ICYMI! Dead X-Men #3: A Werewolf, a Psychic, and a Literal Cyclops

Once again, Foxe has generated a fun and interesting script — one that yeets us across a multiverse of mayhem. The central joy of this mini has revolved around exploring the alternate realities that Moira has created. Secondary enjoyment comes from watching these carefully balanced characters bouncing off each other and delightfully sparking every time they collide.

Highlights include Jubilee’s copious quips, Frenzy’s surprisingly solid heart, and Prodigy’s willingness to push himself further than anyone expected. It was tremendously fun to see Moira set up as Apocalypse’s queen, as well as witnessing a reality in which Scott Summers is married to Betsy Braddock. Seriously, what is it with that guy and psychics?

Unfortunately, all of this interpersonal fun doesn’t leave a lot of room for plot development. It’s difficult to keep a grip on what, exactly, these characters are attempting to achieve and it’s even more difficult (given the activities in the other X-Books) to believe that any of this matters. There are only two issues left in this series and there are currently so many dangling threads that it’s difficult to see how they could be satisfactorily resolved in less than sixty pages.

Lynne Yoshii, Javier Pina, Bernard Chang, and David Baldeon work together brilliantly, producing worlds which have a distinct, individual feel but which feel, nevertheless, related. There’s a good balance between action and acting throughout. This story is as satisfying to study as it is to read.