REVIEW: ‘Uncanny X-Men’ Issue 31

Uncanny X-Men Issue 31 is published by Marvel Comics. Written by Gail Simone, art by Jim Towe and David Baldeón, colors by Matthew Wilson, and letters by Clayton Cowles.

Aliens have landed in Louisiana, interrupting the school dance.

If anything sums up what the X-Men deal with, it’s Uncanny X-Men Issue 31. Inside the school, there’s a bunch of teenage love as they dance and spend time together. Meanwhile, just outside, a full-fledged alien invasion is underway on multiple fronts. Nightcrawler is trapped in a UFO with Mackenzie, whilst Vig and Ransom are tangling with a swarm of Brood, which are nasty, parasitic aliens.

Simone bounces the plot around the major features without ever losing cohesion. They’re all part of the same plot, and it’s the purpose of the comic to explain what. Eventually, the school’s walls no longer keep the outside world from disturbing the party, and the elder X-Men are forced into the action as well. As this arc unfolds, secrets within secrets emerge at Graymalkin prison.

The clandestine government plans have so many layers, and it is fascinating to see them dug up. It shows the plates that Simone is spinning, always having machinations working in the background to throw up threats when the X-Men least expect it. Every story has a little extra, something added to create depth. Even the aliens, as they seem to be coming from above and below.

As always, the characters within Uncanny X-Men Issue 31 are practically perfect. It’s always the little things with how Simone writes them, ensuring that they never seem one-dimensional. There’s Nightcrawler, imprisoned on an alien ship. The kindhearted and respectful mutant may sometimes be underestimated. However, he can be intimidating and dangerous when protecting the ones he loves. Calisco and Jitter are simply enjoying each other’s company for who they are instead of the powers they possess.

Vig went to the school with predatory intent, but his sense of belonging to the community brings out self-sacrifice in him. He is a monster, but he protects his own from outsiders, which evokes a strange sense of respect and loyalty.

Then there is Ransom. He may be only a young man, but he seems to command respect with his voice. He feels like the younger generation version of Wolverine and Cyclops, just a natural leader. All of these small parts make this ensemble cast wonderful. Every character has their own life, their own arcs that move at the same time as everything else.

The art is glorious. There is a sensational blend of intergalactic and alien horror in Uncanny X-Men Issue 31, which helps demonstrate that the two forces are distinct. The aliens that arrived in the previous issue are tall, with very sleek armor and weapons. Inside their helmets, they take on a more monstrous appearance, but that is only revealed during the fight scenes.

Then there are the Brood, with much sharper teeth and nasty tendrils. They are a sprawling mass, which is a very different design. Both the Vig and Ransom are intensely physical fighters, taking on the Brod with nothing but their fists. An interesting feature of Uncanny X-Men Issue 31 is Vig shedding the very smart clothing he wears, not wanting to ruin his jacket. And in doing so, there is a better view of his visage.

Some of the other X-Men enter the battle in the second half of the comic, and it looks tremendous seeing them fight in smart clothes. And it’s not just the heavy sci-fi that shines, because the small touches and looks from many of the characters are just gorgeous.

The colors are fantastic, again separating the two opposing alien forms. The ones that have come from above have a very bright blue appearance, with their energy weapons firing a bright white light. In contrast, the Brood are Earthier, with a mixture of brown skin and bright red eyes. And to even it out, the party uses pink and purple frequently. These colors shift as the scene changes, shaping how the world looks. The lettering has been consistently great throughout the series.

Uncanny X-Men Issue 31 is a magnificent mutant twist on the school/alien combo. It’s a sci-fi staple blending extraterrestrial beings with perhaps the most terrestrial of settings. A school dance is such a powerful outburst of passion, romance, and release, whilst the intense hostility is right outside the door. But this is the X-Men, and the mutants add their own unique flavor to the concept. Every panel and every piece of dialogue is golden.

Uncanny X-Men Issue 31 is available where comics are sold.