Inhumans Vs. X-Men #1 Review - The War Is Just Getting Started

12/14/2016 09:13 am EST

After the events of Death of X, it seemed like the X-Men had no chance against the Inhumans. They lost one of their longtime leaders to the power of Black Bolt (though not really thanks to Emma Frost), and it took all they had to take down just one of the Terrigen clouds.

When the X-Men are able to work together, however, they are capable of many seemingly impossible things, and Inhumans vs. X-Men #1 proves that in spades.

Spoilers for Inhumans vs. X-Men #1 from here on out, so you've been warned.

The X-Men have called a meeting at the behest of Beast, as the longtime X-Man and scientist has arrived at some unfortunate facts about the Terrigen cloud and what is in store for mutant kind. Writers Charles Soule and Jeff Lemire focus on what the X-Men are best out, which is often bickering like a dysfunctional family, and it's a big part of why this first issue works so well.

Each wing of the family comes at this issue from a different perspective, and in some way, all are valid in their viewpoints. Eric does not, scratch that, will not stand by and watch his species go extinct, especially as he puts it "My people will not be gassed to death." It's a heavy line, but this depiction of Magneto has been consistent over the last few months, so it doesn't come off as a cheap ploy for emotion, but rather a genuine anger from someone who has witnessed a great deal of death during his lifetime.

It's a joy to watch the X-Men work together, systematically hitting the Inhumans with hard unexpected jabs one by one, and using tactical planning as opposed to the immense all-out power that the Inhumans wield. Leinil Francis Yu's lovely artwork is a perfect pairing for the book, giving every scene an intensity and tension as the plan moves from one phase to the next.

It's also worth noting that any opportunity to let Dazzler shine like she does here is always welcome. A-Force isn't around anymore, so you have to get it from somewhere.

The writers still have some work to do in eliciting any kind of empathy for the Inhumans side of things, but they did quickly resolve the previous issue of making the X-Men appear ridiculously weak. This is going to be an entertaining fight, and coupled with the surprise at the end of the issue, should have some intriguing twists along the way.

Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars

Written By: Charles Soule and Jeff Lemire

Art By: Leinil Francis Yu

Inked By: Gerry Alangulan

Colored By: David Curiel

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