By Rebecca Gault — The opening splash page of X-Men Red #1 is arresting. It’s the best way to describe it. X-Men Red has been a highly anticipated book within this relaunch of the X-Men line, especially considering the A-list characters starring in this series. Of that cast, it’s Storm that writer Al Ewing and artist Stefano Caselli choose to focus on for this opening issue and thus root the opening of the series in.

Storm has always been an iconic figure in the X-Men canon, one of the characters that looms largest in the wider perception of the X-Men, and this book seems to instinctively understand that. Storm as portrayed here is intuitively sketched out with a keen understanding of what aspects of the character the creators want to highlight while keeping the voice strong and consistent. It’s the sort of treatment her character deserves.

Naturally, it isn’t just Storm that is treated this way. Ewing’s script has a handle on Magneto in a way that many writers have missed; he retires from the council, not out of regret for all he has done for Krakoa but because of the ways in which he perceives his own failures.

Many people might perceive this issue as being lacking in any significant action set pieces and, while this is true, it is very evident that Ewing and Caselli know exactly how to world-build and how to focus on his key concerns here. Arakki culture takes a foreground, as does the reckoning of what Moira has wreaked upon Krakoa, and the very delicate balance of what it means for Storm to hold a regency in a culture that is not hers by birth.

All of this is outstanding in its own right but it is significantly elevated by the work Stefano Caselli is doing here. The art here is dynamic and sharp, placing Storm and Magneto in particular into almost revered statures; it is evident that they are true power players here. However, the quick, sharp work in the conflict between Vulcan and Cable later in the issue promises great work to come when such action set pieces do later show up. The coloring from Federico Blee is also strong; rich in the spaces of Arakko in the attempts to make this place feel like somewhere not like Krakoa and yet thematically in line. It works well here, especially in Beto’s bar.

However, in this issue, the lettering by Ariana Maher stands out spectacularly. In particular, Storm flashes back to her battle with Nameless, the shapeshifter who occupied Storm’s Great Ring seat before she did. The lettering work on Nameless’s speech bubbles is excellent, creating a distinctly dissonant and intimidating effect, even if Storm herself is not cowed by it.

Ultimately, this issue serves as one of the strongest #1s in recent memory, especially for the X-line and goes a long way to assuring fans that the Krakoan status quo is in exceptionally capable hands, even after Jonathan Hickman’s departure.

Overall: A strong first outing for X-Men Red, establishing a lot of world building concerns that Ewing and his collaborators are well-placed to follow up on along with an excellent reveal at the end that will leave readers excited for more. 9.5/10

REVIEW: X-Men Red #1

X-Men Red #1
Writer: Al Ewing
Artist: Stefano Caselli
Colorist: Federico Blee
Letterer: VC’s Ariana Maher
Publisher: Marvel Comics
WHO CAN SAVE THE RED PLANET? The mutants of Arakko spent millennia scarred by war — but on what was once called Mars, they’re learning to live in peace. STORM knows the red planet needs something greater than a queen. But ABIGAIL BRAND has other plans, along with an unstable VULCAN on her side and CABLE keeping his own secrets. Welcome to X-MEN RED. It’s a new world…and someone has to fight for it.
Price: $4.99
Buy It Here: Digital

Read more great comic book reviews here!

Rebecca is a literature student by day, a freelance writer by night, and a comics fan always. She is a big fan of everything superheroic and horrific. Right now, she can be found on Twitter at @phoenixfcrce.