X-Men, Vol. 1: Homecoming

X-Men (2024)

by Jed MacKay, Ryan Stegman (Artist), J.P. Mayer (Inker)

Collects X-Men (2024) #1-7.

From the ashes of the Krakoan era, a new age begins for the X-Men! Krakoa is gone, Orchis has fallen - but the X-Men remain, always. Cyclops leads, because that is what he does. Beast builds, because that is what he does. And from their new home in Alaska, the X-Men raise a flag of defiance. Mutant business is their business. Join Scott, Hank, Magneto, Psylocke, Kid Omega, Temper, Magik and the unstoppable Juggernaut as new forces in the world move into position, battling for the destiny and philosophy of the mutant species. And when a crisis arises in San Francisco, the X-Men must test their mettle against an entire invading alien fleet! But how did they come to possess their HQ, the Factory, and how difficult of a position does that put them in? Plus: The shocking return of Trevor Fitzroy and the Upstarts!

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

168 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 11, 2025

Reviews

[Sean Gibson · Rating 4 out of 5]

Better than I'd hoped, even if Cyclops inexplicably looks like he's 14.

[Molly™☺ · Rating 3 out of 5]

The start of a new era for the X-Men after the end of Krakoa. Scott Summers leads what can only be described as a ragtag bunch comprised of Juggernaut, Beast, Magneto, Psylocke, Magik, Kid Omega, and Temper as they search for mutants who have had their gene triggered as adults. Whilst the team is a far cry from some of the more iconic line ups of time gone by, MacKay does well to make them mesh. However, as this volume is heavily comprised of plot set up, none of the characters get to shine past surface level traits and veiled dynamic potential. It is definitely enough to get people interested, and if the seeds planted are able to sprout, this could be a fantastic X-Men run in the making.

actual rating: 3.5 stars

[Willow Heath]

It's hard to say much about this fresh start to the X-Men status quo, mostly due to how so much of it feels like setup. But also because it's an incredibly stripped-down and action-packed opening arc. MacKay hits the ground running here, giving us massive brawls and plenty of superpowered explosions. It's fun, bombastic, but also full of heart and plenty of setup for a promising story that will surely continue to unfold nicely. I'm strapped in for the ride!

[Brandon Daniels · Rating 2 out of 5]

I am not loving any of the books in the post-Krakoa, from the ashes, era. It feels like a major step back for the franchise. Either way, I have tried to engage with each series in good faith. This one feels the most regressive of all for some reason. I think it’s in no small part due to Ryan Stegman’s art which feels straight out of the early 2010s era of Jason Aaron, Art Adams, Cullen Bunn, etc runs. I was a fan of his Spider-Man stuff, but it’s pretty inconsistent and rushed here.

[Frédéric · Rating 3 out of 5]

An average start, but nothing to be ashamed of. The plot can be read comfortably and may reveal some good surprises in the future. On the other hand, I don't like Stegman or Diaz. Not that they're bad, but their semi-cartoony style isn't really suited to the story.

[Khurram · Rating 3 out of 5]

An okay start to the new X-MEN series. I have yo say most of my favourite X-MEN and in the Uncanny version, but Psylock/Kwannon and Magik made this book worthwhile for me.

A lot has happened. Krakoa has fallen, mutants are hated and feared even more than before, and Cyclops has assembled a team that would resemble X-Force more than the usual X-MEN. What has forced Scott Summers to this path?

This book provides some answers but not many. There are a lot of characters and their motivation to get through this series. There are plenty of fights to keep the book interesting. This book is more opening the box than setting up the pieces. I am hoping there is a lot more to come in this book. I have faith in Jeb Mackey. The book finishes with a varient covers gallery.

[James DeSantis · Rating 3 out of 5]

Similar to Jed's Avengers run it's never bad, has some great MOMENTS but overall kind of misses the mark on what makes his work so good.

I will admit I like Juggernaunt here, Magik, and Cyclops but Beast is a total bore, and I didn't really understand or care why magneto was there and what he was doing. The villains are okay at best, and nothing to write home about. I think the main issue is for every epic moment, we have alot of just "Okay" moments that don't hit the highs I was hoping.

So I like it enough but honestly Ultimate X-Men is the best X-Men title currently out.

[Paxton Holley · Rating 4 out of 5]

And so begins the new era of X-Men. I actually read the six issues separately, I’m just logging it under the trade because it’s easier.

Jed MacKay. I tell you what, his writing just has a sensibility and tone that I vibe with. His runs on Black Cat and Dr Strange are some of my favorite stories EVER. Even his Avengers is really good.

I’m really liking this take on X-Men. The art is cool and different too. Great read.

[Adam Fisher · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great start to the "From the Ashes" era of X-Men! (About to go straight through all the Volume 1's before going back to other titles. Missed my X-Books!)
Highlights:
- New Team: Cyclops, Magneto, Psylocke, Juggernaut, Magik, Beast, Kid Omega, Glob, and Temper; all set up in a partial destroyed/restored Sentinel factory in Alaska
- Returns from Trevor Fitzroy and Sugar Man
- Flashback to the "Iron Night", where a Sentinel attacked the town where Cyclops and others were hiding out. Saving the town got them the Factory, but also gave Magneto R-LDS (Regeneration Linked Degenerative Sickness). This could be a huge issue from the normally many times resurrected former Krakoans
- The primary story deals with the X-Men reacting to and finding new mutants, although these are manifesting way after puberty. They seem to be connected with a new villainous group called 3K. Shadowy members shown off, but one confirmed, Cassandra Nova.

Looking forward to seeing how this book links with the others, and what we are in store for. I already know the "From the Ashes" run only covers for a while, then it moves on to the highly anticipated "Age of Revelation" and "X-Men of Apocalypse".

This Volume is a good place to start. Recommend.

[Dakota Morgan · Rating 4 out of 5]

A really strong start to the post-Krakoan era of the X-Men. Cyclops leads a team out of Alaska, determined to find and save mutants, with a particular focus on those who are unexpectedly manifesting abilities later in life. Also around: Magneto, who has been mysteriously reduced (by a post-resurrection wasting disease? Fortunately, Beast is on the case as a researcher - though I guess he's lost a step since this is a pre-evil version of Beast...).

Jed MacKay isn't working with his usual fast and furious pacing here, which is appreciated. There's some real world-building going on! But each issue also offers a fun one-and-done adventure that feels more classic X-Men than a lot of the Krakoa stuff. (And I liked the Krakoa stuff!) All the character work is superb and the ominous 3K group (featuring Cassandra Nova as a member!) has me engaged for future volumes. My only really criticism is with Ryan Stegman's art, which (while really good!) feels more suited to sinewy Venom comics than the realism of the X-Men.

[MoonKnight · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoying catching up with these characters!

[C.T. Phipps · Rating 4 out of 5]

X-MEN 2024 has Scott Summers and Magneto moving to the wilds of Alaska in order to live in an old Sentinel processing plant while their old mansion is converted into a prison by a much of mutant-hating bigots. That's some pretty heavy stuff for the people who used to be sitting on the tropical beaches of Krakoa and enjoying polycules. The Alaskans being mostly okay with the X-men and the government harrassing them regardless of their doing their own thing is enjoyable to contrast.

[Tyler Jenkins · Rating 4 out of 5]

“From the Ashes - A New Beginning” is off to a pretty solid start! It pains me to see mutants scattered across the globe and fighting just to exist yet again but part of it feels so simple again. Just small groups dealing with their own thing, easier to read each issue without worrying about how it connects to the other series. I like the team that’s assembled in this corner of the mutant side of Marvel, and their new home is pretty metal (pun intended and also just quite literally), living out of a former Sentinel factory this team rushes to the sites of newly activated mutants to get them to safety so they may learn how to use their power. I’m curious to see how this continues with a mystery villain activating latent mutant powers in humans.

[Jason · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5
I haven't been impressed. The characterization is all wrong--the art is an extension of that. Why does Cyclops look like a teenager? The whole cartoony style doesn't work.

Cyclops is petty. Magik is usually way more interesting. She's generic now. Did they undo all of Quentin's Krakoa character development? Temper (terrible name) is a terrible, one note person. I don't care about her at all. Juggernaut is there.

Disappointing. Beast is at least interesting. Potential that I feel will not pan out well after the evil Beast debacle (which was fantastic).

[Paul · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.7 stars

[Cade · Rating 4 out of 5]

love that cyclops is in the spotlight #peak

[Anna Quilter · Rating 3 out of 5]

from the various titles launched after the fall of Krakoa..this is the one to read.

[Kamiab Ghorbanpour · Rating 3 out of 5]

Omg! Kid Omega is now gen z and infinitely more annoying!

[Gabriel · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thoughts: This was fine.
As more time passes, I think I'm simply a Wolverine fan rather than a true X-Men fan.

I haven't kept up with X-Men and so if you're like me, I don't think this is a good starting point. There is a lot of context I'm missing and so maybe it ruined the experience, but there also isn't much happening. Being plot heavy is fine, but no one ever stands out and in 7 issues, there really isn't any big moments.

6/10

[Alex Sarll]

I went into this with low expectations. Jed MacKay has written a number of Marvel solo series, most notably Moon Knight, which sneakily become team books – but his only overt team book, the current Avengers run, is often a lifeless trudge, all epic battles and no personality. Well, not so here, where yes, there's the odd character who hasn't come alive yet (mentioning no names, Xorn), but they're safely in the background, and the treatment of the others makes one confident that soon enough they'll be shuffled to the front of the deck with interesting results. It helps, of course, that this team has so many of the best mutant characters, the ones where the end of Krakoa leaves them in the most potentially interesting positions, like Cyclops, raised since boyhood as figurehead and war leader, now struggling to cope with the dream having fallen once again; or Quire, still going through the enfant terrible motions, but unable to put his heart into it after years of craziness, trauma and repeated resurrection. Magik is doing her best not to let on how good she is; Idie, once the innocent even in a book called Generation Hope, is now the most soured of the lot. True, Magneto's status quo doesn't align at all with where he was left, but the broken lion portrayal here still resonates, the great mutant freedom fighter still somehow just as terrifying without his powers. As for the team being based in a defunct Sentinel factory, accepted by Scott in settlement for his appalling treatment by Orchis, but still regarded with suspicion by both the local town and the Federal authorities – that's a classic MacKay character 'fuck you' vibe. No, the problem here is the art. I've never quite got the fuss around Ryan Stegman, but I don't remember him being this bad, somewhere between Humberto Ramos and Art Adams if they were both rubbish. Cyclops looks about 12, such that people initially assumed that between cloning and time travel, he was meant to be the kid version*; Beast, whose new set-up might be the most interesting of the lot, has ended up cadaverous and reptilian instead of fluffy. It's not bad enough to stop me reading, but I'll be crossing my fingers for as many fill-in issues as possible.

*Much like the weird misuse of Scott's optic blast on the cover, something mirrored within the story where his visor keeps giving off red wisps like a smoking gun, this contributed to a situation where editor Tom Brevoort had to explain what was supposed to be going on in his newsletter. For the launch issue of his entire range. This being the same Tom Brevoort who in that same newsletter will often pick apart the failings of other covers, his own early work included. Contributing to my suspicion that the whole business of reassigning him to the X-books might have been a way of taking him down a peg by letting him mess up with characters to which he's not so well suited as the Avengers and FF.

[Eskana · Rating 5 out of 5]

I tuned out most of the Krakoan era... I wasn't about to get emotionally involved when the mutants *yet again* try to make a go of an independent island nation (third time's the charm?). I said I'd be back once it blew up in their faces, so here I am. To be honest, I was keeping tabs during the Krakoan era, enough to basically know the broad strokes of what was going on.

And honestly, this is a pretty good jump back into business-as-usual for the mutants! It's both refreshing and somewhat relaxing(?) to get back to the old mutants and X-book formula I know. I don't think you could even recommend this to new readers, since there are multiple references to past events that don't involve major characters, and new readers wouldn't know who most of the characters are. Still, the art was solid, the pacing great, and I liked the variety of each issue... despite the fact that most involved some kind of altercation, I liked that there was different settings, different issues to address, different kinds of missions, and different members in the field. It was probably good that there wasn't too much focus on any particular character; the focus is very much on the team, and threats to the teams, the abilities of this very talented team, and its dynamics. Honestly, what else can you ask for in a team book?

Plot Overview: Following the fall of Krakoa, mutants are once again persona non grata in most countries, and the X-men have been divided into multiple groups who seem friendly with each other but not really coordinated. This title focuses on Scott Summer's team, based on a factory in Merle, Alaska, which formerly manufactured Sentinels. Scott's team includes: Quentin Quire, Psylocke (Kwannon), Magik, Juggernaut, Beast, Magneto, Idie/Temper, Xorn, and Glob Herman, as well as any other mutants they rescue. They also have apparently the only working Cerebro.

The team is very much getting established, but so many of these members are experienced that it feels very smooth and controlled (especially with Cyclops in the lead), but new enemies and old ones seem to be popping up. In this volume, we see Cyclops having tense meetings with O*N*E (the U.S. office of National Emergency), the Upstarts, and a new group known as 3K who seems to be able to activate the X-gene (and mutant powers) in adults. At the same time, some characters (primarily Idie) are dealing with their place in the new order. It is also clear that the Krakoan resurrection protocols had aftereffects; some mutants (such as Magneto) have lost control of their powers, and Beast is trying to solve this issue.

Characters: I would say that Cyclops and Idie take most of the stage in this collection, but there is plenty of team action; in fact, there is probably one major encounter per issue. Cyclops only seems to take centerstage since he is the team leader, and so naturally involved in most of the action. He comes off as cool, confident, and ready to tackle anything: classic Cyclops. He's even able to tolerate and direct Quentin Quire, so... bravo.
Quentin is annoying as usual, Magik is snarky, Cain is his usual meat-head self, and Psylocke is professional. Glob and Xorn barely show up at all. Psylocke is there, and gets a little scene to herself, but mostly is just in the background.
Idie is dealing with being one of the few mutants who doesn't miss Krakoa, and feels that the X-men have left her down. This seems to be related to her being placed in Krakoa's Pit. She is struggling to really be part of the team and will follow orders, but also do her own thing.
Magneto doesn't show up much either, but offers some words of wisdom and emphasizes the urgency in finding the cure for his condition... which could affect anyone who was resurrected. I'm not sure what happened to Beast, but apparently this is some kind of clone or resurrected version who doesn't have the full memories or experience of a prior version. He is frustrated at his lack of knowledge but is doing his best.

Issue-by-Issue Synopsis:
#1- The sheriff of Merle comes to visit the X-men factory and is toured around by Beast, who surprises her with the ordinary things they are doing there (like growing plants, etc.) since the townsfolk were afraid of them a bit. Just when she is feeling at ease, Magneto shows up and reminds her that if they are threatened, the X-men will fight back.
At the same time, Cyclops is leading a field team consisting of Quentin, Magik, Psylocke, Idie, and Juggernaut to rescue Logan, who had been scouting on the island of Santo Marco and trying to find 6 new mutants who had been identified by Cerebro when he was captured by mysterious assailants. The team break him out and fight against the guards, only to realize that the guards- full grown adults- ARE the new mutants. Cyclops offers to help them, but they refuse. They fight them but the guards are teleported away. The team returns to base, where Logan says he doesn't want to be involved with the X-men. It is revealed to the reader that the new mutants were sent by a group called 3K, headed by 4 people identified only as "the Zealot," "the Doctor," "the Means," and "the Chairman."

#2- Cerebro picks up a new mutant signal in San Francisco, which also seems to be under an alien invasion. Scott, Quentin, Magik, Idie, Juggernaut, and Psylocke attempt to fight off the aliens and find the new mutant. It turns out that the mutant has reality-warping powers and is creating the aliens himself. The new mutant, Ben Liu, is convinced he was abducted by aliens. He is another of the new mutants who is an adult. The team is able to fake his death and take him back to base.

#3- Scott heads to Merle to meet with Agent Lundquist of O*N*E. While there, they discuss- and argue- about the X-men's position in Alaska. Lundquist is upset about the events in San Francisco, not only because the X-men are operating as a rescue/military group, but also since a video clip of Scott online makes it seem like he said that the mutant gene is spreading, like a disease, and infecting people. Scott refuses to be pushed around and essentially threatens Lundquist with the fact that, if pushed too hard, his X-men will become more like the Brotherhood.
At the same time, agents of O*N*E infiltrate the factory to destroy Cerebro, but the team catches them and prevents it.

#4- A group known as the Upstarts posts on social media, claiming that they will kill a mutant in a livestream. They find a new mutant (again, an adult) in Detroit and attack her. Since Scott needs to oversee a psychic mission going on at the time, he sends Idie, Magik, Beast, and Juggernaut to deal with it. They rescue Jennifer, although the Upstarts still manage to get video footage and edit it to make the X-men not only look bad but look like they lost the fight. It turns out the Upstarts are working for someone called the Sugar Man.

#5- Meanwhile, Psylocke and Quentin are on a psychic mission to wake up Ben Liu, the new mutant who was brought back to the factory and who has been in a coma since #2, and to find out what caused his mutation. In his mind, they encounter psychic defense that make it difficult for them, but with Quentin's power and Psylocke's expertise, they are able to break through. They discover that 3K activated Ben's powers, and that Cassandra Nova is one of them.

#6- A group of protestors forms outside the factory. Idie sees a young girl signal to her, and thinks that the girl may be a mutant. The girl, Piper, lives with her mother, who is one of the protestors and who dislikes mutants, believing that they are spreading a "mutant disease." Idie and Magik go to talk to her, and secretly bring her back to the factory for testing and to meet people so she can realize that mutants aren't bad.

#7- This one bounces back and forth between the present and the Iron Night, the night that a wild sentinel attacked Merle and Scott and Magneto stopped it, saving the town. It turns out that Scott was already there, staying at a family cabin, and Magneto found him there. When the sentinel showed up, they defeated it together, although it became clear (to Scott) that Magneto's powers were on the fritz.
Meanwhile, in the present, Piper's tests come back negative, but we later see the girl's hand change shape while she's asleep.
Lastly, Beast is on his way to a cafe in town when he is kidnapped.

[Andres Pasten · Rating 3 out of 5]

Un 3,5 parte bien. Está en racha MacKay

[Joey Nardinelli · Rating 5 out of 5]

I can imagine people will be frustrated with this for reasons I am also a bit frustrated — the Krakoan Age had its share of problems, between big ideas and a lot of wheel spinning that started to feel tedious at times, boring at others. However, the (H)ops lurking within made the series sufficiently compelling for me, and there were some genuinely fascinating storylines by more than just Hickman. Having to be the first go at a new series that attempts to pick up some of the pieces of that multi-year arch and then still do something fresh and new is a challenge, and yet I think McKay and his various artists (Stegman, Mayer, and Garcia) are clearly reaching back to aesthetics and storylines of yore. I’m not sure I actually ever finished the Grant Morrison run from over a decade ago, but this clearly feels like an extension of that period, and I think it does this in a fairly strong way by being surprisingly focused — there’s some larger world building and allusions to other storylines, but this feels like an intimate, fairly focused X-Men team. The inherent mystery of moving from the end of Orchis to this gives McKay some other storylines fodder, and though I certainly am missing a few characters here, I think this core cast remains fairly compelling.

I like it, it feels familiar and different at the same time, and I’m glad to be getting to the new content finally.

[Jourdy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m currently keeping up with this run through single issue but I’ll log them as the books as they come out. This is the first time I think I’ve fully engaged with X-Men like this and I love it! There’s obviously stuff im picking up as i go since I haven’t done backwards to the beginning of Krakoa yet which makes things a little confusing but that’s just the price of getting into comics sometimes. I’m really enjoying everything from the story to the art so I’m excited to be part of the comics X-Men fans finally!

[Myah · Rating 5 out of 5]

as someone new the x-men, i was tentatively excited for this series. i wouldn’t say i know much about the characters in this run, but already they are winning me over! i’m so excited to see where this goes

[H.C TOWERS · Rating 5 out of 5]

Who doesnt love xmen and after krakatoa it seems more enemies exist and more trouble and I am loving it the writing is great and art style consistent I'm loving it

[Cody Wilson]

I've made a general rule of not posting the ridiculous amount of weekly comics I read on here but since I read these six issues of X-Men in one sitting, I figured I'd write up some thoughts.

I notoriously avoid X-Men because the continuity and interconnectivity seems like a nightmare from an outsider's perspective. But, given the recent initiative under editor Tom Brevoort, I've given X-Men another chance to wow me. I've been enjoying Gail Simone and David Marquez's Uncanny X-Men, which channels the "heart on sleeve" melodrama of Chris Claremont. I originally passed on Jed MacKay and Ryan Stegman's X-Men title because I've found MacKay's recent Avengers comics to be slow-paced and uneventful, despite enjoying his writing elsewhere such as Black Cat.

However, I'm a massive Stegman fan (been following his work since Scarlet Spider) so I eventually caved after hearing decent buzz around the book. And I'm glad I did. This X-Men series is fast-paced and chock full of character moments and subplots. Self-contained done-in-ones is the perfect format to start off a new team book. MacKay's scripting of X-Men is clever in a way that's familiar to his Black Cat run but oddly missing from his Avengers.

I understand why hardcore fans of Krakoa X-Men may dislike the book, especially given its backwards-looking appeal to 90s nostagia. But as a new reader who hasn't read any 90s X-Men (and generally doesn't care for 90s comics), these first six issues of MacKay/Stegman X-Men work perfectly well as a jumping on point for me. The few times I dipped my toe into Krakoa, I found it impenetrable. By comparison, MacKay makes sure to establish relevant pieces of continuity, making the series accessible.

The main appeal of X-Men is the dynamic, detailed artwork by Ryan Stegman. He is a powerhouse. While infuenced by 90s artists stylistically, Stegman operates at a higher level of storytelling. He captures crucial moments spot-on with impressive range, from Juggernaut launching himself into alien spaceships to Cyclops crying in a bathroom. I could rave about Stegman all day, but X-Men is a must-read for his fans. Inkers JP Mayer and John Livesay do justice to Stegman's pencils, and colorist Marte Gracia is incredible as always. This is one of the best-looking books on the stands and fans are spoiled to get regular Stegman interiors. Fill-in artist Netho Diaz may not operate at the same level as Stegman, but he maintains the visual tone of the book with competent work.

[Liz (Quirky Cat) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Summary:

Following the fall of Krakoa, many teams have stepped in to pick up the pieces, including the X-Men. Cyclops is at the helm, with Beast, Magneto, Psylocke, Kid Omega, Temper, Magik, and Juggernaut acting as backup.

Scott knows better than most how humanity will react to what the mutants have just gone through (and lost). His team is hoping to find new mutants before they become targets, all while dealing with new threats on the horizon.

Review:

It’s a new era for the X-Men, and only time will tell if that’s for the best. That said, I’m happy to see that Scott is in charge of at least one of the X-Men teams. His team feels a little like coming back home for the X-Men. There are new twists, obviously, but there always will be.

There’s a lot happening, especially in the first volume of the new X-Men series. We have adults spontaneously having their mutant genes triggered, military (read: human) threats, plus whatever is going on with Xavier. Like I said, a lot. It’s a mix of old and new.

The team dynamic is pretty fun, though. It’s one part chaos, one part combative, and one part determined. You can probably guess who falls under which of those descriptors. Some characters, like Temper, have good points to make, so I’m happy to see them around.

There are some really memorable moments from this run, plus a few mysteries they’re probably going to tease at for another issue or two before letting it all kick off. Overall, X-Men Vol. 1 is worth reading, especially if you want to get a basic idea of what is happening in From the Ashes.

Highlights:
From the Ashes
Different Mix of X-Men
Jed MacKay’s X-Men

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[TR Naus · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ryan Stegman and Nethi Diaz give us undeniably high-energy art, but "Homecoming" suffers from a noticeable lack of cohesion. There are panels where the kineticism really captures the "From the Ashes" grit, but these are frequently punctuated by rushed or distorted panels in which character anatomy feels "off," and the linework loses clarity. It runs hot and cold, making for a visual experience that is occasionally distracting rather than immersive.

The run is a return to a familiar X-Men storyline: a small-town base (this time in Merle, Alaska) and a shadowy conspiracy involving newly emerging mutants. It is a "back-to-basics" approach that provides a safe landing spot for the franchise, though it occasionally feels like a retread of Morrison or Bendis eras.

Where the volume truly succeeds is in its smaller, more inventive speculative concepts.

* The Resurrection-Linked Degenerative Disease (R-LDS) is a brilliant narrative consequence of the previous era. It provides a tangible, high-stakes price for "mutant immortality" and adds a layer of biological horror that fits the genre well.

* Modernizing the Upstarts into lethal social media influencers who "kill for clicks" is a clever bit of social commentary. It transforms a dated 90s trope into a relevant contemporary threat, making the villains feel distinct from the usual armored fascists.

Jed MacKay’s strengths and weaknesses as a writer are on full display here. The dialogue is top-tier—the snark and banter between the team members (particularly Magik and Juggernaut) are highlights of the read. However, that sharp voice doesn’t always translate into deep character development. Many of the leads remain static in this volume, functioning more as archetypes than evolving personalities. It is a book that is very fun to listen to, even if the emotional growth isn't quite there yet.

[Shannon Appelcline · Rating 3 out of 5]

Every X-Men comic is going to have a hard row to hoe after Krakoa. That was one of the highest heights of writing for the line ever, and new editor Brevoort's clear disdain for it makes the fallback even more problematic.

MacKay makes the best of that that you can, primarily by actually remembering that Krakoa happened. He properly plays up the repercussions for the Beast, Quentin, and Cyclops at a bare minimum, each affected by the ending in their own way. (A lot of the other characters, especially Illyana and Cain just barely get any characterization, sadly, so hard to say if Krakoa affected them.)

And MacKay also makes good use of continuity. A new, modern look at Fitzroy and the Upstarts is probably the highlight. But there are little bits scattered here and there, touching back both on Krakoa and older days.

But the art is horrible. Cyclops in particular looks like he's about 16.

And there's very little here that's actually new. It's the exact sort of return to old tropes that we all expected when Krakoa got rolled back, even if it's written decently well, unlike the last time Marvel pulled this garbage, in the garbage era of X-Men Blue and Gold. That quality of writing had me wavering toward a 3.5 and a round-up to 4 stars until the last issue which revealed, hey yet another mutant disease because it was so innovative when we did it with M-Pox after too many years of Legacy.

There are apparently no new ideas, at least not with Marvel bringing over literally their longest-serving editor to make sure nothing innovative happens in what could be their most future-looking line (and has been at times, under Morrison and Hickman).

Sigh.