The Hellfire Gala is here! Who will join the new X-Men team, and how will the world respond? Find out in X-Men: Hellfire Gala 2023 #1 by Marvel Comics!
X-MEN: HELLFIRE GALA #1
Writer: Gerry Duggan
Artist: Adam Kubert, Luciano Vecchio, Matteo Lolli, Russel Dauterman, Javier Pina, R.B. Silva, Joshua Cassara, Kris Anka, and Pepe Larraz
Colorist: Rain Beredo, Ceci de la Cruz, Matthew Wilson, Erick Arciniega, and Marte Garcia
Letterer: Virtual Calligraphy
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $8.99
Release Date: July 26th, 2023
Previously in X-Men: The mutants of Krakoa have earned their place as a world power. They host the annual Hellfire Gala to show that strength. Here, the new X-Men team is voted in, and diplomats improve foreign relations. However, Orchis has developed a strong front and wishes to bring the mutant nation down, and their threats are ever-present in the mutants’ minds.
X-Men: Hellfire Gala #1 begins with Ms. Marvel being resurrected and revealed to be both a mutant and inhuman. She attends the Hellfire Gala and tries to understand the island’s politics. The Avengers are called away during the meeting, and Cyclops investigates something happening in New York. Rather quickly in the comic, the new X-Men team is introduced: Talon, Synch, Cannonball, Frenzy, Prodigy, Dazzler, Jubilee, and Juggernaut. However, things turn terrible when Nimrod and Dr. Stasis arrive at the Gala. Nimrod fights and aims for Omega-level mutants, killing Iceman. Jean Grey and Juggernaut manage to distract Nimrod, but it is too late. Dr. Stasis and MODOCK activate a virus that infects Krakoan medicine, using the humans of the Hellfire Gala as a hostage. Dr. Stasis commands Professor X to use his powers to force all mutants into a Krakoan Gate, which has been reprogrammed to take them off-world.
As Sentinels controlled by Orchis arrive, Jean Grey is killed by Moira, and Xavier realizes he doesn’t have a choice. He commands every mutant around the world to go through a gate. However, his X-Men are trained to resist his psychic attack, and in her last moments, Jean Grey creates a new identity for Firestar as a secret member of Orchis.
As the fight ends, Xavier realizes that Dr. Stasis lied. He still plans to kill the humans here, and Xavier realizes that he can’t hear the thoughts of any mutants. This means that he sent them to their death. Rogue, who was with the Avengers, returns and saves Xavier as they realize the truth. Some of the mutants manage to teleport out with the help of the Kingpin but have to figure out the next steps.
Well, we knew Krakoa was too good to last. With Arakko on the verge of civil war, there are a ton of deadly plotlines going on here, and my review barely touched the surface of it. Like, the resurrection of Ms. Marvel wasn’t even the biggest reveal of X-Men: Hellfire Gala 2023! The new X-Men felt insignificant, and there was so much despair. I never really took Orchis seriously. I knew they were a threat, but I found them as an antagonist a bit annoying. This comic changed my mind; they appear more significant as a villain organization. And the manipulation of public perception is fascinating. They laced medicine, they used the Sins of Sinister storyline to their benefit, and they placed blame on X-Men Green. Brilliantly done, and the seeds they have sown paid off immensely. I also appreciate that they gave the comic as many pages as needed in a triple-sized issue. I can’t imagine if they tried to throw this in a 48-page book. Great work here.
My favorite part of the Hellfire Gala comics is the character designs. Watching them dress up in these outfits is visually stunning. I wish we could have been introduced to more characters before the chaos ensued.
This comic caught me off guard. I laughed, cried, got angry, and was enthralled by everything that happened. I knew the Fall of X storyline was coming, but I didn’t expect it here. With that in mind, I will give X-Men: Hellfire Gala 2023 a solid 5 out of 5 stars. I acknowledge that my review is based on how I felt and how I kept wanting to turn the page, reading a nearly 80-page comic in one sitting, seemingly holding my breath.
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X-Men: Hellfire Gala 2023 #1
X-Men: Hellfire Gala 2023 #1 kept me on the edge of my seat, and I can’t wait to see what happens next for the mutants of Krakoa.
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Christopher Rondeau is a storyteller based in Tulsa, OK. Finding himself with little work, he ended up creating a job as a Game Master full time on the internet. Chris spends most of his days reading everything he can, writing bad fiction, and watching old Digimon cartoons with his daughter. Sometimes you can find him Dungeon Mastering a podcast or streaming on twitch. Recently, he has completed his Master's degree with a focus on collaborative storytelling. Find out more at https://rondeaucreator.com