When writing my review for Fall Of The House Of X #1 I said because of its name and position in the story of Krakoa it had huge boots to fill and invited a lot of comparisons to a much better book, the original House Of X. Rise Of The Powers Of X #1 by Kieron Gillen and R. B. Silva has similarly big boots to fill but in this case fits those boots much better than its sister series did. The original Powers Of X by Johnathan Hickman and the aforementioned R. B. Silva brought big ideas and fundamentally changed the fabric of the Marvel universe as we understand it. While Rise Of The Powers Of X doesn’t exactly go that far it still brings some brain melting twists that inverts your expectations on their head. 

The story as it’s presented is this: ten years after the events of Fall Of The House Of X, Mutantkind has been reduced to a handful on a last ditch mission to stop the machines from ascending to Dominionhood. And that’s about all I can say without spoiling the issue. All that I will say is that this series is not what you think it’s going to be from the cover and premise. There are many appropriately epic moments, everything feels as climactic as you would expect and hope for it to be. This series is definitely a stealth continuation of Gillen’s Immortal X-Men, which has been a stellar book. Immortal X-Men brought big ideas that are absolutely carried over into this series and the two’s connections will become more evident to the reader as they get further into the issue.

In terms of art this series has a distinct advantage over Fall Of The House Of X. Fall Of The House Of X’s covers are by the original artist for House Of X, Pepe Larraz, he doesn’t do the interiors which instead are done by Lucas Werneck, who while a very talented artist, feels like an ill fit for a event book such as it. Rise Of The Powers Of X has the same artist as its predecessor, R. B. Silva. Silva’s style has definitely changed since the original Powers Of X, it’s not the most major change but something definitely feels different, the shading uses a lot more dots and the characters look a lot more 3D? It’s hard to put my finger on what’s exactly different but there is a noticeable change. That being said it still feels appropriate for this book, Silva does a great job of visualizing this future in a unique way that is reminiscent of Powers Of X’s dark futures. Special mention should also be given to colorist David Curiel who brings Silva’s pencils alive in vivid colors.

Rise Of The Powers Of X #1 does a great job of setting up this bold new title, it brings fresh ideas and feels appropriately epic for this climactic chapter of the Krakoan age, I can’t wait to read more. 

Story: Kieron Gillen Art: R. B. Silva
Color: David Curiel Letterer: Clayton Cowles Design: Tom Muller and Jay Bowen
Story: 9.5 Art: 9.5 Overall: 10.0 Recommendation: Buy

Marvel provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: Zeus Comics – Kindle

After the fall of Krakoa following the Hellfire Gala massacre of 2023, mutant-kind has been scattered across the Earth and space as they try to fight against ORCHIS. However, their resistance has failed, and with each attempt, humanity and artificial intelligence slowly crush them. Now, ten years in the future, the remains of the X-Men must make one final stand to prevent ORCHIS from achieving their goals and save the future in the process.  

Much like with last week’s Fall of the House of X #1, Rise of the Powers of X #1 serves as not only the ending for the Krakoan age but also a mirror to 2019’s Powers of X. Considering how much Krakoa not only challenged what the X-Men meant as a science fiction series, but what could be explored through it. In order to close up this era the creatives need to stick the landing. Much like mutation, Rise of the Powers of X #1 continues upon the strong foundation laid through the past four years of publication while pushing forward into engrossing territories. 

Suffice it to say, it is hard to thoroughly review Rise of the Powers of X #1 without going into full spoilers since it is best to experience it with as little prior detail as possible. Even from the first panel, I became immediately engrossed in the story and felt the need to devour it and reread it almost immediately. Like Powers of X, it does not hold your hand as it drops you off in the future but leaves enough crumbs for you to piece together what has happened within the ten-year time skip to not only the characters but also the world. More importantly, the stakes have escalated within the time jump, and ORCHIS becomes a much more dangerous and dire threat. Not every X-Men will make it out alive, and you feel the weight of the sacrifice and how much they need to overcome the impossible odds to succeed.

Considering not only his previous X-Men titles but even work like Peter Cannon Thunderbolt or Eternals, Kieron Gillen has a talent for engrossing world-building with high-concept science fiction. In many ways, his writing on Sins of Sinister serves as a precursor to what he does in the first issue of this series. In addition, the Rise of the Powers of X #1 picks up the threads from his Krakoan series and becomes a coda to it as well. Gillen expertly balances the bombastic spectacle with strong character writing where neither feels overshadowed by the other. 

Yet this series would not fully work without R. B. Silva’s dynamic artwork. Considering how much he helped shape the Krakoan age by drawing Powers of X, his return is highly welcomed and provides an excellent link between both series. Paired with David Curiel’s fantastic colors and impressive lettering by Clayton Cowles, the issue is a beauty to read and look at. My eyes would focus on details like the computer hubs, Nimrod’s lettering, and the unique layouts.  

The most impressive aspect of Rise of the Powers of X #1 is its ability to stand independently despite utilizing what came before. It could have been easy for the series to try to recapture the lightning in the bottle of Powers of X, but I am glad the series exists as its own unique beast. As Krakoa ends, Rise of the Powers of X #1 provides an impressive and exhilarating path towards that point.

Story: Kieron Gillen Art: R. B. Silva
Color: David Curiel Letterer: Clayton Cowles
Story: 9.0 Art: 9.0 Overall: 9.0 Recommendation: Read

Marvel provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review

Purchase: Zeus Comics – Kindle