Someone is using magic to cause mutants to change into monsters, and Nightcrawler is one of the victims. Now he confronts Margali of the Winding Way in Legion of X #9 by Marvel Comics!

LEGION OF X #9

Writer: Si Spurrier
Artist: Netho Diaz, Sean Parsons, and Alvaro Lopez
Colorist: Java Tartaglia
Letterer: VC’s Clayton Cowles 
Editor: Sarah Brunstad
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: January 11th, 2023 

Previously in Legion of X: Nightcrawler and Legion assembled a team of Legionnaires within Legion psyche. Recently, a new entity known as Mother Righteous has watched Legion, offered Banshee a Ghost Rider spirit, and is targeting Warlock. Additionally, some mutants are experiencing another mutation, turning them into monsters. This includes Nightcrawler developing horns and Angel running rampant. Now Nightcrawler tracked the magic source to Margali with the help of the new Black Knight, who also happens to be a mutant.

Legion of X #9 starts with Nightcrawler dealing with Margali. Pixie realizes she is using powerful magic and can briefly deflect her spells. However, Doctor Nemesis is hit and begins to mutate even further, involving his brain growing. When the Black Knight charges forward, she is stopped by Nightcrawler, who is stuck with a primal instinct to protect his mother. Megali then reveals that this is just a job, and Orchis shows up to take Nightcrawler and his Legionnaires away.

Meanwhile, Banshee is trying to help Cypher sever his connection to Warlock. At the same time, Legion is paid a visit by Professor X. Suddenly, the Technarchy wreaks havoc in Legion’s mind. This causes a small army to begin to take over the island as a distraction for Nimrod to hack the island!

Legion of X #9 felt poorly paced. There are a ton of plot points crammed into the book, and we don’t address one of the major themes of the previous issues. What is the difference between a mutant and a monster? Instead, we get a super brief encounter between Nightcrawler and Margali paralleled with Legion talking to Professor X. This idea has a lot of potential impacts, but I don’t think it was given enough space to develop to be impactful. On top of that, there are three artists in the book, a penciler and two inkers. And the character designs seem to be a little inconsistent throughout the book. The coloring is done relatively well, but the book seems a bit rushed overall. Some great ideas here, but I think the execution falls short.

I really enjoy this title, and I think the ideas are fantastic. Legion of X #9 provides many plot points without allowing readers to process their thoughts. With that in mind, this comic is a 3 out of 5 stars.