Fallen Angels #1
Recap
THE DAWN DOES NOT BREAK FOR ALL! Psylocke finds herself in this new world of Mutantkind unsure of her place in it… but when a face from her past returns only to be killed, she seeks help from others who feel similar to get vengeance.
Cover by Ashley Witter
Review
The Dawn of X continues in it’s darkest entry yet with Fallen Angels #1, a book that takes readers to the underbelly of Krakoa where the laws of paradise matter not. Here, we find the consequences of lost time and perils of exile, but also the hidden potential waiting to be unlocked.
Writer Bryan Hill focuses the story around Psylocke, recently parted from Betsy Braddock and forced to come to terms with herself once again. Her unknown past offers a unique playground for the creative team and they take full advantage, exploring both her ninja training and the devastating loss that came with it…
Her child.
Now seemingly trapped in paradise, we see what happens when someone must leave Krakoa and it isn’t pretty. The dark aesthetic established lends itself remarkably well to the themes explored, and while the experiences are emotional and real, the visuals create a foreboding sense of dangerous mystery. As we explore this mystery deeper that brings together such a violent team including X-23 and young Cable, we finally get a glimpse of life outside what the Quiet council of Krakoa demands.
This isn’t a perfect book by any means. There are skewed characterizations such as Mr. Sinister when compared to how he is written in Hickman’s work and there is a particular complaint about Laura Kinney still trying to get out from under Wolverine’s shadow when that hasn’t been an issue for her in quite sometime. These types of things happen, just like the occasional awry character depiction in smaller panels. But these are just brief moments in an otherwise truly thrilling issue that has incredible depth and potential. The minor flaws are simply not enough to bring down the first issue of Fallen Angels.
The concept of family comes up in some very interesting ways in Fallen Angels #1 from the strange child Apoth and their connection to Psylocke to the more grand perception of the mutant family obeying the laws of Krakoa. The parental-like guidance from both Apocalypse and Mr. Sinister gives the impression of a functional family attempting to contain the impacts of their more rebellious members, but ultimately, this is Psylocke’s mission. It’s a mission fueled by the interwoven dangers of technological and drug addiction mixed with the insecurity of the unknown. More importantly, it’s a mission of self-discovery, for all involved.
In breaking the laws of paradise, Fallen Angels #1 captures an incredibly interesting perspective of the new status quo for mutants and expands on the little known story of Kwannon and how she must live as Psylocke. With a similarly dark cast of characters around her, the story proves to be entirely different from any other X-title on the shelves and well worth purchasing for your collection.
Final Thoughts
In breaking the laws of paradise, Fallen Angels #1 captures an incredibly interesting perspective of the new status quo for mutants with a dark story and powerful visuals.
Fallen Angels #1 : Breaking the Laws of Paradise
- Writing - 9/109/10
- Storyline - 9/109/10
- Art - 9/109/10
- Color - 9/109/10
- Cover Art - 9.5/109.5/10