Inferno #1: Beginning of the End

Inferno #1 reaches back through Hickman’s time on the X-books and brings into the foreground two plot aspects that have sat at the foundation of his era: the many lives of Moira X and the supposed evolutionary antagonism between sentient machines and mutants. Inferno serves as a bookend opposite House of X/Powers of X and displays the same narrative tools and concepts that Hickman presented in his entrance to the X-World.

In Inferno #1, Hickman utilizes nonlinear storytelling to craft the bones of this series, though to a smaller extent compared to the multiple time periods he utilized in Powers of X. Inferno cold opens with a resurrection for two mutants with no reference as to how they died. The remainder of the story is split between two storylines. The first is the attempts of X-Force to eliminate Nimrod, told in out-of-context scenes and a data page list. While the second is the return of Moira to plot as Xavier and Magneto seek her guidance.

Much like House of X and Powers of X, there are signs of missing key scenes in the narrative. Judging by Hickman’s past X-books, the holes will be filled in later issues when the dramatic tension will be at its peak. What Hickman does choose to show is an intriguing plotline that has more potential than it had delivered. When paired with the nonlinear structure and selective acknowledgment of continuity (such as the dismissal of multiple machine and AI X-men when discussing the impossibility of coexistence), it creates a story that provides more questions than hints of answers. While this mystery is likely intentional, in a serialized format the product at hand can become more difficult to consume(or review) on its own.

The art by is a strong point of this issue. The colors by David Curiel allow for striking backdrops and vivid battles. Valerio Schiti’s art does an amazing job of portraying the power dynamics of the scenes. Xavier and Eric visit Moira seeking help, and the difference between Moira looking rested and young, and the age showing on the men’s facing makes it apparent who has the upper hand. Mystique’s stance before her announcement lets the reader know how things will progress.