ICYMI: Storm and the Brotherhood of Mutants #3: No Experience Necessary

This issue functioned less well as a stand-alone work of fiction than the previous two, but considering that this is where the threads of the event all come together to form a cohesive whole that is a more than forgivable lapse. The characterizations within this issue were absolutely spot-on: it’s clear that Ewing has put real thought into both who these characters are and the ways in which centuries of Sinister would change them.

Storm’s resurrection was beautifully done (with a few appropriately disgusting details — for example, the fact that the Brotherhood survivors had been eating the eggs laid by one of their members is brutally cannibalistic) though it was a bit disconcerting to see her revived with her soul but minus any of her experience or memories. There were a surprising amount of emotional scenes to be had as the world fell apart in a rain of nuclear fire. Khora’s death hit especially hard, and Emma’s complete, blissful corruption was absolutely nightmarish. 

Once again, Alessandro Vitti’s art was the gorgeous connective tissue that kept this shambling corpse of a universe moving. His depiction of radiation sickness was absolutely, appropriately disturbing. In fact, every cobbled together detail of this final holdout against Sinister was beautifully rendered. Vitti was made to build worlds of ravishing decay, and he’s bringing his best game to the year 1000. Rain Beredo’s colors were as gloriously rotten as the line work, full of bruised browns and rust.  Visually, this story was absolutely stunning.