X-Men #25 Review

 

Writer: Gerry Duggan

Artist: Stefano Caselli

Colorist: Marte Gracia

Letterer: Clayton Cowles

Cover Artists: Joshua Cassara & Marte Gracia; C. F. Villa & Federico Blee; Mark Brooks; Alex Ross; Bryan Hitch & Alex Sinclair; Peach Momoko; Russell Dauterman & Matt Wilson; Sergio Davila, Sean Parsons & Romulo Fajardo Jr.

Publisher: Marvel

Price: $5.99

Release Date: August 2, 2023 

 

 

 

Kamala Khan died earlier this year in the pages of Amazing Spider-Man. But her latent mutant gene prompted her rebirth in X-Men: Hellfire Gala #1, proving that you can't keep a good Inhuman down. Perhaps this gets Kitty Pryde down, as she believes she can't be reborn if she dies. But if I understand Kitty's history rightly, she died and was reborn. Will X-Men #25 perplex or delight you? Let's leap into this special forty-plus-page issue and find out!

 

 

 

Story

The powerful Orchis organization has transformed Tony Stark's Iron Man suits into machines that do its bidding. They've blamed the mutants for a massacre and portrayed them as terrorists. Additionally, they've tampered with medicine mutants intended to benefit Humanity. 

 

 

 

With mutant hatred skyrocketing, governments allow Orchis to arrest mutants. Surgeons experiment on them. Authorities hunt down, imprison, and deport mutants to Mars. Sadly, the Martians don't exactly welcome them with open arms.

 

 

 

I rarely read an X-Men book, but I was captivated by X-Men #25. This issue mirrors contemporary problems, making it compelling reading. I can empathize with Kamala Khan's struggles. As for Kitty Pryde, she complains that she can't travel through Krakoa’s gates, yet she travels through the gate system several times. Years ago, I enjoyed following her romance with Peter Quill in Guardians of the Galaxy and Legendary Star-Lord. Now she's known as Shadowkat: a highly trained ninja. 

 

 

 

Old School fans who insist superheroes don't kill won't like X-Men #25. If you enjoy martial arts movies, you'll love her scenes. Still, I wouldn't have minded seeing Lockheed. But then, I share Rubeus Hagrid’s love of dragons. Perhaps some of you do as well?

 

 

 

Art

Characters are appealing, expressive, and lifelike. Most people can't phase through walls, but Stefano Caselli makes me believe Kitty could. Energy and movement come across, and you’ll notice plenty of fine detail, such as the woven appearance of Kitty’s sword hilts. The Stark Sentinels inspire awe, as do the space sequences. I also like the Orchis soldiers’ red suits. Marte Gracia’s rich colors provide contrast and enhance atmosphere and drama. Panels scream with life from within black pages.

 

 

 

If I could change one thing, it would be to make the lettering larger. Clayton Cowles’ tiny, lowercase black words require a mutant gene to read. Still, Gerry Duggan delivers plenty of narrative and dialogue, and the good folks at Marvel give you a free digital copy. You can scale that up to whatever size you want and immerse yourself in this fascinating issue. If you’re interested in following the cataclysmic chaos unfolding amid the Fall Of X series, buy the cover of X-Men #25 that most appeals, and prepare for an epic ride!

 

 

 

Final Thoughts

False flag attacks, illegal imprisonment, and racial hatred turn Humanity's gifted benefactors into America's Most Wanted in X-Men #25.

 

Rating 9/10

 

Preview interior art & get another reviewer's perspective at Comic Book Dispatch.