X-Men #26: Back to the Basics

X-Men #26 marks the beginning of a new story arc for everyone’s favorite mutant superheroes. The new “Danger Room” arc takes its name from the X-Men’s iconic training facility in the X-Mansion in New York. As for the story arc itself, it’s nice to see the X-Men working for the people for once. Ever since their debut in the ’60s, the X-Men have stood for misfits and outcasts of all kinds. Anyone who has ever felt left out or left behind, regardless of background, could be represented by the X-Men.

Netho Diaz and Sean Parsons have returned to MacKay’s X-Men, replacing Tony S. Daniel and Mark Morales. The duo previously worked on issue #21 and several other issues before that. Their work in X-Men #26 feels like a return to form in more ways than one. Readers can feel the cozy atmosphere of Glob’s vegetable stand and the rundown state of the trashed police station following Chief Robbin’s abduction. While Diaz’s and Parsons’ work excels in some areas, the blocky faces of some characters like Cyclops or Psylocke feel downright cartoonish at times.

Fernando Sifuentes-Sujo’s colorwork adds quite a bit to the inks and pencils provided by Parsons and Diaz, respectively. Color never feels flat throughout the whole issue. Magik’s teleportation effect has a more intricate texture than “swirly patterns,” which would save work and time at the cost of quality.