A.X.E.: Judgment Day Omnibus

A.X.E.: Judgment Day

by Kieron Gillen, Mark Brooks (Cover Art), Marvel Various (Writer)

The complete A.X.E. epic in one Celestial-sized package! The battle for the planet is here. The X-Men claim they're Earth's new gods. The Eternals know that position is already filled. And the Avengers are about to realize exactly how many secrets their so-called friends have been keeping from them! Years of tension lead to a volcanic eruption - and Earth will face a Celestial judgment day! As Spider-Man, the Fantastic Four and many more are weighed in the cosmic balance, who will pass, who will fail…and what will the final tally mean for the world? The clock is ticking. Midnight looms. But it's not too late… Collecting EVE OF JUDGMENT, JUDGMENT DAY #1-6, IMMORTAL X-MEN #5-7, X-MEN RED (2022) #5-7, DEATH TO THE MUTANTS #1-3, X-FORCE (2020) #30-33, X-MEN (2021) #13-14, WOLVERINE (2020) #24 and #25 (A STORY), MARAUDERS (2022) #6, FANTASTIC FOUR (2018) #47-48, AVENGERS (2018) #60, AVENGERS, AMAZING SPIDER-MAN (2022) #10, X-MEN, IRON FIST, STARFOX, CAPTAIN MARVEL (2019) #42, ETERNALS and JUDGMENT DAY OMEGA.

Genres: Comics, Marvel, X Men, Graphic Novels, Superheroes

944 pages, Hardcover

Published January 16, 2024

About the author

Kieron Gillen is a comic book writer and former media journalist.

Reviews

[Matthew Ward · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ll file this one under “events that I was excited about in the Krakoan era X-Men that were mediocre at best.” Unfortunately, that’s just the same folder as “Krakoan era events.” There were some really cool issues in this one though. I specifically liked some of the judgment tie-ins and one-shots from other titles. Unfortunately, the main series was just okay. Would have likely been a two star review if the more fun tie-ins weren’t included, so I’m glad they were.

[Shannon Schmelzle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Started out pretty interesting. Quickly devolved into a buch of nonsense. I think this really relies on how much you like the Eternals. I don't very much. this....two stars. Over all really did like the art over all.

[RubiGiráldez RubiGiráldez · Rating 4 out of 5]

Con un atolondrado recuerdo de aquel evento que entrecruzaba a los X-Men contra los Vengadores con la Fuerza Fénix de fondo. Era inevitable ver con malos ojos otro desencuentro al que se sumasen unos Eternos que se recontextualizaban en el Universo comiquero de Marvel por imposición directa del debut cinematográfico. Es cierto que el arranque de la cabecera con Kieron Gillen reexaminaba bastante bien a estos personajes y integraba una idea increíble a su estado de seres ancestrales. Pero a la hora de abordar nuevos arcos argumentales ya empezaba a perder fuelle la cosa con temas como la "política Eterna" para decidir nuevo Eterno Prime o esa locura del "yayo de Thanos". Así que Judgment Day se lee con incertidumbre y es cierto que al remate, todo esto queda como uno de estos eventos que lo dan todo en la espectacularidad gráfica y mamporreos varios. Pero he de admitir que encuentro varios anclajes argumentales por parte de Kieron Gillen que me han hecho disfrutar más de lo asumible como pura evasión esta historia.

Judgement Day entrecruza a los Eternos con los X-Men en su era Krakoana de una forma de colisión directa. Se descubre que la raza de seres Eternos siempre han tenido ojo avizor con los Hijos del Átomo, pero no ha sido hasta este predominio que influye todo el escenario terráqueo que se asume a los mutantes como una forma de Desviantes. Esos enemigos designados por los Celestiales como plagas a eliminar por sus Guardianes designados. Claro que esta decisión parte más por el bando más "oscuro" de los Eternos, actualmente regido por Druig quien tiene muy próximo al salvaje Uranus. El hecho de que los Vengadores han hecho del cadáver de un Celestial congelado su base de operaciones, también los hace partícipes directos de un conflicto brutal en ciernes que lleva a una decisión descabellada de utilizar los restos del Celestial como "materia prima" para crear un nuevo Dios. Totalmente justo y menos amoral. Esto es la gota que colma el vaso a la situación y el conflicto se extiende a todos los seres vivos, que son parte de un juicio divino del que depende el destino de todos.

Judgment Day se empleó bien en varias cabeceras en este "juicio personal" para que todos los héroes tuviesen un momento de cruda introspección. Pero en el evento central, los X-Men, Eternos y Vengadores se encuentran en una primera línea de batalla apasionante en varios actos heroícos y traiciones o incluso sacrificios de última hora que evidentemente generan una lectura totalmente adictiva. Kieron Gillen también enriquece la narrativa con las narraciones de los seres trascendentales de lo que ya demostró en la cabecera de Eternos con la Máquina Universal exponiendo todo con cierta sorna y increíble sabiduría. También el implicar a los civiles concretando en 5 individuos de contextos geográficos, culturales y de edad diversos de los que seguimos sus historias en las diferentes etapas del conflicto. Humanizan un relato que al final apela a nuestro propio ser y decisiones vitales. El fin del mundo empieza en cada individuo. La promesa de ser mejores debe dejar de ser una promesa. Sí que emociona ver cómo el Juicio del nuevo Celestial recrimina a héroes como el Capitán América. Pero serán sus interacciones con una civil que tiene sus propias circunstancias alejadas de la gran batalla lo que ofrecerá los mejores momentos de esta historia que realmente merece una lectura sin estigmatizarla en exceso por su categoría de evento comiquero. Aunque es bastante complicada acercarla de forma independiente a quien no ha leído bastante de la era Krakoa y los primeros compases del reinicio Eterno de Gillen.

[Nick Callebaut · Rating 3 out of 5]

Generally speaking, I don't like crossovers. They're bulky, confusing and push characters to the background. In my opinion, the only good X-crossovers date back to the nineties, but that's a different story and perhaps embedded in a firm layer of nostalgia.

I didn't like this crosssover too much either. Even if there were some highlights in it: the X-Men Red and Legion of X issues, the Captain Marvel, Fantastic Four and Amazing Spider-Man issues.

I found the X-Force vs Kraven plot pretty stupid. This X-Force series varies highs with very lows. The Wolverine bit was unnecessary too. And I struggled to stay interested in the main story.

Glad to be getting back to 'normal' Krakoa business.

[Ferzem Khan · Rating 4 out of 5]

As a huge X-Men fan who really liked Gillen's Eternals run and doesn't care at all for Avengers except Captain America, this was kind of the perfect event for me. Most if not all tie-ins are additive and great (especially X-Men Red issues are top tier material). The ending was a bit rushed and a little too consequence free for the broader humanity, but at least this was a coherent and focused storyline with tons of character moments that isn't bogged down by its length or tie-ins, which is more than I can say for most other company-wide events.

[Steve · Rating 4 out of 5]

Comprehensive collection of the Judgment Day event from Marvel. It's a pretty good story, some of the tie-ins can be hit and miss (X-Force and ASM in particular were ones I didn't feel landed well). Would've liked for Gillen's excellent work on Eternals to be included, but guessing Marvel'll throw out an oversized hardcover for that at some point.

Worth the read if you're a completionist, if not, the paperback trades will cover the event and most of the important tie-ins just fine.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

My favourite big event of the Krakoan era (so far). Also my first exposure to the eternals and not!movie Thanos, or at least his far more interesting brother. The machine that is earth was my favourite.

[Loki · Rating 4 out of 5]

The main Judgment Day story is fantastic - top notch superhero action along with an unusually deep premise. Kieron Gillen at the top of his game as a writer, and gorgeous art by a fantastic team. Unfortunately, Marvel's choices in ordering the issues in this volume are bafflingly obtuse.

[Samuli · Rating 5 out of 5]

Marvel’s best event this side of the millennium, easily. Complex character studies, big sci-fi and mythology, bombastic action, just so so good

[StephY · Rating 4 out of 5]

"You have all lived enough. If you had a million years, you'd never do enough. You'll always be better tomorrow. But you didn't realize that one day, tomorrows would run out...and that day is today."

I agree with the sentiment that Marvel Comics events have kind of grown tiresome. We get one between 8 to 10 months and they always try to shake the status quo up with some enormous stakes to create big stakes so readers get invested and try to follow for the few months it runs. It can get tedious and even feel like homework, especially if the characters involved in the main conflict are not the ones you usually read.

Judgement Day should be the prime example of a world ending big event that promises the shake the status quo for the 10th time this past decade, just another average event to read the tie-ins of the characters you follow and if you're interested pick up the main event. This was not the case. Judgement Day works, and it's probably my favorite Marvel Comics event since 2015's Secret Wars.

Following on the ending of Gillen's Eternals run, Druig declares war on mutants to gain himself some favors as nee prime Eternal, only for chaos to quickly escalate, resulting in the creation of the Progenitor, a celestial who gives the world 24 hours to justify itself if it's worthy to keep on living. Some pass, more fail, so humanity fails.

"Matt Murdock dresses as a devil and tries to stop the streets from becoming hell. He is a man with a firm moral code, which he has violated time and time over. I appear with a crown of thorns and a downturned thumb. Beneath the mask, he weeps, says I know, yet carries on. Miles Morales turns and sees me as Peter Parker. I give him a thumbs-up, he gives me one back."

If Gillen subtly questions the institutions of those in power over all of us in his Eternals run, in Judgment Day he bluntly questions us all. Much of the main event is narrated by the Progenitor itself, and it's here that we are shown much of the highs and lows of ordinary humans, superheroes, mutants and eternals. Several individuals who reflect the best and worst of all of us, with the obvious conclusion being that maybe we have failed. The first judgment against Captain America hits hard, especially in times like these; but as always, it's the unrelenting fight for survival (with the help of sacrifice and some technicalities) that prevails. For some it might be preachy, but I appreciate how unapologetically honest Gillen is with his views. It's a call to reflect on ourselves, our values and priorities, to try to be better. And at the end of the day, that's what the best superhero stories are supposed to do.

The tie-in are also pretty great! Some of the X-Men ones felt a bit too disconnected but still entertained me. The Spider-Man one lived up to the expectations I got from people, but X-Men: Red is probably the best one. Aside from everything written by Gillen, that's just top-tier stuff.

"We cannot judge a species in a single day. Judgment is ongoing. Your mistakes are cumulative. You should remember that every day when you wake up in the morning, perhaps today is the day the species goes too far, and the Earth is doomed. Act accordingly. Every day is Judgment Day."