Status Updates From Marvel Must-Have: X-Men - D...

The last issue is truly a roller coaster of emotions, particularly as the duel reaches its end. Slowly, the readers hope for the X-Men’s success dies as they get beaten one by one until only cyclops and Jean Grey remain.

Then, Phoenix is reborn, a fate worse than their defeat. However, Jean is briefly in control. She begs the X-Men to kill her, but they can’t. She does what she has to do, taking her own life.

Wolverine recognizes the obvious distinction between Jean Grey and the Phoenix. However, he’s skeptical whether they can be cleanly separated, with Grey exempt from any blame.

Professor X acts like a protective father, willing to duel to protect her. Cyclops’ is unchanged, ever defensive of Jean, believing in her goodness. Jean is horrified by her actions but unsure how to take responsibility.

In the epilogue, Claremont shows what the effects of the Dark Phoenix saga have had on each of the X-Men, individually.

While some might expect them to take her side, their responses are much more nuanced, and a realistic result to betrayal.

Nightcrawler, with many of the X-Men, are conflicted. While they love Jean as a sister, they aren’t prepared to excuse her of the atrocities she committed as Dark Phoenix.

Claremont does a great job at exploring what the heroes are thinking about to themselves, and deliberating at. Many of his pages are purely thought bubbles.

The epilogue’s courtroom setting and political style is a major change of pace from the physical and fast-paced battle that had been happening up to this point.

However, it lets the dust settle. The characters are held truly accountable for what transpired and the damage they were responsible for.

In Claremont’s typical storytelling style, everything doesn’t go back to normal after Dark Phoenix is defeated.