The Krakoan era has been an age of wonder, exploration, and rejuvenation. Now, after mutants have finally known the taste of relative peace, Immortal X-Men #13 is ready to strip it all away. With the Fall of X on the horizon, Kieron Gillen, Lucas Werneck, David Curiel, and Clayton Cowles offer one last look into the dynamics of the Quiet Council before everything goes wrong.
SPOILERS AHEAD for Immortal X-Men #13!
Every issue of Immortal X-Men so far has focused on a different member of the Quiet Council. Even now-dismissed members like Mister Sinister have seen their moment in the spotlight. Yet, while Selene just joined the Council at the end of Immortal X-Men #12, Gillen is looking into the mind of another member who has sat in on every Quiet Council meeting without offering so much as a word: Cypher.
Cypher has watched the Council tear itself apart, and he’s sick of it. As they descend into fighting — again — he steps out with Professor X and shares his perspective. The Quiet Council is failing Krakoa, and the island itself is sick of their mistakes. Professor X laments his failure yet again, and Cypher offers another solution.
When the Quiet Council meets again, the Professor has a proposal. They will be dismantling the Quiet Council at the Hellfire Gala. The Five will be on strike until new leadership is installed. Resurrection is paused. Krakoan government is hanging on a thread. Selene is enjoying it all.
Unsurprisingly, all is not well. Krakoa draws Cypher into the Pit, reportedly to protect him. Destiny sees nothing in the future but a shining bright light. It doesn’t matter; No one trusts her anyway. As Destiny of X comes to an end for Immortal X-Men, the remaining members of the Quiet Council gather together to reflect on their failings. There have been far too many.
Marvel Comics
It isn’t difficult to see where things will go from here. Cypher reflects on his mistakes throughout the issue, yet he fails to recognize that he is just making another. The island is poisoned, but their antidote is only weakening it. Without resurrection, Krakoa has lost its greatest strength just in time for Orchis’ attack.
If there is one motif that runs throughout the issue, it’s falling leaves. Werneck paints an amazing atmosphere, and the ever-present notion of the coming collapse of Krakoa can be seen in the leaves dangling in the background of nearly every single panel. The only location not filled with those leaves is in the human world, which is still colored in the dark red of Autumn.
While not every character gets a moment to shine, the ones that do make the most of it. Exodus has two compelling speeches, which could very well serve as the finale to his arc on Krakoa. With the Quiet Council dismantled it makes sense to give one last grain of insight into a character that may fade into the bloated mutant roster as the Fall of X approaches.
Cypher is given an expectedly sizeable presence, and he, too, takes advantage. His reflections on the state of Krakoan politics offer what he believes to be an outside perspective, and it is a very interesting flaw to explore. After all, Cypher may not be seated on the Council, but he has been seen throughout Immortal X-Men, and he has been playing a major role in Krakoa. He even reflects on his failures while still emphasizing his profound belief in his own judgment. It’s a fun problem for a rarely fleshed-out character.
Marvel Comics
This issue is not about the characters, though. Much like X-Men has been setting up Orchis and the future of Krakoa, Immortal X-Men #13 cares more about its next arc than anything else. The Fall of X has been built up since before Sins of Sinister, but those sins weigh heavy on it now.
Every page of Immortal X-Men #13 is preparing for the Fall. Destiny’s uncertain visions, Exodus’ explosion, and Selene’s mockery of the Krakoan government all blend together. They are building the emotional impact that the events at the upcoming Hellfire Gala will have on Krakoa as a whole.
Colossus remains silent — his work already done — while Nightcrawler is entirely absent. Even Emma Frost’s primary motivation for the Krakoan era — “For the children” — is questioned. Everything that the entire series has been exploring is drawn together with a neat bow. Had this been the last issue of Immortal X-Men, it would not have felt out of place. All it leaves it, besides the leaves, is one true question: What will Immortal X-Men #14 even look like?
Immortal X-Men #13 is an excellent issue that plays well into the upcoming Fall of X. While the first half of the issue features some forgettable conflict that can be easily glossed over, the questions it raises are worth exploring. It serves as a great conclusion but isn’t afraid to set up future stories and drama. The Quiet Council may be gone, but something else is coming to replace it.
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