Reign of X, Vol. 13

X-Men: Krakoan Era (Anthology Trades)

by Gerry Duggan (Writer), Tini Howard (Writer), Pepe Larraz (Illustrator)

The Hellfire Gala is out of this world as the Reign of X evolves! Mutantkind has a homeland at last, but now they're claiming their own planet. It's time for fireworks, and the highlight of the show is the newly terraformed Mars! It even has its own S.W.O.R.D. station to protect it - but as "Planet Arakko" enters the galactic stage, who will be its queen? X-Corp has a board to staff - which means CXOs Monet and Angel must network on the dance floor, shaking hands and mending fences. The New Mutants are dressed up for getting down - but not everyone is on their best behavior, and someone may face their last dance! Meanwhile, Wolverine and X-Force keep the peace…with help from Deadpool?! Collecting PLANET-SIZE X-MEN #1, X-CORP #2, NEW MUTANTS (2019) #19, WOLVERINE (2020) #13 and S.W.O.R.D. (2020) #6.

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

160 pages, Paperback

First published August 23, 2022

Reviews

[Adam Stone · Rating 3 out of 5]

Reign Of X Volume 13 is a step up from the last few Reign Of X books, but is it enough to hook me into picking up the forthcoming Trials Of X books? I don't know.

This volume takes place, like volume 12, during the Hellfire Gala and continues some of its storylines.

Planet Sized-X-Men #1 is a cosmic level issue that shows the mutants terraforming Mars in order to house the Arrakan mutants. (If that sentence makes no sense to you, I'm envious.) It's got some fun character moments, and it's clearly an important part of the upcoming X-books. 3/5*

X-Corp #2 is intriguing. I like the inter-mutant political issues, the use of many Madroxes, and just the general sharp dialogue of Tini Howard. I'm really glad Howard is on more than just Excalibur, because I've stated before, I'm not a fan of the book but I think it's an issue of not caring about that corner of the Marvel Universe, and it's no reflection on Howard's ability. She is killing it on X-Corp. 4/5*

On the flip side of this, I don't think I'm going to come around on Vita Ayala. I find her work stiff and uninteresting. I don't think she's good at writing multi-dimensional characters, and I think her dialogue is rooted in 80s Marvel, which isn't a style I'm nostalgic for. I checked out of this issue several times while trying to read it. Alex Lins art is at least appropriately goofy for this title. 2/5*

Wolverine #13 picks up an early thread from volume 12 and runs with it. I've been waiting to see what they were going to do with the Terra Verdeans, and I wasn't completely disappointed with the results here. I do enjoy that the Wolverine title is pretty much just an extension of the X-Force title, I think that works really well. 4/5*

SWORD #6 was another cosmic level issue, focused on the reprecussions from Planet Sized X-Men #1. Apart form the epilogue, which I thought was very touching, I didn't connect with the plot of the issue (cosmic politics aren't my thing) but Ewing at least draws me in with his strong character work and tight dialogue. 3/5*

I'm still not sure if I'm going to stay commited to reading these books, but I'm a little more interested than I was before reading this, so there's hope.

[Michael Hicks · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is the midway point of the three Hellfire Gala books that close out the Reign of X anthologies of the Krakoan Era and it makes some wonderfully bold maneuvers kicking off with Planet-Size X-Men #1. Marvel’s merry mutants are no longer content with holding their own with the nation-state island of Krakoa and set their eyes to the stars, terraforming Mars and situating mutantkind as the head of a new interstellar government. It’s an awesome start that only gets better by book’s end as S.W.O.R.D. #6 introduces us to the Reagent of Mars, has a wonderful scene between Doom and Captain America that I can only hope one day makes its way into the MCU, and gives Abigail Brand an incredible pirate costume for the Gala that I wish were her standard outfit from here on out.

I know I’m way behind on these books, with the Fall of X currently in progress and only a few months away from its grand finale, but, man, I’m gonna miss the Krakoan Era when it’s gone. I wish Marvel editorial wasn’t so hellbent on ending this redefining X-age in an effort at making it more familiar and in-synch for potential readers coming into the comics by way of the animated X-Men ‘97 and the eventual MCU relaunch because what Hickman and company have done is so damn invigorating and special. But Marvel’s gonna Marvel, so I guess we just have to look forward to the same-old, same-old come From the Ashes. Maybe I’ll get lucky and be proven wrong. At least I hope so.

[Joselyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Otra joya. Todos los números me gustaron muchísimo. Mi favorito fue New Mutants, pues a pesar de la vasta cantidad de personajes recurrentes en sus números todos están bien construidos y son interesantes de leer. Además, su trama siempre combina elementos juveniles que son tanto divertidos como profundos de una forma magistral. Este número, en específico, se mantuvo sobre esa constante y de una forma aún más dramática que me dejó muy sorprendida. Me place mucho que los escritores siempre se las ingenien para mantener el interés e innovar con las historias de esta serie.

El tema de Arakko también estuvo increíble. Todo el proceso de colonización y la aparición de Storm como regente me encantaron. También me fue muy cautivador el dilema que esto suscitó en los demás personajes no mutantes como Doctor Doom y el Capitán América. Siempre es digno de apreciación cuando los escritores de los X-Men no caen en el vicio de mal caracterizar a estos personajes no recurrentes.

En sí, la idea de tener a los mutantes fuera de la Tierra no es una que inicialmente me haya sido muy atrayente pero, ahora que finalmente estoy leyendo como se desenvuelve este asunto me he llevado una grata sorpresa.

Finalmente, ese final de S.W.O.R.D. con Magneto y Wanda fue de lo mejor. De esas cosas que sabes que acabaran mal una vez más pero por las que, aún así, no puedes evitar emocionarte. Se sintió como la calma antes de la tormenta.

[Paulo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Collection:
Planet-Size X-Men #1
X-Corp #2
New Mutants #19
Wolverine #13
S.W.O.R.D. #6

Planet-Size X-Men #1
Wow! Just wow! Absolutely shocked and completely in awe of this development. The artwork is fascinating. The new planet of Arakko (and, now, knowing what that means intergalactically) sounds like a great plot point for epic adventures. Also, I love the inclusion of more Arakki mutants in the story. Just wish their back stories were more fleshed out.

X-Corp #2
Penance always serves. Loved how the Mastermind's powers were being used and exploited throughout the issue, especially that last bit with Angel. Didn't know about the Von Struckers and yeezus christ that was not what I was expecting.

New Mutants #19
Magik and Karma are beautiful, and I 100% love them to Mars and back. Warlock and Dougie worked it out in the remix, and everyone loved that (but also we never saw a panel with Dougie and Krakoa, and Krakoa as always been quite outspoken about wanting to be heard, so... that's that).
And what the f*ck, Gabby?!

Wolverine #13
DEADPOOL!! Love the cover for this issue.
Beast can f*ck off (but I get him). Another plot point for the Marauder in Madripoor of all places. 🤨

S.W.O.R.D. #6
What are those antlers? And two COLD ASS ENTRANCES back to back?! Better respect the gods. 🙏
Want to know more about Wanda? What will she bring to the table for Krakoa?

[Jennifer Sigman · Rating 4 out of 5]

A vast improvement story wise. Now I'm interested again.

[Liv]

hellfire gala offers a more concise/compelling cut of this arc imo, but reading volumes 12 and 13 in their entirety did fill in some gaps. i will not lie tho all i want is seventy billion issues of mystique

[Sarospice · Rating 3 out of 5]

I do like these collected editions. However all the characters move as one, no individual storylines, and that's a bit of a bore. In fact most of the characters are bored. Everyone came to the Hellfire Gala to be bored. It's all too easy now. However, we do seem to be moving to the eventual "fear and hate" by humans that made mutants stand out before... no doubt to be called The Fall of the Mutants, cause... Here, the mutants terraform Mars as their own and create their own vibranium called Sol. The line has been crossed...

[Sam · Rating 5 out of 5]

that final talk between wanda and erik added a million bajillion years onto my lifespan

[Sesana · Rating 3 out of 5]

More Hellfire Gala. I already read Planet-Size X-Men and SWORD in the big Hellfire Gala collection, and didn't read them again here. That left X-Corp, New Mutants, and Wolverine. X-Corp hasn't won me over as a series yet. Nothing against the writing, the concept just hasn't thrilled me. New Mutants has a cast that I like, especially Gabby, and the Shadow King stuff has some promise, but the dialog just isn't great. Wolverine focuses on resolving, for now, the Terra Verdean stuff, and it's a satisfactory enough conclusion. Interesting to see a conscience come into play here, and not from Beast.

[Charles Korb]

The fireworks were fun, I appreciate the series' work to show mutants working in conjunction even if this felt a little ridiculous.

X-corp desperately wants to be a boardroom drama but I'm not sure if it will get there.

I've only known Gabby for a few issues but if the next issue of the new mutants doesn't have the shadow king paying for his sins, I'll lose all my faith in the Krakoa justice system (jk, can't lose what you don't have).

Can we please put beast in the hole with sabertooth now?

Also I liked all the other galactic civilizations dunking on Earth's achievements (though I missed that wakanda had an interstellar civilization)

[Jamie · Rating 3 out of 5]

If you already have The Hellfire Gala collection, then you already have everything in here. If not, these stories are all decent and lay the groundwork for some future events, so it's worth not skipping even though it's basically just the middle chapters of an already collected event.

[Rocky Sunico · Rating 4 out of 5]

Like the last volume, it turns out this book includes material collected in the deluxe Hellfire Gala book. This one kicks off with the full "fireworks" reveal, which was really the whole point of the gala (in my opinion). Slightlly stronger part of the story versus the prior volume.

[Derrick O'Rourke]

The gala moves through the gears

This volume picks up the pace a bit for the hellfire gala. We Get to see what the fireworks are all about and there is some good interaction between various characters. It's a good read.

[Bekka · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another great volume about Hellfire - my only downside is the X-Corp issue, which is very business-based and was a little boring IMO, just because I'm not into the nitty gritty of business related stuff.
TW for violence, death of a child, grief.

[Terrance · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good issues, but I'm a little disappointed there was a doubling-up with the Hellfire Gala collection.

[Carl Printer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Issues of books covered in the Hellfire Gala collection.

[Daniel Butcher · Rating 5 out of 5]

Last book of 2022. It was a good one.

Things are getting bigger for Krakoa. I just continue to wonder how die plot threads from the beginning of all this will pay off.

[Chen-Wei Cheong · Rating 3 out of 5]

Hellfire Gala Part 3.

[Sohrab Rezvan · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was another middle of the road book for the series. Planet Sized X-Men was interesting, and Wolverine is always fun. Some of the other books were a little slow.

[Blindzider · Rating 2 out of 5]

This was primarily a reread in order to cross of this volume in Reign of X. This volume contains all of the tie-ins for the Hellfire Gala.

Planet-Sized X-Men: I still liked the "science-y" portion of this. Hickman's idea of different mutants using their powers together is a fascinating idea, opening up new possibilities for mutants. On the big picture, I guess this solves the Arrako problem and gives Ewing more cosmic stuff to play with, but politically I don't see the point of doing this. The mutants are flexing their muscles on the world stage which is already on the edge with fear and resentment. This completely counters the initiative of the new X-Men team. It's all another example of how the X-Office is just a mess now that Hickman is gone.

X-Corp: Boring. The art is terrible and I have no interest in the corporate machinations of mutants.

New Mutants: Didn't read. No interest in this title.

Wolverine: This issue solidifies just who the Beast is now and his agenda, and that X-Force isn't going to do anything about it. We've previously seen Wolverine get into a fight with Beast about this behavior and this time he does nothing. No consistency in this title.

SWORD: Mostly setting up for future cosmic drama. This new product developed by mutants is too far fetched, too perfect. Making Mars the capital of the solar system also doesn't sit well with me, but since Earth is divided maybe it makes sense. I do like the idea of a cosmic recession after Knull however, I don't like this constant back and forth regarding the relationship between Magneto and Scarlet Witch. Just pick one and stick with it please.

Repeating myself, but the X-Titles have become very boring. They are either meandering aimlessly or contradict themselves. It just doesn't seem like there is a real direction and I've lost interest in nearly every title.

[Afreen Aftab · Rating 4 out of 5]

Planet-Size X-Men (2021) 1 - 3.5/5
X-Corp (2021) 2 - 3/5
New Mutants (2019) 19 - 4/5
Wolverine (2020) 13 - 4.5/5
S.W.O.R.D. (2020) 6 - 4/5