Marvel’s latest event X-Manhunt ends this week in X-Manhunt Omega #1, and there’s a lot to wrap up. Xavier is on the run and has a tumor that’s killing innocent people, Cyclops is hellbent on putting him back into prison, and the mutants haven’t been this at odds in ages. Though flawed in certain ways, this finale delivers multiple epic moments and resolutions for most subplots.
X-Manhunt Omega #1 opens a few weeks before current events. Cyclops and Magik are meeting with Rogue and Gambit at their headquarters, and they don’t see eye to eye. Cyclops is worried that the safety mutants enjoy, however slight compared to during Krakoa, is going to disappear. It’s a scene that reminds us of the temperature between the main conflicting characters while also delivering a handy montage of all the X-Men books currently going. In this way, the issue is a good jumping-on point for readers who are ready to dive in but haven’t read any of the “From the Ashes” era titles.
This sets in motion a solo campaign by Magik and Cyclops to find Xavier and bring him in. That plan involves Kaiju-sized weaponry, including a giant golem, and a cliched yet epic action scene. Cliched because we tend to see superhero narratives go to the giant threat to up the climactic moments. These scenes show off Magik’s ability with a fun combo move with Cyclops and are at the middle of the issue.
Eventually, Storm, Wolverine, and Rogue’s Uncanny X-Men are all in on the fight. As far as all the pieces in the X-Men universe are concerned, writers Gail Simone and Murewa Ayodele get the vast cast mainly involved, if not referred to via other connected scenes. In this way, the event-caliber nature of the story does a tricky thing fairly succinctly.
What’s not so succinct are loose plot threads, like Cyclops’s panic attacks going away with a move by Wolverine that’s more convenient than realistic. That scene leads to a complete 180 on Xavier’s cancer, which is another unearned revelation. Sure, he was worked on for a while, but it’s a flip-of-a-switch resolution. This story also sweeps under the rug the long-held detail that Xavier killed innocent people. These are resolutions, but not very satisfying ones.
In case you haven’t been reading all the books…
Credit: Marvel
Another reason this is a decent jumping-on point for readers is that all those resolutions, however unearned, make this feel like a big turning point for the X-Men line. The fact that Xavier name-drops a school is clearly a directive we’ll see going forward. Pair that with the teaser pointing out that Jonathan Hickman’s Imperial will continue Xavier’s story, and one can see this era is getting a reset.
All this said, a lot of the characters seem out of character, particularly in the end. Emma forgiving Xavier, for instance, or Ms. Marvel even being there. Storm also gets a small part, which is unbecoming of her. Cyclops, Magik, and Kid Omega are all on point, though. The creators wanted to put a period on this era and might have forced some characters to act a certain way to achieve that.
Enid Balám, Gleb Melnikov, and Federica Mancin share the art, with colors by Brian Reber. The styles are seamless enough not to be jarring when artists change, although the scene between Wolverine and Cyclops leads to a whiplash transition, primarily due to the tone changing. It’s more that tone shifts quite a bit here and there, making the issue’s flow and pace feel off. Cyclops goes all-out with his blasts, and when artists show it off, they make it look as impressive as ever.
X-Manhunt Omega #1 is a solid but flawed finale that delivers on spectacle and major shake-ups for the X-Men universe while falling short in emotional depth and character consistency. The action is grand, the stakes are high, and the future is clearly laid out, making it a must-read for those invested in the From the Ashes era. However, rushed resolutions, uneven character portrayals, and an inconsistent tone hold it back from being truly great. If you’re looking for big moments and a clear setup for what’s next, this issue delivers—but don’t expect a completely satisfying payoff.
You must be logged in to post a comment.