Last year, the mutant nation of Krakoa terraformed Mars for the Arakko mutants. This year, the world now knows that mutants have conquered resurrection! Find out more in X-Men: Hellfire Gala #1 by Marvel Comics!

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X-MEN: HELLFIRE GALA #1

Writer: Gerry Duggan
Artist: Kris Anka, Russell Dauterman, Matteo Lolli, and CF Villa
Colorist: Rain Beredo, Frank Martin, Matt Milla, and Matthew Wilson
Letterer: VC’s Cory Petit
Editor: Jordan D. White
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $7.99
Release Date: July 13th, 2022

Previously in X-Men: It is time for the second Hellfire Gala, where the mutant nation of Krakoa invites people worldwide to celebrate mutant culture. However, the world now knows about mutant resurrection, and Orchis has their sights on destroying the mutant nation. But most importantly, the new X-Men team will be voted in!

DEFYING DEATH

X-Men: Hellfire Gala #1 starts with many characters around the Marvel-616 reading the headline about mutant resurrection and deciding to attend the Hellfire Gala. Among those people are Captain America, Iron Man, and even Feilong. Moira MacTaggert has taken on the form of Mary Jane Watson and infiltrated the party. Many sections of this book have small political statements being made. But eventually, Spider-Man realizes that something is off with Mary Jane. And Moira, as Mary Jane, tries to manipulate Proteus and sabotage the resurrection process. Moira escapes before she can harm anyone, but Wolverine and Spider-Man are hot on her trail.

Meanwhile, Emma and Scott reveal what they know to each other. Orchis is trying to set mutants up to decrease public opinion of them, and a Mister Sinister clone is working with Orchis. Scott also learns the secret of Moira MacTaggert. After that, the new X-Men team is announced: Cyclops, Jean Grey, Synch, Forge, Firestar, Iceman, Magik, and Havoc!

A NATION DISMANTLED

I usually find it weird when the X-Men deal with the larger Marvel universe. They are separate entities in my headcanon. X-Men: Hellfire Gala #1 even calls the Avengers out here about that, with Emma stating the Avengers rarely came to the X-Men’s aid. And these sort of small discussions is what makes the book interesting. This book introduced significant subplots that the individual X-Men titles will answer. And let me tell you, the hype is real. I want to know more about what is going to happen. And I want to know who the “good guys” and the “bad guys” are. I’m ecstatic to see what happens next in this fight against Orchis and balancing the nation of Krakoa on the political stage.

Hellfire Gala is also an excellent time for the artists to flex their creativity. A vast creative team worked on this triple-sized book and did a fantastic job. The dress and suit designs on these iconic characters were a remarkable sight. Of note, Mister Sinister, Scott Summers, and Emma Frost had spectacular outfits. Excellent work here.

BOTTOM LINE: GREAT NEXT STEPS

The biggest block from suggesting this comic is the price tag. While you get over sixty pages of comics, eight bucks is a little steep. However, I think this comic is worth the price if you follow the current X-Men comics. While this isn’t a perfect comic, X-Men: Hellfire Gala is a 5 out of 5 stars.

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