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.

Mary Jane & Black Cat #4 Review

 

Mary Jane & Black Cat #4 Review

Writer: Jed MacKay

Artist: Vincenzo Carratù

Colorist: Brian Reber

Letterer: VC’s Ariana Maher

Cover Artists: Paulo Sequeira & Rachelle Rosenberg; Alex Ross; Russell Dauterman

Publisher: Marvel

Price: 3.99

Release Date: March 8, 2023

 

Mourning Marvel’s Dark Web crossover? Then you’re in luck! While the Amazing Spider-Man series strides boldly into the future, time-travel back to see how Peter's two favorite gals escaped Limbo. Black Cat’s secrets interfered with Mary Jane’s powers, allowing a monster to capture them. What happened next to Peter Parker’s two favorite gals? Let’s descend into Mary Jane & Black Cat #4 and find out!

 

Story

Tasked by Belasco with retrieving the Soulsword, the gals hired S’ym as a guide. They know the demon will betray them if he gets the chance, but if they don't give Limbo's former ruler his beloved sword, Belasco won't regain the power to send them home. Mary Jane also gets mad at Black Cat for keeping her relationship with Peter a secret. Friends don't keep secrets from each other, right?

 

After the Dungeons & Dragons-style investigations and battles in the previous issue, Mary Jane & Black Cat #4 takes place in one geographical location, involves a fight with one monster, and covers one conversation. Still, Jed MacKay shares some profound insights on how relationships work, how we often hamper them, and the empowering nature of honesty. I liked how Black Cat's thoughts reveal her anxiety and doubts and how those complement her conversation with MJ. I also enjoyed how the relationship between the gals and their demonic tour guide evolves. An intriguing quandary near the cliffhanger ending left me wondering how MacKay will wrap up this hellacious miniseries. 

 

 

 

 

Art

Due to MacKay's story structure, Vincenzo Carratù and Brian Reber provide less-varied art in Mary Jane & Black Cat #4. Instead, we get panels and pages of our heroines fighting the monster guarding the Soulsword and dangling upside-down as they negotiate this impasse in their relationship. Like the Watcher in the Water guarding the entrance to the Mines of Moria, it grasps Mary Jane, Black Cat, and S’ym in its tentacles. "Tell your friend you’re sorry, Black Cat!” we cry. “And say it in Elvish!”

 

When Mary Jane ascended to the fullness of her powers, she reminded me of Marvel heroines like Medusa and Phoenix. It also made an interesting comparison with Sara Pichelli, Elisabetta D'Amico, and Matthew Wilson's Scarlet Witch. I appreciate how Carratù and Brian Reber capture our heroines in loving detail: expressive features combine with sleek proportions and fluid movements, and their hair sweeps through the air like in a shampoo commercial. S’ym brightens up the gloomy caverns, and not just with his glowing pink skin. Even the monster's eyes show hints of curiosity and fear. I almost wonder if it intends to harm or merely wants to play. Inside the Dark Tower, power sparks off a very hellish-looking Soulsword.

 

Ariana Maher devilishly differentiates the dialogue in Mary Jane & Black Cat #4. She shares Black Cat's thoughts in white uppercase letters in black narrative boxes. Dialogue balloons get red outlines to show strong emotion. Yet more intense dialogue makes the bubbles straighten and grow sharp edges. The monster's cries are bold, uneven immense letters. Sound effects help us hear its cries and feel the monster's concussive force. When she comes into the fullness of her power, I like how Ariana shows Mary Jane's dialogue as puffy clouds outlined in red. The new dialogue balloons contrast nicely with her luminous, spiky appearance. 

 

 

 

 

Final Thoughts

Mary Jane & Black Cat #4 may be all too short, but it glows with profound insights that could unlock the potential inside each of us. Who knows what we could all become—and how we might transform our world--if only we could trust each other?

 

Rating: 8.6/10

 

To view the preview at see my review at Comic Book Dispatch