X-MEN #6
Recap
While the X-Men attempt to unravel the globe-spanning conspiracy arrayed against them, Temper and Magik work to investigate one closer to home. Merle, Alaska, holds more secrets than just the ones kept within the Factory, and the two mutants must leave the safety of their headquarters and hit the streets for answers!
Review
Some of the best issues of X-Men through the ages are books where there isn’t a punch thrown against a villain, major explosions or in fact any real “superhero” action of any kind. These books rely on sharp writing that digs into the characters on panel and focuses on the melodrama of the interaction between them but still pushes the narrative along bringing the threads of the story the the writer in question is trying to tell slowly together and into sharp focus. Claremont was exceptionally good at this, and guess what? So is Jed MacKay.
Narratively the issue is split into two parts. On one hand the X-Men are trying to put together the pieces of the puzzle that is the Orchis Fourth School, Cassandra Nova and the mysterious 3k and on the other Temper enlists the help of Magik to investigate a young girl who flashes her the Midnight Bark during a protest outside the new X-Men’s adopted home. That’s the storyline, there’s no punching (aside from Psylocke and Scott sparring, which doesn’t count) and honestly in the hands of a lesser writer, this issue could have been boring as all hell. But not when the writer is Jed Mackay. Instead he takes the slower pace of the issue into an absolute marvelous smorgasbord of character moments that dig into where key character’s are in the moment and even where minor characters are in the moment, that really connects you with the X-Men in their new home. From Beast’s frustration at years of lost knowledge because he’s not the latest version to Magneto’s frustration at his current health predicament or him letting Beast know he’ll never let this version become like his previous darker selves, to Oya discovering how smart Magik is and that Yana isn’t just about violence but isn’t big on responsibility either to Quinten Quire showing he isn’t the angry rebellious teenager anymore. There are just so many phenomenally well written character centric exchanges in this issue that despite there being no action it holds you page after page after page. The slower pace also allows Jed to throw in some fantastic jokes and nods to past canon that long time fans of the franchise will love. Also there’s Glob Herman and quiche. Temper and Magik’s investigation into the young woman offers some very sharp and insightful and frighteningly relevant commentary on power of social media to mislead the afraid and ignorant, while setting up the following issue which will answer the mystery of THE IRON NIGHT and also confirms that the preview floating around the internet of issue 7 is in actual fact a flashback.
Netho Diaz is on pencils accompanied by Sean Parson’s are on art duties along with Marte Gracia and Fer Sifuntes – Fujo on colors. I have to say the Diaz/Parson’s combo is formidable and as someone who’ been following Diaz for awhile now it’s pretty special to watch an artist blossom issue after issue is a pretty special thing to be able to bare witness to. Diaz’s grow as an artist is visible as he just gets better and better with every page. His adaptable style which allows him to keep to the style that Stegman set for the book from the beginning with it’s slightly more cartoonish edge, combined with excellent detail across panels and really strong expressive facial and eye expressions that lift the dialogue from Jed and really connect you with the script. It’s pretty serious issue all around but the colorists in question vivid colors lift that sombre mood and still make the pages stand out visually and fun to look at. There are several close ups of Temper from Diaz/Parsons and Gracia/Sifuentes-Sujo where Diaz’s strong expressive lines and Parson’s inks just get a wonderful pop from their orange and blue that really elevate the moment into something striking and memorable. Cowles is as always flawless on letters.
Final Thoughts
X-Men #6 is a perfect issue that reminds us that, very often, the best X-Men comics are ones that step back from the superhero action and rely on razor-sharp writing that focuses on the melodrama of the moment between members of the cast, while showcasing their personal journey's and emotional depths. With a script that still moves the story along narratively and art that lifts the interpersonal moments to the next level X-Men #6 is the best X-Men comic of the new era as MacKay and the rest of the creative team continue to raise the bar in this adjectiveless run every issue.
X-MEN #6: Puzzle Pieces and Progression
- Writing - 10/1010/10
- Storyline - 10/1010/10
- Art - 10/1010/10
- Color - 10/1010/10
- Cover Art - 8/108/10