EVOLUTION IS THE ENEMY!
The X-Men are no strangers to being targeted for their genes…but when the High Evolutionary returns with his brand of unnatural selection, the survival of the whole planet is at stake!
What I thought
Story- The X-men meet with the High Evolutionary and he offers them a gift…which would end the human race and allow the mutants to flourish. The exchange escalates when Rogue who was tortured by the Evolutionary in the now-defunct Uncanny X-men run attacks. Amused, the villain calls in his Newmen, and a full-blown battle erupts. Fascinated by the powers of Synch he decides to allow the mutants the refusal of his gift once he gets a drop of Everett’s blood. Wolverine/Laura refuses but Sync willingly hands it over and he and Laura…have a moment. As he departs he shares details of the villain Cordycepts Jones and Gameworld. Feilong makes plans to join Orchis. Elsewhere Phil Urich is gifted with the evidence of mutant resurrection.
Art- The master class is on display here. Gerry Dugan may be the writer but Pepe Laraz and Marte Garcia have a mind, body, talent fusing happening here where it’s like they are mutant themselves with two heads and fours arms. This is gorgeous! Almost any single panel could be a poster on a wall. That look of longing from Synch to Laura/Wolverine and the body language on display. Yes, lord please! Action? Sexy and fluid AF. Listen this is a work of art in every sense of the word. Kudos to the mutant masters, all two heads, and your godly four arms.
Black Hero– Synch has had no run-in with this foe before. He has no idea what the Evolutionary can do with that single drop of blood. Sure it ended the conflict and bought the team and by extension the Earth itself more time to become prepared for his eventual return, or the return of whatever mutant creation he will no doubt have at his side/send their way.
Romance- In this issue, we have Laura/Wolverine and Synch share a look and obvious connection. It’s similar to an understanding between old friends. She may not remember her future romance with Synch but just like the inevitability of Mutant vs Human and the recurring extinction events against mutants, they will happen.
Team– Poor Lorna. With the Scarlet Witch no longer a blood heir to Magneto she and her lack of feats constantly are the butt of jokes. Her new status as the sole blood heir to Magneto has put her under tremendous pressure. This has become a central feature of her depiction in the Reign of X. It’s an interesting spin considering for most of her modern depiction she was just getting friendly with her “siblings”. She was also Magnet’s apprentice for a while when he took over Genosha back in the day and was having trouble controlling his powers. There is much to explore in her psyche, hopefully, this series is afforded the luxury to do so.
Cyclops and Jean Grey are their typical selves, nothing noteworthy. I do find it curious however that instead of trying to deescalate the situation because of Rogue and Polaris they just went along for the ride.
How will the team be split? I am hoping this will afford the writer the power to use those who lost the popular vote for inclusion (Forge, Tempo, Marrow), my fingers are crossed.
Media-I am quite enjoying the tangle taking place with Phil Urich, it reminds me of Scott Lobdell’s take on the X-men leading up to the assassination of Graydon Creed and the launch of Operation Zero Tolerance. Having the mutants impacted by the media in this way makes them, keeping the secret of Resurrection from the general populace quite intriguing. Even as recent as the Trail of Magneto they went out of their way to prevent the Avengers from finding out those details but here they are on the verge of being revealed globally! Any of the Psychics of Krakoa could just erase Phil’s mind but only Emma Frost has the balls to actually do it, and she is not on this team.
Rebellion-The one thing every single creation of the High Evolutionary has in common is that they always rebel. It’s just a natural part of growing up. In this issue, his latest child “Luminous” who has the power of both the Scarlet Witch and Quicksilver combined learns that her father has already made an “off switch” for her. She did not seem pleased. The NewMen, The Ani-Mutants, the Knights of Wundagore, and even the New gods, Wyndam never has full control over his creations with repercussions for those in the vicinity.
Overall I give this issue 5/5 stars
