X-Men Red #4
Life and death are on the menu in X-Men Red #4, by writer Al Ewing, artists Juann Cabal, Andres Genolet, and Michael Sta. Maria, colorist Federico Blee, and letterer Ariana Maher. After the action of the last issue, Ewing slows things down, but it’s still momentous.
On Arakko, Magneto and Circle discuss whether Krakoans should be allowed on to serve since they can’t die, and Magneto destroys his and Storm’s back-ups in front of them to prove they’re worthy. In space, the Shi’Ar call delegates from Wakanda, the Kree/Skrull Empire, Sol, and the Guardians of the Galaxy to tell them Xandra is dead. They debate whether she should be resurrected when Storm reveals it’s already happened and that Krakoa does what it wants. She and Nova have a conversation, and she invites her to visit Arakko. On Earth, Sunspot is resurrected and talks to Rockslide about his resurrection before inviting him to Arakko.
Death and resurrection are the focus of this issue. This sort of thing has been coming since Krakoan resurrection debuted, especially once Arakko was added to the mix. Honestly, it’s a good thing that Ewing writes this book because otherwise this sort of story might have fallen to Gerry Duggan, someone who would have botched the whole thing. It’s a thoughtful installment that finds a way to cool down from the last chapter in the best possible way. However, even without the big-time action, Ewing still impresses.
The biggest development in the issue is Xandra’s death and resurrection. With how much books have been obsessed with protecting Xandra in the Krakoa era, with multiple issues in two books and one one-shot all about the disposition of Xandra, it was weird for it to happen off-screen, as it were. Orbis Stellaris warns there will be war if Xandra is resurrected, and Storm’s nonchalance will definitely play into the future. Magneto destroying his and Storm’s back-ups is an interesting choice, and the whole thing with Sunspot and Rockslide, or Wrongslide as he’s called by the kids of Krakoa, is nice but not super important compared to the other two developments.
There are three artists on the book, but their styles are all so similar it’s hard to tell them apart. The art is pretty good regardless, but it feels weird to pick three different artists with basically the same style.
X-Men Red #4 is yet another amazing issue of this book. Ewing slows it down, gets ponderous in the best possible way, and focuses on the book’s three stars in completely different ways. The three artists do a good job, but their styles are so similar that it feels like there’s only one artist on the book. This issue is yet another triumph for this book.
