X-Men Red, Vol. 1

X-Men Red (2022) (Collected Editions)

by Al Ewing, Russell Dauterman (Cover Art), Stefano Caselli (Artist)

Collects X-Men Red (2022) #1-5.

Who can save the red planet? The mutants of Arakko spent millennia scarred by war - but on the world once called Mars, they're learning to live in peace. Storm knows something greater than a queen is needed to keep this fragile new world together - but while she has a broken Magneto in her corner, Roberto Da Costa is making his own moves. Abigail Brand of S.W.O.R.D. has other plans to influence Arakko, with an unstable Vulcan on her side and Cable keeping his own secrets! And what of the ruthless Tarn the Uncaring, who now sits on the planet's ruling council? As machinations and revelations rock the red planet, the clock ticks down to interstellar war - and judgment day is coming. It's a new world full of intrigue, and someone has to fight for it!

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

144 pages, Kindle Edition

First published September 20, 2022

Reviews

[Baba · Rating 3 out of 5]

The Arakkii have been resettled on the red planet, Mars; Storm has oversight for Krakoa alongside the likes of a broken(?) Magneto and Sunspot. Meanwhile Abigail brand has her own team that may not have Krakoa's interest at heart with the likes of Vulcan and Cable, X-Men Red! A book that is meant to be as much about intrigue and spy craft as it is about battles is weakened because like so many current X-books suffers from the use of too may unknown, in fleshed-out and/or new Arakkii characters. It does begin really well though. 7 out of 12 for this one, Three Stars.

2024 read

[Subham · Rating 4 out of 5]

THIS WAS SO GOOD!

This starts off so good omg we get to see the story of how Storm becomes the regent of Mars and what this great ring is, the politics and tension of it all and then seeing the brotherhood of Arakko form and then the stuff with Brand and her plans and I love the tension there, the fight that happens and Magneto and Fisher king's friendship and how Erik becomes a true Arakko-an which was cool to see and finally towards the end when it ties into Judgement day the book becomes just so epic and it has one of the greatest Magneto moments ever!

Its one of the greatest X-men books I will say as it tries to do something new and focus on new characters and also make X-Men more cosmic and I love that and characters like Storm and Magneto get so many awesome moments especially the latter one that it will make you love him and show the true terror of Uranos!

Ewing really has a tendency to make stories so epic and I love the way he does that and also the way he uses continuity is a bonus omg so yeah a definite recommend from me! As for the art its pretty good and compliments the writing well and I will say read it along with Judgement day event to get the full story!

[myo ⋆｡˚ ❀ * · Rating 3 out of 5]

don’t think i’m feeling this krakoa era of x-men tbh

[Oscar · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm a bit confused but pretty good.

[Blindzider · Rating 2 out of 5]

Sigh, another "faction" of X-Men splitting off to a new "team". Another group where everyone is manipulative and everyone has ulterior motives. The X-Universe is completely fractured now and maybe this is by design. Maybe we're slowly seeing the "fall of Rome" written out before us.

Also, I don't give a crap about Arrako and it's people, so I don't really want to read about their internal struggles, weird need for war, or how mutants are trying to help them but at the same time control them.

Like much of Ewing's writing, he does a lot of planting seeds. Setting up future conflicts, aligning pieces, but I always feel like it doesn't really go anywhere (which is sort of the problem for the X books now.) At least Ewing spends some time in this title where the characters discuss things, giving the reader some true motivations of the characters, instead of just forcing conflicts.

The last issue is either the beginning of or the prelude to the AXE event. It's hard-hitting, but there's no real explanation for what is going on or why. Once again, a seemingly unstoppable, overwhelming force makes an attack. How will heroes overcome them? Sorry, I've just seen this too many times.

[Dakota Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ahhh yessss, back to the Game of Thrones-style backstabbing and power-grabbing that I loved in Jonathan Hickman's X-Men run. X-Men Red pairs up nicely with Immortal X-Men, because they're both focused on leadership changes in the X-Verse. Immortal on Krakoa, Red on Arakko. (They also both feature left-field AXE tie-ins, though X-Men Red is far better served by its single issue of incredible superheroic feats.)

X-Men Red gets off to a slow start, showing Storm's struggles, Magneto's arrival on Mars, and Vulcan's dickish intensity. Abigail Brand slinks in to try to grab a seat on the Great Ring, resulting in the creation of rival Martian X-teams. Predictably, things get heated, but Al Ewing smartly restrains himself from endless scenes of superpowered beings punching each other. Instead, the fights are clever, which is always an achievement in any Marvel comic.

There's also an issue about death, which is lovely and fascinating (Did Shi'ar Empress Xandra die off-screen? Or did I miss a series?). And then that AXE tie-in! Uranos appears in the Martian sky, ready to pulverize the planet. It quickly becomes one of those superhero battles where the most powerful mutants unleash their most potent abilities - and are inadequate. Thrilling! You love to see it.

[Robert · Rating 3 out of 5]

A well-made comic, no doubt, but still too full to the gills with the detritus of all the over-the-top Arakko stuff I found so unbearably tedious during X of Swords and before.

[Fraser Simons · Rating 2 out of 5]

There’s so much fertile ground with krakoa and now Mars, but it just turns into excuses for people to fight each other. Sometimes in interesting ways, usually not, though. And some big threat comes before the changes have even remotely been interrogated by the writers. Everything cool about the change ups have been shot past, except for the brief run of New Mutants, which was absolutely exceptional.

[Anna Quilter · Rating 4 out of 5]

A strong plotline
Multiple storylines buzzing in/out
..made this my best X-read in a while...

[johnny ♡ · Rating 4 out of 5]

storm is such a bad bitch!!! and magneto is like stepping into the most interesting role post-charles.

[Shannon Appelcline · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, Ewing is certainly Hickman's successor, picking up plot threads from Orchis to Arakko. He was obviously wasted on SWORD (though he pulls in the important plot threads from there too).

This is a magnificent volume, touching upon lots of great characters (particularly Ororo, Magneto, and Sunspot, but also "Wrongslide"), giving some Arakkan mutants more depth, and advancing some major galactic plots.

The only wrong step is the final issue, which is a messy AXE crossover with no setup and no conclusion. Obviously, all of AXE should have been collected in a large hardcover like Swords of X, and thus excluded from the main collections, but that annoyingly doesn't seem to be on the table right now. (Sadly, Marvel's collection policies for Krakoa X-Men, which were terrific for the first year or two have volume into a bit of disarray.)

[Dubzor · Rating 3 out of 5]

How do you fairly review something like this unless you're already knee deep in the current lore and state of affairs for not only th mutants, but the Marvel Universe in general?

This is NOT a jumping on title. At no point did I know what was going on. Several times I had to consult my fiance (resident mutie expert) about who this one guy was or what that string of dialogue meant.

From her reaction, Al Ewing knows his stuff and knows the characters. His writing is solid, but the attempt to worldbuild a culture via different speech patterns is appreciated, but a whole volume of it is damn tiresome.

I dunno. It's your call. If you're caught up, you'll probably like it. If you're a newbie or even a returning X men fan curious what's going on these days...you're gonna have a bad time.

[Rylan · Rating 5 out of 5]

storm reclaims the mother throne

[Rory Wilding · Rating 4 out of 5]

I may not read every title to come out of the Krakoan Era of X-Men comics, but from reading Gerry Duggan and Pepe Larraz's X-Men and Kieron Gillen and Lucas Werneck's Immortal X-Men, this seems to be my gateway. This is not to discredit Jonathan Hickman's seismic contribution as House of X/Powers of X is an essential read for anyone wanting to get into the mutant sovereign nation of Krakoa, but Duggan and Gillen are carrying the torch well after Hickman's departure.

However, from this first volume of X-Men Red, Al Ewing, who has made a name for himself writing titles like The Immortal Hulk, should be among Duggan and Gillen as the top writers of this era. Serving as a successor to Ewing's S.W.O.R.D. series, this book focuses on the mutants of Arakko spent millennia scarred by war, but on the world once called Mars, they’re learning to live in peace. Whilst Krakaon mutants like Storm, Magneto and Sunspot have plans to maintain the planet's peace, Abigail Brand of S.W.O.R.D. has other plans to influence Arakko.

When you look at the front cover with the title X-Men Red and showcasing the mutant trio of Storm, Magneto and Sunspot, you would think that this is the titular group. Whilst it is Abigail herself that forms the eponymous team – comprising of Cable, Vulcan, etc. – to police and control matters on Arakko, Storm and her mutants form a new Brotherhood. Less of a superhero action comic and more of a discussion about how the title of an X-Man can be used for one's own benefits, as well as outsiders leaving their mark on a world they weren't born in, leading to a clash of ideologies.

As a character study, Ewing is interested in showing the brokenness of these characters, including even Gabriel Summers/Vulcan, following his exile from the Summer House. Considering that Storm has been given opportunities to be a hierarchy of power, she often refuses and yet here she realises that something greater than a queen is needed to keep this fragile new world together. Formerly a member of Krakoa's Quiet Council, Magneto seems shattered by the dream he shared with Charles, and in the third issue, he delivers a heart-wrenching monologue, in which he talks about his human daughter Anya who tragically died and shall remain so.

Although artist Stefano Caselli draws some stunning action that showcases the amazing powers of Storm and Magneto, particularly in the final issue that ties into A.X.E.: Judgment Day, X-Men Red is more driven by its dialogue and ideas. Issue #4 (drawn by guest artists Juann Cabal, Michael Sta. Maria and Andrés Genolet) tells "Three Short Stories About Death", given different perspectives in light of the public outing of Krakoa can resurrect mutants. The most touching of these shorts goes to Sunspot, who functions as a funny third wheel, but has a nice conversation with the rocky Wrongslide as both have died and resurrected, leading how they have behaved and perceived by others.

From these first five issues, X-Men Red is up there with Immortal X-Men in how it explores planetary politics and how the use of the X-Man title can be deceptive.

[Michael Church · Rating 5 out of 5]

I heard the hype. Somehow I still expected to be let down by this book. I started it thinking I would read an issue or two before bed. Instead I read the whole volume in one sitting. I highly recommend reading right after finishing SWORD if you can.

What says the most about this book’s quality is that the second to last issue had an art change AND the last issue was part of the Judgment Day event, and I still gave it 5 stars. Everything was top notch. The characters, the writing, the art are all fantastic.

I love Arakko Storm. I love the way she’s learning this new culture and adapting to it. I love the way this contrasts with her past with the Morlocks. I love the way she’s embracing what her role is and stepping into it as a powerful leader. All of it is amazing. In a comics line that is very much about politics within these fictional nations, this stands apart and distinct from what’s happening on Krakoa.

The Magneto subplot is great. I love this direction for the character, too. I kind of wish we got a little more explicit discussion of his issues with Krakoa since Inferno, but it still works and makes for a beautiful arc, especially with the twist near the end. I also love his relationship with Sunspot and bringing back their Headmaster/Student history. And on that note, Sunspot’s scene with Wrongslide is absolutely beautifully done. A stand-out moment among many.

The Fisher King and other Arakkii are some of the surprising breakouts of the book for me. I get the appeal of Isca, but Lactuca, Xilo, and Lodus Logos really caught my attention this time. So much in this book worked so well.

The art was spectacular, too. Stefano Caselli is amazing, and his final pages on issue 3 are truly stunning. The gimmick of having Juann Cabal, Michael Sta. Maria, and Andrés Genolet alternate art duties on issue 4 to correspond with the different storylines was beautifully done as well. I don’t know who did what, but whichever artist was on Sunspot was my favorite. Frederico Blee and Fer Sifuentes also deserve shoutouts as the colorists, because I know some of these splash pages wouldn’t have had the same impact without the gorgeous colors.

The Judgment Day issue is a bit tough to follow, not knowing the broader context of the event. However, knowing enough about what’s coming gives you enough to navigate your way through, and the really important part is the sense of desperation and danger that needs to be established.

I loved this book. It’s probably the one that made me most excited for Judgment Day as an event, and even more so I can’t wait for volume 2.

[Adam Fisher · Rating 4 out of 5]

This, out of all the X-Men books, describes Arakko and their "Great Ring" and all the trouble that comes about because of Mars. Still trying to establish itself as a title, I think this one is detached just enough to remain for a long time.
Highlights:
- Storm, Regent of Arakko, and Ambassador from Sol, had to earn her place there via trial by combat.
- Magneto has moved to Arakko as well, building himself a huge metallic castle.
- Vulcan (the third Summers brothers... long story there) is causing a lot of trouble. With him being in custody in the Keep (the SWORD Station in orbit), Abigail Brand has a project for him: joining X-Men Red, a team that will keep tabs on Arakko. Also on the team: Cable, Random, Frenzy, and Mentallo
- X-Men Red's first mission is to fight against the Progenitors, but their efforts are undermined by the Brotherhood of Arakko (Magneto, Storm, Fisher King, and Sunspot). Vulcan loses his cool and Storm is forced to knock him out.
- Magneto takes out Tarn the Uncaring to take his place on the Great Ring of Arakko (this scene is super cool!)
- There is a long debate about whether or not to resurrect Empress Xandra of the Shi'Ar, and that also starts debate about whether or not mutants should be allowed to continue to resurrect. The short term solution? Magneto and Storm choose to live as those on Arakko, with no chance to resurrect...

This book leads into the events of "A.X.E.: Judgment Day". Can't wait to be able to read that crossover in entirety.
Recommend, but obviously you must be up on your X-Books...

[Matthew Ward · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’m not super crazy about this series based on this volume so far. The points of interest were Abigail Brand (ongoing interest) and the interaction we see Rockslide (Wrongslide) have on the island given the status of his identity. I just wanna give the big rock a hug. I did enjoy the last issue that gears up for the big event. I’m not sure if I’ll enjoy it or not, but I do have high hopes.

[Benji Glaab · Rating 4 out of 5]

3.5 Stars
Strong start, but the 4th and 5th issue of the set weren't very well explained. Considering I missed most of the previous Arakko lore I could have used a bit more hand holding. Either way I've been itching to get back into X-men and with the 2022 reset this is a good place to jump in.

[Graham Butler · Rating 1 out of 5]

Nothing about this volume stands on its own. Even if one or two aspects are interesting, there's no through-thread and the final issue is purely filler for a different crossover event, collected in a different volume. I'm relieved my Marvel subscription expires soon.

[Alex Sarll]

To some extent, this feels like it's addressing the complaints levelled at Ewing's previous X-book, SWORD, several plot points from which it picks up. Thing is, I liked SWORD, the way it was less a team book proper than an ensemble drama about anything interesting that was happening offworld but in Sol system – same as I liked Hickman's X-Men, a prismatic soap opera about horny posthumans, more than I do the subsequent Duggan run, which went back to being a book about a team of mutants fighting threats, just like we've already had decades of. But there are further problems here, most obviously that the focus on Mars means we get to spend lots of time with the Arakki mutants, who were really dull when they were introduced in X Of Swords and have become no less so since. In a really unsalvageable sort of way, too – as it stood, with their whole ONLY WAR, no weakness is permissible vibe, they were duplicating an extant X-Men element, Breakworld; but if you try to broaden that out a bit, as Ewing does here, give them another dimension, having an amiable old Arakki who believes in talking cures, and an arts district...well, at that point they stop feeling very alien at all. Yes, there's one scene in which Bobby da Costa makes typically brilliant and devious use of one of their stupider mutant abilities, which comes closer than I've yet seen to justifying them...but that's still one scene versus all the times they plod around like they're in the sort of high fantasy book that even now has still not been optioned for a streaming adaptation. And the Earth mutant cast includes some right duds too; the scene of John Proudstar and Vulcan being tiresome alpha males at each other was setting up stuff that hopefully may yet pay off, but until such time as it does, remains simply trying.

There are, thank heavens, some more engaging characters among the core crew. Abigail Brand is always fun, and I like the twist that her suspicious team are the eponymous X-Men, while the characters we're rooting for call themselves the Brotherhood. Among them, Storm, still coming to terms with becoming Regent of Arakko or Queen of Mars, and still negotiating the difference between those two things; Bobby, who works so well as a mastermind or as a himbo that for a moment you can genuinely believe he does just want to bring disco to the Broken Land. And of course the best mutant of all, Magneto. Especially as he's played here, with a mix of veteran's wisdom, sorrow, and archness worthy of his greatest screen incarnation, plus – always the highlight – an inventive use of his powers to fuck someone right up. Even here, though, there are glitches. His concerns about colonialism feel like a fig leaf too easily removed, even as they feed into the subsequent development where he foregoes immortality for both himself and Storm because it offends the Arakki, despite the fact the Arakki are clearly idiots on this point. Replay this scene with a smart person resident in some backwater awash with antivaxxers, realise how stupid that would be, then consider how much more stupid if it's not just the vaccine for one half-arsed bug but for death itself. This is no less annoying for subsequently being revealed as an attempt to give crossover event Judgment Day some stakes, and if anything more so given what happens next. Which I'm trying to avoid spoiling outright, but put it this way: there was a trend a few years back for some comics writers, who'd clearly had plans for particular superheroes for many years, to bring characters back from the dead, only in order to kill them off again almost immediately, simply because the new death was the one they'd envisaged, and they couldn't kill their darling kills. This does the mirror image of that, which is at least novel, but still gives me an itch. 

[Chris Lemmerman · Rating 5 out of 5]

Al Ewing continues his X-Men story that began in SWORD by bringing the action to Arakko. As a new Brotherhood makes themselves known, we get some spotlights on Vulcan, Magneto, and Storm as well that show why Ewing's always a good fit for literally any book he gets his hands on.

Ewing apes the X-Men storytelling style here, spotlighting specific characters while furthering the bigger story almost in the background. Even as the story gets a little sidetracked by AXE: Judgment Day in the later issues, you'd think that was always Ewing's idea because he runs with the event perfectly. At this point, I should be used to Ewing churning out impressive books, but he still manages to surprise me, which I'm not complaining about.

Stefano Caselli handles the art for four of the five issues here with his usual flair, while Juann Cabal, Andres Genolet and Michael Sta. Maria handle issue 4 between them in an issue split three ways storywise as well as artistically.

X-Men Red continues the trend of the Krakoan Era of X-Men books by being even more impressive than I'd hoped it'd be.

[Leslie Carnahan · Rating 2 out of 5]

Well ... I tried. I've been trying and trying to find a current run of X-Men that I actually like. This one was getting really good reviews from coworkers and regulars at the comic shop.... And man this just doesn't do it for me. The fact that death doesn't mean a damn thing anymore because everyone can just come back as a clone.... There are no stakes anymore. There are no consequences to anyone's actions because mutants can just come back. *Sighs* I used to LOVE X-Men when I was younger... But man... This is tough y'all. I am REALLY trying to love X-Men again... But I feel like they've just moved on. And I think I have too.

[Jason · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.25
A mixed bag. But when it's good, it's very good.

[Gladimore · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was SOOOOO BORED! So not my cup of tea.

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is easily the best damn X-men book in the Destiny of X, all hail Ewing and his reign on the red planet.

While it still completely rubs me the wrong way we lose SWORD and all it built up to never deliver for this book to exist, at least it's a damn good book. Seeing Storm and Brand begin their game of chess over Arrako has been fascinating, as well as how Magento, Vulcan, the Great Ring, and others fit in. After being put on Mars after Planet sized, the Arrako mutants needed definition and character, and some work is being done on that.

This has been the only book in this bannered era delivering issues by issue. Each one ends on a big note: the brotherhood, the vendetta, the usurping, the promise to the council, and the decemation hour. Every issue I'm hooked, I thank whoever put Ewing on this book with Casselli, and I anticipate more. Maybe I'm a Magneto and Storm shill, but it's taking big swings, and even with it's tie ins to Judgment day it's using it's pages wisely. I can only hope the next five issues are this strong, and I hope immortal continues to compete with it. I want more defense for this broken land! Long live Arrako

[Bob · Rating 4 out of 5]

One of the best X comics ever, but somewhat derailed by an Eternals crossover, sadly. Gems include Storm refounds the Brotherhood & tames her 2nd Summers brother, Sunspot outfoxes Isca the Unbeaten, Magneto & Wrongslide don’t fear a life that ends, & Magneto loses his heart

[Nick · Rating 3 out of 5]

(3.5 stars)

Some cool stuff in the art and I liked Magneto as basically the main character. He gets a fun little twist. The last issue kinda lost me. It's not confusing or anything. It just doesn't commit to its story decisions and suffers for it.

[Tuni · Rating 5 out of 5]

THIS BOOK IS GREAT. THANKS, THAT IS ALL I WANTED TO SAY.

[Khabeer Rashad · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love the way Al writes Storm.

[violetDelights · Rating 3 out of 5]

★★★★☆☆☆
overall this is a decent read but I am just burnt out on all the krakoa x-men stuff. Overly complicated and not much reason to care.