Immortal X-Men #10 brings a few things to accomplish before its end. After Immortal X-Men #9, will the remaining members of the Quiet Council get their revenge? Mr. Sinister did kill quite a few high-profile mutants. This issue acts as a lead-in to next week’s Sins of Sinister crossover event. Considering Mr. Sinister is on the run at the start of Immortal X-Men #10, there’s a lot to be done, but at its core is a compelling internal monologue by Mr. Sinister himself detailing why he isn’t a villain at all but a martyr.
There’s something truly delicious about Kieron Gillen’s writing in Immortal X-Men, and it’s primarily due to how well it puts you inside someone’s head. Ironic since the character on the cover is Xavier and also because much of the internal monologue told via captions deals with explaining what makes Xavier and many other mutants tick.
The issue starts with Mr. Sinister escaping Krakoa and the remaining mutants picking up the pieces. A key data page details how resurrection works and, more importantly, how crucial Hope is in making The Five function. This gives Mr. Sinister time to run and while Xavier monologues it up throughout the issue.
On some scale, this issue feels like the classic Justice League story “Tower of Babel.” Xavier goes through each mutant, detailing what gives them an edge. You get the sense Xavier has profiled every mutant and figured out how to get around them. This makes the twist, in the end, all the more frightening.
There’s also an excellent argument made, albeit biased, that if Magneto were given the abilities of Xavier, all humans would die, and thus Xavier is a savior of humans as well as the X-Men in his own way. It’s all a means to explain his actions, of course, but it also serves as a means to show how he thinks and how he doesn’t see himself as the villain. Given the twist in the end one can imagine the mantra the best actors talk about when playing a villain, saying they are the heroes of their own stories, and Gillen proves that’s the case with Xavier in some light.
For that reason, this issue promises to save the world when Sins of Sinister comes around. You can see his intentions aren’t to subjugate or ruin the world, but make it better. The problem is Xavier will make the world better in his eyes. However, he deems it necessary. Ultimately this acts like a solo done in one as Mr. Sinister tries to save himself while also setting up Sins of Sinister perfectly.
My only gripe might be a section that talks about fathers. It’s a compelling idea since Cable has to deal with the loss of Hope and because Mr. Sinister has been a father before, but there isn’t enough time spent on it to flesh it out quite enough. It feels a bit tacked on, however good of an idea it is.
This is an exciting issue drawn with intensity and in great detail by Lucas Werneck. It’s exciting because it’s a great chase to track down Mr. Sinister and stop him, but it also comes with a delicious twist. I recommend going back and looking at the visuals again once you’ve finished, as Werneck and color artist David Curiel add a few subtle details you might have missed. There are multiple panels with many characters, never looking unfinished or drab. The book looks event-caliber in quality from cover to cover.
Immortal X-Men #10 will make you think about Xavier’s point of view, however warped, and commiserate with him. That’s a special thing, as it’s rare to feel for a shut-away hero like Xavier. For Mr. Sinister, the slightest edge is the greatest advantage, and this issue proves he may be the most dangerous mutant villain ever due to who has taken over when paired with his tainted point of view.
Join the AIPT Patreon
Want to take our relationship to the next level? Become a patron today to gain access to exclusive perks, such as:
- ❌ Remove all ads on the website
- 💬 Join our Discord community, where we chat about the latest news and releases from everything we cover on AIPT
- 📗 Access to our monthly book club
- 📦 Get a physical trade paperback shipped to you every month
- 💥 And more!
You must be logged in to post a comment.