Twists, turns, and trouble for the future
The swanky angel cover belies the all-out tumult contained in this issue. Wait. I misspoke. The action in this issue and the outcomes of the confrontations cannot be contained. From page 1, the fight between the Scott Summers X-Men (currently including the All-New X-Men) and Charles Xavier Jr from the future is one of the best action sequences we've seen in a Brian Michael Bendis book in years.
The Good
After the impressive showing from last issue, topping it would be tough, but the power of the confrontation in this issue owes a lot to the inspired pencils of Stuart Immonen. He deftly packs an incredible amount of action into each page. Wade von Grawbadger's inks and Marte Gracia's colors absolutely finish what Immonen starts with power and authority.
The story continues around the point last issue left off. While we previously got answers, this one turns those answers into ominous leads that I hope will be explored in due time. In a turn of expert writing, Bendis weaves a masterful conclusion and leaves us a in a fantastic place with opportunities to be explored next issue and beyond. The trademark Bendis banter is here, but the desperate, dramatic, and demanding tone of the characters sells the power of the pitched battle, including tight twists and turns packed into the pages.
The Bad
Like the recent wrap-up of the Uncanny X-Men arc, this is not a jumping-on point, but the culmination of a story. This, unlike Bendis' other finale, is a masterfully crafted conclusion to an action-packed narrative that demands your attention. There are a couple characters (like Emma & Tempus) that come up short on their contributions, but Bendis & Immonen do a lot with a very robust cast.
The Verdict
Multiple characters have important moments in this book. Beast (past & future), Cyclops (modern), Angel (past), and X-23 (just to name a few) have some expected turns, but I was impressed by Xavier's future brotherhood. There is a masterful payoff that made this issue a blast. Even after all of the revelations, the action will keep you reading until the very end when the twists and turns bury seeds for more stories.
If you missed an issue in this story arc, grab them. Then read this issue. The art, narrative, and pacing deliver in every panel.
