It’s a big week for X-Men fans, but amid the frenzy surrounding Dark Web and Sins of Sinister, readers still ought to snag a copy of X-Terminators #5. Leah Williams, Carlos Gómez, Bryan Valenza, VC’s Travis Lanham, and Jordan D. White had the unenviable task of bringing this raucously refreshing new X-book to a satisfying end, and they delivered. Available now, the ditzy divas of Krakoa flourish in their finale, and one of the more experimental X-Men miniseries seals its legacy as a success.
Compared to the previous issues, the final installment of X-Terminators is relatively light on the gore and raunchy shenanigans. The finale picks up where the previous issue left off in Alex’s bar and takes the audience on a ride up through the bloody bubblegum roller rink teased at the top of the series. Pivotally, the unruly X-Women are finally playing offense against their vampiric captor, and it’s a delight to see them in action when they’re no longer on the back foot.
The team splits to accomplish both halves of their ultimate ploy for revenge. Dazzler leads the legion of her fellow scantily-clad escapees in a direct attack on Alex, buying his bar out from under him and destroying it before his eyes. Meanwhile, Wolverine, Boom-Boom, and Jubilee have to fend off the Collector from bringing Alex any backup. The gals only have one chance to cash in the ‘dibs’ Dracula granted them, and they don’t aim to miss.
Flashy feats are featured throughout the limited series and this final issue is no different. In a display that’s truly dazzling, Alison Blaire absolutely obliterates Alex’s vampiric horde. At the same time, Jubilee goes nuclear by using her power like never before in her fight against the Collector, and all it cost her was her hair, clothing, and a deal with Magik. Speaking of Magik, she’s not in the issue long, but she does officially join Rachel Summers and Kate Pryde as monster pet moms.
Credit: Marvel
The entire creative team brings the perfect humor to the story as well: Williams shares a glimpse into the X-Terminator group chat that’s sure to put a smile on readers’ faces. Meanwhile, Gómez and Valenza expertly balance pin-up posing and the absurdity of a hairless Jubilee in the nude. Altogether, each issue proves why this series is one of a kind, and the final page tease of future X-Terminators’ adventures feels truly titillating.
Wolverine calling her teammates sluts, Boom-Boom telling a hair-free Jubilee that she looks like a toe, and of course the iconic ‘Praxis’ booty shorts are just a few standout moments of this issue. They’re the types of storytelling choices that are the signature of X-Terminators. They’re emblematic of the manic, id-driven perfection that hopefully inspires Marvel to keep taking experimental swings like they have with the X-Office.
There’s hardly anything to nitpick about in terms of flaws. The timing of the opening scene works better when read just after finishing issue #4, but folks reading month-to-month won’t be lost either. If anything, the fact that this is the final issue of the series is a bigger downer on the issue than anything else. It’s such a delight that will be sorely missed.
A fun-filled finale, the final issue of X-Terminators takes the team on a bombastic revenge mission that serves as a great closer to the limited series. Jubilee pushes her powers further than ever before, Magik may or may not jump in on more X-Terminator adventures, and Dazzler has a standing offer to Vlad Dracula in case any more renegade vamps need to get familiar with their services. A satisfying conclusion that absolutely demands a follow-up, X-Terminators #5 remains can’t-miss X-Men fun to the very end.
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