REVIEW: Hellions #15 Rushes Towards a Conclusion

Havok unleashing a massive plasma blast

With Sinister’s secrets revealed, the Hellions start looking for revenge in Hellions #15.

Hellions #15

Rogê Antonio (art), Rain Beredo (cover and color), Ariana Maher (letters and production), Tom Muller (design), Stephen Segovia (cover), Zeb Wells (writer)
Marvel Comics
September 1, 2021

Kwannon stands with two katannas in front of the shadowed hellions and a looming Sinister.

This review contains spoilers for Hellions #15.

Honestly, with the majority of the X-line floundering in the lead-up to Inferno, Hellions keeps its foot on the gas to not disappoint. It’s telling that the three most enjoyable titles over the last few months have been Hellions, New Mutants, and The Trial of Magneto.  Those three books push us most directly into the upcoming event that ends the Hickman era of X-Men. Most notable is how closely all three of these titles are really focusing on the flaws in the resurrection protocols; as of this week’s releases, New Mutants and Hellions are directly tied together with the story of Gabby Kinney and Madelyne Pryor.

It was wild how many plots came to a head in Hellions #15, and yet it still feels like a tight endeavor. Sinister’s betrayals came to a head in the last issue, but exactly what he was up to was revealed this month. And indeed, Sinister’s machinations were to hijack Tarn’s research to create the first Krakoan chimera. So as we approach the climax that Inferno promises, we draw one step closer to Powers of X‘s future. And of course, the first chimera is a version of Sinister merged with Tarn, and the implications of such a combination are absolutely terrifying. Both are devious and unscrupulous; the idea that this is what leads to further chimeras is not a good sign.

Speaking of Tarn, this issue also closes the Locus Vile story for now and gives us the context on why the Amino Fetus must not feed. The short of it is that the Fetus is a part of a death and rebirth cycle, but the rebirth could signal the end of the universe unless the Atrocious Infants are thrown into a black hole to start the cycle anew. Yes, in this issue, Amino Fetus feeds, and from his back start to birth what we find out via data page are the aforementioned Infants, and to save reality Tarn and the Vile have to take the creature to a black hole, but vowing revenge.

More impressively, Zeb Wells dramatically pays off the plot that’s been building not only throughout all of Hellions but from Fallen Angels as well. It’s revealed that Psylocke has been working alongside Sinister but also exactly what he is holding over her. The revelation that he’s holding her daughter hostage for her cooperation leaves an impact that showcases the growth we’ve seen from Greycrow over the last fifteen issues. He embraces empathy rather than vengeance.

Just as emotional is the revelation that the reason that little shit Empath is on the team is that he’s Emma’s double agent. Emma had every reason to be suspicious of her former enemy, and it’s a nice touch for her to use one of her first students to enact her own will on Sinister. Antonio does a great job of expressing the emotions in this issue, especially in the final two pages, as Empath forces Havok to go nova and quite possibly destroy everything that Sinister has done, including the data on Kwannon’s daughter.

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Cori McCreery

Cori McCreery

Cori is a life long comic nerd residing in Northern California. A life long Supergirl and DC Comics fan, she is the DC Comics Beat Reporter for Women Write About Comics.

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