Jed MacKay and Ryan Stegman are back with the newest issue of X-Men, with this issue focusing on Kwannon and Quentin Quire, who are tasked to do a psychic rescue on the newly activated mutant, Ben Liu, from his coma, and try to figure out what caused his late x-gene activation. Unfortunately they come face to face with something that’s bigger than they might be prepared for. Can they survive this new threat? What does this mean? How can this memory send both Kwamnon and Quentin to their own Black Bug Rooms? You’ll have to read it for yourself to find out.
Jed MacKay’s run with the merry mutants has been a mixed bag thus far, but overall it’s been entertaining enough to keep me coming back for more. I particularly enjoyed this current issue because it focused on Kwannon, who is my favorite player on the current roster. It was a joy to see Greycrow here, as their budding relationship during the Hellions series was something that was well received by fans, but I’m not sure if him being a bankrobber who’s working with Amelia Voght is something he should be doing. Unless it’s all a red herring, and it’s something more that we just haven’t been made aware of.
If I have any complaint on the issue it’s Kwannon’s experience in her Black Bug Room. It’s nothing to do with her, or the fate of her daughter, but it has to do with her relationship with Greycrow that has me the most disappointed. Kwannon’s existence is a blank slate, and Jed has the chance to give us something deeper than what we’ve been given, that to see her inner darkness tied to her romantic relationship is such a disservice to both the character and her fans, that it bothered me for the remainder of the issue.
It was a treat to see Quentin as someone that isn’t his incessant annoying personality, but as someone who could move past it. Especially the scenes where we see him in his Black Bug Room, where he comes face to face over his fate by Sabretooth during the Sabretooth War (Quentin was decapitated and had his head in a box). It was refreshing to see him as something more than the egotistical jerk we’ve come to know and loathe. It’s this quality that has made Mackay’s take so enjoyable for me.
Ryan Stegman’s back, and I couldn’t be more pleased. Stegman’s one of those artists whose work I enjoy, but only for certain characters. His run on the Spider-Man related books, especially his run on Venom with Donny Cates, are where I enjoy his stuff the most. Unfortunately I never warmed to his run on Inhuman, or Uncanny Avengers, it made me apprehensive to see what he’ll give us here. Fortunately his work on this book has surprised me. Especially his take on Beast and Quentin. His Beast evokes a classic George Perez feel that has hooked me, and his Quentin is just a cherry on top. I’m not sure why, I just do. Between these two, plus Mackay’s plotting, this team has made me fully invested in this book through the end of this storyline.
Psylocke & Kid Omega embark on a psychic journey into Ben Liu’s psyche to save him from his coma! Can these 2 make it back? Or will they succumb to their Black Bug rooms? By @jedmackay & @ryanstegman! #XMen #FromtheAshes #MarvelComics Read More