Nightcrawler is captured by Orchis, and his legionnaires prepare to retrieve him. Find out if Legion can lead the team in X-Men Sons of X: Before the Fall #1 by Marvel Comics!

X-MEN BEFORE THE FALL: SONS OF X #1

Writer: Si Spurrier
Artist: Phil Noto
Colorist: Phil Noto
Letterer: VC’s Clayton Cowles
Editor: Sarah Brunstad
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $4.99
Release Date: May 3rd, 2023 

Previously in X-Men: Nightcrawler created the Spark philosophy and assembled a team that lives in the Altar, a reality in the psyche of Legion. Recently, Nimrod attacked the Altar. Despite the Legionnaires’ victory, they severed the connection between Cypher and Warlock and captured Warlock. On top of that, Nightcrawler’s adoptive mother, Margali Szardos, helped Nightcrawler manifest the Hopesword, stole the weapon, and turned him over to Orchis.

X-Men Before the Fall: Sons of X #1 shows Legionnaire running simulations to fight Nimrod, but he loses every time. Mother Righteous shows up to offer her help. After the events of Sins of Sinister, Mother Righteous is revealed to be a Sinister clone who gains power through admiration and worship. She promises to help Legion if he puts his faith in her.

On The Bloom, an Orchis facility, the legionnaires attack, and Mother Righteous can easily disable Nimrod. Legion saves Nightcrawler from imprisonment and retrieves the Hopesword from Margali. After returning home, Mother Righteous decides to keep the Hope Sword. Since Legion declared faith, she can control him. She also admits that she is trying to become a Dominion. Legion reveals that he knows, and the Legionnaires mobilize to attack her, forcing Mother Righteous to kill all of them. After their resurrection, Nightcrawler takes the Hopesword and leaves Krakoa, giving his vote on the Quiet Council to Storm.

Nightcrawler’s development as a character has been engaging to follow. Resurrection challenged his religious beliefs, which ultimately led to the creation of the Spark with the help of Legion. The ending of X-Men Before the Fall: Sons of X #1 almost feels like a step back for the character. He is seemingly running away from his responsibilities. With Storm on Arakko, it is almost like the more extensive plot line is trying to separate popular characters away from Krakoa in preparation for an event. Which weakens the comic.

The writing and art are technically excellent. The plot beats work well here, but I don’t know if I agree with the story’s direction. Krakoa works well when people work together, but this is starting to feel more like Game of Thrones and less like the X-Men we know and love. Which I guess has been the main criticism of the nation of Krakoa storylines from many readers.

X-Men Before the Fall: Sons of X-Men #1 is well-designed. The art is beautiful, and I love the brushstroke-type feel in some of the panels. However, I struggled to connect to the themes of the story. Hopefully, Nightcrawler’s self-imposed exile will become an exciting plot point. 3.5 out of 5 stars for X-Men Before the Fall: Sons of X-Men #1.

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X-Men Before the Fall: Sons of X-Men #1

70%

70%

Technically, a Good Book

X-Men Before the Fall: Sons of X-Men #1 prepares for future events but weakens the development of significant characters.

• Writing

  6
• Art

  7
• Coloring

  8
• User Ratings (0 Votes)
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