Uncanny X-Men is in a whole new place after the last story arc, freeing mutants from Greymalkin Prison while further establishing the bond between the Outliers. Considering the new mutants on the X-Men faced classic monsters, then false realities, surely writer Gail Simone will lighten the threat in this new story arc, right? Wrong! Enter alien threats from outer space!
Uncanny X-Men #30 opens at night at the edge of a forest. Two police officers are investigating a hilltop when they discover a fellow officer being choked by some kind of white tentacled creature. To cap it off, one of the cops is teleported upward by a red beam of light! With a story arc titled “Mars Needs Mutants,” it’s no surprise that the sci-fi tropes of aliens are very apparent.
If you’re looking for alien sightings, this issue has it, with another two alien types popping up, including the one in the preview. That alien, with its blue and black suit with a bowl for a head, gives a certain kind of War of the Worlds vibe, which artist Rogê Antônio pulls off splendidly. Colors by Matthew Wilson continue to pop with brightness in the characters, while the surroundings feel comic-booky yet grounded.
Aliens from Mars! Probably.
Credit: Marvel
Once the cold open with the police officers wraps, the story shifts to the Outliers, who attend the Haven Parochial High School. Simone continues to write these characters with quirks that set them apart, and the teens’ high emotions are very apparent as well. The older X-Men, like Gambit, continue to be strong parental figures to the kids, with one key scene showing her how to stand up to bigots.
One might think that, with so many characters, you’d get confused or frustrated by the brevity of the scenes, but Simone makes sure each one works with a bit of humor, quirky character insight, or action. Take, for instance, Deathdream, who is trying to figure out the whole dating thing. It’s nice to see them opening up a bit, or to see Nightcrawler let his hair down and try out that normal life. All in all, this issue is packed and continues to be the best bang for your buck in superhero comics, save for Absolute Batman.
Tucked away in a five-issue sequence is a check-in with the Graymalkin Prison, continuing the narrative after Monet St. Croix gained control and now needs to figure out what to do with the prisoners. As in the last issue, Simone and company make it clear that Penance is a heavy hitter and can handle the rather overpowered villains in the prison. She gets to flex, and Antônio gives her a badass moment.
If I were to find a gripe, it’s the absence of certain characters like Jubilee. She’s present, but gets far less to do than most. Rogue is also completely absent, but with so many characters, it’s a wonder how well this reads to begin with.
Uncanny X-Men #30 is another reminder of how well Simone understands ensemble storytelling. The alien invasion premise injects fresh energy into the title, but the issue’s greatest strength remains its cast. Whether it’s the Outliers navigating teenage life, Gambit stepping into a mentor role, or Penance establishing herself as one of the book’s most formidable figures, every scene feels purposeful. Rogê Antônio and Matthew Wilson continue to elevate the material with expressive characters and eye-catching visuals, making the strange new threats feel both exciting and dangerous. Even with a crowded roster that sidelines a few characters, the issue never loses momentum. Few superhero books make every page count quite like this one.
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