Something very fishy is afoot in Uncanny X-Men’s latest story arc, with the new mutants missing from Haven House, and yet somehow also at a school for gifted youngsters. Is it multiverse shenanigans, supervillains altering reality, or something even more devious? It’s a big mystery that drives your interest as things get weirder in part two of “Who’s Been Sleeping in My Bed?”
Uncanny X-Men #27 opens at Graymalkin Prison, where Corina Ellis visits a very sick Phillip, aka Scurvy. Now bedridden, she’s cheery and hopeful, while Phillip is weak, conveyed well by Clayton Cowels’ lettering and Luciano Vecchio’s detailed art. It’s a twisted and very unsettling relationship. The check-in is welcome and adds to the mystery, given we don’t know how it connects, if at all, to the other plots in this story.
From there, writer Gail Simone takes us to “Elsewhen,” where the Outliers are all suited up in New Mutants looking costumes on their way to the Danger Room. Their teacher, Moira MacTaggert, walks them through how the tech works and sends them on a near-death mission against its training program. A great action scene as Simone plucks out the vivid characters, and Vecchio keeps the action fun and intense; the scene harkens back to the good old days of the X-Men.
The B-plot involves Rogue, Jubilee, and Wolverine on the hunt for the Outliers. Throw in Gambit, who’s likely going to get himself into trouble, and the issue has a fast pace as it bounces from character to character. Simone continues to write that Rogue is a deeply caring, motherly type, which suits her.
How are they all so skinny?
Credit: Marvel
This issue is also good for two exciting and entertaining reveals I haven’t even alluded to yet, making for a highly satisfying page-turning experience.
Vecchio outdoes himself here, especially when the “Elsewhen” A-plot goes from Danger Room close calls to full-on horror movie. Not only is it an intense turn in the story, but Vecchio designs a new kind of Sentinel you don’t want to miss. The design is as if Slender Man were a big fan of Attack on Titan and was taking notes. Frankly, I can’t believe we haven’t seen a form of Sentinel like this before. Vecchio and Simone do a great job utilizing each of the new mutants’ powers and perspectives, keeping you invested in every team member. Between the great colors by Matthew Wilson and the attention to detail by Vecchio, this issue has a lot of bang for your buck in details in every panel, and twists and turns in the story.
Uncanny X-Men #27 delivers a mystery that keeps pulling you deeper as the story shifts between unsettling character moments and high-energy action. Gail Simone balances a strange, layered narrative with strong character work, while Luciano Vecchio brings the chaos to life with detailed, expressive art. The issue thrives on its reveals and escalating tension, even if some threads remain intentionally unclear. It is a compelling chapter that rewards readers who enjoy a story that keeps them guessing. Scary, strange, and full of exciting moments, Uncanny X-Men has never been better.
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