It’s all constructed as much as this: the Fall of X begins, as we have a look at each X-Men: Hellfire Gala 2023 #1 and Invincible Iron Man #8 in two SPOILER-LITE evaluations. What occurs to push the mutants again right into a world that hates and fears them? And how does Tony Stark play into all of this? Find out under! And for those who’re trying to go in blind, bounce on all the way down to the Rapid Rundown for a spoiler-free overview of Ultimate Invasion #2!
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X-Men: Hellfire Gala #1
Writer: Gerry Duggan, Jonathan Hickman (G.O.D.S. interlude)
Artists: Adam Kubert, Luciano Vecchio, Valerio Schiti, Russell Dauterman, Javier Pina, R.B. Silva, Joshua Cassara, Kris Anka, Matteo Lolli, and Pepe Larraz
Colorists: Rain Beredo, Marte Gracia, Ceci De La Cruz, Matthew Wilson, and Erick Arciniega
Letterer: Visual Calligraphy
Designer: Tom Mueller w/Jay Bowen
Cover Artist: Phil Noto
The Fall of X kicks off with the resurrection of Ms. Marvel and the revelation of her mutant identification (which makes the current memorial situation moot) and issues solely will get crazier from there. I wish to level out up high that, for these questioning how Kamala was in a position to be a mutant throughout the time when Terrigen Mists had been lethal to mutants (and are mid-comment)…. they repair that right here.
The Hellfire Gala itself begins off fairly constructive, and we get to spend so much of time with Kamala as she learns about her mutant heritage and involves time period with who she is. It’s nice to see her dealt with on this approach and together with her personal sense of company, after every part that’s occurred to her over the previous few months.
There’s a single web page teaser for G.O.D.S. by Jonathan Hickman, Duggan, and Valerio Schiti planted on the beginnning that moreso distracts that units something concrete up. It’s good to see Hickman again, albeit for a single web page, however not a lot occurs that warrants it’s inclusion within the situation.
After the Avengers go away towards the highest of the 80 web page situation (in response to the assault on Washington D.C. proven within the Free Comic Book Day prelude), the brand new workforce of X-Men is elected and unveiled… when Nimrod instantly assaults, sending every part into overdrive and kicking the difficulty into excessive gear. The tempo of the difficulty will increase exponentially, and a lot occurs in speedy succession, that it’s nearly onerous to maintain observe of every part that’s gone on up to now.
I don’t wish to spoil precisely what occurs for individuals who wish to go into this (comparatively) contemporary, however this situation is a catastrophe on all fronts, and shifts every part on its head for mutantkind going ahead. There’s an unbelievable degree of violence (typically relatively graphic!), and lots of fairly ugly moments, particularly on the climax of the e book, which includes a twist I don’t assume anybody noticed coming. The situation makes you are feeling like there’s hope nearly all the best way via, however the ending leaves me questioning the place we will go from right here.
The artwork throughtout all the situation is implausible, and every artist does an outstanding job of capturing the scenes they’re tasked with depicting. It’s such a dour situation, however the artists, colorists, and letterers do an incredible job of preserving issues vivid on the similar time. Luciano Vecchio tackles a lot of the primary a part of this situation, and has each a number of the happiest pages and probably the most horrific in all the situation.
Other proficient artists from all through the previous few years come again to contribute pages, together with Russell Dauterman along with his third unveiling of the brand new X-Men roster, and Matteo Lolli, who gives an incredible callback to early Marauders shenanigans. R.B. Silva and Pepe Larraz additionally return to contribute to the period they helped kick off, and it’s loopy to consider all of this starting 4 fast years in the past.
All in all, though that is one other Mutant Massacre, this doesn’t really feel like an ending to the Krakoan period within the slightest. I’ve seen a lot chatter on-line about how disappointing it’s that we’re carried out with Krakoa and this story engine, however nothing on this speaks to any of that ending to me. Yes, the Krakoans have been delivered to their knees and I’m undecided how they will come again from any of this, however there may be a lot potential right here to maintain pushing this story ahead. There are lots of questions that go away me questioning what’s going to occur with any of this shifting ahead, (some that I actually want they’d put on this situation), but it surely seems to be like we’re in it for the lengthy haul.
Verdict: BUY. If you purchase one X-Men comedian this 12 months, this needs to be it.
Invincible Iron Man #8
Writer: Gerry Duggan
Artist: Juan Frigeri
Colorist: Bryan Valenza
Letterer: VC’s Joe Caramagna
Cover Artist: Kael Ngu
Now, it is a little bit of an odd duck, appearing as an epilogue to the above occasions of the Hellfire Gala, whereas additionally pushing ahead the developments of the already-in-progress story. Luckily, Gerry Duggan is the steward on each titles and retains issues feeling constant.
This picks up a bit earlier than the top of the gala, catching us up with the occasions of final month’s situation, the place Tony and Rhodey utterly did not raid Feilong and his new Stark Sentinels, with Rhodey ending up imprisoned and Tony caught with nowhere to go. Duggan has carried out a superb job integrating Feilong and mutant-hating motives into this e book, whereas additionally celebrating the historical past of Iron Man in his sixtieth 12 months. The story has some related beats to the unique Armor Wars, and it’s been fascinating observe the title as it really works to honor the previous and push the characters ahead.
Juan Frigeri and Bryan Valenza are an incredible pairing, tackling some attractive battle scenes all through the difficulty, all whereas preserving the difficulty dour and moody, in step with the occasions of the gala situation previous to this. It’s been a bit since we’ve seen Emma Frost battle, so it was cool to see her throw arms (and in a classy gala match as well!). Frigeri makes Tony’s face look splendidly destroyed after preventing, in a mode harking back to JRJR when he’s put Spidey via his paces.
In phrases of plot, there actually isn’t quite a bit to this. Tony faces off towards the Stark Sentinels with the assistance of Emma Frost, who indicators an unknown cope with the Kingpin, earlier than leaping into the battle herself. It’s already been established that Emma and Tony have gotten friendlier these days, and this situation continues to put that groundwork going ahead, together with some sturdy Hellfire ties and teases for Tony.
As the story progresses, there’re a bit extra plotting shenanigans, as we’re meant to know that the occasions of the FCBD situation and the Gala occur concurrently to this one. It’s nitpicky, however the leaping round between the three comics could make the construction of this really feel a bit jarring towards the highest.
Verdict: Strong Browse. This is a strong situation that I loved, but it surely’s not completely important to seeing what occurs subsequent. Though, with extra context from the subsequent couple of points, it stands to motive that this would possibly develop into extra impactful that I notice now.
Rapid Rundown!
- Ultimate Invasion #2
- Jonathan Hickman is in his bag, that long-form, 3-D chess, dig-in, and maintain on bag, and I don’t know the way he’s going to squeeze this into 4 points. Mr. Fantastic’s evil doppelganger from the Ultimate universe, the Maker, has taken over an alternate Earth, utilizing time journey to prune away the heroes that might stand in his approach, to create one thing “better.” This twisted manicured world is rendered in beautiful element by Bryan Hitch and Andrew Currie, and if Hickman is in his bag these two are within the pocket bringing the warmth with the ultimate battle of this situation. Ultimate Invasion could possibly be one other Marvel money-grabbing stunt however this story has weight, and I’m all in on eager to see the top outcome. —GC3
Next Week: X-Men #25, Scarlet Witch #8 and What If…? Dark: Venom #1!
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