Immortal X-Men #4
Emma Frost has some news for the Quiet Council, which changes everything for the group in Immortal X-Men #4, by writer Kieron Gillen, artist Michele Bandini, colorist David Curiel, and letterer Clayton Cowles. This is the X-Men book everyone should be reading, and this issue continues proving why.
This one focuses on Emma Frost before, during, and after the Hellfire Gala. At the Gala, she has to deal with the revealing of mutant immortality, including being asked if it can be opened up to world leaders, before she’s covered in sheep’s blood by someone whose husband died. Cyclops gives her some interesting information, which she reveals at the next Quiet Council meeting: the truth about Doctor Stasis. Sinister runs, using weapons created from mutant powers. As he escapes, he’s given a warning by Destiny. In his lab, he almost kills a Moira clone but stops himself, reloading his personality and surrendering himself. Just then, he’s teleported away. Later that night, Emma muses on the future.
Gillen has written Frost before, and this issue shows how well he understands her character. Revealing she sleeps in diamond form as a multi-faceted defense mechanism, from enemies physical and telepathic but also because diamonds don’t age, is classic Emma Frost. Gillen understands how to use Frost’s individual voice, something that has been on display throughout this book, but definitely comes across well here. There are hints of regret, immediately brushed away by her own haughtiness and a desire to protect Krakoa, her children, with all her heart. Few people write Frost as well as Gillen does.
The Mister Stasis reveal was a bit of shoddy storytelling from Duggan’s X-Men that Gillen uses to the best effect. This was never a very good idea, but Gillen is an amazing writer who can take Duggan’s lemons and make lemonade. As usual, Sinister is one of the most interesting parts of this book, with Gillen showing him dealing with the Stasis reveal and also where his personality comes from and how he works. It’s great to see Gillen flesh out this version of the character, which he himself created back during his Uncanny X-Men run, and the reveal is a whole lot of fun, like everything else about him.
Bandini is a great choice as an artist for this issue. His style is reminiscent of the ‘90s Americanized manga style that was all the rage in the X-Men books, but it’s also visually unique from that. His character acting is very important to this issue, and he nails it, really helping bring Gillen’s script to life on the page. His figure work is detailed, and it never gets sketchy, which is always nice. Curiel’s colors are top-notch as always.
Immortal X-Men #4 keeps proving why this book is the tippy top of the X-Men food chain. It’s always a joy to read, especially when Gillen is writing characters it’s easy to tell he loves, like Emma Frost and Mister Sinister. Bandini and Curiel make a great art team, realizing Gillen’s scripts wonderfully. Immortal X-Men is always wonderful, and this issue keeps that up.
