Uncanny X-Men Issue 14 is published by Marvel Comics. Written by Gail Simone, with art by David Marquez, coloured by Matthew Wilson and letters by Clayton Cowles.
As the Outliers tangle with Man-Thing in an old tomb, Gambit continues his conversation with a giant dragon. Uncanny X-Men Issue 14 is Part 2 of the Dark Artery arc. Three stories continue to be told at the same time. At first glance, the connection between the tales is unknown, but they are all fascinating, with their own destinations.
The first story focuses on Gambit, who is in the Savage Land with Samurang, the giant dragon. There are dark premonitions and warnings of things to come. The second story focuses on the young migrants alone with the mysterious Man-Thing. And, when in the past, Henrietta Benjamin finds trouble in New Orleans.
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Simone makes the comic so comfortable that the pacing doesn’t matter, and there doesn’t always have to be a battle for the fate of the Earth. A Simone comic can be either an intense action sequence or a slow chat around the fire, and both are treated with the same weight and gravitational pull. There are unsettling periods of panic and devastating revelations.
The conversation between Gambit and the dragon has been civil and calm so far, but then Rogue gets involved, and civility flies out the window. Surprisingly, considering what happens in Uncanny X-Men Issue 14, the flashback with Henrietta has the most violent and exciting fight scene. But by the final page, suddenly the past and present become intertwined.
The characters are fantastic, beautifully written by Simone. Each chapter of this series draws a devastating confession from one of the characters. This time, it is the turn of Calico. Her partnership with her horse, Ember, is suddenly flipped with a twist that was wonderfully hidden. It’s so perfectly executed that it leaves a disturbing question hanging in the air. Man-Thing is there, and there is always a creepy atmosphere when he’s hanging out.
The situation featuring Rogue, Gambit, and the dragon perfectly represents their personalities. Gambit is calm and collected, while Rogue is a volatile firecracker. This makes them an exciting couple and leads to incredulous situations.
The art is gorgeous. Marquez controls the tone and the tempo. There isn’t much action for over half of Uncanny X-Men Issue 14, but it is still enthralling. There are details that either cause a chuckle or a wince of distress. Either one generates the energy that fuels the fire at the heart of the comic.
Each of the three stories takes place separately, each with its own feel and circumstances. The Outliers are in the presence of Man-Thing, who is superbly illustrated. He’s a monstrous, terrifying beast. Marquez captures his silent and imposing power and the nervous effect he has on others around him.
The fight between Rogue and Samurang is exhilarating. Rogue is the only senior member of the X-Men who can punch a dragon to the ground, and seeing her remarkable attempt, it’s no wonder Gambit is so besotted with her. With the Outliers, Marquez returns to the folk horror roots that this series had in the beginning.
The colors are crucial for splitting the scenes. With the four Outliers, the thick shadows are illuminated and barely warded away by orange torchlight. The location looks comfortable for Deathdream and the solid black that follows him. The shades are brighter in the Savage Land, with a pure white dragon.
When we return to the past storyline, a brown/beige tone gives the story the feel of a period piece. By the end of Uncanny X-Men Issue 14, those tones are disturbed by rich, large splashes of blood. That said, the lettering of Henrietta’s diary entry is difficult to read. Replicating a classical handwriting style adds authenticity to the issue, but it’s not easy to understand.
Uncanny X-Men Issue 14 reignites its soul. Now unencumbered by crossovers, the storylines that were so glorious start again. The horror themes and the fantastical elements have all been essential features of this series, making it ever-changing and unpredictable. So has its connection to history. But it is those characters, those phenomenal, timeless characters, that will always draw readers back in. You want to spend time with them because of the infectious, impeccable dialogue and perfect art.
Uncanny X-Men Issue 14 is available where comics are sold.
Uncanny X-Men Issue 14
TL;DR
Uncanny X-Men Issue 14 reignites its soul. Now unencumbered by crossovers, the storylines that were so glorious start again.
