Throughout his run on Storm, Murewa Ayodele has sought to transform Ororo Munroe into the goddess that the world thinks she is. It’s resulted in a story that’s taken some pretty big swings, while making Ororo an even more compelling character. But with Age of Revelation in full swing, Rogue Storm #1 decides to ask the question, “What happens when Storm loses control of her godhood?”
The answer: nothing good. Ten years into Revelation’s reign, Storm has lost control of her powers, causing near-extinction-level events. A new version of X-Force, led by Rogue, has assembled with one goal in mind: kill Storm. But little do they know that the task will be easier said than done…and that there’s a method to Storm’s madness.
Rogue Storm #1 mostly focuses on the friendship between Rogue and Storm, which is a smart choice on Ayodele’s part. Storm, alongside Charles Xavier, was one of the first people to befriend Rogue when she defected from the Brotherhood of Mutants to the X-Men. It turns out that in the Age of Revelation, Storm also helped Rogue at a low point in her life when a battle saw her splitting into two personalities: one red, one green. The red Rogue is wracked with agony, yet determination to help the woman who helped her, hence the creation of X-Force.
Here’s where I stop and appreciate the clever nod that Ayodele makes to Superman Red/Superman Blue with Rogue’s personality split. The line of dialogue about “brutalizing gods” also serves as a subtle shout-out to his previous series Akogun: Brutalizer of Gods, which shared a lot of things in common with his Storm run. It’s clear that Ayodele doesn’t just know his comics history, but is able to utilize it to shape new stories, and that makes for an incredible writer.
Marvel
Rogue Storm #1 will also draw readers in thanks to the striking artwork by Roland Boschi. Boschi doesn’t waste any time showcasing the effects of Storm’s runaway powers; when we’re first introduced to X-Force, they’re in a frozen wasteland and approaching a massive tower of ice. Storm herself appears sporadically throughout the issue, but her eyes are filled with constantly warring bolts of lightning; it’s a far cry from the stunning, yet human woman Ororo Munroe was in life.
Boschi also puts in some truly unique images throughout Rogue Sun #1. Giant rhino like beasts with cannons on their backs dive into battle, hoping for the glory of a great death. Massive crystalline mecha protect Storm, with the intent to kill. X-Force itself is full of heavy hitters; the teleporter Gateway summons a massive portal that rips a hole in the frozen wasteland, Iceman grows to giant size, and Warpath starts carving up everything in his path. All of it is rendered in simple, yet harsh colors by Neeraj Menon.
I also love the unique lettering style that Travis Lanham is using. A gun fires, followed by a “F*** you!” sound effect. Characters’ actions are accompanied by the appropriate verb; if they jump, there’s a “Jump”, and a “Stab” is rendered in bloody red. It’s hilarious in some parts, and deeply somber in others.
Rogue Storm #1 goes big and bold in its debut issue, showcasing what happens when godhood gets out of your control. The Age of Revelation has brought forth some interesting ideas, but this is definitely one of the standouts next to Amazing X-Men.
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