What do you think?
Rate this book
X-Men: Krakoan Era (Anthology Trades)
Trials of X, Vol. 1
Murder and mayhem in the Reign of X! The Scarlet Witch has been murdered - and as X-Factor investigates the shocking crime, all clues point to Magneto! Meanwhile, the fallout from the Hellfire Gala continues for S.W.O.R.D. as Doctor Doom sticks around for a meeting of monarchs with matters of galactic import to discuss - including the Last Annihilation! The New Mutants are reeling from their own devastating loss as a great evil continues to cast its shadow. And when new problems present themselves in Ireland, the Marauders bring in Banshee for some assistance - and he'll soon be screaming into battle!
Collects X-Men: The Trial of Magneto #1-2, S.W.O.R.D. (2020) #7, New Mutants (2019) #20-21 and Marauders (2019) #23.
Collects X-Men: The Trial of Magneto #1-2, S.W.O.R.D. (2020) #7, New Mutants (2019) #20-21 and Marauders (2019) #23.
176 pages, Paperback
First published October 18, 2022
10 people are currently reading
115 people want to read
About the author
Leah Williams
242 books207 followersLeah Williams is an American writer originally from Oxford, Mississippi. She has written comics for Marvel, BOOM! Studios, Vault Comics, and is working on more. Her debut novel was a YA Fantasy book titled The Alchemy of Being Fourteen and she is currently writing its sequel, The Divinity of Hitting Fifteen. Leah has nonfiction articles and essays published in The Atlantic, Oprah Magazine, and Salon.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews
May 12, 2023
This is, perhaps, my favorite of the X-Men titles since the Powers of X/House Of X shakeup.
Mostly, I've enjoyed the way things are being collected, but it does make for inconsistent books. And this was no exception.
Trials of Magneto #1 & #2 by Leah Williams and Lucas Werneck were, by a wide margin, the best part of this book. Williams knows how to write a wide range of characters without making it seem like the same writer created all their dialogue. Her X-Factor/X-Force working together tension was masterful. As is Wereneck's art, it brought to mind J.H. Williams III's gorgeous work on Batwoman: Elegy. The layouts were crucial to the pacing, and made me happy every time I turned the page. Williams also had nods to why certain characters were absent that felt natural rather than stuffing them in a narration box with "Follow Hulking's adventures in blah blah # whatever." This is the way you start a series to garner interest.
Five stars.
I confess to not having read whatever storyline leads into Sword #7, even though I'm pretty sure I've been reading all the issues of SWORD. Even though I felt plopped into a story without the proper background, I never felt lost. Al Ewing writes solid stories and his scene of Doom and Storm having dinner while Hulking and SWORD deal with "The Mindless Ones" was really well contrasted. I also enjoyed how Stefano Casselli makes Hulking look precisely like a cross between Captain Mar-vell and Adam Warlock. I'm not always a fan of the ways his work is shadowed, but it's still fun to look at.
Four stars.
Sigh. I can't wait to pick up an X-Book that doesn't have a Vita Ayala issue in it. I really enjoyed her creator owned work, Submerged Vol. 1, and I want to like every story she's written in the X-Universe, but I just don't. She's not good at writing the voices of familiar characters, and her stories just don't interest me. I had a similar problem with Tini Howard 's Excalibur, Vol. 1 run, but Howard's writing is tight enough that I knew the problem was my distance from the characters and plot, not Howard's writing. That is not the case with Ayala's work. I just don't think the X-books are ever going to be something she's good at writing, but I'd love to eventually be proven wrong. I feel like Alex Lins art (Issue #20) and, to a greater degree, Rod Reis's (issue #21) is a great match to the Bill Sienkiewicz era of New Mutants. I just wish I cared at all about the story.
Two stars.
Gerry Duggan's Marauders #23 continues to be a delight. I need to go back and read some of the issues from Reign Of X, I think, as I don't remember the Cuckoos/Young Hellfire intersection that formed the crux of the end of this issue. I do like that this series started as mutants playing pirates and has never explicitly veered from that storyline, but it's become much to complex to describe that way. There's some lazy distance shots (you know, where you can't see character faces, and everything looks kind if blurry...it's intentional and seems to speak more on an artist's ability to reach a deadline than their talent at art) but I liked the general cartoonishness of the faces and anatomy.
Four stars.
Mostly, I've enjoyed the way things are being collected, but it does make for inconsistent books. And this was no exception.
Trials of Magneto #1 & #2 by Leah Williams and Lucas Werneck were, by a wide margin, the best part of this book. Williams knows how to write a wide range of characters without making it seem like the same writer created all their dialogue. Her X-Factor/X-Force working together tension was masterful. As is Wereneck's art, it brought to mind J.H. Williams III's gorgeous work on Batwoman: Elegy. The layouts were crucial to the pacing, and made me happy every time I turned the page. Williams also had nods to why certain characters were absent that felt natural rather than stuffing them in a narration box with "Follow Hulking's adventures in blah blah # whatever." This is the way you start a series to garner interest.
Five stars.
I confess to not having read whatever storyline leads into Sword #7, even though I'm pretty sure I've been reading all the issues of SWORD. Even though I felt plopped into a story without the proper background, I never felt lost. Al Ewing writes solid stories and his scene of Doom and Storm having dinner while Hulking and SWORD deal with "The Mindless Ones" was really well contrasted. I also enjoyed how Stefano Casselli makes Hulking look precisely like a cross between Captain Mar-vell and Adam Warlock. I'm not always a fan of the ways his work is shadowed, but it's still fun to look at.
Four stars.
Sigh. I can't wait to pick up an X-Book that doesn't have a Vita Ayala issue in it. I really enjoyed her creator owned work, Submerged Vol. 1, and I want to like every story she's written in the X-Universe, but I just don't. She's not good at writing the voices of familiar characters, and her stories just don't interest me. I had a similar problem with Tini Howard 's Excalibur, Vol. 1 run, but Howard's writing is tight enough that I knew the problem was my distance from the characters and plot, not Howard's writing. That is not the case with Ayala's work. I just don't think the X-books are ever going to be something she's good at writing, but I'd love to eventually be proven wrong. I feel like Alex Lins art (Issue #20) and, to a greater degree, Rod Reis's (issue #21) is a great match to the Bill Sienkiewicz era of New Mutants. I just wish I cared at all about the story.
Two stars.
Gerry Duggan's Marauders #23 continues to be a delight. I need to go back and read some of the issues from Reign Of X, I think, as I don't remember the Cuckoos/Young Hellfire intersection that formed the crux of the end of this issue. I do like that this series started as mutants playing pirates and has never explicitly veered from that storyline, but it's become much to complex to describe that way. There's some lazy distance shots (you know, where you can't see character faces, and everything looks kind if blurry...it's intentional and seems to speak more on an artist's ability to reach a deadline than their talent at art) but I liked the general cartoonishness of the faces and anatomy.
Four stars.
August 12, 2025
Trial of Magneto: Genre conventions say it's clearly not going to be him but bringing in the avengers is fun.
SWORD: I feel like sword exists almost entirely to connect x-series with events. This one was a little more fun than others with Brand's machinations
New Mutants: I like the title meaning both the original team of new mutants and a new team of new mutants. Gabby is my favorite characters here and I'm glad they brought her back
Marauders: This is a fun little story, but it feels like this series has kind of lost its way. It's just doing fun little stories now.
SWORD: I feel like sword exists almost entirely to connect x-series with events. This one was a little more fun than others with Brand's machinations
New Mutants: I like the title meaning both the original team of new mutants and a new team of new mutants. Gabby is my favorite characters here and I'm glad they brought her back
Marauders: This is a fun little story, but it feels like this series has kind of lost its way. It's just doing fun little stories now.
October 31, 2022
Despite stating in my last review of Reign of X V14 that I was going to stop there, I had forgotten that this was already on the way.
Trial of Magneto #1-2: This was a reread, but it was a reminder that the first issue is handled really well. I liked X-Factor's professionalism of the investigation and their bristling at the other teams being around. I also enjoyed the "science-y" part of the detective work. I didn't like the debate of the Quiet Council, primarily because it reminds me that Marvel retconned some of the history and relationship between Magneto, Scarlet Witch and Pietro. I did like the mutual respect shown between the X-Men and Avengers and that moment between Cap and Pietro was priceless. Like most Marvel events, there is always the moment of unprovoked action instead of discussion, or jumping to conclusions which is the catalyst to the conflict. The accusations against Magento, both verbally and physically just felt forced. The fate of Scarlet Witch also seems driven by her fate in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, trying to keep the two somewhat in line. I do want to read the rest of this mini-series so I guess it's going to be at least one more volume for me.
S.W.O.R.D. - Feels like the reader has been dropped into the middle of something so it was hard to stay involved. The art and coloring really stand-up with a variety of bright colors. Seeing Storm go up against Doctor Doom, given their history ,was exciting and satisfying. It's also another story where Brand is bordering on not being likable. She's almost like a space-based Nick Fury, but more willing to trample on those she's trying to protect in the name of safety.
New Mutants - Didn't read these
Marauders - Didn't care for the art. Too cartoony. And other than showing once again that Emma is cool and can handle almost anything, it feels like a filler issue.
Trial of Magneto #1-2: This was a reread, but it was a reminder that the first issue is handled really well. I liked X-Factor's professionalism of the investigation and their bristling at the other teams being around. I also enjoyed the "science-y" part of the detective work. I didn't like the debate of the Quiet Council, primarily because it reminds me that Marvel retconned some of the history and relationship between Magneto, Scarlet Witch and Pietro. I did like the mutual respect shown between the X-Men and Avengers and that moment between Cap and Pietro was priceless. Like most Marvel events, there is always the moment of unprovoked action instead of discussion, or jumping to conclusions which is the catalyst to the conflict. The accusations against Magento, both verbally and physically just felt forced. The fate of Scarlet Witch also seems driven by her fate in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, trying to keep the two somewhat in line. I do want to read the rest of this mini-series so I guess it's going to be at least one more volume for me.
S.W.O.R.D. - Feels like the reader has been dropped into the middle of something so it was hard to stay involved. The art and coloring really stand-up with a variety of bright colors. Seeing Storm go up against Doctor Doom, given their history ,was exciting and satisfying. It's also another story where Brand is bordering on not being likable. She's almost like a space-based Nick Fury, but more willing to trample on those she's trying to protect in the name of safety.
New Mutants - Didn't read these
Marauders - Didn't care for the art. Too cartoony. And other than showing once again that Emma is cool and can handle almost anything, it feels like a filler issue.
August 17, 2024
Collection:
The Trial of Magneto #1,2
S.W.O.R.D. #7
New Mutants #20,21
Marauders #23
The Trial of Magneto #1,2
Amazing artwork, super into this plot and the exploring of magic with the mutant gene. Haven't read House of M, so I'm totally intrigued by this plotline. Super eager to read the next ones.
S.W.O.R.D. #7
One of my favorite dialogue+panel combo from comics is from this issue 💜 a fantastic clash of titanic talent (and charisma).
New Mutants #20,21
Shadow King/Farouk is such a mysterious character. There's not a way of knowing what his final objective is and/or why he's doing this to fellow mutants (at least when one does not know his past stories). Not as exciting as other runs, but I'm following it with some expectation.
Marauders #23
Loved it! I just feel like the inclusion of Tempo was a bit... for nothing? She didn't even manage to do anything useful with the bomb, which is a shame and especially because that armor of hers looked sick as fuck. I really wish we could've seen more of her powers "in action".
The Trial of Magneto #1,2
S.W.O.R.D. #7
New Mutants #20,21
Marauders #23
The Trial of Magneto #1,2
Amazing artwork, super into this plot and the exploring of magic with the mutant gene. Haven't read House of M, so I'm totally intrigued by this plotline. Super eager to read the next ones.
S.W.O.R.D. #7
One of my favorite dialogue+panel combo from comics is from this issue 💜 a fantastic clash of titanic talent (and charisma).
New Mutants #20,21
Shadow King/Farouk is such a mysterious character. There's not a way of knowing what his final objective is and/or why he's doing this to fellow mutants (at least when one does not know his past stories). Not as exciting as other runs, but I'm following it with some expectation.
Marauders #23
Loved it! I just feel like the inclusion of Tempo was a bit... for nothing? She didn't even manage to do anything useful with the bomb, which is a shame and especially because that armor of hers looked sick as fuck. I really wish we could've seen more of her powers "in action".
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
March 21, 2023
I've read half of these issues elsewhere, since they're part of the Trial of Magneto and Last Annihilation stories. After these stories, there's also two issues of New Mutants, a series I'm just not at all into at this point but keep reading because I feel loyal to Gabby. I did really enjoy the departure from the Shadow King storyline to show a culture who is more afraid of losing their children than they are of mutants. I wish that had been explored at all, other than just showing it, but it was nice to get that variation anyways. Finally, yet another excellent issue of Marauders, one of the best X family books. It's a little different from the swashbuckling action that Marauders originally promised, but this book has always been about Emma's intrigues as much as it is about Kitty's buccaneering. Honestly, just seeing a shift from Reign to Trials is making me worry for all my mutants, but it's kind of exciting, too.
June 2, 2024
The Trial of Magneto for Scarlet Witch's death was two issues and only compelling in that everyone was ready to beat him up. Wernick's art was beautiful as usual.The SWORD chapter was confusing without context and boring except for Storm's dinner with Doctor Doom. Caselli's art was on par with Werneck's and felt like a smooth continuation. New Mutants was so good that I want to read the rest of the series. Vita Ayala juggled the voices of the characters well, and I cared about the three storyline. Lins's work was good, but Rod Reis's was like Strakzycki's. It was moody, dark, and expressive in fight scenes. Marauders felt like an afterthought. I like the characters. The art by Fiorelli was light and fun in contrast to the Cuckoos's storyline.
February 6, 2025
New Mutants still doesn't seem to tickle my fancy, although Rod Reis's artwork is enchanting and very reminiscent of Bill Sienkiewicz (I think that's how you write it, but don't ask me how you pronounce it).
Trial of Magneto was alright. Not great.
S.W.O.R.D. is entertaining in its own way and so is Marauders. It did bother me that the conversation between Banshee (<3, by the way. So happy he's back) and Emma seemed to imply that Ireland is a part of the UK, which, as far as I know, it isn't.
Trial of Magneto was alright. Not great.
S.W.O.R.D. is entertaining in its own way and so is Marauders. It did bother me that the conversation between Banshee (<3, by the way. So happy he's back) and Emma seemed to imply that Ireland is a part of the UK, which, as far as I know, it isn't.
October 4, 2023
The trial of magneto isn't terrible... it's actually rather good comic book writing... I just don't care because I know Wanda isn't really dying and this will have no lasting effects. However, the NEW New Mutants are very interesting as they figure out their places in Krakoa when their teachers aren't actually around.
November 7, 2022
This was a JOY to read. Genuinely one of my favorites. New Mutants and Marauders are some of the best stories going on right now, Trials of Magneto is also pretty great. I don’t care for SWORD as much, but that’s only because I don’t really follow the outer space stuff
November 13, 2022
The trial issues are great, as is Marauders. SWORD feels like part of a different story, and New Mutants is still slow burning toward it's big mutant v mutant conflict. Good stuff here as the Krakoan Age continues.
May 5, 2023
I read this a while back but i'm currently skimming through the Trials of X comics trying to find where I left off.
The story line is very detailed for there to only be five volumes of it. I vaguely remember where the story goes, but not really so I don't think I finished reading them all.
The story line is very detailed for there to only be five volumes of it. I vaguely remember where the story goes, but not really so I don't think I finished reading them all.
May 13, 2023
Oh, intriguing as to who's been murdering people on Krakoa, and really good to see how Wanda's death effects mutants V the rest of the world!
TW for death, grief, mourning, murder, mind control, missing memories, threats of murder, violence.
TW for death, grief, mourning, murder, mind control, missing memories, threats of murder, violence.
Read
May 18, 2023Enjoyable read
This is a solid volume. Some interesting character development and some of it feels like a change is happening. Magneto is very erratic in it but there is obviously more at play.
This is a solid volume. Some interesting character development and some of it feels like a change is happening. Magneto is very erratic in it but there is obviously more at play.
December 24, 2023
Finally diving back into the X-Titles and things certainly start off very dramatically with the investigation into the Scarlet Witch's murder, which was how the last Hellfire Gala had ended. The core books following this story and the eventual Trial of Magneto are pretty compelling. The New Mutants stuff is a little harder to really dive into.
March 27, 2024
This was kind of meh. The Trial of Magneto started off solid but kinda just ended with a weird-aws-hell fake out that made no real sense. The rest of it was build to newer stuff happening across Krakoa so nothing solid yet but potential is there, especially with Shadow King, the UK, and Beast.
November 26, 2022
I already have The Trial of Magneto trade and I'm tired of buying the same things twice. I'll check back in for the next big event or if Hickman comes back or something.
March 18, 2023
3.5.
Magneto piece is strong but SWORD is part of a bigger event and New Mutants js not something I’m bought into.
Magneto piece is strong but SWORD is part of a bigger event and New Mutants js not something I’m bought into.
August 31, 2023
It started off really good and then the New Mutants entered and it got really bad.
March 19, 2025
i love how krakoa is so messy somehow two whole murders happened after the hellfire gala and also there's a space war going on that SWORD is involved with. like what
July 20, 2025
More unevenness in terms of storytelling. I find the interstellar stories mostly uninteresting. The Trial of Magneto storyline was a real letdown, too.
July 27, 2023
3.5/5 (RoX 13-15)
November 6, 2023
The Trial of Magneto #1-2 - 3/5 (I guess it was only time before bad parent magneto showed up)
S.W.O.R.D. (2020) #7 - 4/5
New Mutants (2019) #20-21 - 3/5 (ugh teenagers. Also don't really care about the villain this arc and even the brood storyline that felt abruptly placed here)
Marauders (2019) #23 - 3.5/5
S.W.O.R.D. (2020) #7 - 4/5
New Mutants (2019) #20-21 - 3/5 (ugh teenagers. Also don't really care about the villain this arc and even the brood storyline that felt abruptly placed here)
Marauders (2019) #23 - 3.5/5
Displaying 1 - 22 of 22 reviews