lights a fire for Rogue’s mission. In a speech given by her, she questions what’s the point of them having powers if they don’t do something with them. It’s a hell of a statement, the elders of a group of people standing up to help the generations to come. While the introduction feels a little different, Rogue feels like her vision is grander than just taking on threats but is more like what I saw as the original heart of the X-Men.
The art by David Marquez is fantastic as expected. With color by Matthew Wilson and lettering by Clayton Cowles, the characters look fantastic, the page layouts interesting, the action is solid, the drama hits you hard. The comic’s visuals are a rollercoaster with highs and lows, perfectly hitting the visual notes bringing home Simone’s story. Rogue’s sadness and trauma feels real. Wolverine noticing something isn’t right, you really get a sense of his reaction. Marquez just nails it in the small details of the characters’ reactions to each key moment.
Uncanny X-Men #1 is a solid start to the post-Krakoa era. The comic is a lot of what I expected in tone and direction setting things up nicely in the short and long term. It also feels like it’s getting back to more of the core of the X-Men that is an action packed drama about protecting and teaching the next generation to not just defend themselves, but protect others, and better society as a whole. Out of the series that have launched so far, Uncanny X-Men #1 is the best of the bunch.
Story: Gail Simone Art: David Marquez
Color: Matthew Wilson Letterer: Clayton Cowles
Story: 9.0 Art: 9.0 Overall: 9.0 Recommendation: Buy
Marvel provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
Purchase: Zeus Comics – Kindle
