The “Danger Room” arc of X-Men has seen the mighty mutants infected by alien technology, nearly lose one of their own to an assassination attempt, and (in Psylocke’s case) be distracted by personal business. Now the question remains: how do they get out of it? X-Men #30 has the answer, though it might not end the way readers expect. As Magneto races to stop Quentin Quire from committing a major mistake and Beast works overtime to free his friends from an alien bioweapon, Psylocke, Xorn and Greycrow finally confront the masterminds behind the Danger Room.
It’s the Magneto section that is the most compelling, especially given the Master of Magnetism’s change in demeanor. There would be a time when he would have used his abilities to rend the town they lived in apart for Glob Herman’s near-assassination, but his experiences on Krakoa have seemingly tempered his rage. The moment when he finally gets to talk Quentin down is well-crafted, as Jed MacKay manages to showcase how Magneto looks at the bigger picture while also showcasing that he hasn’t lost his passion for protecting mutants.
MacKay also brings a similar energy to the dynamic between Beast and the alien-infected X-Men, as Hank McCoy does what he does best: use his big, blue, furry brains to save the day. The fact that Beast is able to talk the alien tech out of infecting the X-Men is nothing short of amazing, but then it’s one-upped by a revelation that Cyclops makes. MacKay seems intent on reminding X-Men fans that Scott Summers is one of the team’s most iconic leaders for a reason, and I’m perfectly fine with that.
Marvel
You’d think that whole pages of people having conversations would be boring, but Netho Diaz would prove you wrong. The discussion between Beast and his fellow X-Men takes a disturbing turn when you look at how the tech’s infected their bodies; Cyclops’ head is encased by tendrils, resulting in a glowing red orb that makes him look like his namesake, while a gross mechanical “X” covers Juggernaut’s helmet and Magik looks like a decaying corpse. Sean Parsons and Arthur Hesli use their inks and color art in a sequence where Magneto and Quentin have a mental heart-to-heart, making it look as if they’re standing in a ghostly field.
This use of color also culminates in a truly epic moment in which Psylocke confronts the members of the Danger Room. Thanks to their base being shrouded in nothing but shadow, there are whole panels where you can see nothing but the pulsing violet glow of her signature psychic “butterfly” effect and her blazing psychic knife. It’s a reminder that Psylocke is a very deadly assassin who you do not want to cross; it also makes the epilogue where Cyclops threatens O*N*E*’s director feel slightly superfluous.
X-Men #30 utilizes some unique forms of problem-solving, as the “Danger Room” storyline comes to a close. With DNX on the horizon, it looks like future issues will significantly accelerate the pace of storytelling.
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