X-Men: Red #10
Cody White
Recap
Cassandra Nova, in her attempts to turn humanity against mutants once and for all through the use of technology, releases a digitally created manifesto seemingly coming from Jean Grey to the public at large. Twelve passenger jets and one South Korean intelligence helicarrier have been hijacked and brought to Nova's stronghold in Genosha. The hostages have been made to believe this act is the first act in a Human/Mutant World War and it is up to the Red Team to free the hostages and stop Nova once and for all.
As the X-Men prepare for war, they find allies and inspiration from numerous sources, including Tony Stark and the Avengers, Namor and Atlantis, and the tactics of an age-old frenemy. Using replicas of Magneto's telepathy-proof helmet, Jean assembles her forces and storms Genosha, dead set on a live-streamed rescue mission. Next issue will bring us the exciting conclusion to "The Hate Machine" and it promises to be a heck of a ride!
Review
The timing of this issue could not have been better designed by Tom Taylor and company, coming on the heels of the United States midterm elections. The oft-utilized space occupied by mutants as the stand-in for a marginalized group is deployed here by Taylor to stand for the marginalization of the non-confrontational, non-combative portion of US society– those tired of the false dichotomies and extreme polarization along imaginary lines. While those lines, constructed in a digital landscape on social media, may be very real between humans and mutants, for us they are not, and as we continue to examine the results of yesterday’s election, many will choose which side of the invisible line they stand on.
Final Thoughts
With only one issue to go, X-Men: Red has been a refreshing addition to the X-canon. An X-book, disconnected from many of the burdens of continuity, not bogged down by what is occurring in five other books, and also not a solo title, is nearly unheard of, and Taylor has executed that vision here with excellence.
X-Men: Red #10: … This is a Rescue!
- Writing - 9/109/10
- Storyline - 10/1010/10
- Art - 8/108/10
- Color - 8/108/10
- Cover Art - 10/1010/10
