After the creative start of Uncanny X-Men #23 with its new story arc, things go from tense to downright action-packed. Equal parts clever and nostalgic, the X-Men are facing off against a group of monsters that are straight out of the Universal Monsters playbook. Throw in a pulpy western comic within a comic, and we’ve got ourselves creativity and superhero action you don’t normally get week after week from Marvel Comics.
Uncanny X-Men #23 opens inside the Haven House, with Deathdream, Calico, Ransom, and Jitter taking part in a storytime. They’re in the western comic book, although not figuratively, but with their imagination. Monsters may be outside, but writer Gail Simone reveals they also exist in the western with danger increasing by the second as the sun goes down. This opening leads to gunfire and imminent danger, but the narrative switches to the outside for the rest of the book.
Outside Haven House, Elsa Bloodstone leads five monsters, one of whom is Morbius, who has kidnapped Jubilee. Gambit, Rogue, Nightcrawler, and Wolverine need to act fast while ignoring the fact that they were just fighting Gambit, who was out of sorts. Switching things up, Simone and artist David Marquez send the X-Men and their monster adversaries to Sweet Water Park with exciting one-on-one battles taking up much of the issue.
The enemy lineup (and Jubilee).
Credit: Marvel
Marquez continues to show he’s one of the best in superhero comics today, with riveting action that’ll have you on the edge of your seat. Each X-Man ends up fighting in different locations, further mixing up the action and making each feel original and different. Wolverine gets the lengthier battle, as he faces a Werewolf by Night, which also closes on an incredible full-page splash cliffhanger. Character acting is on point, especially with Rogue, while the fear in Nightcrawler’s eyes as he faces Frankenstein’s monster is palpable.
This isn’t just a fight comic; Simone’s captions keep us invested in each X-Man’s fight against different monsters. They’re each dealing with fear, even Wolverine, since he is mortally wounded and incapable of bouncing back quickly.
Outside of the opening and fight scenes, there’s also some good plot progression as to who is behind the monster attack. There’s also a promise that the western will loop into the main narrative next issue, which is a relief since both seemed a bit too disparate.
Uncanny X-Men #23 delivers a thrilling blend of horror homage and high-octane superhero action, pairing Simone’s character-driven tension with Marquez’s electrifying visuals. The monster brawls are inventive and visually distinct, while the emotional stakes keep the fights from feeling hollow. The western framing device adds flavor, though it remains slightly disconnected for now. With strong cliffhangers and hints of a deeper mystery, this arc continues to build momentum in exciting ways.
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