X-Men: Red #6 might be the most anticipated issue of the series thanks to A.X.E.: Judgment Day events throwing the entire Arakki people into disarray. Or, more plainly, killing many of them off! The Eternal named Uranos–who happens to be related to Thanos–struck down on the planet with full force and killed many mutants. The Arakko leader Storm was away, but her full vengeance and attention are back on her people in the latest issue out today.
If I was a betting man, I’d say writer Al Ewing is slowly integrating the idea that humans may be welcome on Arakko at some point. That’s due to the Fisher King gaining Magneto’s trust in previous issues, but if you read how this issue starts with an average NASA man trying to keep two Arakko kids alive, it becomes more apparent. This opening adds a bit of humanity to the situation as the world burns, as well as relates to the fact that real people are still in danger. Those emotions make Storm’s reaction–desiring hellfire on her enemies–all the more poignant.
This issue utilizes a key Arakko mutant’s powers to jump around as Storm uses Lactuca of the Stars’ powers to witness in first person the many fights going on all around. This not only puts the reader into Storm’s perspective of other perspectives but essentially gives Storm a master tactician advantage to see how to win this war. This also allows for a faster pace, and a logical jumping around that feels earned. That jumping around eventually leads to Magneto, who takes up the focus for much of the issue.
Storm is NOT happy.
Credit: Marvel
And that focus is earned, given he had his heart removed in the last issue! Once again, a lot of this issue is about the tempered rage these characters feel after being sneak attacked last issue. A stronger alliance is made between Magneto and a few other key characters who are reeling from the last attack. This leads to an awesome moment shared between Storm and Magneto that’ll have fans cheering. Ewing has done a great job recontextualizing Magneto in this series as well as giving him a newfound purpose, evident by the events in this issue as well.
Some of the languages in this issue are difficult to get behind due to their voice. As Storm enters different characters, she gets their perspectives the captions detail what she is seeing and feeling. It’s godly in its approach, but that removes the reader a bit from the humanity of these characters. It’s like she’s a robot jumping into bodies. From a concept point of view, it makes sense–I imagine the feeling would be incredibly weird–but it disconnects the reader, making it unrelatable. There’s also a dense data page on the History of the Night Seats that went over my head, but you gotta respect the deep approach Ewing is going for. Just go in reading that data page with an open mind.
Art by Stefano Caselli continues to be strong with costumes and clothing. These characters look great, with expert colors by Federico Blee adding good lighting. The blocking of scenes can sometimes look stiff, like characters standing oddly straight at us, but the storytelling is easy enough to follow.
Al Ewing does it again with X-Men: Red #6 as an excellent example of how superheroes, once old, can feel new again. Not only does he further form a team of Arakko mutants by the final page, but he establishes there is strength in teamwork as a nation once seeing collaboration as a weakness rise up and come together.
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