
Despite general dissatisfaction among X-Men fans lately, Uncanny X-Men has been a bright spot. It’s avoided the problems that have plagued other recent X-Men titles and delivers strong, character-driven stories that acknowledge the franchise’s history of tackling social issues. Writer Gail Simone has made this series particularly noteworthy for its diversity, openly exploring LGBTQ+ themes and introducing a wide range of new and interesting mutants. Her story, “Dark Artery,” which cleverly incorporates the history of racism in the United States, is one of the best X-Men stories of recent years, adding depth to the new X-Men base, Haven, and the St. Junior family. The Uncanny X-Men Annual #1 builds on that story and introduces a fantastic new mutant team, the Regulators – exactly what the X-Men comics have been needing, and it’s already captivated me.