Tag Archives: jay bowen

Wolverine #41, Bring On Sabertooth! 

Posted on by
Wolverine #41

It’s one of the greatest hero and villain relationships in comics, Wolverine and Sabertooth. These characters have been at it longer than I’ve been alive. And here writers Victor LaValle and Benjamin Percy alongside pencilers Geoff Shaw and Cory Smith tell their own saga in this most epic of comic book rivalries. 

I’m a huge fan of Percy’s Wolverine, I think he has one of the best voices for the character ever and really understands Logan. LaValle has told two Sabertooth stories before, the eponymously named Sabertooth and Sabertooth And The Exiles. Both of which are steller comics that take the character of Sabertooth in unexpectedly narratively rich places and explore issues like the carceral system and institutional medical abuse of minority groups. In the first part of the Sabertooth War epic Percy and LaValle mix their peanut butter and chocolate into a oh so great flavor. 

Sabertooth And The Exiles left off with Sabertooth meeting up with a multiversal cohort of his variants, after raiding a collection of Orchis bases. Wolverine and X-Force left off with Wolverine meeting back up with X-Force, his biological, and found family in the arctic. Here they collide on Wolverine’s birthday just in time for Sabertooth to tear it all down. 

The cover of the title purports to be “The most violent Wolverine story ever told”, while that’s a high bar to match — and maybe not even a worthy challenge to even attempt — Sabertooth war takes a valiant swing at it with some truly brutal moments. Only time will tell if those moments eclipse pure shock value or not, at times they were pretty hard to read, but it’s a great way to show the brutality of Sabertooth.  

On the art front I was a little disappointed to hear that the artist on the past two Sabertooth series Leonard Kirk wouldn’t be returning. That being said pencilers Geoff Shaw and Cory Smith alongside colorist Alex Sinclair and inker Oren Junior do a fantastic job of telling this gorey tale. Shaw’s pencils and inks remind me much more of Kirk’s but Smith and Junior’s work is by no means a slouch either. 

The first chapter in Sabertooth War is a very promising start. It’s appropriately violent while also having some surprisingly tender moments before all hell breaks loose. The title is an easy recommendation. 

Story: Victor LaValle & Benjamin Percy Art: Geoff Shaw & Cory Smith
Color: Alex Sinclair Inker: Oren Junior Letterer: Cory Petit Design: Stacie Zucker with Tom Muller & Jay Bowen
Story: 9.5 Art: 9.0 Overall: 10.0 Recommendation: Buy

Marvel provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: Zeus Comics – Kindle

Fall Of The House Of X #1 is a Disappointing Start 

Posted on by
Fall of the House of X #1

Fall Of The House Of X has huge boots to fill, there is a certain boldness with naming a comic after one of the best X-Men stories ever told. Not only that but it sets out to be the cap end to the story that comic started, all of this leaves a lot of room for comparisons. Unfortunately Fall Of The House Of X #1 by Gerry Duggan and Lucas Werneck does not invite flattering comparisons between the two and overall disappoints. 

The Mutants lost at the Hellfire Gala, they lost bad. They were slaughtered and scattered to the winds. And now Cyclops stands on trial, in a way it isn’t just him standing on trial, it’s the entirety of Mutantdom. The architects of the brutal attack on the Hellfire Gala, Orchis, wants to use him to set a precedent, I think? The issue is a little vague on what the consequences of this trial actually are. It’s clear that Cyclops losing this sham trial is supposed to be the winning blow for Orchis but it’s never elaborated on as to why. This sets a precedent for this issue itself, things are a little unclear. For instance, Wolverine and Colossus along with a few other X-Men are on a mission to liberate Cyclops before the trial, but in X-Force they are on the complete opposite side of the planet, we aren’t told how they met up with the other X-Men, it’s just a gap that we are meant to fill in our heads, and there are quite a few gaps like it in this issue. This thing isn’t rare in comics but the Krakoan era has been such an interconnected one that it’s somewhat befuddling to have two books be asynchronous and at odds like that during the climax. Especially when the past five months of The Fall Of X could have been used to set up this very climax. 

If I had to use one word to describe this issue it would be abrupt, which is a shame since so much of the Fall Of X has been set up for this very issue, but even then it still feels like we are a couple months off before the books line up with the events we see in this comic. Hell there is even an editor’s box telling us to check out upcoming issues of Invincible Iron Man to be filled in on plot details that are supposed to be unfolding in the now of this book. 

It’s not all bad though, there is some pretty short but sweet stuff with Cyclops that lands well even in the midst of an overall confused trial that we barely get to see any of. Plus, there is a particular moment at the end of the issue that still blew my socks off and delivers on the type of bombast Duggan is known for. Duggan is a talented writer, he’s great at doing character driven stuff and big superheroic bombast, but frankly this is not him at his best.

On the art front Lucas Werneck is good but perhaps not the best fit for a big action event book like this. Werneck is still a developing artist but he is great at two things in particular, character interactions and amazing poses. While both of those are on offer here and are a feast for the eyes they don’t make up the eternity of this book. There are also some moments where the art looks rushed, which again is unfortunate for a big event book like this. The art is by no means bad but it’s an ill fit for what this book is going for. 

Overall Fall Of The House Of X #1 is a disappointing start made all the more unfortunate by the quality of what preceded it, not only its namesake but Duggan’s other work from the Fall Of X which has largely been stellar. Hopefully the following issues can pick up the momentum the first issue so desperately lacked. 

Story: Gerry Duggan Art: Lucas Werneck
Color: Bryan Valenza Letterer: Travis Lanham Design: Tom Muller & Jay Bowen
Story: 6.5 Art: 7.7 Overall: 7.0 Recommendation: Read

Purchase: TFAW – Zeus Comics – Kindle

Fall of the House of X #1 kicks off the war against Orchis

Posted on by
Fall of the House of X #1

Mutantkind has never had a greater fall. From the highs of Krakoa – their own glorious nation, a place where they were safe and happy – to the lowest of lows. Outlawed, hunted, killed, most of their kind missing or dead, and now, one their greatest leaders, Cyclops, is on trial facing a death penalty. Ready or not, the time has come for the X-Men to make their final stand against the forces that have struck them low. The day is now. The place is here. The tale of the house Xavier built will long be told…and few will forget this darkest chapter. Fall of the House of X #1 kicks off the the end of the Krakoan era for the X-Men leading into what comes next.

I’ll admit, I haven’t been a fan of the Krakoan age of the X-Men. While there’s many interesting aspects, the storyline got too far from their roots. They went from the underdogs, the oppressed, to nationalists. They stated they were “gods” to humankind. It also took away any sense of danger with their ability to create new bodies and download their minds into them, though it explained their lack of aging. Small details here and there worked but overall, it’s an experiment that I don’t think did what it intended to do.

With the “Mutant Massacre” and attack on Krakoa by Orchis, the era began to wrap up leading into Fall of X. Their numbers dwindled. The ability to be reborn was taken away. The comic felt closer to the X-Men of the past, an oppressed group looking to fight for their rights and equality.

Written by Gerry Duggan Fall of the House of X #1 begins the final chapter of that story, beginning to truly wrap up and transition to what’s next. Fall of X was the lead up to this, getting things in order. And the result is an ok beginning.

Duggan tightens the focus a bit, with Cyclops on trial for what feels like all of Mutantdom. But, there’s a mission to free him while taking the fight to Orchis. It’s all rather cinematic and in some ways predictable in that things don’t go as planned. But, where the comic fumbles is when things really get going. The battle goes from 0 to 60 in a blink. It feels rushed, which the attack by the X-Men against Orchis is, but that rushed feeling also makes it seem like something is missing in the storytelling.

The art by Lucas Werneck is solid. The characters look good and there’s a lot of dynamic moments that hit the right emotional queues. Werneck is joined by Bryan Valenza on color and Travis Lanham on lettering. Like the narrative, the art has a slight bump as well when things ramp up. It too feels like it goes into overdrive where visuals go from rather tight and focused moments to gigantic battles. It’s like a step has been missed.

Overall, the comic is ok. Fall of the House of X #1 shows off some potential as to where things go but it doesn’t quite excite and stand on its own. It feels like a slightly opening chapter before the credits of the action film roll. It does a good job of creating the situation and setting but as a comic, it has a sense of being rushed.

Story: Gerry Duggan Art: Lucas Werneck
Color: Bryan Valenza Letterer: Travis Lanham Design: Tom Muller, Jay Bowen
Story: 8.0 Art: 8.5 Overall: 8.0 Recommendation: Read

Marvel provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: TFAW – Zeus Comics – Kindle

X-Men Blue: Origins #1 clears up that whole Nightcrawler/Mystique connection

Posted on by
X-Men Blue: Origins #1

You think you know how the beloved blue devil came into this troubled world? You think you know the tale of his mendacious mamma Mystique? You don’t! Mother and son reunite in a mold-shattering tale that exposes secrets held for decades and redefines both characters forever. X-Men Blue: Origins #1 dives into the history of Nightcrawler and Mystique, delivering the definitive “origin” and connection between the two settling decades of speculation.

Written by Si Spurrier, X-Men Blue: Origins #1 is a fairly straightforward comic. Mystique seeks out Nightcrawler who is now dressed as Spider-Man doing the heroic thing in New York and the two lay it all out on the table. For years there’s been speculation, rumors, confusion as to the connection between Nightcrawler and Mystique and this issue clears tha tup with the definitive take and answer. And it’s… kind of not surprising?

While Spurrier clears things up, the story overall isn’t as shocking/weird/new as one might expect. There’s some small details regarding Mystique’s mutation which sets up the character to have an even more interesting future, but the connection between her and Nightcrawler overall feels rather… anticlimactic.

There’s some emotional moments and in the end you feel bad for Mystique and the trauma she’s enduring but the issue really feels like it highlights the fact it’s taken so long to get here. This all should have been resolved years before. It also continues to highlight the fact that Professor X is kind of a bad guy in the big picture of things, continuing his slide over the years from visionary to borderline villain.

X-Men Blue: Origins #1 has some interesting aspects regarding Destiny and “fate.” That aspect hopefully will be explored in further storylines down the road as the implication on Nightcrawler and his role in events is pretty significant. Overall, it comes off as a concept that’s thrown out there but the reaction isn’t quite what you’d really expect and feels a bit subdued.

The art by Wilton Santos and Marcus To is solid. They’re joined by Oren Junior on ink, Ceci De La Cruz on color and Joe Caramagna on lettering. The comic looks great with some small bumps visually. You get the feeling of the emotion and confusion coming from Mystique but the visuals never quite give that overly dramatic moment where you really connect with the character and what she’s going through. It lays out the emotion but I never really connected with the emotional moments.

X-Men Blue: Origins #1 really is for those that care about the small details and need to know definitive origins. So far, its impact feels like what’s teased about Mystique’s power will have greater ramifications than the connection between her and Nightcrawler. Not a bad issue and some interesting history of the characters but overall what comes out of it, if anyhting, feels like it’ll matter more.

Story: Si Spurrier Art: Wilton Santos, Marcus To
Ink: Oren Junior Color: Ceci De La Cruz Letterer: Joe Caramagna Design Tom Muller, Jay Bowen
Story: 8.0 Art: 8.25 Overall: 8.0 Recommendation: Read

Marvel provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: Zeus Comics – Kindle

Uncanny Spider-Man #1 sends Kurt on a story of redemption

Posted on by
Uncanny Spider-Man #1

On the darkest of days, he is the spark in the shadows! After the devastating events of the Hellfire Gala, Kurt Wagner is on the run – and having the time of his life?! Swashbuckling about NYC in disguise, the Uncanny Wallcrawler sets aside his mutant angst and dedicates himself to the hero’s life: saving civilians, hanging with fellow wallcrawlers, battling baddies, and hunting down the best pizza on the planet. But he can’t ignore the mutant plight forever… Uncanny Spider-Man #1 kicks off the next journey for Kurt as he attempts to find redemption and heal from his past.

Written by Si Spurrier, Uncanny Spider-Man #1 is an interesting comic. It’s entertaining and fun overall really emphasizing the playful nature of Nightcrawler. But, it also feels a bit odd in its focus on things that shouldn’t be all that new and surprising for Kurt.

The comic takes us through some adventures of Kurt as he stops bad guys and has run in with Sentinels. It’s all fun action but overall it’s the other moments that really stand out. We get a hurt and still healing Kurt talking to Spider-Man about his current status. The conversation is interesting with real heart and plays off the personalities of the two quite well. But, the negative, is Spurrier’s focus on Kurt the outsider. There’s a focus on his attempt at banter with villains and pizza. The idea of Kurt not knowing pizza all that well feels a bit odd like he’s treated as brand new to New York City and the US as a whole. It just doesn’t feel like something he’d be so surprised about, enjoy like TMNT sure, but there’s a weird focus on it in the comic. But, Spurrier really nail’s Kurt’s playfulness and juxtaposes it with Peter Parker Spider-Man to show that when it comes to other characters donning Spider-Man’s costume, he’s not that odd of a choice.

Lee Garbett‘s art is entertaining. With color by Matt Milla and lettering by Joe Caramagna, the comic has a swashbuckling nature about it, a modern day Three Muskateers vibe as Kurt bamfs in to save the day. Like the story itself, the visuals play off what makes him an interesting character. There’s the exaggerated poses, the bamf, and the tail that make him stand out. There’s also a slight darkness about the comic too which reflects the sad nature of it all as Kurt must clear his name and find direction.

Uncanny Spider-Man #1 is a fun read but there’s moments the characterization of Nightcrawler seems a bit odd and outdated. Still, it’s an interesting new take for the character and with what’s teased, a hell of a big deal for what’s to come for the entire X-Men line.

Story: Si Spurrier Art: Lee Garbett
Color: Matt Milla Letterer: Joe Caramagna Design: Tom Muller, Jay Bowen
Story: 8.0 Art: 8.25 Overall: 8.0 Recommendation: Buy

Marvel provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: Zeus Comics – Kindle

Alpha Flight #1 delivers a predictable but entertaining start

Posted on by
Alpha Flight #1

Alpha Flight has a new mission, saving Canada from the mutant menace!? Guardian, Puck, Snowbird, and Shaman return as Canada’s superhero team but now they’re doing to bidding of the government to abuse and detain mutants. That puts them at odds with Aurora, Northstar, Nemesis, and Fang, who are on their own mission t protect them. The Fall of X fallout continues with a focus to the north in Alpha Flight #1.

Written by Ed Brisson, Alpha Flight #1 is an entertaining comic. Unfortunately, it’s also rather predictable so far. Fall of X has delivered a new status quo and the anti-mutant hysteria has reached Canada. They’re bending over backwards to discriminate and abuse mutants, and Alpha Flight is one of the ways they’re going to do it. The concept of the a team split like this is something that drew me to the comic. The fact I loved reading Alpha Flight back in the day helped too. And Alpha Flight #1 reminds me of those older comics in a way. The team is very much in the “following orders” mindset which is something we’ve seen before but you can also tell there’s something more going on as well. Again, something we’ve seen before. The comic delivers a story that’s a bit retro in a way like that.

Scott Godlewski handles the art with Matt Milla on color and lettering by Travis Lanham. It’s all pretty solid. The characters look good. The action is solid. There’s also a weird dread about it all, even though everything also feels very clean and spot free. There are really solid moments visually though none so far I’d call epic. Again, it reminds me of Alpha Flight comics of the past in that way as well. It’s all good to look at.

Alpha Flight #1 is a good start. I’m not sure if it’s a series to read with each issue or collected based off the first issue, hence my “read.” I think the first issue is a bit too predictable in that way so if there’s more twists and turns to come, then that’d change things in the long run, but, it’s a fun and entertaining read and solid addition to Fall of X.

Story: Ed Brisson Art: Scott Godlewski
Color: Matt Milla Letterer: Travis Lanham Design: Tom Muller, Jay Bowen
Story: 8.0 Art: 8.0 Overall: 8.0 Recommendation: Read

Marvel provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: Zeus Comics – Kindle

Children of the Vault #1 adds a new wrinkle to Orchis’ plan

Posted on by
Children of the Vault #1

The Children of the Vault are back, and they are determined to be humanity’s salvation! But not everything is as it seems, and every utopia has its costs. What is the motivation behind these highly evolved beings gifting the world with their advanced technology? Children of the Vault #1 has these intriguing villains re-entering the playing field as Orchis is well into their plan of wiping out mutants.

Written by Deniz Camp, Children of the Vault #1 is an intriguing comic though at times it doesn’t quite make sense. The Children of the Vault, now calling themselves the Children of Tomorrow, have awoken and are sharing their knowledge and technology with the world. You’d think this is something Orchis would have issue with, but it’s dismissed in a quick scene. It’s a bit of a headscratcher, and kind of frustrating in that it doesn’t make sense, but likely a plot point that’ll be returned to later on.

Where Camp’s story is really intriguing is Bishop’s mission. A one man army, Bishop is now destroying Orchis facilities but he needs help from Cable, who has been captured by Orchis. From there, it’s a solid action filled breakout, some humor, but the Bishop reminding us how much of a badass he is and how much bad blood these two have between them. While the force of Bishop and Cable is something Orchis should fear, the two’s history with each other sets up that this will be a rather rocky road. What’s also dipped into is how Orchis is winning everyone over, putting them in the sights of Cable and Bishop as well.

The art by Luca Maresca is pretty good. With color by Carlos Lopez and lettering by Cory Petit, the issue is packed with action and solid visual moments but also isn’t flashy. There’s a few scenes that could be seared into readers’ memories with great battles, but that’s not this comic. There’s an almost reserved and grounded aspect to it all. The comic’s visuals does do a great job of balancing the action, quieter moments, emotion, and humor. Each scene really hits its beat, with the visuals playing off of the writing nicely.

Children of the Vault #1 sets up a triangle of competing interests and hate and it’ll be interesting to see how it shakes out. There’s some clear possible allies here as well as possible enemies. Overall, it’s a “Fall of X” piece of the puzzle that’s frustrating in some ways but also creates an intriguing conflict ahead.

Story: Deniz Camp Art: Luca Maresca
Color: Carlos Lopez Letterer: Cory Petit Design: Tom Muller, Jay Bowen
Story: 7.5 Art: 7.75 Overall: 7.5 Recommendation: Read

Marvel provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: Zeus Comics – Kindle

Shadowkat rises in X-Men #25

Posted on by
Shadowcat X-Men #25

After the mutant massacre at the Hellfire Gala, what becomes of the X-Men? X-Men #25 by Gerry Duggan and Stefano Caselli sets out to answer that question and establish the new status quo for the X-Men line. The issue serves as a launch pad for the Fall Of X, showing us the dire straits the X-Men and their allies find themselves in. It’s not an easy task to set this all up but X-Men #25 succeeds at what it sets out to do and then some. 

The focus of the issue is Kate Pryde and her journey to becoming Shadowkat. The change is more than just a new codename and costume, it comes with a much darker shade of Kate Pryde than we’ve seen in this entire era. She’s more tense and distant, a far cry from the heart of the X-Men that was once Kitty Pryde. Luckily the change is a well-motivated one. In the most stunning scene of the issue, we perfectly see what causes such a drastic personality change. Special mention has to go to Peach Momoko’s fabulous design for Shadowkat, it calls back to earlier iterations of Kitty’s costume while giving her a fresh new look.

Outside of Shadowkat, the issue has excellent world-building. Duggan deftly shows the reader how bad it’s gotten for the Mutants. It all feels wonderfully believable. There is a scene towards the end of the issue which calls back to a contentious moment from earlier in the run, while I initially had issues with that aforementioned moment it’s absolutely paid off here in this issue when it comes back around in a dramatic fashion. 

Caselli’s art has never looked better than under the coloring of Marte Gracia. While I loved his art on X-Men Red and the dragon ball sensibility he brought to that book, I was never quite a fan of how his art looked here in the flagship title. However, this issue has won me back over. The other artist for X-Men Joshua Cassara is a hard act to follow up but here Caselli surpasses my wildest expectations. 

X-Men #25 had a difficult task ahead of it, being the first issue for the Fall Of X and thus a burden of setting much of the stage for the new era. However, Duggan and Caselli craft an issue worthy of the flagship title, steering the ship into dangerous new waters. If you have any interest in the X-Men’s next chapter then this is one to pick up

Story: Gerry Duggan Art: Stefano Caselli
Color: Marte Gracia Letterer: Clayton Cowles Design: Tom Muller, Jay Bowen

Marvel provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: TFAW – Zeus Comics – Kindle

X-Men: The Hellfire Gala 2023 delivers shocks we’ve seen before

Posted on by
X-Men: Hellfire Gala 2023 #1

Warning Spoilers(?)

“Welcome to the X-Men. Hope you survive the experience.” That has been said quite a lot over the years. So much that it’s become a joke. It’s a joke based on a truth. The X-Men have a high body count among its members where massacres, genocide, mass killings, mass murder, are all regular events. So, it shouldn’t be surprising that this year’s X-Men: The Hellfire Gala treads that rather overused “shock” to the extreme.

Each years’ X-Men: The Hellfire Gala has been a flag planted in the ground. The one-shot not only introduces a new team of X-Men but also sets up the year to come. It has done that with over the top moments that take the X-Men on an even grander scale. One re-introduced them to the world. Another terraformed a planet. Now, in 2023 we get a new “mutant massacre.”

Written by Gerry Duggan, X-Men: The Hellfire Gala crumbles the excess and grand concepts that were started years ago in House of X/Powers of X. I had problems with those concepts. They took what were a minority group that any minority could see themselves in and instead had themselves declaring they’re the “new gods” with a sovereign nation, acting benevolent while manipulating history, and overall flirting with nationalism. The X-Men have been torn asunder, forced back to their roots, hated, hunted, and a fraction of their population.

And when I say fraction, I mean fraction. While what has happened is sure to be undone to some level in the future, the sprawling cast is now but a handful and that is part of the problem with the issue. We’ve seen this all before. Many times. So, the only way to go is bigger. WAY BIGGER. It’s been done before so much “mutant massacre” is used in the comic. That’s just a bit of the stilted and at times dodgy dialogue from Duggan.

The comic features an X-Men squad worth of artists (maybe two squads). Adam Kubert, Luciano Vecchio, Matteo Lolli, Russell Dauterman, Javier Pina, R.B. Silva, Joshua Cassara, Kris Anka, and Pepe Larraz all contribute. Rain Beredo, Ceci De La Cruz, Matthew Wilson, Erick Arciniega, and Marte Gracia all provide color. The art is pretty solid with some muddled moments and a few panels that don’t quite work (what’s up with Cyclops’ hair in the beginning). It delivers the shock the story sets up and visuals that almost have the impact intended. Maybe if I wasn’t so jaded in this direction, the art would feel grander. But the art in some ways feels reserved, eschewing too many multi page spreads for packed pages and panels.

X-Men: The Hellfire Gala is entertaining in its own ways, but its shock at this point has little emotional impact. It’s been there. Done that. X-Men: The Hellfire Gala sets up an intriguing new direction for the X-Men to come. The idea of Wilson Fisk aiding the X-Men is intriguing. Nightcrawler’s teased direction has potential. The direction for Ms. Marvel is far too clear (the comic isn’t subtle in its foreshadowing). It returns the X-Men to their roots shifting them away from the benevolent gods of the past few years. Like Orchis, the comic delivers a swift brutal attack on the status quo for the line, leaving it in shatters and leaving lots of potential.

Story: Gerry Duggan Art: Adam Kubert, Luciano Vecchio, Matteo Lolli, Russell Dauterman, Javier Pina, R.B. Silva, Joshua Cassara, Kris Anka, Pepe Larraz
Color: Rain Beredo, Ceci De La Cruz, Matthew Wilson, Erick Arciniega, Marte Gracia
Letterer: Virtual Calligraphy,Design: Tom Muller, Jay Bowen
Story: 7.0 Art: 7.75 Overall: 7.0 Recommendation: Read

Marvel provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: Zeus Comics – Kindle

The Quiet Council Collapses Into Chaos In Immortal X-Men #12 

Posted on by
Immortal X-Men #12

Professor X, Emma Frost, Hope Summers, and Exodus are all barred from voting after the events of Sins Of Sinister. Nightcrawler has disappeared and left his vote for Storm. Storm has left both her votes to Colossus. Worst of all Colossus is under the mind control of his evil brother Mikhail Rasputin. What will become of the Quiet Council of Krakoa in Immortal X-Men #12!?

This issue is finally Colossus’s POV issue. It’s picking up the thread from X-Force centering on his mind controlled state. Under the pen of the reality warping Mutant The Chronicler Colossus is stripped of his free will, almost completely the subject of his master’s whims. I say almost completely because we do see that Colossus has limited control. He’s a slave to The Chronicler’s script but he can still try and bend that script in his favor, which mostly manifests in futile cries for help. Writer Kieron Gillen doesn’t conclude Colossus’s plot which surely will continue in X-Force. However, Gillen shines a light on how Colossus fights for control. 

The drama of this issue is akin to the series finale of Succession, it’s the same kind of dramatic tension and manic pacing that made that such an intoxicating finale. In many ways Immortal X-Men #12 is the climax to the building tension in the series, the Quiet Council collapses in what essentially amounts to a coup d’é at an exhilarating pace. 

Lucas Werneck’s art is as much of a delight as ever. Throughout this run, Werneck has done a spectacular job spicing up what’s essentially a political drama. The emotions are striking, each character perfectly posing in every panel. 

Immortal X-Men #12 is a reminder of what a strong series this is. It has startling implications for Krakoa that surely will lead into the Fall Of X come August. Gillen and co craft a fascinating look into the character of Colossus while telling a story of political intrigue and power grabs.

Story: Kieron Gillen Art: Lucas Werneck
Color: David Curiel Letterer: Clayton Cowles Design: Tom Muller & Jay Bowen
Story: 9.0 Art: 9.0 Overall: 9.0 Recommendation: Buy

Purchase: TFAW – Zeus Comics – Kindle

« Older Entries