X-Men Red, Vol. 4

X-Men Red (2022) (Collected Editions)

by Al Ewing, Yildiray Cinar (Artist), Federico Blee (Colorist)

The Fall of X changes everything for the new mutant world of Arakko!

As the Brotherhood reels from the cataclysmic events of the third Hellfire Gala, Genesis takes advantage of the chaos — and declares war! Two vast mutant armies clash, and Arakko’s idols fall…but this is only the beginning of a conflict that will remake the Red Planet. And whatever happened to Isca the Unbeaten?

X-Men Red (2022) 14-18

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

144 pages, Paperback

Published March 12, 2024

Reviews

[Baba · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sorry for reviewing three X-Men red books in a row, they were overall so unassuming I forgot to review them!
In a way this is a final volume of this season typifies what was wrong about the Krakoan X-book era as it has a plethora of 'new' Arrakki mutants whom I have not known long enough to care for now they are all caught up in a civil war instigated by Genesis; there are multiple continuity lines and x-people and x-men friends brought into play from the likes of Dr Corbeau(!) through to Nova; and the grand scale of a planetary civil war will never resonate me if it only spans 5-6 comic book issues. The good thing? Well at least Storm is finally portrayed as an omega mutant. The artwork was pants to. Hopefully this is the beginning of the end of me having to endure Arakko content. A Two Star, 5 out of 12 good riddance to the X-Men Red season two, as it's now finished.

2025 read

[Oscar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Didn't know Storm was that powerful!

[Alex · Rating 4 out of 5]

Survival of the fittest on the red planet!

My hats off to Al Ewing, who had the task of making all the weird more warlike mutants on Arrako work, and he did it with all the runway allowed. While some would argue Fall of X didn't extend enough to Arrako, the war for life and death between Storm and Genesis, while rushed, was a blast to read, a real lighting rod.

Taking elements that worked in both X of Swords and the previous volumes, Storm really shines here, showing her omega status against such impossible odds, and I love seeing the return of Big Daddy A, his dream of fittest survival, and how community and brotherhood prove stronger than bravado and the temptation of glory.

I will truely miss this book, the perfect vehicle for Storm, Magneto, and all the unique mutants we got to shine. In a better world, this series would have run for 50+ issues. Long live the brotherhood of Arrako, long live Storm, long live Arrako!

[Tyler Jenkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

X-Men Red continues to prove why is is one of the best stories in this Krakoan Age. While I admit this Arraki Civil War was a bit hard to follow along with I really enjoyed it. A full force super powered civil war. This got bloody and had a lot of destruction and consequences for the Arrako that Storm has been trying to build. I read the previously section at the start of issue #18 and I’m glad I did because I quite literally didn’t remember a single thing from issue #17. This volume is definitely one that deserves a binge rather than a month by month slow release. But it’s all over now and I’m excited to see the Arraki involvement in the Fall of X. The upcoming Resurrection of Magneto series seems very interesting to me. Why is he back? He said he didn’t want to come back. How is he back? Can’t wait to find out.

[Mike · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ve lost my patience with Arakko. I don’t care about their battle-court politics, nor do I want to read more of Ewing’s Tales of the Black Planet (homage to Watchmen’s interstitial history/story pages - but a boring one).

Am I fed up trying to care about the new histories of all these beyond-earth planets and their peoples?

Is it because I know in a year we’ll never hear from Arakko again? These will be another interesting plot fad, forgotten in the bin of endless pages consigned to the bowels of Marvel Unlimited.

Is it because these tales of a war-mongering race, yet another critique of such a silly childish outlook, just end up becoming manifestos for the forlorn and abuse-ready among us?

Is it because they introduce way too many characters at once, making it near impossible to connect with any one of them through the dilute slurry of story?

Or is it because there’s so much talking about tensions I’m just not invested in, and don’t excite me precisely because there’s no one among them that I give a shit about?

It’s like trying to watch the Righteous Gemstones. I love Danny, John, Walton - they’re usually entertaining as fuck no matter how dreadful the script. But watching the most selfish, shitty people and trying to find a moment of sympathy and investment in characters who I’d rather just fell into a volcano? Yeah, just isn’t time I look forward to spending.

So I slogged and skimmed my way through this last book (hopefully?) of Arakko, and I hope it was worth it to see *something* new-to-me told of these eminently-replaceable and interchangeable…what’s the word for those WWE wrestlers who always get beat on (cannon fodder for the stars)?

The best part of Ewing’s Red run is the hype treatment he’s been giving Storm. She never sounds or acts less than a true Omega.

But the finale isn’t earned. It feels like a sudden victory without showing us that it was inevitable (or even probable). When the villain wipes the floor with everyone, then suddenly falters for no reason but plot contrivance, I’m disappointed.

[Brandon Daniels · Rating 4 out of 5]

This volume ends the series, but there is still more to the story in The Resurrection of Magneto. The Arrako bits do seem to be sort of wrapped up here, but there are many threads that still feel like they need to be paid off, and as we near the end of the era, I fear that may never happen.

[Bertazzo · Rating 4 out of 5]

X-Men Red was one of the most unique runs I've ever read.

[Jason · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.75
I didn't love the Genesis War storyline. A bit over the top and melodramatic.

[Rory Wilding · Rating 4 out of 5]

Throughout Al Ewing's run of X-Men Red, it was going through its own narrative, almost entirely outside of the main Krakoan narrative as explored in Gerry Duggan's X-Men and Kieron Gillen's Immortal X-Men. The story that Ewing was telling is about a group of mutants led by Storm trying to make a better world out of Arrako, formerly known as Mars, a planet that was never their's to begin with. Numerous obstacles threaten the peace that Storm and the Brotherhood have been trying to achieve, and with this final volume, is peace finally achieved or the continuous nature of war?

While there is some acknowledgement of the cataclysmic events of the 2023 Hellfire Gala, this volume is to resolve the conflict of Genesis who, along with her children that is the original Four Horseman, attempting to remake the Red Planet in her own image. Essentially a civil war over the course of five issues, there are a lot of moving parts from the amount of characters Ewing is playing and whilst there is the sense of scale through the battles (more on that later), there is a great deal of exposition, including the all-text pages that have often plagued the whole Krakoan Era.

However, Ewing has always been good with intimate character moments, Craig Marshall, the NASA scientist that Storm went on a date during the previous volume, appears in one scene and doesn't really have much of a presence. When it's about Storm and/or Apocalypse, the book shines as the former is the passionate leader who is not willing to compromise her morals to achieve victory, while the latter is more compelling as oddly the former villain trying to turn over a new leaf, even if that means confronting his own family.

Drawing all five issues is Yildiray Çinar, who really delivers on the epic, when it comes to civil war battles featuring a plethora of mutants and aliens clashing with one another. From the multi-layered use of dynamic panelling, the action never feels one-note whilst certain characters display some iconic posing; basically anytime Storm shows why she is the most powerful mutant in display, the imagery is glorious.

As previously stated, a lot happens through this final volume, and whilst there is a climax that does get resolved, there are still some loose ends, which no doubt will be paid off in Fall of the House of X/Rise of the Powers of X. That being said, Al Ewing's X-Men Red was a standout title during the Krakoan Era, certainly a great spotlight for Storm as a central character.

[Dakota Morgan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Civil war breaks out on Arakko, which feels a tad ancillary after the Fall of X business back on Earth. Like, when Sunspot arrives direct from the Hellfire Gala to breathlessly let everyone know that Orchis has nearly destroyed the mutant race, there's a general murmur before attention turns right back to Genesis and her efforts to conquer Arakko. Okay then! NBD, I guess.

The war is painfully truncated - Al Ewing attempts to offer sweeping views of big picture battles, but it mostly just looks like cannon fodder getting chopped up as an appetizer to whatever Storm is going to do. Rightfully so, I guess, since Storm plays a thrilling role in teaming up with Apocalypse to shut down Genesis. (Raising up the landscape into a kaiju was not an outcome I expected - much enjoyed, even if it's deeply silly.)

With the war concluded, it's hard to imagine how Arakko will play into the Fall of X. I mean, the planet is kinda depopulated, so maybe everyone will just lick their wounds while Earth's X-beings sort out Orchis?

[Alex Sarll]

As predicted, things improve massively once Sunspot returns from Earth; the scene with him recounting the terrible news from the Gala carries more emotional weight than Arakki tiffs ever could, and as we get into the civil war proper, even bloody Nova is easier to care about than the cannon fodder on the ground. OK, I couldn't resist a chuckle at the Great Ring being offered access to Uranos, but Storm's squaring of that circle just feels like another in the long list of questionable choices she's made since moving to Mars. Yes, the war is ultimately resolved by a pretty cool bit of business, but at the end of this slog through the differences between hardline boring primordial mutants and reformed boring primordial mutants, mostly I just find myself wondering about all the extra SWORD issues we could have had instead.

[Benji Glaab · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars

What a gnarly ride. This feels like an overall good conclusion, though Ewing has left the door open for another chapter on Arrako. The art is excellent throughout, and there are plenty of extra text to help get the info across to the reader. There is no doubt that I personally need some hand holding, and Ewing is always good on that front.

Orroro is front and center in her full Omega glory. The rest of the lesser known cast unfortunately kind of fades into the background throughout this run. There is plenty of action to back things up in these issues even if the character work is lacking for me.

This is kind of an up and down run for me, but know there is a payoff in this volume, and we weren't being led along.

[Matt Sautman · Rating 5 out of 5]

X-Men Red vol. 4 delivers on the cliffhanger left in the previous volume, culminating in a fitting conclusion to the Arakko side of conflicts in the ongoing Fall of X event.

[Michael Church · Rating 2 out of 5]

I had been really loving the X-Men Red story so far with the development of Arakko, but this volume especially lost its footing. I get the sense some of this had to do with editorial dictating the timing of the Hellfire Gala and the pivot into Fall of X, but I could be completely wrong. These issues take place over several weeks and Storm and Sunspot are entirely removed from the rest of the X-Men for that time. I get that there are responsibilities on Arakko, but the Gala was a huge blow that they seem to ignore in favor of a civil war with Genesis.

At this point, I don’t love what Arakko has done for the X-Men line. Some characters were interesting, but ended up fading to the background - Fisher King, Lactuca, Sobunar, even ones that got a focus for a time like Khora and Zsen were pushed aside while we got strange moments with Nova and some random Guardians of the Galaxy characters and a spotlight on Kovak Neverheld and Jon Ironfire. Which, Ironfire in particular had an awesome design that is just completely fumbled in this volume. The changes are somewhat minor - hair, the angle of his horns, some of his outfit - but they take him from immediately cool and iconic to just kind of edgy and over designed, in my opinion at least.

The resolution and the story confused me, too, but Al Ewing is great, so maybe I’m just too dumb to get it. A third living island is created, but I’m not sure how, or how it relates to Krakoa, Arakko, or Okkara. Yet it’s narrated like it’s some significant occurrence. Maybe that there is creation out of destruction or wherever mutants gather there can be a home? Also, the resolution with Genesis and Annihilation is completely unsatisfactory. So Genesis truly is evil? And Annihilation is destroyed but still influencing her? And how did Nightcrawler wind up in that jar?

As the final issue of a series, even knowing there’s a follow up in Resurrection of Magneto, I really struggled to find any satisfaction with it.

[Joey Nardinelli · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think I maybe have overrated some of the Arrako-based stories simply because I love the grandiosity of their mythologizing and some of the visuals are wild — a Man-Thing-looking monstrous formation of an island fighting the Arakko-faced island monster, only to reach a terminus through a hug and embracing the other. Apocalypse in exile just…suddenly returns, and Death, after sticking it out with his siblings for several arcs, jumps ship pretty abruptly. Same with Fisher King’s offscreen decision with small flashbacks to attempt to flesh out his narrative. And now I guess a chunk of Orchis is gone? The chunk operated by Fei Long…so is he gone too? I wish Ororo felt more connected to all of this too…she just seems to do what the plot needs her too and it doesn’t seem to be enhancing or developing her character all that much?

[Ross · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's the final battle for Arakko
...right in the middle of the Fall of X

Genesis has amassed her forces with the staff of Annihilation. It's whispering sweep promises to all that will listen and turning friends into foes.
=======
Of all the storylines, this one gets a collective shrug. Certain characters I'm curious about. Not surprisingly, it's the mutants from Earth and not the Arakko natives. Exotic (and dull) mutants spouting philosophy? Oh, man. Sign me up.....(for a nap)

Bonus: Apocalypse explains things far better than any random mutant in this series
Bonus Bonus: Sunfire stands upright? Uhhhhh..I thought he....uhhh...there was a LOT of blood

[Chris Lemmerman · Rating 4 out of 5]

Al Ewing brings X-Men Red to a cataclysmic conclusion as Arakko is torn apart by civil war. Apocalypse and Genesis have returned, and it's going to take everyone to make sure there's a planet left at the end.

Ewing's story feels a tiny bit truncated here, and he has to do a lot of telling instead of showing, probably because the scope of the war he's trying to shove into five issues really could do with a bit more space. But it's all told with his usual sweeping dialogue and descriptions, while everyone gets something epic to do, especially Storm.

Fall Of X has been a solid precursor for the end of the Krakoan age, but I will definitely miss books like this in the aftermath.

[Adam Fisher · Rating 3 out of 5]

Since the loss of Magneto, I tend to care very little for what happens on Arakko (Mars). But this Volume is the full story of the "Genesis War", where Genesis (the wife of Apocalypse) makes her play to rule over the planet. Everyone puts their power and faith in Storm, and she saves the day. It's pretty straightforward...
As we enter into the end of the Krakoa Era of X-Books, I wonder what will happen with Arakko and all of that. Guess I'll just have to find out.
Recommend, but you definitely can't just pick this one up and know what is going on.

[Chad · Rating 4 out of 5]

Apocalypse's wife, Genesis, has returned to Arrako bringing Civil War with her with Storm's forces in opposition. There's some cool stuff here as we close out X-Men Red. Storm shows just why she may be the most powerful mutant of them all. All of the weird mutants get a chance to take center stage. If a perfect world, this title would go one for several more years but Marvel has other plans.

[Craig · Rating 3 out of 5]

Krakoa has fallen and it's time for...a civil war on Arakko? I don't know...this seems like kind of a waste of time, not unlike the whole X of Swords fiasco. Did we really need civil war at this point? Better for all mutants to band together and take the fight to Orchis. The art was kind of grainy and a bit sketchy at times throughout this.

[Shannon Appelcline · Rating 4 out of 5]

Ewing does a great job of bringing to an end the plots of not just X-Men Red, but also going back Swords of X. It's a fine finale for this story that we can only hope is respected as we enter the next, degraded phase of the X-Men's history. Much of this is epic plot, at the expense of character, other than a great focus on Ororo (and to a lesser extent Bobby). Still, a lot of fun.

[Andrew · Rating 3 out of 5]

And so ends Red.

It feels a little rushed—probably by the Fall of X timeline.

I think a few more threads deserved weaving before the tapestry was fully admired. But this still proves one of the more enjoyable bits of the Krakoan Era.

I know Ewing writes Mags resurrection: I don't know how much of that will come out of this, but the covers make it look connected.

[Ernesto Jun · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm not going to lie. I'm a bit disappointed, especially comparing it to all the great things that Al Ewing has written before. Maybe he was rushed to resolve the storylines in this book quickly? The big bad never really materialized as that big of a threat and the art never made the stakes big and epic enough to really grasp the gravity and scope of the war.

[Ziyad Baksh · Rating 3 out of 5]

The end of an era

Arrako allowed the X-men to delve into some space fantasy escapades. Ewing does a decent job using the Arraki and all the new players introduced to bring this era to a close on a hopeful note.

[vk chompooming · Rating 3 out of 5]

If u like the X-Men then this story arc was good, but a HUGE storyline was happening parallel to these events which got put n the background. The Fall of X storyline should not have played second-string to X-Men Red vol. 4

[Braulio Valenzuela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Entiendo solo la mitad de lo que pasa en X-Men Red, pero siempre me parece entretenido de leer. Especialmente este volumen con la guerra entre Genesis y Storm me parece super recomendable, pero no va a tener sentido si no leíste Judgement Day o vas al día con Fall of X.

[Fiona · Rating 3 out of 5]

this has been four volumes of me going like "huhhh what is happening" hasn't it :( when they made the new big island monster they really truly lost me. storm's cool though and people seem to have principles but also,,, there's a giant eyeball and flesh spaghetti and talking masks

[Matt · Rating 5 out of 5]

An epic conclusion, stirring, huge, with powerful moral arguments and enormous action pieces, and I even shed a tear at the hopeful scenes in the end. I found the whole Arakko/Amenth stuff impossibly dull in X of Swords but X-Men Red turned them into one of my favorite parts of the Krakoan era.

[Joselyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

Sigo sin ser muy fan de Arakko y aún siento que nunca pude empatizar con la historia ni los personajes. Sin embargo, el estilo de Al Ewing es buenísimo. Es imposible no disfrutar algo que el haya escrito.

[Rafael Suleiman · Rating 4 out of 5]

A very good graphic novel.