Krakoa’s premiere team of superheroes is firing on all cylinders as the team faces challenges from the inter-universal to the intrapersonal in X-Men #20. Gerry Duggan, Stefano Caselli, Federico Blee, VC’s Clayton Cowles, and Jordan D. White are the crew in charge of this installment, which primarily focuses on the resurgence of Brood attacks across the galaxy. “Lord of the Brood, Part Two” is action-packed and pushes the arc forward even as Duggan loops in follow-up elements from his other X-stories.
SPOILERS AHEAD for X-Men #20!
While parts of the plot span across galaxies and universes, the core of the issue remains fairly focused on the X-Men’s developing response to the Brood. Previously, mutantkind seemed comfortable leaving Broo in charge of curbing the threat posed by the parasitic species after becoming king of the Brood hive. If Cyclops and Iceman are to be taken at their word, the X-Men are verging on pursuing a full-on extermination of the bug-like alien race. This thread is deepened with the reveal of the architect of the Brood attacks. The issue also teases something interesting in Magik’s future as well as part of Emma Frost’s past resurfacing on Krakoa.
The story picks up right where the three parts of the team were left in issue #19. Jean Grey and Illyana are investigating Broo’s connection to this whole mess, Forge and Monet are in Knowhere on the far side of a black hole, and the rest of the team are mid-operation to rescue Corsair and the people of Refugee Rock from a Brood infestation. Thankfully, fans of Broo will be happy to see that he remains in control of his Brood hive and exerts his power over them in a way that is as just as possible. But he can only do so when he’s awake, which made Broo’s sleeping hours the target of Nightmare, who’s returned with an axe to grind against Jean and her fellow X-Men.
Nightmare’s return to the narrative brings a feeling of continuity between the current X-Men team as well as the first Krakoan roster. It also raises the stakes of the story, but even more concerning were some of the attitudes expressed by Iceman and Cyclops this issue. Specifically, the quote page at the opening of the issue transcribes Scott saying, “letting the Brood exist is antithetical to all life in the galaxy. How long are we supposed to let this go on?” Given that his father just barely survived a Brood infection, Cyclops’ vitriol is understandable. However, advocating for the elimination of an entire species is surely meant to raise eyebrows among X-Men readers.
Credit: Marvel Comics
Caselli and Blee have recently made their mark within the X-Franchise with their gorgeous work throughout most of X-Men Red. It’s an exciting shift to see the artists turn their attention from Arakko to Krakoa, and they do not disappoint. Nowhere else in all of Marvel Comics can see little Broodlings do choreography from “Thriller.” That aspect of the art alone is a highlight, on top of how beautifully characters like Magik and Forge are rendered.
Perhaps the most exciting parts of the issue are teases of incoming drama. Notably, Nightmare cryptically taught Illyana by claiming, “that fear you’re too scared to even voice to? Well, it’s going to come true soon, Illyana. It’s going to course through your veins.” Could this signify the return of the Darkchilde, or something altogether worse? Introducing even more conflict, the issue ends with the arrival of Krakoa’s two newest citizens: Typhoid Mary and her husband Wilson Fisk. Krakoan amnesty is certainly of interest to the Kingpin of Crime, but his appearance seems to be of special annoyance to Emma Frost. This is likely due to their past working arrangement, as was beautifully told by Gerry Duggan and Phil Noto in Devil’s Reign: X-Men.
Though it juggles a lot and does so quite well, there is one notable bump in an otherwise smooth read. This issue is so jam-packed that the Forge and Monet St. Croix plot does feel it may have needed one more page. The explanation of their corpses that the two discovered in the prior issue is implied to be the result of a first failed attempt at the mission, from which they were both resurrected. As for the results of their attempt to shunt Knowhere back into their home universe, readers will have to wait until next month to learn more.
Funny, dynamic, and shocking in the end, X-Men #20 raises the stakes of their ongoing Brood saga as well as setting the stage for the juicy drama to come. One hiccup in the pacing is nowhere near enough to break an otherwise rock-solid installment of X-Men adventures. The tease alone of what happens when Typhoid Mary is let loose on Krakoa with the Kingpin at her side might be enough of a hook for some readers. But if not, rest assured that this issue delivers action and excitement abounds.
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