Krakoa has fallen. In Uncanny X-Men #1, a small group of mutants, Rogue, Gambit, Wolverine, and Nightcrawler, search for purpose in a world that continues to hate mutantkind. Mutants still need the X-Men because they’re being hunted, locked up, and killed. But what exactly makes a mutant an X-Man? That’s what this little team must contemplate. But they’d better do it fast. Because something’s coming.
Uncanny X-Men #1
Jay Bowen (Design), VC’s Clayton Cowles (Letters), David Marquez (Artist), Gail Simone (Writer), Matthew Wilson (Colours)
Marvel Comics
August 7, 2024
Following the end of the Krakoa era, mutants are scattered around the world. (One, Phoenix, is even in outer space.) Some, like Cyclops, have set up a new X-Men team to continue to protect mutantkind. Others, like Rogue and Gambit, are enjoying life as a married couple. But for mutants like Wolverine, there’s always a fight, and some fights, you can’t win alone. So, who better to lean on, but the super-strong southern belle who can siphon powers and memories, and her ragin’ Cajun husband with kinetic gifts? Of course, with mutants, it’s never just one enemy they have to fight—it’s usually the start of a whole new war as the mutants and readers learn in Uncanny X-Men #1.
Okay, look, who isn’t going to read Uncanny X-Men #1? You’ve got Rogue, who everybody loves. You’ve got sexy, dorky Gambit, who everyone loves. You’ve got Wolverine, arguably the X-Man, who, guess what, everyone loves. Nightcrawler makes an appearance, and I will fight anyone who doesn’t like him. This is the dream team of X-Men. So, yes, when WWAC got a review copy of this issue from Marvel, I snatched it right up.
Uncanny X-Men is heavy on the action. Rogue, Gambit, and Wolverine fight a villain-of-the-week that’s not just powerful but also wise. He uses his wits as much as his strength to put the beat-down on the X-Men. I like a villain with an attitude, so I had a lot of fun with these action scenes. I also liked that this issue front-loaded the action and let the rest of the book focus on the interpersonal struggles of the mutants.
As the first issue of a new series, Uncanny X-Men #1 packs in multiple plotlines. The book introduces of a new X-villain, Dr. Ellis, and her takeover of the former Xavier School for Gifted Youngsters. Marvel Zero had included this scene about Dr. Ellis and her evil plans to decimate the much-loved school, as well as hinted at her having a high-profile prisoner. Dr. Ellis’ complete disregard for the history of the mutant school made for a chilling opener to this story. Yet another reminder of how little marginalized communities’ histories and cultures are regarded, let alone protected.
We get the first inklings of the primary villains, of course, but much of this book ponders the nature of mutant teams and the X-Men. While Gambit and Wolverine choose Rogue as the natural leader of whatever their team will become, Rogue is surprisingly unsure. I think of Rogue as a natural leader, but this book posits otherwise. Rogue is also somewhat discombobulated by her fellow mutants’ reluctance to be X-Men anymore. I found this quite surprising. Not sure if I’ve missed something or if I have to wait for more books, but why are certain mutants straight-up not interested in being X-Men? I guess I’ll have to find out in upcoming issues.
What I liked about Uncanny X-Men #1 is something I wished the Krakoa books had delved more into, the interpersonal relationships between the mutants. When we did get those moments, I felt more invested in the mutants. But far too often, the stories prioritized suspense or spectacle over character development. Uncanny gives us some fascinating character moments. There’s a page-long Wolverine subplot that demonstrates exactly why he’s such a fascinating character. In all honesty, I would have loved more of that story and the impact it had on Wolverine. Will we get more of it in future issues? I certainly hope so.
Gambit is seeing a resurgence thanks to X-Men ’97, but here at WWAC, we’ve been Gambit fans for a long time. I’m delighted to report that this book does Gambit justice. He rightfully worships his incredible wife and has some solid action scenes, but he also brings his oft-overlooked brains to proceedings. I loved every second I saw him in this book.
Rogue’s voice leads Uncanny X-Men #1 and writer Gail Simone captures what makes Rogue such an enjoyable personality and a fan-favourite. Rogue is perceptive and curious, hopeful yet understandably melancholy about the fate of mutantkind in a hateful world. And I love how much she openly adores her fellow mutants, particularly her husband.
Having said that, there were some weird moments in this issue that gave me pause. What is with characters being overly leery around Rogue? The woman can’t say a single thing about her body or her love life without some guy inserting himself into the situation. Noticeably, Gambit rarely gets this treatment, even when he’s sexualising himself. I don’t know if Simone was going for raunchy humour, but it came across as unnecessary to me.
We now go from the uncomfortable to the sublime, because that’s the only way to describe the art in Uncanny X-Men #1. David Marquez’s pencils and Matthew Wilson’s colours are spectacular. There’s a villain in this issue that is so gorgeously rendered that I actually sighed out loud. The landscapes and architecture were so exquisitely detailed, they immersed me completely into the world of this story. But the characters’ faces weren’t far behind. The mutants look beautiful, and their eyes are so expressive. I could feel the emotions resonate right off the page. I guarantee you will keep going back to pages to look at the beautiful panels because that’s what I did.
I know I’m going to read all the X-Men books because I love the X-Men. But Uncanny X-Men #1 is the first From the Ashes book I feel invested in. And yes, that has a lot to do with the make-up of the team which includes three of my favourite characters and Wolverine. I also like the direction of the story and what’s been promised in this first issue. And if the art continues in this vein, I will definitely be waiting with bated breath for each issue.
