Stephanie Phillips and Alessandro Miracolo have thrown a lot at readers during their Phoenix run, including Jean Grey’s battles against cosmic foes. Phoenix #5 takes things up a notch – or rather, several notches. In her battle against Gorr the God Butcher, Jean seemingly dies (again) but comes face to face with Eternity, who says it is time for her to become part of Creation itself. Jean’s ascension couldn’t have come at a better time; various forces, including the young warrior Adani and the council of cosmic figures, are seeking to put a permanent end to the Phoenix.
Phillips starts pulling together various threads she’s sown throughout previous issues of Phoenix, particularly Adani. Adani blames Jean for the destruction of her home world, and seeks to kill her – even when Jean tries to help her deal with her newfound psychic powers. The same goes for Jean’s struggles to control her Phoenix powers and still retain her humanity. Eternity actually sums it up in a powerfully poignant sentence: “Jean Grey is an idea. An idea cannot be lost once brought into existence. It may be changed, but not lost.”
This speaks to me because Eternity – and Phillips, in a way – is speaking about the way comic book characters can change if you give them enough time, and a creator willing to push them in a different direction. Jean is one of the biggest examples of this; she started off as one of the founding members of the X-Men, then gained the Phoenix Force, then died, came back to life and has lived a whole life in between. Becoming part of creation is just the next step in her journey.
Marvel Comics
That journey comes to life courtesy of Miracolo, who is joined by Marco Renna on artwork. Together, Miracolo and Renna paint a canvas full of cosmic grandeur. Eternity is sporting a new design with flowing white robes and a mask which feels somewhat reminiscent of Moon Knight’s patron god Khonshu, and in what might be one of the issue’s best moments he takes Jean on a literal waltz throughout the galaxy while talking to her about the order of things.
If you think that couldn’t be topped, then the next scene where Jean confronts Gorr is both terrifying and awe-inspiring in its construction. Gorr is slowly consumed by All-Black, its jet-black tendrils constricting and crushing him until he’s literally transformed into a star. That sequence is proceeded by a full page splash of Jean going into full Phoenix mode, with David Curiel lighting up the page in golden light. Even Cory Petit gets in on the action, as Jean’s fiery word balloons start to fill the page – all but solidifying her godhood.
Phoenix #5 continues to solidify its place as one of the best X-Men books on the stands, putting Jean Grey in a new position and giving her new threats to face. It’s no easy task to push a character forward, but Phillips and Miracolo are succeeding on every level.
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