This is an interesting time in X-Men history. Usually, when horrible things happen, the team is able to pull back together quickly to rectify it. They can restart mutant culture after the death of Genosha, band together in the wake of the Decimation, and forge a new mutant school after the fall of Utopia. This time, it’s different. Orchis is — quite literally — at the top of the world, and Gerry Duggan, Joshua Cassara, Marte Gracia, and VC’s Clayton Cowles show off just how powerful the villains have become in X-Men #28.
The third annual Hellfire Gala put the X-Men in a horrible position. Mutants are dying everywhere, the X-Men are completely on their own, and Firestar, Cyclops, and Juggernaut remain soundly in Orchis’ captivity. X-Men #27 hinted at the hell that these heroes have been suffering, but this issue revolves around it.
Firestar has always been an outsider. Since Emma Frost first recruited her to the Massachusetts Academy, she has been left out of the X-Men line and injected into other books. She has had a stint on the Avengers, an animated series featuring Spider-Man and Iceman, and a long-standing spot on the often-forgotten New Warriors.
Marvel Comics
That’s why it’s so interesting to see her cast into an X-Men book where she really is taking center stage. After all, two years ago you certainly wouldn’t see me writing a long-form essay about Firestar of all people. That would have been Synch’s right, thank you very much.
Of course, the entire issue isn’t just about Firestar. Shadowkat, Ms. Marvel, and a surprise guest all play a role in the second half of the story. Their portion of the issue is genuinely compelling, and it is interesting to see how Ms. Marvel’s relationship with Shadowkat is developing.
The underlying agony behind every one of Shadowkat’s moves is a far cry from the drunken pirate who was rescuing mutants just a few months ago. It’s a realistic development that makes the character feel more like a genuine person in a horrific situation. Ms. Marvel’s status as a Firestar-like outsider helps to contrast her with the X-Men-based Pryde in a palpable and worthwhile way.
Marvel Comics
If Firestar and Shadowkat were fun to read about, the opening pages were a break from the compelling narrative. Instead, it throws an offhand reference to an Infinity comic series without actually acknowledging the source of its plot. After opening X-Men #28, I genuinely had to stop and flip through X-Men #27, because I was convinced that I skipped an issue. That was not the case, somehow. If you want to understand the opening of this issue, make sure to check out X-Men Unlimited Infinity Comic #106-111. Otherwise, good luck.
In terms of the art, Joshua Cassara and Marte Gracia are one of Marvel’s best artist pairings, but that doesn’t mean that X-Men #28 is perfect. There are a few points where the penciling feels rushed, leaving faces bizarrely misshapen. Faces aside, the art is brilliant. The characters are expressive, and Firestar always serves as a bright light in often dreary environments.
As for the writing, the latter half of the story is excellent. Characters get individual time to really examine the tragedy of their situations. Firestar even has a brilliant moment with Orchis that — avoiding spoilers — puts a clever new spin on an enduring mystery for Nimrod, Moira, and the rest of the mutant-hating mob.
Marvel Comics
The beginning of the issue, unfortunately, does have some weaknesses. The dialogue and narration is jarring. Moments that are meant to take place in a second are dragged with gigantic dialogue boxes or unnecessary narration. There is one particular moment when Firestar is surrounded by Orchis agents, and yet she manages to whisper six full sentences mid-fight in a single panel without anyone noticing. It’s bizarre, and the stuffed dialogue takes away from the flow of what should be a quick fight and impactful sequence.
There is a brilliant reveal at the end, which has already been teased by the cover of X-Men #29. There are some new villains with shocking designs, and it is going to be great to see them in action for the first time. It’s worth hanging onto this book just to see that cliffhanger be fulfilled.
X-Men #28 is not a perfect comic, but it is a compelling one. Few books are driving the narrative of Fall of X better than this book is. The seeds of Orchis’ fall are slowly being planted throughout the line, and X-Men is capitalizing while still taking time to focus on its own characters. Firestar has been waiting decades for a chance at the spotlight. It’s great to see her finally getting it.
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