Trials of X, Vol. 2

X-Men: Krakoan Era (Anthology Trades)

by Al Ewing, Bob Quinn (Illustrator), Marvel Various (Writer)

New beginnings in the Reign of X! The old Cable is back - locked, loaded and landing on the deadliest planet in X-history to steal the ultimate weapon…and stop the Last Annihilation! The investigation into Scarlet Witch's death takes a very unexpected turn as the Avengers and X-Men unite to face monster attacks on Krakoa! And what act of redemption will trigger the latest massive step forward for mutantkind in the Krakoan era? Meanwhile, Wolverine is on the hunt for a missing sword - and his deadly new nemesis, Solem, is playing mind games!

Collects Cable: Reloaded, X-Men: Trial Of Magneto #3-5 And Wolverine (2020) #14.

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

152 pages, Paperback

Published November 15, 2022

Reviews

[Blindzider · Rating 2 out of 5]

Was never a fan of Cable back in the day. Just didn't get the ridiculously huge guns and tough attitude (to be fair I didn't read all of his series so maybe there's more to it.). This Cable: Reloaded is an attempt to go back to that so it didn't grab me at all.

The Trial of Magneto takes a weird turn, possibly filler material to extend the mini-series. Marvel is still trying to clear the name (and character) of Wanda. At times, the path reads as genuine and logical, but others it comes off as hand-waving. All is explained in the end, but those middle issues definitely don't add much. If anything the story strengthens the character of Magneto, but in some ways it is retconning a retcon.

It's been so long since I've read the Wolverine series. Somehow they keep getting Adam Kubert back to draw, which is good. Percy is trying to wrap up a few earlier plot threads, but it may just become a shallow slug-fest.

[Bekka · Rating 4 out of 5]

Loved finding out why and how Scarlet Witch died, though I don't think I quite understand how Toad fitted into it, considering the flashbacks!
TW for death, grief, murder, murder accusations, imprisonment, guns, injury detail, mentions of war.

[Charles Korb · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cable: fun to have cable back (always one of my favorites) but I thought he was going back to the future

Trial of Magneto: I'm not really clear why resurrection was needed, I feel like this wanted to be a murder mystery but couldn't follow through

Wolverine: interested to see where the acid blood pirate story goes

[George · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.75 stars

[Adam Stone · Rating 3 out of 5]

We're only two volumes in, and already Trials Of X is on the same intriguingly wobbly path as the Dawn Of X and Reign Of X books. A variety of different tones, slightly intersecting stories, and the dreaded diminishing returns where many of the series' first issues are excellent, but quickly fade to mediocre.

This volume's first issue: Cable: Reloaded #1 is an excellent revisiting of 90s X-Force with a little Whedon/Gillen SWORD thrown in. Old Man Cable's assembled team is on the hunt for a planet sized weapon for some sort of battle with the galactic threat. I keep forgetting the galactic storyline, so I wasn't necessarily going to be invested in it, but I do love the wider-universe-lore expansion we get from Cable talking about the people who will be incredibly important in the future.

Four stars.

********

Trials of Magneto was the highlight of the last volume, but it mostly falls apart here. We discover the reason behind the faux death of The Scarlet Witch, and it really made the whole Who Killed The Scarlet Witch trope, and the first issue of Trials Of Magento retroactively stupid and a waste of time. "Killing" a character and bringing them back almost immediately is a shock tactic used by amateur writers when they can't figure out how to just let a story unravel. I lost a lot of respect for Leah Williams here. This would be much better if the reader were in on the story from the beginning, as it's, overall, a really interesting conceit. Just badly told. It was so disappointing that I stopped really paying attention to Valerio Schiti's art, which is a shame because that's really been the artistic highlight of all the "of X" collections so far.

2 stars

*****

Wolverine: A lot of this storyline is fallout from the unreadably dull X-Men: X of Swords crossover. I don't care a blink about any of the stupid swords that are now spposedly important to the Krakoan era mutant books. That whole idea is a wet fart on the white pants of the Krakoan era. So I don't know anything about Wolverine's latest nemesis. But that's ok. This is a perfectly serviceable Wolverine must work with a devil to take down a bigger devil book. Is it amazing? No. But I'm curious to see how it unfolds.

3 stars.

[Paulo · Rating 5 out of 5]

Collection:
Cable: Reloaded #1
The Trial of Magneto #3-5
Wolverine #14

All the cover arts for these issues are beautiful. All 5 of them are completely gorgeous

Cable: Reloaded #1
Great "introduction" for the Future Cable in the Krakoan era, and it makes total sense that he becomes part of S.W.O.R.D. The cameo of Rocket and the usage of another great and interesting arakki mutant was pretty good.

The Trial of Magneto #3-5
I was astonished by the amazing art in these issues and might just buy them irl one day. Saved a couple of screenshots because of how great they were. That said, Toad's sacrifice, albeit for a greater good, did leave a bittersweet aftertaste. I would've loved to know if it was voluntarily done (he knew the plot) or if Magneto lied to him to make him admit it... Either way, I hope Wanda can fix this (and I loved the Exodus final panel around the bonfire).

Wolverine #14
It's a bit boring and rushed with the introduction (and resolution) of the characters, but I guess it's still the beginning of the unfolding of this matter. Also, they moved Arakko to Mars because arakki mutants were being violent in Japan, but these ones were allowed to stay even though they explicitly say they want to murder and pillage... what? Also, what happened to the Omega Red/Dracula plotline...?

[Sesana · Rating 3 out of 5]

Another volume I've already read most of. The middle three issues are from X-Men: The Trial of Magneto, an event I didn't like very much the first time around. It's bookended by Cable and Wolverine. The Cable issue was kind of dull to me. There's a bunch of mindless action and Cable's internal monologue. I don't really like this character, and this didn't change my mind, especially when I don't really like the bulk of the supporting characters, either. The Wolverine issue, on the other hand, was really good. It kicks off the investigation into the destruction of the Marauder, with Wolverine on the trail, by himself. By far the best issue in the volume. Wolverine's internal monologue is on point, the action worked, and the new antagonist is really interesting.

[Sarospice · Rating 2 out of 5]

I guess I found it hard to like adult Cable right now because we just ended that terrible terrible young Cable, and this really tries to rehash 90' s Cable. He even forms a team of xterminators, to stand around and not use their powers. The Trial of Magneto should have been called The Retcon of Scarlet Witch. He barely appears in it at all. Wanda is mishandled throughout and the ending lands like a lead balloon.

[Rocky Sunico · Rating 4 out of 5]

The adventure continues and there are deeper mysteries at play in terms of the murder of the Scarlet Witch. And as is often the way of such things, not everything is as it seems. We can't get a straightforward murder mystery with these characters - especially when the deceased is somehow narrative the events of the story a the same time.

The Wolverine book can rather grow on you, especially in service to the Marauders though.

[James Montgomery-Castle · Rating 3 out of 5]

Mostly good fun but:

1. ‘Cable: Reloaded’ was heavy-handed.
2. ‘Trial of Magneto’ has major plot hole mooting the whole arc.
3. ‘Wolverine’ was beautifully drawn and suspenseful, looking forward to next issue.

[Rickey · Rating 4 out of 5]

End of Trial

This was much better than last volume! The actual ending to the Trial of Magneto was pretty solid. I don't care for Scarlett Witch at all but finishing up her crazy House of M stuff like this was very much needed.

[Nick Callebaut · Rating 3 out of 5]

Cable's back! That's one of the only enjoyable things about this TPB. That and the beautifully drawn Wolverine 14. Adam Kubert has developped a cool, European style, producing some lovely set pieces.

Trial of Magneto was, as expected, quite boring.

[Eric · Rating 4 out of 5]

The cable and wolverine stories are strong - the Scarlet witch story is uneven but nicely changes up the mythology. Still loving the nuance of the Krakoan age

[Afreen Aftab · Rating 4 out of 5]

Cable: Reloaded - 4/5
X-Men: Trial Of Magneto #3-5 - 3.5/5
Wolverine (2020) #14 - 4/5 (love the art this issue)

[Daniel Butcher · Rating 3 out of 5]

The trial of Magneto was a little less than I wanted. And
Why did Wolverine need to drop me on a cliffhanger?

[Derrick O'Rourke · Rating 3 out of 5]

Fine addition

This is a decent volume without being amazing. The cable story is a nice bit of fun. The magneto story is overly elaborate. Wolverine story is a filler.

[Sam · Rating 4 out of 5]

cable being a rocket fanboy is so funny to me. also big day for magneto girl dad truthers such as myself

[Jason Tanner · Rating 4 out of 5]

Stronger than the previous volume, IMO. Some brief thoughts:
-The Cable story was like distilled essence of 90s Cable, but in a good way.
-The Wanda story finished strong, but it varied in quality more than most of the Leah Williams X-books I've read.
-Wolverine is consistently good under Percy.