It’s no secret that I’ve been loving Phoenix. Not only is it doing a story with Jean Grey and the Phoenix Force that actually feels fresh (or at the very least isn’t re-hashing the Dark Phoenix Saga for the 70th time), but it also feels truly cosmic. Some of the X-Men’s best stories take place in the cosmic realm, especially where Jean’s concerned. Phoenix #10 takes this to heart, as it brings an end to Jean’s battle against the Dark Gods, and her quest to save Adani.
Fitting for a series that’s about a cosmic force of death and rebirth, Phoenix #10 begins with a recreation of the moment where Jean’s psychic powers emerged: the tragic death of her friend. Alessandro Miracolo depicts this in a haunting two-page spread, featuring a young Jean reeling as her telepathy erupts. Weaving tendrils of psychic energy circle her body, crossing images from her childhood and her tenure with the X-Men. “I know how it feels to lose your childhood in a few seconds…and it’s why I will fight like hell to make sure that doesn’t happen to anyone else,” Jean says as the imagery shifts from past to present.
This single sentence explains why Jean has been fighting to save Adani, and Phillips delivers some immensely emotional moments during their conversation. Phillips reinforces the Phoenix’s role in the universe as a force of balance, and how tipping that balance is a road to madness. Given everything she went through as Phoenix, it’s no surprise she wants to save Adani from the same fate. The way that Phillips weaves parallels between Jean and Adani in her script is phenomenal, as it pays off plot seeds that’ve been sown since the very first issue of Phoenix.
All of it is once again brought to life by Miracolo, who pushes his artwork to the limit depicting the battle between Phoenix and the Dark Gods. But the true standout is David Curiel with his color work. Curiel immediately makes the Dark Gods feel distinct; all of them clad in jet black armor and looking extremely malevolent. In contrast, Jean feels human even despite the fact that her hair’s on fire and that she’s carving through reality like you or I might carve through butter with a knife. The golden glow of her flames is a constant throughout Phoenix #10, and it’s oddly relieving.
Even though Phoenix #10 ends the battle with the Shadow Gods, it brings a new challenge for Jean in the form of her resurrected sister Sara. That’s a huge revelation, especially when Sara and the rest of Jean’s family were struck down by the Shi’ar Empire. But it’s also the perfect way to end the book, as it’ll continue to explore Jean’s humanity.
Phoenix #10 ends the series’ first story arc, delivering plenty of emotion and cosmic power along the way. It also cements Phoenix as arguably the best X-Men book on the stands, and a gold standard that the rest of the line will hopefully strive for.
