REVIEW: ‘Iceman: Omega’ Issue 1

Iceman Omega Issue 1 is published by Marvel Comics. The writer and artist is Luciano Vecchio, with letters by Joe Sabino, Travis Lanham, and Ariana Maher.

Iceman is in a series of hurried adventures as a really personal tragedy occurs.

Iceman Omega Issue 1 is a series of chapters in a big, chunky one-shot. Each chapter is a different adventure, but part of the same story. Iceman is tackling everything, thrown into fights of incredible scale. The variety is exceptional. Supervillains, magical beings, cosmic deities, and more are drawn into a battle with the omega-level cryokinetic mutant. The story takes place slightly in the past because Krakoa is still home to mutants.

The backstory of Iceman is brilliantly explained early in the comic, highlighting just how long he had been a hero and how many elements to his life there are. Vecchio tries to tap into all of them in Iceman Omega Issue 1. Each chapter opens quickly, hurtling into whatever action Bobby is about to encounter. Whether it’s his love life or a battle against villains, there’s an intensity to the issue.

The fast pace actually makes sense, because it becomes clear that he’s running from something, avoiding issues and inner turmoil. The scale in this one-shot runs the gamut, showing the incredible power within Iceman. It moves from him flirting and romancing to gambling with the most powerful characters in the Marvel Universe and demonstrating that he is, in fact, one of them. But there’s always a tether that grounds the story.

This gigantic comic is wonderfully in-depth in its exploration of Bobby Drake. Iceman had been around for as long as almost any of the major Marvel Comics, having first appeared with the rest of the five X-Men in their inception. But he’s been a Champion, a Defender, a partner of Firestar in cartoons, and his younger self has travelled to the present and back again. He’s also unashamedly gay, which Iceman Omega Issue 1 is a huge celebration of. He’s very flirty, sleeping with multiple men in this very issue. He’s a beacon of hope and heroism, sliding into action with gaps of optimism and confidence.

That confidence extends from how he fights evil to how he speaks to people. That does reach an extreme towards the end, where its status as an omega-level mutant is unleashed. But within, there is a deep, horrifying tragedy that so many people feel connected to. The relationship with his family is toxic and tormented, and Vecchio is beautifully nuanced when showing such a complicated approach to grief and loss.

Iceman Omega Issue 1 features an extensive supporting cast. Intriguingly, most of those included aren’t X-Men, instead diversifying the lineup. Loki, Firestar, and the Avengers all feature. There’s an extensive queer contingency, which is more of what the book is about than the mutant element.

Vecchio is also superb as the artist for Iceman Omega Issue 1. The design choice for Iceman is fascinating. It feels more towards a rounded approach to his ice, rather than the harder, crystalline version. The transformed head is adorable, looking like a little snowman. His movement is amazing, ice sliding like a skater or surfer, injecting the issue with energy. But the applications of his powers are phenomenal in general, with so much creativity for a man who solely controls ice.

He both powers up and down, showing the externalities of what he can do. From tiny little daggers to full cosmic explosions, Iceman can do it all. Interestingly, there are two musical beings associated with ice and snow. And each time, Bobby demonstrates that he can match their might. The other heroes and villains who arrive are also exceptionally designed, with extensive detail added to their hair and costumes.

The colors are stunning. For most of Iceman Omega Issue 1, Vecchio utilizes various shades of light white and blue, highlighting the ice that powers the whole comic. But there is also a fluorescent, neon approach that initiates a party atmosphere. The lettering actually steps back in time to fit the Krakoan era, which is a nice touch.

The end of this issue is something extra, taking time to explore the history of LGBTQ+ characters in the Marvel Universe. Starting with Northstar, Vecchio highlights characters across time who identify as gay, bisexual, trans, or other sexualities and identities. It’s an important story to tell, beauty, because it includes names that some might not even realise are queer, and want to seek them out.

Iceman Omega Issue 1 is a passion project from Vecchio. It conveys that feeling in every frozen line. The messages within are fantastic, and the storytelling is incredible. It’s fun, exuberant, and even sexual, but also deeply moving and emotional. There’s a terrific progression of power, whilst also exploring how to grieve someone who never treated you right. That sense of lost time, of unsaid words, is agonising. When telling queer stories, it’s important to recognise both the excitement and the struggles.

Iceman Omega Issue 1 is available now wherever comics are sold.