REVIEW: ‘Uncanny X-Men’ Issue 22

Uncanny X-Men Issue 22 is published by Marvel Comics. It is written by Gail Simone, with art by David Marquez, colors by Matthew Wilson, and letters by Clayton Cowles.

The serial killer Mutina returns, this time right outside Haven House.

Uncanny X-Men Issue 22 is a direct sequel to the horror story in a previous chapter. After some time away with the Age of Revelation crossover, Simone goes right back to her story. It’s refreshing and rewarding to return. The horror elements that have been echoing throughout this run are back, leaning into a slasher.

There’s a fantastic structure to Uncanny X-Men Issue 22. Nightcrawler and the X-Men are inside and happy, enjoying Kurt’s birthday. It’s charming and beautifully warm. It’s also safety, which the home has been for the X-Men since they moved to Louisiana. But Wolverine steps outside, and there’s Mutina, about to enter.

There’s a terrific, vicious showdown between Logan and Mutina, which was teased when the serial killer movie star first appeared. It’s this and the potential redemption arc that make this chapter feel like a sequel. For most of the issue, the two worlds of safety and danger are kept apart, until Mutina changes that. The attack on the most vulnerable person inside the house is nerve-wracking and genuinely concerning, leading to a second fight between Mutina and the X-Men.

The plot’s pace fluctuates tremendously. It’s slow when needed, with characters trying to talk Mutina down or letting the character moments shine. But then it can speed in the action movies, painfully tense and teetering on a knife-edge.

There are three significant figures inside Uncanny X-Men Issue 22. The first half of the comic is a confrontation between Wolverine and Mutina. Logan is incredibly written by Simone. He’s protecting his pack, standing before their home. The X-Men can defend themselves, but there are still kids inside. Mutina is manipulative and persuasive, dragging up dark secrets about the young Outliers. But Logan doesn’t care because he has his own dark secrets, and it would never change his pride in the kids.

Similarly, when Mutina talks about wanting to join the X-Men, the mystery surrounding her and the manipulation mean we genuinely don’t know whether she can be believed. Wolverine definitely doesn’t believe her, or doesn’t care, because the priority is keeping the house safe and Mutina away from it. Then the comic shifts to Nightcrawler and Mutina. Kurt starts and ends Uncanny X-Men Issue 22, serving as the narrator in the latter pages.

The personality within the dialogue is sensational. Nightcrawler has a warm heart and can see the good in people. His date is inside the house, which makes him defensive, but he is just a pacifist and sweet person at heart. There’s also a part of him that hates bullying, and there’s a terrific monologue that expresses that. Just because Nightcrawler doesn’t like to fight doesn’t mean he can’t.

The art sees the return of Marquez once again, the artist who started this series and co-created the Outliers. Because of that starting connection, there’s a familiarity that comes with Marquez in this series. All of the characters look fantastic, with the Outliers looking comfortable in their own home. The costumes and outfits are superb. The heroes look smart, especially Kurt, who wears a fancy tuxedo. While he witnesses his birthday surprise, Kurt is wholesome and delightful. Then Wolverine steps aside, and his predatory, wild side enters his eyes.

Mutina also looks tremendous. There’s something quite cute about her design, but there’s also a ferocious, terrifying aspect. Her eyes are always severe and unerring. There’s a superb change in movement depending on who is fighting. When Logan takes on the smaller, more agile mutant, he largely stays still. He tries to react and block her strikes as she darts around him, getting some painful strikes in.

But Nightcrawler is just as nimble and more fragile. So he moves more, teleporting around her and making it a much more frantic game of tag. There was also a change in Nightcrawler’s appearance, switching from a suave, sensitive soul into a swashbuckler.

The colors are phenomenal. Inside Haven House, the light is warm, comforting, and friendly, with the vibrant shades that have followed the X-Men through the years. But outside, it’s very dark, where Mutina thrives. Although her outfit is predominantly red, she is often silhouetted in black. The shadows being solid blocks is essential too, because these are areas that Mutina can utilize and step through. The lettering is very calm and easy to read.

Uncanny X-Men Issue 22 is a welcome return home. Despite the frequent horror elements that creep into this comic series at every turn, there is a comfort to it. If anything, the horror enhances the feelings of comfort. Haven House is a beacon of light that you want to keep visiting every month, despite the dangers within and around.

Nightcrawler may have been the member of the family that was least utilized so far. But Simone never forgets about any of them, and controls this large cast beautifully. This may have been a sequel for Mutina, but that may just transform into a trilogy.

Uncanny X-Men Issue 22 is available where comics are sold.