AXE: Death to the Mutants #3: This War is Going Nuclear

The final issue of the three issues tie-in to AXE: Judgment Day, and while it doesn’t quite live up to its name, there is a loss here that will shake the Eternals, and their world for years after this event. With an event with super high highs, and some pretty meh lows, but this issue marks the the beginning of the final chapter, and Gillen’s plans begin to take shape and coalesce to what I’m assuming is going to be a bombastic ending. 

It’s an issue that’s full of battles, and while most tie ins are superfluous, money grabs, there are scenes here that fill in some of the holes that have shown up in other chapters, clearing up a lot of the loose plot holes from other series that are crossing over with this mini, giving a better sense of continuity, and where this stands as we head into the final chapter. Gillen excels where he’s more comfortable, taking the unmolded clumps of clay from these situations that are quite commonplace, but is able to inject a sense of surrealism that elevates is rather boring, and and majestic in their world.

One of the biggest highlights from this mini is the development of the Machine. Gillen has pumped so much personality, and used the Machine not only as the unseen narrator, who’s become an indelible part of the cast, so the events of this issue might change everything we’ve become accustomed to. Not only this, but there’s a point where I’ve become absolutely in love with Phastos’ journey over the last two years. I’ve always been drawn to female characters, but since Gillen has taken over, I’ve been drawn more to the rest of the Inhumans, especially after the development around Phastos since this run began. 

He became more interesting over the last two years than he has been in the last 30 years than I’ve ever been reading comics. Unfortunately Gillen hasn’t done much with him, outside of the first arc, and his hand in building the Celestial to stop Druig’s forces, unfortunately now he plans on judging the entire world, and destroying everyone and everything with it. Joining a clandestine group of Avengers, Mutants, and Eternals, his role has been fairly inconsequential compared to the rest, but we finally get Phastos’ big moment. Is it enough to bring him further into the light? Who knows. All I want is more stories with him after this. 

Guiu Villanova’s art has consistently improved with every issue, and this might be the best yet. His figure work has a finesse, that’s both rough, and layered, giving the characters a depth that goes beyond just the cape comics, but also taps into that je ne sais quo that comes with any good depiction of a Kirby classic. They’re rough around the edges, and bombastically energetic. I hope to see what else he can do.