REVIEW: ‘X-Men’ Issue 13

X-Men Issue 13 is published by Marvel Comics. Written by Jed MacKay, pencils by Netho Diaz, inks by Sean Parsons, colors by Fer Sifuentes-Sujo and letters by Clayton Cowles.

This is Part 4 of the X-Manhunt crossover, following Storm Issue 6. A battle still rages aboard Storm’s home that could threaten the lives on it and the entire city beneath it.

This is the first issue of the crossover that hasn’t left the location for new pastures. Each chapter has moved from book to book, immersing itself in the storyline of that series. However, X-Men Issue 13 directly follows this storyline, so it doesn’t need to have that split. Instead, it directly follows the previous issue, heading back into Thundercloud, Storm’s floating ship/community above Atlanta. Eternity has possessed Storm, unleashing goldy power on Juggernaut and nearly killing Cyclops.

On the bridge, Quentin Quire and Professor Xavier are having a psychic battle. The fighting occurs in many planes of existence and locations, unleashing an intense pace. After the injuries in the last issue, the potential of something devastating happening is very high. It’s hard to know who to root for; this is so far removed from the idyllic safety of Krakoa. The issue calms down towards the end, but that only allows someone else to make themselves known and complicates the crossover even further.

The characters show how much they have had to change to survive. What was once a family has been shattered. They fight for survival, throwing any semblance of care and history aside. Eternity is speaking through Storm, giving her an ancient dialect that sees mortals as close to nothing. So, Juggernaut, Psylocke, and Magik have to become more violent and vicious to talk her down. The things they are threatening to do aren’t just threats; they’re promises.

Meanwhile, Quentin Quire flexes his muscles against one of the most powerful psychics on the planet. Whilst Quire may be an Omega-Level telepath, Xavier has the experience and the ruthlessness. Again, within this crossover, Charles is shown to be callous, exerting his power and inflicting pain on the younger mutant. Everyone’s trauma has turned them into people they never wanted to be, more than capable of killing or doing anything to protect those they care about.

The art in X-Men Issue #13 matches the brutality of the previous chapter excellently. The gloves were taken off the last issue with the attacks on both Cyclops and Maggott. This issue sees the X-Men again going in for the kill. The injuries are distressing and visceral, with a vast variety of ways the mutants can inflict damage. They can think outside the box, using their weapons and powers to inflict a lot of pain. Juggernaut has blood trickling down his face, a consequence of having his head slammed into the ground by Storm.

The conflict between Xavier and Quire, dipping into their minds, is so different from the rest of the pages that it looks like it came from another artist initially. There are more shadowy, and X-Men Issue #13 becomes a psychological thriller for a few issues. Diaz’s adaptability is also seen on the very first page. Because of the transition between issues, Diaz mimics the last page of the previous chapter. It’s as close to seamless a change as it gets.

The colors are terrific. The shades are intensely vibrant, contrasting with each other. Storm’s blue lightning has often been a sign of power, but now it is oppressive and dangerous. In retaliation comes Magik’s yellow magic and Psylocke’s purple psychic powers. The other color that steps through is red, like the blood covering Juggernaut’s face. The lettering is crisp and great for the storytelling within the issue. The color of the text in Storm’s word balloon helps reveal who is speaking without expressively stating it.

X-Men Issue 13 maintains the intensity. The battle on Thundercloud has not stopped yet, and neither side is ready to back down. The extreme nature of the conflict is stunning and captivating, showing just how desperate it has become to either keep Xavier somewhere safe or for him to escape. The art is fantastic, molding itself to fit the story without losing the incredible identity of the artist. It shows the collaboration between the creators, which requires extraordinary cooperation for projects such as this.

X-Men Issue 13 is available where comics are sold.