REVIEW: ‘X-Manhunt Omega’ Issue 1

X-Manhunt Omega Issue 1 is published by Marvel Comics. Written by Murewa Ayodele and Gail Simone, art by Gleb Melnikov, Federica Mancin and Enid Balám, colors by Brian Reber and letters by Travis Lanham.

This is the final part of the X-Manhunt crossover. Xavier makes his final drive to leave Earth, pitting the X-Men against each other once again.

This issue brings all major players into one final chapter, all with their own agendas. Some are there to stop Xavier from leaving Earth’s atmosphere as he sets off in a Shi’ar spaceship. Others are trying to make sure that happens, and they are willing to fight to make it happen. X-Manhunt Omega Issue 1 is a massive issue, double the size of any of the previous crossover chapters. It moves in phases, making it more digestible. The characters get involved in particular areas, with Cyclops being present the whole time.

Having a point to reach, Xavier provides X-Manhunt Omega Issue 1 with a ticking time bomb. The intensity rises with each panel. There are individual conflicts instead of a sprawling fight between the squads. Before, there was a cacophony of emotions and pain. Their tactics and plans clash, and the action gets loud and extreme, with fights and confrontations showing how intense it is.

Instead of a roar, the ending is gentle. It’s an epilogue to not just this crossover but an era of X-Men as a whole. Perhaps even every X-Men era. It’s heartbreaking and peaceful, which is harder to write than anger and violence.
The choice of writers for this final chapter of X-Manhunt is fascinating but correct. Ayodele and Simone can tap into big stories of cosmic and worldwide significance. But they are also some of the best emotional writers in the industry.

When Storm speaks, her eloquence and intelligence drip out of every word. But then, with the others, their hurt and anger are laced through every action they take. The first scene shows a calm conversation between Rogue and Cyclops, with others also in the room. Their history makes it smoother than the last time they met, but there is still friction over Xavier.

What shines in X-Manhunt Omega Issue 1 is that whilst there is pain, there is also a lot more hope. The fractures in mutant-kind suddenly don’t look as unfixable as during the Raid on Graymalkin crossover. The writing in that final scene is stunning, bringing out the best of Simone. There is still agony and rage, but so much love, care, confidence, and sincerity bleeds off the page.

Only the core members of the X-books are present in this final story, but Cyclops is the heart of it. Simone and Ayodele excellently portray just how broken Scott Summers is. He is an emotional wreck strapped up so tight inside a man who takes every single mutant problem on his shoulders. The care he has for all of the various X-teams is made clear in the first conversation. But it’s understandable why he resents Xavier, who put all those problems on Summers’ shoulders and expected him to fix them. The third act is shocking because it shows the extremity of the man’s emotional state, and the damage done to him is heartbreaking.

The art is a mixture of brilliance. The various stages of this issue require three artists to contain and capture its majesty. At the start, the plot is much more globe-hopping. It shows the different groups of mutants around the world. Every design is exceptional, and the blend of domesticity and extreme superhero sci-fi is fun. Then comes a battle that is small in cast but enormous in scale. It’s got some fantastic combo moves and two enormous figures that serve as champions for the respective sides of X-Men. Having what amounts to a giant robot is exhilarating.

The last part of X-Manhunt Omega Issue 1 brings more bodies into the fray. Giant spaceships are coming together with people on them. It’s exciting; even when the action is most dramatic and chaotic, you can easily follow it. The mutants can be weapons, even bullets, when needed. The epilogue, set on a beach in Iceland, is calmer and slower. But there is just as much choreography and subtle features as the battle. The slight adjustments in body language and movements showcase these characters’ relationships over the decades. It draws out more emotion than any other part of the comic.

The colors are fascinating. In the early stages, the outside world is vibrant and bustling with life and colors, whereas the rest of the book is darker and gloomier. That is because of the setting. The last fight is above an Icelandic wasteland filled with nothing but volcanic rock. But this allows for the characters themselves to be the center of attention. Their powers are bright and dazzling, a flurry of shades representing their variety.

The lettering in the word balloons and caption boxes are effortless to read, magnifying the most awesome of moments within the issue. Certain moves get given a title, like what might be seen with spells, martial arts moves, or even anime. This was last seen in Storm, which leads me to assume that it has the influence of Ayodele stamped all over it. It’s such a fun idea that adds strength and power to the punches, generating a smile as they happen.

X-Manhunt Omega Issue 1 starts to patch up the damage. Throughout the X-Men world, the trauma that the Fall of Krakoa left on its citizens could be seen everywhere. Rogue, Cyclops, Prodigy, and others have been hurting beyond comprehension. Much of that is Xavier’s fault. Charles, wading through their comics, causing trouble to get his way and rescue his daughter, only further ruptured those scars.

Simone and Ayodele drive that idea to its fullest and begin to fix things afterward. This massive storyline needed a big book to collate and conclude, giving the characters time to speak and process what happened. The action is severe, but the dialogue is delicate. It really feels like the end of something, but it means that many of those on that beach in Iceland can start again.

X-Manhunt Omega Issue 1 is available where comics are sold.