The X-Men are still scrambling to create a defense against Orchis. Shadowkat looks to free prisoners while everyone else looks to mask their mutant power from sensors in X-Men #27 by Marvel Comics!

X-MEN #27

Writer: Gerry Duggan
Artist: Phil Noto
Colorist: Phil Noto
Letterer: Clayton Cowles
Editor: Jordan White
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Cover Price: $3.99
Release Date: October 4th, 2023 

Previously in X-Men: After the Hellfire Gala, thousands of mutants disappeared. Synch and Talon gather what is left of the X-Men. They lead Shadowkat, Ms. Marvel, and Rasputin IV as they attempt to pick up the pieces and fight against Orchis, no matter what it takes.

X-Men #27 starts with Shadowkat sneaking into an Orchis facility to see who they have captive and finds Juggernaut. Freeing him from his restraints, she requests he delay his escape until they figure out how to help everyone else. She also finds Cyclops, but his body is booby-trapped so that he would explode if she tried to free him. Meanwhile, the rest of the team meets with Reed Richards to see if they can recover the lost memories that Magneto and Professor X took from him. Using Rasputin’s powers and a dinged-up Cerebro, they head to where they are staying. Rasputin isn’t great with diplomacy and starts a fight with Human Torch and the Thing. However, the rest of the team reminds them they are friends.

While Reed’s memories aren’t recoverable, he realizes that Terrigen Mist is the key to hiding the gene and promises to help the X-Men and forget past wrongs.

Many X-Men books seem to have a slower pace right now. In this book, we set up a conflict to rescue Juggernaut, who I am happy to see alive, and Cyclops from Orchis. There is also some plot development to allow more mutants to live on the surface and fight back. But that is all that really happens in X-Men #27. I have found myself thinking about the role of middle issues like this. While these story beats are desperately needed for the fuller picture, picking up a book and only getting a few small moments where nothing really happens is tough. Before I wrote for Major Spoilers, I almost exclusively read trades. And this comic would easily be a great book if it had it attached to the larger context. But by itself? It feels a little dull despite great art and relatively good writing.

Overall, I like the Fall of X run; the story is powerful. In reality, X-Men #27 is exceptionally well written. But nothing happens, and if we increased the pacing, it would feel rushed, so there is no easy answer to address my concerns. Despite that, I will give X-Men #27 a 4 out of 5 stars because the creative team is doing an excellent job with the event overall.

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X-Men #27

80%

80%

Boring but Necessary

X-Men #27 is needed in the larger narrative arc but is a little boring as a standalone issue.

• Writing

  7
• Art

  9
• Coloring

  8
• User Ratings (0 Votes)
  0