REVIEW: ‘Uncanny X-Men’ Issue 24

Uncanny X-Men Issue 24 is published by Marvel Comics, written by Gail Simone, art by Dave Marquez, colors by Matthew Wilson, and letters by Clayton Cowles.

The X-Men are attacked by monsters that have set their sights on Haven House.

There is a superb structure to Uncanny X-Men Issue 24, one that focuses the story on one side, apart from the bedtime story, which places the Outliers in a bedtime story spaghetti western. It’s interesting and fun enough, but there is a desperation to get to the woods, where the real fight is happening.

Uncanny X-Men Issue 24 takes place immediately after the cliffhanger in the last issue, with Jubilee in the clutches of Michael Morbius. The fight itself is moved from the first to a theme park with its own dark past. Simone has frequently tapped into the ancient history of New Orleans and Louisiana. But here, she also explores a more recent history that’s just as haunting and emotional.

The battle is fantastic because the comic is split into parts. Each X-Man gets a monster to fight, encountering their own creature. Wolverine and Werewolf by Night. Nightcrawler and Frankenstein’s Monster. Rogue against Elsa Bloodstone and the Living Mummy. And many more. It makes Uncanny X-Men Issue 24 exciting and sprawling, as many individual moments are woven into a larger team book. It’s clearly the start of the multiple fights, too, just introducing them and paying them in the right locations.

Major threads running through Uncanny X-Men Issue 24 drive the plot forward and unleash the most memorable moments. And as much fun as the fights are, they’re also taking the mutants away from their most vulnerable home, where an even more dangerous monster is ready to attack.

The narration in Uncanny X-Men Issue 24 is fascinating. Simone usually has one or two X-Men serve as the chapter’s narrator, since the comic focuses on them. But in this issue, they’re all present and separated. So they all become narrators of their specific story. Rogue is still the leader, orchestrating the moves and the main voice. But the others are just as capable.

Gambit, Wolverine, Nightcrawler, and Jubilee have all been X-Men for years. They have the experience, yet they are all feeling fear about whatever is in the air. The monsters themselves are not themselves. Elsa and Werewolf by Night are heroes, not territorial hunters like this. Even Morbius isn’t monstrous in his personality. This is evident when he speaks to Jubilee, as he’s gentle and courteous. It edited there’s something else, a force that’s controlling and correcting the creatures and encouraging confrontation.

The art is terrific, lacing the violence and the very fabric of Uncanny X-Men Issue 24 with a gothic quality. Marquez turns a theme park, a place known for joy and adventure, into something harrowing. The monsters all look sensational, true harbingers of the genre. Aside from Elsa, a monster hunter, they all represent classic figures in horror stories. vampires, werewolves, Frankenstein’s Monster, Manphibian (like the Creature from the Black Lagoon), and a mummy.

Marquez’s heavy shadowing turns them even more ominous. It’s incredible to see them face off against the X-Men, all in beautifully crafted locations. They’re all connected to the same location, but in their own corners. It makes each scenario feel unique, and each X-Man looks alone.

The colors are gorgeous and intriguing, adding to the atmosphere’s mystique. In the forest, the sky is blue and gloomy. But when they reach the theme park, the shades change dramatically. The sun is setting, painting the sky with red and purple, even turning bright yellow. It’s stunning and vibrant, yet it keeps the mood dark. The theme park is incredibly dark, devoid of life and light for a long time. Despite the monstrous voices, the lettering remains clear and easy to read throughout the issue.

Uncanny X-Men Issue 24 features guest stars that brilliantly fit the genre. Mutants have often been described as monsters, but now they’re facing the real deal. So much of Simone’s run has featured multiple flavors of horror, from folk to slasher stories. But now the true stars have turned up, the very flagships of horror that transform the comic into a creature feature.

Uncanny X-Men Issue 24 is available now wherever comics are sold.