Phoenix has been one of the best books of the “From the Ashes” era of X-Men comics, especially with how it’s integrated Jean Grey into Marvel’s cosmic tapestry. Now, Jean faces her biggest challenge yet: stopping Thanos from spreading fear and hatred of her. She even has backup in the form of some of Marvel’s most iconic cosmic champions including Lady Sif, Captain Marvel, Nova and Rocket Raccoon. But there’s one more person she needs to convince: Adani, the young warrior who’s resolved to kill the Phoenix.
Not only has Phoenix #7 brought in a great collection of characters, but they all actually have a reason for being there. Sif’s knowledge of Asgardian weapons proves to be what Jean needs to combat the Warlock’s Eye that Thanos wields; Rocket’s technical expertise gives them the upper hand over the Black Order; Nova has immense knowledge of the cosmos; and Carol Danvers is, in Jean’s words, “the best tactician I’ve ever met.”
Stephanie Phillips deserves props for gathering such a unique cast of characters together, but also writing some unique interactions between them. While Jean is easygoing around Sif and Carol, Nova and Rocket butt heads – but they all fall behind Jean. It’s great to see the X-Men interacting with other heroes, but the real meat of the issue comes when Jean interacts with Adani. Phillips shows that Jean’s true power isn’t her psychic abilities or the cosmic fire she wields; it’s her empathy.
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Marco Renna brings plenty of cosmic action to the table, filling the back half of Phoenix #7 with a massive battle between Jean’s team and the Black Order. Sif is a blur of blades as she takes on Supergiant and Proxima Midnight, while one panel has Nova slugging Black Dwarf full in the face. There’s even an anime-style battle between Jean and Thanos, where the Mad Titan proves that he doesn’t need an Infinity Gauntlet or a Cosmic Cube to take down his foes. Cory Petit also deserves credit for bringing all the characters’ voices to life with his letters – Sif’s Asgardian script is different from Rocket’s scraggly word bubbles, and Jean’s telepathic bubbles take on a golden hue.
But the page that sticks out the most to me is when Jean shows Adani her entire life. Not only is this a great way for Renna to play the “greatest hits” of Jean’s history with the X-Men, but it’s that empathy coming into play. By showing Adani that she’s not the only one who’s suffered loss, Jean is able to truly reach out to her. David Curiel provides a teal background for Jean’s flashbacks, while shrouding Adani in violet, leading to a visually unique moment.
Phoenix #7 aligns Jean Grey with a collection of cosmic allies as she takes on Thanos. It’s also a reminder that her empathy is her greatest superpower, and a major draw for this title. Don’t believe me? Add it to your pull list and see for yourself.
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