The mutant exiles are on a voyage at the start of Sabretooth and the Exiles #4 after seemingly beating Sabretooth’s captor, Dr. Barrington, who fled with a super-powered and augmented human. Now on their way to save mutant babies at another Orchis lab, questions remain as the heroes depart: who is the Sabretooth clone? What secret weapon does Dr. Barrington have at the next lab? And can Sabretooth be the leader promised at the end of the last series?
A few things rise to the top when reading Sabretooth and the Exiles #4. The first is Bling!’s ship, which has been augmented on this voyage and seems to be a future stronghold for mutants who don’t fit in on Krakoa. The ship gets its data page while playing a part in a conflict later in the issue. Given the focus on the ship and its part in protecting mutants, one can imagine it being a new hub for mutants outside of Krakoa. That’s exciting, especially with how writer Victor Lavalle frames it here.
Another is Nanny being a nut for babies. She continues to be funny, along with Orphan-Maker, who has a new look and a punchy attitude. Together they add just enough humor to mix things up nicely.
Something tells me this ship may be a hub for mutants going forward.
Credit: Marvel
Sabretooth seems to reflect more and might be going through some emotional changes. Seeing a weakened version of himself, and feeling weak, leads to a speech to the lab mutants they rescued. It’s a bit of a surprise that he goes this route since he was a manipulator and killer in the last story arc, but it’s nice to see him grow. It also pays off the cliffhanger of the last issue.
Leonard Kirk does some expert framing in this issue, pacing certain scenes perfectly. One between Madison and Third Eye perfectly exemplifies the tension at the moment. The closing two pages help build the mystery of who’s after Sabretooth with an epic cliffhanger full-page splash to cap off the issue.
Data pages continue to be great in this series. In addition to the Bling! boat data page, LaValle continues to impart how Dr. Barrington got her evil, dehumanizing ideas from real history. In this case, it’s about the boarding schools Native American children were forced into. An atrocity many may not know about, it’s a good reminder to general audiences so we never forget while connecting the evil of Orchis to actual events. It’s easier to conceive of Orchis when it’s only a few steps away from actual evil acts in history.
A good mix of the awful truths in history and the struggle of mutants continues in Sabretooth and the Exiles #4. While Sabretooth’s turn from a maniac killer to a thoughtful leader sympathetic to others feels like a stretch, it’s a welcome development as the series drives toward its finish.
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