REVIEW: ‘X-Men: Hellfire Murder’ Issue 1

X-Men: Hellfire Murder Issue 1 is a one-shot published by Marvel Comics. Writers include Saladin Ahmed, Gail Simone, Erica Schultz, Jed MacKay and Eve L. Ewing. Artists include Joëlle Jones, Luciano Vecchio, Aaron Kuder, Tony S. Daniel, Mark Morales, Federica Mancin, Cory Smith and Oren Junior. Colors by Fer Sifuentes-Sujo and letters by Ariana Maher.

In X-Men: Hellfire Murder Issue 1, Sebastian Shaw gathers various members of the mutant community together for a masquerade ball, but the gathering quickly turns into a murder mystery. This special is a spiritual sequel to the Hellfire Galas, which was started during the Krakoan era of the X-Men. It’s a jam issue, where the creators from the various stories come together in one event.

It starts with a masquerade ball, where the various members of the X-Men dance and mingle with masks on their faces. It’s enticing and enjoyable even without much pace or real action. And the clever thing that Ahmed and the other writers achieve superbly is setting up an assassination already. Psylocke has arrived at the ball to commit her own murder, but another character dies before she even gets the chance to do it. It’s a surprise that instantly livens up the comic, filling the spacious mansion with distrust, mystique and tension.

It’s a great use of the murder mystery party concept, adapted into an X-Men setting. And as this main plot serves as the glue holding the comic together, the individual writers take their own threads, making X-Men: Hellfire Murder Issue 1 feel full. It’s representative of a large swathe of the X-Men Universe, not just one book.

The characters are all put into one great big melting pot, creating a bubbling stew of personalities, histories and dramas. There are X-lovers, current partners, friends and foes all mingling on the dance floor and the various corridors of the room. You can pick up on when a certain writer is starting to work on their own characters. The best examples of this are when Kitty Pryde steps into the book, written by Ewing, or when Simone works on the romance between Ransom and Temper.

A little bit of Bridgerton is added into X-Men: Hellfire Murder Issue 1, as well, which really heats up the room. There’s so much flirtation, temptation and sexual tension in the room, as the mutants dance together. Emma Frost and Namor, Cyclops and Psylocke, Kitty and an unnamed masked mutant. They lean in close and whisper in each other’s ears. It creates a scintillating atmosphere throughout the extended issue. Sebastian Shaw is the host, reclaiming the Hellfire term for his own gain.

But every murder mystery needs a detective and their partner. And in X-Men: Hellfire Murder Issue 1, that’s Wolverine and Jubilee. Wolverine senses something is off from almost the first time we meet him. His senses and centuries of experience around death give him an intuition and the ability to follow the scent. The level of conversation changes depending on the room and the characters involved, creating a hustle and bustle. The culprit can be easily identified early in the book, but there are many more surprises as a new organization seems to emerge in the blood of another.

The art is gorgeous, as the various artists have to work with the same characters. Like with the Galas, this Masquerade ball allows the artists to get fancy and create luscious gowns and suits for heroes and villains who usually wield weapons, visors, and claws. This concept is even more specific, using high fashion and almost regal Masquerade dresses. The masks help obscure the characters’ identities.

Each X-Man has their own design, and they are all stunning. Each one has been created with their personalities in mind, even if the mutants don’t like the design itself. Wolverine feels awkward in his “fancy britches,” and it shows.

The masks are also really special. Most of those included can be identified easily, though their signature features are or are spoken to be named. Storm, Rogue, Gambit, Psylocke, Kitty and many more can be picked out. But there are some that are more mysterious, and that is intentional, with the unsure identities part of creating scandal and salaciousness.

There aren’t really any major fight scenes in X-Men: Hellfire Murder Issue 1, but there are moments of intensity and tension. Pyslocke turning his champagne glass into a weapon is the perfect example of how quickly the comic can turn from serene to severe. Movement is important in another way within this comic. It’s about the closeness of the characters, the small touches and lips inches away from ears and lips that channel intimacy.

The colors are also stunning, accentuating and amplifying the beauty of the outfits. For many of the characters, like Rogue, Storm, Psylocke and Temper, the colors help identify them. This can be subtle, like the gentle green and yellow on Rogue’s gown, or more direct and vibrant, as can be seen on Temper’s bird of paradise-inspired dress.

Other figures try something new. Ransom isn’t usually seen in white, but looks incredibly sharp and handsome in it. This can be said about Jubilee too, or the red and black of Wolverine. There is a gentle yellow low to most of the book, generated from the chandeliers, candles and roaring fireplaces. The lettering remains very clear and easy to read throughout X-Men: Hellfire Murder Issue 1.

X-Men: Hellfire Murder Issue 1 brings extravagance and scandal to the world of mutants. It’s amazing how adaptable the X-Men are. They can be transported to any location or setting and find a way to fit and make it their own. The concept is a wonderful idea, and the execution is simply stunning. There are so many tiny pieces of wider stories all held within a single murder mystery.

The coordination and organization among the various creators is extraordinary. The dialogue is rich, and the art is phenomenal. The creators are allowed to be playful in the Hellfire Galas, whilst also exhibiting superb storytelling. There isn’t a necessity to read everything that feeds into this singular comic, but there is an incentive to do so and to discover the fallout and consequences too.

X-Men: Hellfire Murder Issue 1 is available where comics are sold.