Uncanny X-Men ends it’s hyper, action-packed ten issues weekly run with an explosive final battle, emotional closure and a huge status change for the X-Men.
X-Man (A.K.A. Nate Grey) is dying. In his last days, he has used his omnipotent mutant powers to forcibly change the world into an ecological and sociological paradise. Needing followers, X-Man twisted Magneto, Blob, OmegaRed and eventually Storm into powerful avatars of his will: the Horsemen of Salvation. Legion (A.K.A. David Haller) foresaw X-Man’s machinations and tried to avert them with the help of the X-Men. However, Legion and the X-Men were quickly overpowered and X-Man took over Legion’s body. Terribly outmatched, X-Men leader Jean Grey sent out a telepathic distress call to all current and
former X-Men to fight for their future!
Uncanny X-Men #10
Written by: Ed Brisson, Matthew Rosenberg & Kelly Thomspon
Art by: Pere Perez
Colors by: Rachelle Rosenberg
Letters by: VC’s Joe Caramagna
SPOILERS AHEAD!
Writing
Uncanny X-Men #10 wastes no time at all in picking up from last issue’s all-out brawl of a chapter. A massive back-up of mutants arrives to join the fight, and it’s again great to see so many beloved characters in one book. One of the best things this new Uncanny has done is give multiple characters chances to shine, all while still delivering some epic superhero throwdowns. It’s a testament to the writing team of Brisson, Rosenberg and Thompson that they were able to balance that for ten weeks straight.
The focal point of this chapter is the final confrontation between Nate Summers (X-Man) and his mother Jean Grey, it’s what the narrative has been building too, and the writing team handles it perfectly. The moment is both visually and emotionally impactful, especially for longtime fans of the X-Men.
Plenty of other beloved (and new) characters shine here too; Psylocke, X-23, Cannonball, and a mind-control free Strom all get some great moments that showcase the power teamwork that makes the X-Men so unique as a team. It’s another classic trope that Brisson, Rosenberg and Thompson know how to write.
Then there’s the ending…SPOILER ALERT...where the X-Men are once again removed and reality changes. Oh yeah and Cyclops is back. But before anyone cries ‘been there done that’, take into account the level of care and detail that went into each and every weekly issue. The ending may be familiar, but it also feels emotionally earned and leaves the door open for the ‘Age of X-Man’ event (which we all knew was coming).
Art
The art in this series has really captured the energy and momentum needed for weekly chapters. Pere Perez creates some dynamic layouts, dramatic splash images and some truly fantastic choreography with the massive fights and high character count.
Despite the speed and amount of images, the narrative flows. Throw in Rachelle Rosenbergs pop art color palette, and you have a book filled with some beautiful comic book imagery.
Conclusion
Uncanny X-Men: Dissasembled has been a wild, fun ride for ten weeks. This concluding chapter leaves Marvel’s Mutants in a perfect place to build yet another classic mutant saga. And that’s the best we can hope from an X-title, epic, character-based sagas that feel both grand and intimate. This new version of the title feels closest to classic Claremont era than it has in years, and it’s great. This is a book you should be reading.
