Sentinels is one of the newest “From the Ashes” era X-Men titles set to launch on October 9th. It takes a unique approach to X-Men, with human cyborgs set to reclaim the Sentinel name for good in the name of corporate interests. Oh, and human/mutant peace. With an advance review copy in hand, how does Sentinels #1 stack up?
This first issue has a lot to love, including the introduction of these cyborg soldiers, the complexities of Xavier’s school being turned into a prison, and the manipulative nature of the entire program. Alex Paknadel and artist Justin Mason set up brand new characters in a way that makes you care about them, especially since we learn fairly quickly that they are disposable to the powers that run the program.
The complex situation they are in is quite compelling. Essentially, each soldier is a broken person due to past Marvel events, which connects them to superhero vs. supervillain moments. They’re human, but they’re somehow tethered to incredible events. They’ve been given a chance to do something “good” as far as they know, as well as give them some kind of life back.
Meanwhile, the politics of post-Krakoa rage on. This series proposes with Krakoa and the deal that nation had with Earth gone, supervillain mutants are running amok and need to be imprisoned. Using advanced tech and the aid of Larry Trask, the Sentinels have the best interests of mutants in some respects, but it’s also corporate-run. We all know how that goes in fiction!
As far as the events of this issue are concerned, there’s a good pace and solid plotting. The introduction has a covert operation and an Aliens movie vibe, with good suspense and action while we learn about each character. Once the first mission is over, the book moves at a good clip, catching us up on the workings of the Sentinels program. Given these are brand new lead characters, it’s a testament to the writing that you’ll invest in every one of them.
In addition to all that, there’s a great story within the story you won’t want to miss. It’s a compelling tale that connects well with the logic of this post-Krakoa era.
Mason delivers a detailed style similar to comics by Rob Liefeld or Marc Silvestri. The book never goes full gore, but the implication of extreme violence is apparent. The cyborg abilities are well drawn, with some interesting nano-renderings and mech-like suits that look quite cool. Mason gives the book an organic feel that suits the themes while also humanizing characters who are in the process of losing said humanity.
Mason is backed up by color artist Federico Blee and letterer Travis Lanham. Save for the choice of purple costumes; this book has a muted color tone that gives it a more grounded feel. Most environments are grimy and muted, which helps convey a sense of the underworld. The lettering is quite clean, with good emphasis, especially on the cliffhanger page.
Sentinels #1 is an excellent start to a new kind of X-Men book. It harnesses a unique set of soldiers who are as victimized as mutants themselves. The action is intense, and the team’s uniqueness keeps the narrative strong. This is Aliens meets Jarhead for the X-Men fan who wants to explore the seedy side of From the Ashes.
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