Shadowkat and Emma Frost have one thing on their minds: revenge. Find out if they can get to Firestar and Orchis in X-Men #26 by Marvel Comics!

X-MEN #26

Writer: Gerry Duggan
Artists: Jim Towe and Javier Pina
Colorist: Marte Garcia
Letterer: Clayton Cowles
Editor: Jordan White
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: September 6th, 2023 

Previously in X-Men: The Fall of X has begun. Talon and Synch attempt to lead what is left of the X-Men and mutants who remain on Earth. Emma Frost is working with the Hellfire Club and Iron Man to defeat Orchis, while Kate Pryde has taken back the moniker of Shadowkat and wants vengeance on the mutant traitor: Firestar. Unknown to her, Firestar is a mole placed by Jean Grey!

X-Men #26 briefly looks into the moment Emma Frost gave Krakoa’s assets to Wilson Fisk, making him the new White King. Wilson Fisk reopened the Hellfire Club once more as a base of operation. In the present, Emma Frost has taken over the identity of Hazel Kendal, allowing her to move freely without Orchis mutant detection finding her. She is working with Iron Man, who is planning something on his own to regain control of the armor Feihong stole from him. She also implores Tony to discover the truth about Firestar before Shadowkat kills her.

Meanwhile, Shadowkat raids an Orchis space station and finds Firestar. Kate can defeat Firestar while Firestar attempts to explain the truth. Surprisingly, Shadowkat believes her because she knows that Jean Grey is the type of person to force Firestar into being a double agent.

Later, Emma Frost and Shadowkat agree to work together to get their revenge by any means necessary. When Feihong is at the Hellfire Club, Emma Frost is ready to reveal her identity and wipe his memory. However, Tony Stark stops her so it doesn’t interrupt whatever plan he has up his sleeve.

I am fascinated with the direction they take Emma Frost and Kate Pryde in X-Men #26. I’ve seen some inspired choices by the creative team for them and characters like Ms. Marvel and Professor X. However, it has been a while since Hellfire Gala 2023 and the start of Fall of X, and I don’t know what is happening in the larger scheme of things. I think I’ve read all, or at least most, of the Fall of X titles so far. What are Talon and Synch doing? This is an X-Men main title comic, and they are leading the X-Men team. I want to know what they are doing besides living in the sewers and sending out various people for recon. I want to return to that team feel instead of individuals moving independently.

Despite that, a look into Emma Frost and Shadowkat has been fascinating. They are engaging characters in recent years, and they carry the emotional weight of the Fall of X well. I am interested to see how they take that theme of guilt, trauma, and revenge over the next couple of months as the X-Men recover.

On top of that, the art style in this book is excellent. While there weren’t many flashy moments, Firestar’s character design is fantastic. Great work here by the creative team.

X-Men #26 is an excellent middle issue for the series, but sometimes it doesn’t seem like the plot is moving forward. If the X-Men creative team keeps the pacing this slow, we are in for a very long event. Regardless, this is a 4 out of 5-star comic, and I’m on board with the rest of the series.

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X-Men #26

80%

80%

Good Middle Issue

X-Men #26 explores complicated themes of trauma, revenge, and guilt but is surprisingly silent about the rest of the X-Men team.

• Writing

  8
• Art

  8
• Coloring

  8
• User Ratings (0 Votes)
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