Uncanny X-Men #29 contains multiple endings, including one that has been building for months. “Who’s Been Sleeping in My Bed” part four is as action-packed as superhero comics come, with heroes rising up left and right. Graymalkin Prison is in utter chaos, the Outliers have gained a footing against organic Sentinels, and Rogue is fending off a young, crazed Cannonball. It’s all-out action from all sides, but with all the weirdness going on, the other shoe must drop.
Writer Gail Simone continues to keep the pace going with good plotting, but also tucks away a few surprises to sprinkle on top. What you have is a satisfying conclusion, opening at Greymalkin Prison, where Corina Ellis is running for her life from her brother Oscar, aka Perimeter, who is attempting to gain control through ultra-violence. This issue establishes his endgame while reminding us that his power to body hop is far more dangerous when he’s surrounded by imprisoned mutants.
The B plot focuses on Rogue, who can’t escape Cannonball’s clutches as he presses on into her. Who he really is, along with the other New Mutants, remains a mystery, making it tricky for her to fight back. At the same time, Jubilee, Wolverine, and Nightcrawler are up against the remaining New Mutants. Their fight supplies good cutaway action from Monet’s battle.
Monet is not scared.
Credit: Marvel
Woven into Monet’s fight are key details you might have been wondering about. Stuff like why Rogue didn’t free Monet previously, and Perimeter’s sadistic background adds enough to keep the action interesting through dialogue.
As for the Outliers, Luciano Vecchio gets to pull off a single page to check in on them, with a poster-worthy strike by Mutina. Page count can be tricky, but it’s unfortunate that the Outliers aren’t in this issue more. Adding one gripe, they also get brought back with a convenient turn in the story. Given how quickly the New Mutants are dispatched, I could also see this story going a whole other issue.
Speaking of Luciano’s linework and colors, there are multiple pages that’ll have you cheering and gasping. Perimeter is straight-up freaky, while Cannonball’s force on Rogue is intense and exciting to look at. There’s a cool layout later in the issue where Perimeter’s eyes take up a panel, then two panels below that, his bloody mouth. It’s a striking way to make them look vicious and evil. Multiple heroes get a chance to shine, with Jubilee fans particularly getting a cool sequence. Monet looks powerful throughout, too, and it’s worth noting two other mutants you won’t see coming get to do their best action poses.
Uncanny X-Men #29 sticks the landing on a storyline that has been building for a long time. Gail Simone balances multiple battles, character revelations, and emotional beats without losing momentum, while Luciano Vecchio’s artwork injects nearly every page with energy and excitement. Perimeter continues to evolve into a genuinely unsettling villain, and the multiple threats keep you guessing as the story pinballs from one threat to another. A few supporting elements, particularly the Outliers, feel underserved given their importance to the arc, but the issue’s strong pacing, striking visuals, and satisfying resolutions make it one of the most entertaining chapters of the run.
You must be logged in to post a comment.