The next X-Men event is launching this week in The Uncanny X-Men #11, and it’s called X-Manhunt. The X-Man getting hunted is Xavier, but why? The answer involves space, children, and a problem that needs solving so quickly there’s no time explanation! Plus, with Xavier’s mind-control powers and his treatment at Greymalkin Prison, some fuzzy stuff is going on to mix things up.
Uncanny X-Men #11 is a good jumping-on point if you’re curious about the event and want to dig in. From the summary page to a nice reintroduction of the new young mutants, Gail Simone keeps us on the up and up. Rogue is the leader, and she fears for these young mutants’ lives. The weight of leading the team is heavy on Rogue, and the creative team make it very clear it’s on top of her mind.
The issue actually opens in the Ryon Sector, Phobos System. You probably don’t know the location because even the spacefaring folks don’t either. Xavier’s final journal leads us along in this opening sequence via captions. Simone writes poetic captions here that feel like they’re from a man who knows he’s only got so much time to live. Or maybe that’s fear his daughter Xandra won’t make it as she is under attack.
That needle has to sting.
Credit: Marvel
Javier Garron draws a fantastic issue here, with a great montage of events happening to Xavier and on an alien ship light years away. Given the distance, one has to assume Xavier somehow knows it’s happening, further enhancing how much power he has. The final few pages are particularly well rendered, with Nightcrawler seemingly stuck between teleportation pops and Xavier showing how powerful he can be. You won’t doubt the stakes are very high with this cliffhanger.
One thing that confused me is a two-page scene with a man who seems to think his family are sentinels. It’s unclear why this scene is in the issue as it pops up out of the blue and doesn’t factor into where the story goes. Maybe it’s a detail for later, and while it’s drawn in an intense, horror story way, it’s a blip in the issue that had me scratching my head.
Uncanny X-Men #11 delivers an exciting and emotional start to the X-Manhunt event, balancing cosmic intrigue with grounded character moments. While a few story beats feel unclear, the strong writing, compelling stakes, and stellar art make this a promising kickoff for X-Men fans, old and new. With Xavier’s terrifying power on full display, is he the hero? Or the real threat?
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