World of Revelation #1: Mutant Fallout

The world has changed completely with the detonation of the gene-bomb. The X-Virus has made Earth borderline uninhabitable for anyone not a mutant. Those unlucky enough to still be living on the planet have only so long before their entire existence is consumed by Revelation. These are the stories of those left behind. 

The Age of Revelation has officially started, and readers have been thrust “X years into the future” to see where our merry mutants have ended up. This first issue of World of Revelation tells three different stories showing three different sets of characters navigating in this brand new world. 

“The Message” by Al Ewing and Agustin Alessio is the first story of this compilation and also the one that has the most to do with the overarching plot of the event. 

Arrako, the mutant terraformed Mars, has become somewhat of a safe haven for people that have fled Earth in the wake of the X-Virus outbreak. A mysterious man, whose identity is revealed at the end of the story, travels the barren lands of Arrako to deliver a message. In his travels we see just how much Arrako has changed since the end of the first Krakoan age. The once war-like Arraki mutants have become somewhat docile, and even humans that were once banned from the planet have now been offered sanctuary. It’s a solid tone setter for the rest of the book, where hope does not spring eternal. 

Al Ewing does his usual quality of work, but the art by Agustin Alessio can be a bit jarring. The images themselves are good, but the team makes a baffling choice of having the text to the side of the page until the final two pages when the masked traveler finally reaches his destination. It’s not a deal breaker, but the first two thirds of the story definitely remind me of the ill-fated Marville. 

The second story “Never Let Me Go” by Steve Foxe and Jesus Merino is easily the best story of the three. Focusing on fan-favorite Young Avengers Wiccan and Hulkling, this tale explores how an attempted attack on Revelation goes very poorly for the pair. Without spoiling anything, the story is told mostly through Teddy’s perspective, and Foxe and Merino beautifully showcase just why this pair has endured through the years. 

Rounding out the rear is Epoch of Revelation by Ryan North and Adam Szlaowski which tells the tale of now mutated Franklin Richards. Overall the story is serviceable, but your mileage may vary depending on where you fall on the “Franklin Richards was never a mutant” retcon from 2020. Personally, I’m on the “hate it with a burning passion” side, but I know my opinion does not reflect that of the wider audience.