After X-Manunt, X-Men #14 Returns to a Lackluster Status Quo (Review)

After wrapping up “X-Manhunt,” the “From the Ashes” X-Men team is now resuming their journey towards restoring the status quo, following the disruption caused by the crossover. The uneven nature of the “From the Ashes” series leads us to the latest installment of X-Men. This comic focuses on a more aggressive Cyclops and his X-Men, striving to create a new mutant society post-Krakoa, butting heads with the 3K entity. A hybrid concept derived from two ideas introduced in New X-Men, Cassandra Nova and the U-Men. The 14th issue of X-Men finds the X-Men embarking on a mission to locate a young girl from Merle, Alaska, a town where their Orchis facility serves as headquarters. This is essentially the entire plot of the issue, and it may not be enticing for new readers.

In simplified terms, this X-Men comic is designed to be easily accessible for new readers, with writer Jed MacKay skillfully introducing necessary information without resorting to heavy exposition. The initial pages provide a seamless introduction to the latest X-Men scenario, and each character’s relationship is clearly established. Reading issue #14 of X-Men offers a comprehensive understanding of each character and their role within this team. This approach makes it ideal for readers joining after a significant crossover event, ensuring they grasp the team dynamic effectively. Overall, this writing style greatly benefits the comic book.

In a recent issue, Ryan Stegman reappears as the artist after a few absences, and the overall appearance of the comic is stunning. Stegman’s artwork style leans towards the cartoonish, and his depiction of Cyclops seems somewhat youthful which doesn’t quite align with the character. However, his attention to detail is remarkable, as evidenced on page six featuring a new mutant, Jen Starkey. Her animalistic mutation, similar to Beast, is beautifully rendered by Stegman. The artist also excels in character acting and facial details, particularly in the scenes involving Magneto, Ben Liu, another new mutant, and expressing Temper’s sorrow when she believes Quentin Quire has perished. A standout moment includes the introduction of Wyre, a new member of 3K and former Alpha Flight villain, who is portrayed as much cooler than ever before. Stegman’s artwork showcases an intricate balance of detail and textures, making it visually impressive.

Although this work seems to do many things well, the main concern is that it lacks substantial content to captivate readers and keep them engaged. For example, the character Wyre’s introduction. It’s presented as a major revelation for every reader, but most people won’t recognize him or understand why he should be feared unless they have read Alpha Flight from the ’90s. This issue reflects one of the main flaws in Mackay’s X-Men – the assumption that this is essential X-Men reading for any fan of the team just because it exists. While the dialogue between Magneto and Ben appears significant, it follows a predictable pattern. There’s nothing about this story that ever truly feels unique or special. Essentially, this issue could have been set at any point in X-Men history, and without the quality of the printing, one wouldn’t be able to tell when it was published.

This issue serves to underscore the fact that “From the Ashes” fails to resonate effectively, particularly in relation to Marvel’s key team, the X-Men. The X-Men thrive on thought-provoking themes, but “From the Ashes” lacks these, making it hard for this issue to fit within the narrative. Essentially, this issue functions as a prelude to the next phase of the 3K storyline, yet it fails to successfully establish the crux – Cassandra Nova transforming regular humans into mutants to fuel anti-mutant sentiment. The readers are left indifferent about this development. This issue predominantly showcases the X-Men in their standard superhero roles, and even then, it falls short of delivering an impressive performance. Mackay is currently regarded highly by Marvel, but his work on both “Avengers” and “X-Men” doesn’t seem to solidify him as the next remarkable Marvel writer, given the lackluster storytelling in these series.

In simpler terms, X-Men #14 tries hard to impress new readers who might have been drawn in by “X-Manhunt,” but unfortunately falls short. Mackay and Stegman deliver an issue that’s well-organized with some intriguing moments, but it lacks substance. Newcomers might not feel compelled to read the next issue due to a lack of engaging content. For regular readers, it’s decent enough for what it offers, but its offering isn’t particularly enticing.

Rating 2.5 out of 5

Published by Marvel

On April 2, 2025

Written by Jed MacKay

Art by Ryan Stegman

Inked by JP Mayer

Colored by Marte Gracia

Letters by Clayton Cowles

2025-04-02 15:40

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