Immortal X-Men #4: Don’t Put On That Red Dress

Kieron Gillen writes an amazing Emma Frost. In his hands, Emma is the kind of person that one can admire, pity, empathize with, envy and be mildly afraid of. She’s perfectly self-aware, her flaws are more visible to herself than they are to the people around her, and she embraces every shred of her personality and history in a way that is truly admirable. This issue provided her with some truly lovely introspection, and it served us up a glimpse of a complex and beautiful character.

It was interesting, also, to see some of the PR fallout from the revelation of mutant immortality. Some humans blame the mutants for the loss of their loved ones, others attempt to become mutants themselves. There’s one chillingly accurate line about the ways in which corporations buy privileges for themselves which they withhold from everyone else. If only a Sentinel could be programmed to take down Big Business. 

We also learned something brilliant and horrifying about Gillen’s Sinister — just how shallow his personality is. Sinister is Self as a programmable mask. He chooses his personality traits as carefully as Emma selects her outfit for the Gala. In Gillen’s hands, Sinister becomes something of a Miltonic Satan figure, forever saying ‘I am the only real person who exists’ even as he is trapped in the hell of his own isolation. All the plastered, taped-up charm in the world can’t bridge that chasm, and I am aching to see him fall. 

Michele Bandini’s art is expressive and vibrant, equally suited for quiet moments of reflection and pulse-pounding action. David Curiel’s colors are rich and saturated (especially the blood) without ever being muddled or otherwise overwhelming. Clayton Cowles’ lettering propels the plot without distracting from the gorgeous art. 

The noose is tightening around the new mutant nation. I can’t wait to see if the council can slip the knot.