Dawn of X, Vol. 14

X-Men: Krakoan Era (Anthology Trades)

by Vita Ayala, Zeb Wells, Ed Brisson

Collects Empyre: X-Men (2020) #3-4, X-Men (2019) #11, Wolverine (2020) #4, X-Factor (2020) #2.

Mayhem and murder in the Dawn of X! The X-Men grapple with the events of EMPYRE! As mutants, plant-people, zombies, demons and senior citizens clash, who will be left standing? Meanwhile, the trees are killing the children, and Magneto won't stand for it! Wolverine seeks solace in the Red Tavern — a snowbound, backwoods watering hole where he only wants to guzzle whiskey in peace. But he'll drink his way straight into a twisting-and-turning mystery with one of his most bitter enemies at its heart! And X-Factor takes the case when a mutant dancer at a prestigious ballet academy disappears. But the clues all point to…the Mojoverse!

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

160 pages, Kindle Edition

First published March 17, 2021

Reviews

[Oscar · Rating 2 out of 5]

Hit or miss with this series.

[Sesana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ignoring the Empyre miniseries again. The other three issues are overall pretty good, but none of them have anything to really set them apart. The X-Men issue is basically a full issue of Magneto appreciation, which I don't have a real problem with in theory. It just didn't have much of a storyline in execution. The Wolverine issue has some good ideas. Wolverine going off by himself to get space from mutant utopia, a support group for people who have been harmed by mutants out for revenge. And then all momentum gets thrown out the window in the last couple of pages. I'm still not entirely sure what I think about X-Factor. It's a good idea for a team, and the writing can be pretty funny, but it may be a bit too quirky. Overall, this volume is fine without being exceptional.

[Adam Stone · Rating 2 out of 5]

The first issue in this collection, which continues the Empyre storyline from the previous volume is a confusing mess of a comic. Characters seem to be in two places at once because the writers couldn't keep track of them, the plant people vs the zombie mutants vs the living mutants vs the Hordeculture ladies overlap is messy and uninspiring. IN the next issue Hickman steps in to clear things up, and it's remarkably better than the issues preceding it, but it's too late for me to care about this plot or how it afffects any of the characters, with the exception of Exploding Boy(?) who gets a nice scene where his zombie self is comforted by his reincarnated self, and The Scarlet Witch who caused half of this mess ... again.

The post-Empyre issue of X-Men throws a bunch of ideas against the wall and none of them stick. Exodus is teaching kids to be pro-Magneto? Ok. An alien who looks precisely like the aliens Jonathan Hickman introduced in his Avengers run a few years ago challenges a mutant to a strategy game, and then we never see them again. The whole issue is pretty much a giant shrug emoji.

The Wolverine and X-Factor issues are both fine but nothing special. While I like the concept of the Wolverine issue: a recovery group of people whose lives were adversely affected by mutants band together to punish Wolverine, the book just doesn't flesh the characters out enough before it tacks into a different wind. The X-Factor in Mojoverse book is another in a long line of examples where Mojo is an ineffective villain whose gag existence should have been ended twenty or thirty years ago.

This isn't a terrible book. It's just not up to par with the beginning of the Dawn Of X run. I fear the whole X-tended X-verse is going to flame out even before it reaches X Of Swords, which seems imminently on the horizon for this series.

[Blindzider · Rating 3 out of 5]

Empyre X-Men - Two issues to wrap up this event tie-in. For the most part it's a hollow action-flick but there is a strange, but sweet moment with Explodey Boy. More hints of future danger, particular with the Scarlet Witch and rumors of a Darkhold book story coming.

X-Men - fantastic. Once again shows how Magneto is a bad-@$$. Magneto finally has what he has always been fighting for, but is this his ego cropping up or not a big deal?

Wolverine - a reread but still pretty good. Logan gets into a really bad spot and it ends on a big cliff-hanger.

X-Factor - still not sure what to think of this series. It has lots of dialogue, fast-paced, back and forth (i.e. internet talk.) Not sure how/why Polaris is like a teenager now. Starting to think I'm way out of the age-range this is written for.

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

the little side-plot with explodey boy was actually very cute??? also leah williams you are my favourite marvel writer x-factor is so good ily ily ily

[Jamie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Three stars all around. Nothing particularly great in this volume, nothing particularly crappy either.

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Magneto & Dr. Strange clean up Scarlet Witch's mess. Wolverine vs. vampires is intriguing.

[Frank Jarome · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m basically reusing a review across this series, as it seems to hold as things go on. Overall it’s a bunch of highs and lows. Some books are consistently excellent (Marauders, X-Force, Wolverine, and it looks like X-Factor & Hellions will join that group) while some are middling to mediocre (Excalibur being the worst of the lot, plus Cable being so-so, and the main X-Men book varying in quality from one issue to the next). I’m still reading, so the overall whole is quality, and the whole setting that they’ve established is still unique and intriguing. It’s like a house of cards that we know is doomed to fall eventually, it’s just a question of when and how)

[Courtney · Rating 5 out of 5]

So I’m not all that impressed with most of the stories in this volume. The art work in a few of the issues was ok. But nothing great about it. Other than Wolverine getting caught and getting ready to meet Dracula. That is going to be one cool meeting!

[Mike McDevitt · Rating 3 out of 5]

Nice work, X-Factor.

[Daniel Butcher · Rating 3 out of 5]

Emprye really didn’t lift this volume up.

[George · Rating 4 out of 5]

Magneto being badass as usual and xfactor being fabulous as expected

[Amanda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Spring 2020 (April);

Dawn of X (Vol. 11-16)
X of Swords (full)
Reign of X (Vol. 1-7)

** As a spoiler warning, do not read this review unless you've read all of the above issues, not just the volume where you've found this review. **

I did a massive multi-volume, multi-arc blitz recently and so I'm going to just drop a lot of what's hot here & going to be copying it down across a million books. My favorite thing literally is now and forever the Polycule going on in Summer House. I love his universe and am certainly very curious about the things still hiding in the shadows.

I'm glad Kitty found her way through that thing. I'm glad we didn't lose Betsy while we were in the other universe where death *sort of* sticks. Excalibur remains the most arrestingly gorgeous art. I'm still not interested in the one and only story comics know how to tell with Beast. I love the whole council and can't stop cooing over Erik as the Left Hand/Charles as the right (and even more so the bits where/how Jean & Scott are off to reform the X-Men #goodboy).

Jeanne & The Twins, in general, are back and I'm super duper in love with that. I really madly adore that there isn't any vast soap opera drama with any relationships or old bad blood that can't be given a new chance in Krakoa. There's such a breath of fresh air reading a lot of the choices Hickman and his writers have made.

[Hanieh · Rating 3 out of 5]

4/5
Sooo i really have a lot to catch up on before the judgment day.... Wish me luck!
Well it was certainly better than the previous on.
Empyre: X-Men (2020) #3-4
3.5/5
Is it just me or the X-Men are the best part of these cross overs?
It was sad but the story held on pretty well.
I loved the talk between Wanda and Strange. And all the feels... Also the dialogue was so well written.

X-Men (2019) #11
4/5
Am I here for the Magneto worship?
Yessssss
He has been one of the most consistent and most influential people in Krakoa. And all together we deserved a good Magneto story. All together the DoX X-Men seems to be holding up pretty well.

Wolverine (2020) #4
3/5
I'm a bit confused i guess because some problems are still there that i thought had been settled. The issue was good but I'm still waiting to see where it's going.

X-Factor (2020) #2
2/5
I don't understand why it's not getting better.
Just underwhelming, this one.

[Matt · Rating 2 out of 5]

Collects Empyre: X-Men (2020) #3-4, X-Men (2019) #11, Wolverine (2020) #4, X-Factor (2020) #2

Here's the concept for "Empyre: X-Men" - Trying to make up for M-Day, Scarlet Witch attempts to resurrect the victims at Genosha. Instead she raises up a horde of zombie mutants. Mix that with "Empyre," and you get Plants vs. Zombies, but unfortunately, "Empyre" is so far in the rear-view mirror of my reading, that I had a hard time not skimming through those issues.

"X-Men" Issue #11 also ties into the 'X of Swords" event.

"X-Force" has interesting concepts to explore, but with a group of characters that I don't care about.

"Wolverine" is getting worse.

Here is my ranking of the issues in this collection:

1. X-Men (2019) #11
2. X-Factor (2020) #2
3. Wolverine (2020) #4
4. Empyre: X-Men (2020) #3-4

[luciddreamer99 · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Magneto story in this volume is a really good read, and Magneto has been a strong character for Dawn of X. The Empyre story stands on its own, and you don't need to read the rest of the Empyre events to grasp the story. As I said in the review for Dawn of X Vol. 13, I still may read the other Empyre issues. The Wolverine story in this issue is pretty good, too, but I was confused by Wolverine mentioning memory gaps. I thought he remembered everything now? Perhaps this is a new development for Dawn of X. Only the X-Factor entry keeps me from giving this 5 stars. It's an okay enough offering, but I might be tired of Mojo as a villain. I do like the little baby Warwolf, though.

[Martijn Van · Rating 3 out of 5]

X-Men: Empyre #3: Okay actions and cameos 3☆
X-Men: Empyre #4: Nice dynamics between Dr. Strange and Scarlett Witch. Loved the Exploded Boy dialogue, 4,5 ☆
X-Men #11: This is okay, and i liked the whole Magneto worshipping. But at the same time this main X-serie start to feel like the universes sidestory, building and glueing without ever going somewhere on it's own. 3☆
Wolverine #4: Wolverine meets 30 days of night and i liked it
X-Factor #2: Didn't feel that much for the characters and the mojoverse is fun but it also falls flat because i could'nt care. Would've worked better as a New Mutants story. 2☆

Overall score: 3,3☆

[M.L.D. · Rating 4 out of 5]

Empyre #3 -- *cries* how many issues of this do I have to endure? 2/5

Empyre #4 -- okay, I actually like the scenes between Zombie Explodey Boy and Human Explodey Boy, and it was nice to see the conclusion to Wanda's plot thread from issue 1 4/5

X-Men #11 -- I do really like how Hickman writes Magneto 5/5

Wolverine #4 -- So conflicted about this. I actually like the art and tone, that noir aesthetic suits Wolverine, I think. But...vampires. *sigh* I know vampires are a thing in the Marvel universe, but ugh. Not my cup of tea. However...not many vamps in this one. 5/5

X-Factor #2 -- X-Factor! My poor cancelled baby. Love this title. 5/5

[Judah Radd · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some good, and some meh.

The Empyre tie-ins weren’t horrible. In fact, some parts were really interesting. The X-Men main title story (which was really just another Empyre tie in) was actually super cool. I really dug it.

Wolverine #4 was some badass, hard edged killer shit, and I definitely likes it alot.

X-Factor committed the greatest mutant sin possible; it involved the Mojoverse, which is guaranteed to bore the hell out of me. And it did. Getting through that issue was a struggle, especially after the bloody and dark beauty of Wolverine.

Anyway, my mission to read all post Krakoa mutant stuff continues.

[Rocky Sunico · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book starts off with more of the Empyre crossover stuff, but I felt like the Magneto bit was definitely one of the stronger aspects. It was really more of a character study of him in this new world for mutants, but using their conflict with the alien invaders as a more impressive setting.

The wolverine issue was intriguing but not strong enough on its own.

X-Factor was an interesting setup, but again not enough to really push things.

So this was a volume with limited coherence outside the Empyre stuff. But that Empyre stuff was solid and pretty fun.

[Jase · Rating 4 out of 5]

X-Factor has Aurora resurrected and the connection to what's happening is drawing near, Mojo.
Empyre issues have Wanda trying to fix her NO MORE MUTANTS with a spell that resurrected the dead mutants of Genosha as zombies and an alien plant life invasion also. I love the old ladies but this plant monster is weird.
X-Men is only s small portion of the creature battle with most of the premier team.
skipped Wolverine issue, looked ugly.

[Charles Korb · Rating 4 out of 5]

This wins my award for favorite cover of the Dawn of X books, with omega red holding Wolverine under the ice.

The Empyre story is kinda fun with Explodey boy talking to his zombie self

The magneto campfire story was a lot of fun but I guess I'd have to read the rest of the cross over to find out what happens after the last page, which I'm not going to do do lol.

As for x-factor, updating the mojoverse for a new generation of streaming and #content was great.

[Raul Reyes · Rating 3 out of 5]

X-men: 3
truly what was the point of making magik her demon self (i think) if they were just going to make the curse have a time limit. Some fun zombie action tho

Wolverine: 3.5
Interesting concept, but they didn’t really give us deep insight into Wolverine’s mind

X factor: 3
Mojoworld is interesting I guess

[Sina Tavousi Masrour · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed this for the most part. X-Factor is a bit uninteresting and I'm glad the Empyre event is over. Although we got some good stuff at the tail end of that fiasco.

It's somewhat laughable that some issues are dealing with philosophical concepts while some other writer came up with a Plant vs Zombies vs X-Men idea. I guess some parts of Marvel comics will always be stupid.

[Afreen Aftab · Rating 3 out of 5]

Empyre: X-Men (2020) #3-4 - 3.5/5 (explodey boy made me sad :(! )
X-Men (2019) #11 - 3.5/5 (dont get this issue)
Wolverine (2020) #4 - 4/5 (classic wolverine love it)
X-Factor (2020) #2 - 3/5 (meh)

[Carl Printer · Rating 2 out of 5]

At least the Empyre bit is over and done. Not as excited for the Wolverine solo…would’ve been nice for the pushback against The Quiet Council to come from a less obvious choice. The only bright spot on this cold winter day was the saturated, Saturday-Morning art of the Mojoverse.

[Malum · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Empyre crossover ending is extremely contrived, but it was fun getting there. Also, if X-Factor doesn't get any better I'm just going to start skipping it.

[Sarospice · Rating 2 out of 5]

The X-Men make the best of the Empyre fiasco. The start of a cool Wolverine idea. The start of a terrible X-Factor adventure.

[Sonic · Rating 3 out of 5]

In general I love this series and what they are doing/trying to do with an overarching aspect/premise for Mutantdom.

Is Jonathan Hickman the Wes Anderson of mutant superheroes?

[Bekka · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved the Wanda and Stephen talk, and all of the Illyana parts of this!
TW for talk of death, explosions, zombies, grief, death, guilt, violence, blood, murder attempts, one case of beheading.