Amazing X-Men #1 Is an Action-Packed but Isn’t a Revelation (Review)

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The comic series “From the Ashes” began strong, but DC’s new Absolute Universe quickly became more popular, pushing the X-Men comics down in sales starting in late 2024. Since then, X-Men titles have struggled, with cancellations and declining sales figures. “The Age of Overture” is the latest attempt to revitalize the X-Men line, and *Amazing X-Men* #1 is a key part of this three-month storyline. While the issue delivers exciting, fast-paced action, it relies heavily on basic alternate universe tropes, which can be frustrating.

Jed MacKay’s *X-Men* series has been quite successful, and this new story, “The Age of Overture,” is his creation. However, I feel *Amazing X-Men* #1 shares some of the same weaknesses as his *X-Men* title. To put it simply, MacKay doesn’t seem well-suited to writing major team books, and this issue proves it. While it’s a decent story, it’s predictable and lacks surprises. MacKay’s *X-Men* works largely because it borrows ideas from Grant Morrison’s *New X-Men* and Brian Bendis’s *Uncanny X-Men*. Similarly, *Amazing X-Men* #1 only succeeds as a story because it relies on a very basic alternate universe premise.

The story centers on the X-Men racing against time to gather information for Cyclops, hoping he can prevent a disastrous future. While the plot is straightforward, any twists are fairly predictable. The book does showcase a significant X-Men location, highlighting the changes to the world, but mostly consists of the team evading Wolverine, who is acting as an agent of fate. It’s not a *bad* story, but it really only appeals to readers already familiar with the ‘Age of Revelation’ concept. It feels very similar to the ‘Age of Apocalypse’ storyline, and generally relies on familiar tropes found in alternate universe tales.

If you enjoy Grant MacKay’s work on X-Men, you’ll probably like this story. However, if you’re unsure and hoping this issue will revitalize the series after “The Age of Revelation,” you might be disappointed. While the writing is solid, this first issue of *Amazing X-Men* doesn’t offer enough to make it a compelling read or a series you need to follow. Many readers are already taking a break after the events of “From the Ashes” and “The Age of Revelation,” and this issue won’t likely bring them back.

Rating: 2.5 out of 5

Pros Cons
Fast-paced action that keeps readers engaged This is the most basic alternate universe story ever, with nothing special going on
The art is detailed and well-rendered Telegraphs the series’ twist within the first few pages
There’s no hook to make readers keep reading unless they already like MacKay’s X-Men

Mahmud Asrar’s Art Gives a Mid Comic Great Art

This comic is a quick, action-filled read, and Mahmud Asrar’s artwork truly carries it. Asrar’s character designs are excellent, particularly Glob Herman, and perfectly match the bleak tone of the story’s future setting. The comic opens with beautiful depictions of a vibrant forest, which is a surprisingly effective way to portray a dystopian world – it creates the illusion of a better place while hinting that something is deeply wrong. The story takes place in a jungle that shouldn’t exist in the Northeastern United States, and Asrar’s detailed backgrounds cleverly build the world without needing any dialogue.

As a huge comic book fan, I have to say the action sequences in this issue are seriously impressive. The artist, Asrar, really knows how to make things *move* on the page, and it’s clear here. The artwork itself is consistently strong, with a ton of detail throughout. What really struck me was how well the characters’ emotions came across – you could really feel what they were going through, which is key to connecting with the story. Honestly, *Amazing X-Men* #1 just *looks* fantastic, and while that’s a big plus, it feels like that’s ultimately all it has going for it.

Amazing X-Men #1 unfortunately highlights the problems with the ‘From the Ashes’ storyline. It’s a very simple alternate universe tale, and while the writing isn’t *bad*, it doesn’t do much to showcase the quality of ‘The Age of Revelation’. The book is really carried by its fantastic artwork; without it, there wouldn’t be much to recommend. Amazing X-Men #1 features a decent script and stunning art, but it’s probably only worth reading if you’re already a fan of ‘The Age of Revelation’.

Amazing X-Men #1 is on sale now.

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2025-10-08 14:10