Arakko is in the midst of a civil war! As Krakoa contends with its own crisis, Storm leads the Brotherhood of Arakko against Genesis, who advocates for the old ways. Discover more in X-Men Red #14 by Marvel Comics!
X-MEN RED #14
Writer: Al Ewing
Artist: Yildiray Cinar
Colorist: Federico Blee
Letterer: Ariana Maher
Editor: Jordan White
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: August 16th, 2023
Previously in X-Men Red: Orchis has not forgotten about Arakko and has somehow convinced Genesis to make her return amidst the cataclysmic events of the Hellfire Gala. With Genesis’ return, The Great Ring is divided between mutants embracing peace and those remembering the violence of the old ways.
X-Men Red #14 presents the immediate aftermath of Genesis’ arrival. People are torn by Genesis’ propaganda, which persuades mutants to recall their past. However, Storm, Nova, Sunspot, and the rest of the Brotherhood deliberate on their next steps. Upon learning about the Hellfire Gala, they realize this must be another tactic orchestrated by Orchis, and they prepare for war.
The battle lasts for months, and the battleground is centered around the sacred statues of Apocalypse and Genesis. Nova acts as the General, and the Brotherhood manages to hold off Genesis’ forces. Yet, to shift the tide of battle, Storm destroys the sacred statues. After a respite, they recognize the need to locate Apocalypse when Fisher King suddenly emerges with a dramatic physical transformation.
As I read X-Men Red #14, I was uncertain about the comic’s direction. While I initially expected it to focus more on Orchis, I am pleased to be proven wrong. However, when I examine the overarching themes of this civil war, I struggle to discern the comic’s ultimate trajectory. The anticipated character development seems lacking, and although Apocalypse is sure to return, his role in the broader narrative remains unclear. Consequently, I sense the plot advancing without the refined narrative techniques necessary to bridge its end with its beginning. Given that this is part of a multi-comic title event, it appears more related to that scope than the skills of this creative team.
The artwork in X-Men Red is captivating, as the mutants are visually striking. This issue features an all-out battle, and the creative team effectively portrays the characters’ unique powers. However, nothing is as stunning as witnessing the Fisher King’s transformation on the final page, an image that alone compels me to continue reading this series.
I am intrigued by the direction of X-Men Red #14 and its contribution to the broader X-Men mythos. There is a wealth of potential that I hope will be fully realized. With this in mind, I rate this comic 3.5 out of 5 stars, and I believe this storyline will be memorable for years to come.
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X-Men Red #14
X-Men Red #14 is intriguing due to its engaging plot but lacks clear character development direction in these early issues.
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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