X-Men #14 Review

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Apocalypse, Jonathan Hickman, Marvel Comics, X of Swords, X of Swords part 12, X-Men, X-Men #14 review, X-Men Apocalypse

X-Men #14

Review by Paul Bowler.

The cross-dimensional saga X of Swords continues apace in X-Men #14 as writer Jonathan Hickman delivers the long awaited reckoning between Apocalypse and his wife, Genesis!

As events go this year’s epic crossover X of Swords has been vast in scale, it has encompassed the entire X-Men comics range, and brought a series of startling revelations to the fore. The X-Men champions of the Mutant nation of Krakoa have been chosen to retrieve ancient swords before their participation in a tournament against the champions of Arakko, led by Genesis, and their children, the first horsemen and now sword-bearers of Arakko! As the champions gathered at the Starlight Citadel Apocalypse learned that the fearsome Annihilation, ruler of Arakko, is actually his long lost wife genesis!

Last issue virtually retconned everything we once knew about Apocalypse. In X-Men #14 we get another perspective on those events as Genesis meets him on the eve of the coming battles to recount the history of Arakko. Its a spellbinding blend of legends, world-building, conflict and heartbreak as Genesis’ story unfolds. We see how Krakoa and Arakko were torn apart across the dimensions, the subsequent wars that followed raged on, and witness Genesis’ salvation ultimately became her own cosmic hubris. One of the most compelling aspects of the mutant amnesty on the island of Krakoa – established during House of X and Power of X – is how it allowed for a far more sympathetic and insightful portrayal of Apocalypse. X of Swords has continued the renaissance of Apocalypse which has now become a cornerstone of Hickman’s X-Men run. The reunion with his wife Genesis in this issue is fraught with emotion and tension, indeed, this is probably the most intricate character development the ancient mutant has ever undergone.

Featuring art by Mahmud Asrar and Leinil Francis Yu, and colors by Sunny Gho, X-Men #14 is a visual cornucopia of beautifully rendered scenes, lush gardens bloom with opulence, while magnificent battles unfold across vast landscapes as magic and legends entwine as one. The attention to detail Asrar and Yu have lavished on this issue is quite staggering, every page is packed with detail, and Sunny Gho’s vibrant colors encapsulate the epic scope of the story perfectly.

This issue of X-Men effectively bring us to the midway point in the X of Swords saga. As a whole the event has been sound enough, in concept at least, but the sprawling nature of the narrative has also seen it veer alarmingly between grandiose storytelling and pretentious twaddle at times. So far X of Swords has hardly been essential reading. A lot of far more compelling plot threads have been effectively sidelined to accommodate this crossover event as well. However, now that we are getting to the nitty gritty of the story perhaps X of Swords will take a turn for the better once the tournament begins and the combatants clash – with the fate of Krakoa and Arakko resting on the outcome. 

We now see how the shared history of Apocalypse and Genesis has forged the evens leading into X of Swords (which in some instances even reach back as far as X-Men #2), its tragic how Genesis fell to the corruption of Annihilation, and inevitably a titanic showdown between them is now on the cards at some point. X-Men #14 brings some much needed elucidation to X of Swords somewhat contrived storyline, its gorgeously illustrated throughout, and stands as a compelling character piece in its own right.

Publisher: Marvel Comics

Writer: Jonathan Hickman /Art: Mahmud Asrar & Leinil Francis Yu

Color Artist: Sunny Gho /Letterer: VC’s Clayton Cowles

Design: Tom Muller /Cover: Leinil Francis Yu & Sunny Gho

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About The Author

Hi, I’m Paul Bowler, blogger and reviewer of films, TV shows, and comic books. I’m a Sci-Fi geek, a big fan of Doctor Who, Star Trek, movies, Sci-Fi, Horror, Comic Books, and all things PS4.You can follow me on Twitter @paul_bowler,or at my website, Sci-Fi Jubilee, and on YouTube and Facebook

X-Men #11 Review

Tags

Age of X, Cotati, Empyre, Jonathan Hickman, Krakoa, Kree, Magneto, Marvel, Marvel Comcis, Power of X, Skrull, X-Men #11, X-Men #11 Review, X-Men Empyre

X-Men #11

Review by Paul Bowler.

When it comes to intricate, multifaceted levels of storytelling, writer Jonathan Hickman’s X-Men #11 goes all out with crafting another facet to his grand ongoing Mutant opus. Deftly weaving the overarching narrative of the X-Men’s new mutant island nation of Krakoa with Marvel’s current line-wide Empyre comic book event, where the Kree and Skrull Empires have united with Emperor Hulkling to fight the combined might of the Celestial  Messiah, Quoi and his plant-like Cotati, Hickman manages to juggle a trio of distinctly different plot threads with consummate ease to ensure this issue of X-Men is far more than just your average tie-in to Empyre.

Last issues Empyre tie-in saw some interesting developments for Vulcan, AKA: Gabriel Summers, whose link to the celestial energies still clearly means he has the potential to be something of a ticking time bomb for the X-Men. Now as the X-Men begin to fight back against the Cotati on the Moon, the Cotati aggressors have set their sights on a far bigger target… Earth and the X-Men’s island home on Krakoa.

X-Men #11 pivots around a trio of fascinating narratives set before, during and after the events on Krakoa during this issue. The opening scenes with Rockslide, Loa and Anole  seeking out the mysterious Summoner and partaking in a game which balances defence and attack, initially seems frivolous, but quickly hints towards ominous consequences as the game begins. From here we jump to the following day where Exodus is sitting around a campfire with some of the islands mutant children and telling them the story of what happened during the attack on Krakoa. Finally, we get to actually witness what transpired during the Cotati invasion and how Magneto, Magik, Magma and Iceman led a coordinated counterattack against the Cotati onslaught. Jonathan Hickman’s taut scripting on this issue ensures the pace doesn’t t let up for a moment, and the level of characterisation across the board — especially Magneto – is absolutely sublime.

Leinil Francis Yu’s artwork is a joy to behold. Every scene is rich with detail and beautifully framed in simple, free-flowing page layouts that effortlessly relays the action with exquisite character beats. Yu’s impressive work, along with color artist Sunny Gho’s understated use of intricate tones and shade, makes the setting for the Summoner’s game with the unpronounceable name feel charmingly beautiful and haunting all at the same time, Exodus’ campfire story is equally striking, Magneto’s choice to suit-up in the crimson and purple attire more associated with his villainous past instead of his current all-white costume is another highlight as the mutants rally to defend Krakoa, and the X-Men’s action-packed battle against the Cotati is veritable showcase of their abilities and resourcefulness in the face of seemingly overwhelming odds.

Following the tremendous relaunch of the X-Men with Power of X and House of X, Jonathan Hickman’s X-Men continues to go from strength to strength. X-Men #11 illustrates just how compelling Hickman’s current run on X-Men is becoming, especially now its on the path to X of Swords, and if you’re enjoying everything that’s going on with Marvel’s Empyre event then X-Men #11 is going to be right up your street as well.

Publisher: Marvel Comics

Writer: Jonathan Hickman / Artist Leinil Francis Yu

Color Artist: Sunny Gho / Letterer VC’s Clayton Cowles

Cover Leinil Francis Yu and Artist: Sunny Gho 

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About The Author

Hi, I’m Paul Bowler, blogger and reviewer of films, TV shows, and comic books. I’m a Sci-Fi geek, a big fan of Doctor Who, Star Trek, movies, Sci-Fi, Horror, Comic Books, and all things PS4.You can follow me on Twitter @paul_bowler,or at my website, Sci-Fi Jubilee, and on YouTube and Facebook

 

X-Men #8 Review

Tags

Cyclops, Dawm of X, House of X, Imperial Guard, Jonathan Hickman, Krakoa, Marvel Comics, Mutants, Power of X, Shi'ar, Starjammers, The Brood, The New Mutants, X-Men, X-Men #8, X-Men #8 review

X-Men #8

Review by Paul Bowler

A deadly threat crashes to Earth in X-Men #8, brining peril to the Mutant nation of Krakoa from the farthest reaches of Shi’ar space. The New Mutants have returned from their intergalactic adventures, unwittingly brining trouble home with them, sparking conflict involving the Brood, the Shi’ar Empire, the Starjammers, and the Imperial Guard!

From the dawn of a new day on the island of Krakoa, to the chilling scenes on the fringe of Shi’ar space, and Cyclops and Havoc finding their brother Vulcan has been partying a little too hard at their lunar homestead writer Jonathan Hickman implements a slight gear shift in the overall narrative of this new X-Men series to propel the New Mutants and the X-Men into a cosmic spanning saga. With the defence of Krakoa at stake as the Brood attack, searching for the King Egg the New Mutants brought back to Earth, the Summers brothers hatch a plan to use the said egg to lead the oncoming Brood horde away into space via a Shi’ar stargate.

The action is frenetic and well rendered by Mahmud Asrar, especially the opening moments where the parasitic Brood are depicted swarming in space, initial scenes with Cyclops and Magik coordinating the defence of Krakoa are also excitingly dynamic, and colorist Leinil Francis employs a rich palette of tones and hues that nicely accentuates the action.

Considering how dramatically the Dawn of X relaunch of the X-Men range has evolved in recent issues, with the new Mutant nation of Krakoa developing its own rituals and customs, resurrection protocols, the brutality of the Crucible, and the X-Men’s plan to prevent the creation of the super Mutant killing robot, Nimrod, on the Orchis space station orbiting the sun, along with Professor X’s rather unsettling demeanour (especially the coercive manipulation of Mystique in their attempt to achieve this goal), X-Men #8 feels like a distraction – albeit an exciting one – from the core narrative Jonathan Hickman has built since the game changing events of House of X and Power of X.

For me Jonathan Hickman’s flagship X-Men book remains the pinnacle in terms of quality and good storytelling. Hickman may be acting as a kind of show runner for the entire range of X-Men comics now, but few of the other X-titles that Marvel has been churning out have really grabbed me, save for X-Force and Wolverine by Benjamin Percy. So, if you only have time for one X-Book, I’d make it Hickman’s X-Men, it was bit of a slow burn at first, but has proved well worth sticking with. The X-Men don’t necessarily feel like heroes anymore either, they are now one united Mutant nation on the living island of Krakoa, and the X-Men are certainly making the rest of the world sit up and take notice in a way that’s never happened before in the history of the X-Men. Sure, I miss the days where the X-Men felt more like a crazy mutant soap opera, but I really like how Hickman is doing something so fresh, different and innovative with X-Men right now.

In closing, X-Men #8 juggles a number of plot lines, with the Cyclops, Havok and Vulcan jetting off into space, the Starjamers runing into trouble with a Kree Accuser, and Gladiator and the Imperial Guard finding a new target to hunt. Jonathan Hickman continues to deliver engaging storylines and strong characterisation on every level, the Broods return and epic scale of the issue is impressively realised by Mahmud Asrar’s artwork, and the overall tone of the issue energetically paced. X-Men #8 might leave us chomping at the bit as wider issues are put to one side momentarily, but this unexpected jaunt into space makes for an action-packed diversion nevertheless, and the return of the Brood always provides a challenging threat for the X-Men to contend with.

Publisher: Marvel Comics

Writer: Jonathan Hickman / Artist Mahmud Asrar

Colorist: Leinil Francis Yu / Letterer: VC’s Clayton Cowles

Cover Artists: Leinil Francis Yu and Sunny Gho

Follow @paul_bowler

About The Author

Hi, I’m Paul Bowler, blogger and reviewer of films, TV shows, and comic books. I’m a Sci-Fi geek, a big fan of Doctor Who, Star Trek, movies, Sci-Fi, Horror, Comic Books, and all things PS4.You can follow me on Twitter @paul_bowler,or at my website, Sci-Fi Jubilee, and on YouTube and Facebook