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Marvel’s X-Men relaunch, “From The Ashes,” has definitely felt like playing the hits next to the X-Men’s previous, revolutionary Krakoa era. Still, some of those hits have a very nice sound. One of them is “Uncanny X-Men” by writer Gail Simone and artist David Marquez.
“Uncanny X-Men” is set in Louisiana and true to its setting is a Marvel comic with a twinge of Southern Gothic. Simone picked the perfect X-Men cast for her superheroes-as-people style (especially her decision to anchor the series around the headstrong and sassy Rogue) and for Marquez’s lovely art. But not all is well in the Bayou.
Issue #3 of “Uncanny X-Men” ended with Wolverine about to face a new dangerous villain — the Hag — alone, and Rogue sensing Logan was in danger. Now, Marvel has shared an exclusive preview of the opening pages to “Uncanny X-Men” #4 with /Film. The preview synopsis for the issue reads:
“With one X-Man down and hell coming for the rest, ROGUE finds herself alone against a power of darkness she is completely unprepared for. No backup, no lifeline and NO WAY OUT. And as she fights alone, a secret of the new recruits is revealed – is one of them the ENDLING that will destroy all mutantkind?”
Marquez’s cover for #4 (see below) is easily his best on “Uncanny X-Men” so far.
Marvel Comics
This isn’t to denigrate #1-3, but the atmosphere of this one is on another level. As Rogue hides behind a twisted tree, the Hag peeks through the shadows. It’s a basic but effective horror composition, and might remind X-Fans of Bill Sienkiewicz’s “Demon Bear Saga” on “The New Mutants.”
Look at the bottom of the cover, and you’ll notice gravestones marked with the names of Rogue’s fellow X-Men. These deaths are surely a fakeout, but their inclusion also evokes the most famous “X-Men” cover, John Byrne’s “Uncanny X-Men” #141 — part 1 of time travel classic “Days of Future Past.” Both covers suggest unseen danger and the hopelessness that our heroes have already lost.
Now, the text. Since issue #2, each “Uncanny X-Men” cover has a small, bombastic sentence printed on it, evoking Marvel Comics of the Silver and Bronze Ages. Issue #2 had “Who are the Outliers?” because the issue properly introduced four young mutant runaways. Issue #3 was “Catch the Elf!” since the issue featured the Outliers training via a capture the flag (or rather, “get the belt”) game with Nightcrawler.
Issue #4 reads: “In the darkness waits … Sarah Gaunt!” referring to Hag’s true name. The transition from plain white text to red letters dripping with blood feels right out of an 80s horror film trailer.
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