Like The Big Chill, the latest Uncanny X‑Men run by Gail Simone blossoms with warmth, nostalgia, and the joy of watching a disparate group converge into something greater than the sum of its parts. The core team of Rogue, Gambit, Nightcrawler, Wolverine, and Jubilee is off in New Orleans while the new mutants, the Outliers, hang back at Haven House. Together, they feel like a family gathered back together. Their banter crackles, their vulnerabilities shine through, and under Simone’s care, they reveal complexities at every turn. Readers are invited into that rare space where laughter coexists with tears, and every moment, quiet or explosive, feels emotionally earned. That’s particularly the case as today’s issue connects back to the Free Comic Book Day story featuring Jubilee.
Uncanny X‑Men #19 has a nice bookend feel, opening at a familiar diner with a certain black and white tiger-striped waitress named Uva. If she looks familiar, that’s because Jubilee met her way back in the FCBD 2024 X-Men story. The opening scene reminds us of the terrible nature of Doctor Corina Elli, but subtly and cleverly. She runs into Uva, but things don’t go as you’d expect.
From there, the issue follows the gang in New Orleans as they learn more about Friendship Festival. Simone continues to infuse every scene with character moments, like Jubilee marveling at Logan in a suit. We also learn more about how New Orleans is far more committed to making the town a sanctuary for mutants than we could have guessed. There’s also a clever and kind of cute connection of each mutant to locals to be built, which makes for a fun check-in on what groups are attracted to which mutants. Sure, the town is selling the personalities of the mutants for profit, but it’s for a good cause, right?
A touching moment.
Credit: Marvel
Much of the rest of the issue is devoted to the Outliers at Haven House. More character moments that are cute and endearing take place, but things ramp up to dramatic levels when Deadpool and Outlaw show up.
This sequence allows artist David Marquez to have a ton of fun with action, particularly with Deathdream’s powers. They’re creepy and beautiful all at once. This scene also reminds us that the Outliers can handle themselves without the main X-Men. However, the fight falls into the misunderstanding cliche we see so often in superhero comics.
Closing out the issue is a scene with Jubilee, which feels like a natural end for the issue, thanks to the opening. It also feels like Simone is closing the door on how the run started.
Uncanny X-Men #19 is a warm, emotionally resonant, and quietly ambitious chapter that balances humor, heart, and mutant mayhem. Simone continues to prove she understands not just how the X-Men fight, but how they live and love, making even the quieter moments sing. While a few narrative shortcuts keep it from perfection, this issue is a satisfying and meaningful installment that honors the past while nudging the story forward.
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