It’s the X-Men versus the Brood in a classic crossover involving Captain Marvel that kicked off this month. The Brood are some of the most horrific villains in the Marvel universe, largely because they’re mindless drones that focus on killing. In X-Men #19, Cyclops, Synch, Firestar, Iceman, and Talon are rushing to save Cyclops’s father, who has been infected with a Brood baby. Straight out of Alien, the team faces a threat while trying to figure out how to stop them in one blow.
X-Men #19 is a tightly written and plotted issue focusing on Cyclops’ mission to save his dad, and in the B-plot, Forge attempts to figure out what’s on the other side of a gate. As far as team dynamics go, Gerry Duggan and Stefano Caselli make smart moves keeping Iceman and Firestar busy with a hoard of Brood. At the same time, Cyclops, Synch, and Talon enter a darkly lit spaceship.
Generally speaking, the banter is great in this issue, from Synch worrying about Talon and their history together in the Vault to Iceman and Firestar not breaking a sweat outside. Synch shows he’s possibly the greatest mutant, as he utilizes multiple powers to get the job done.
Pretty cool to see them team up like this.
Credit: Marvel
The Forge subplot adds to the entire issue’s horror vibes, setting him off on a scary mission filled with doubt. While Cyclops avoids being eaten by aliens, Forge discovers some trippy things. It’s a bit early to tell, but the gates may be somehow transporting mutants to other dimensions or maybe something far darker. The issue is never scary, but the atmosphere telegraphs it well enough.
However, this issue offers more questions than answers, with the story focusing more on the action and saving Cyclops’s dad. Jean and Magik seem to be onto something, but it’s a single brief page that hints at possible answers as far as where Broo is and how to stop the Brood.
Art by Caselli is strong, with good detail in backgrounds keeping the action understandable and clear. I dare you not to stare at a cool panel of Firestar and Iceman back-to-back taking out Brood. Effects by Federico Blee’s colors amp up scenes with those heroes, and the red-lit spacecraft interiors add to the horror vibes.
X-Men #19 melds ideas from movies like Alien and Event Horizon into an action-packed issue with plenty of good characterizations to keep X-Men fans happy.
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