X-Men: Gold #7 Review - What A Tie-In Should Be

07/05/2017 05:33 pm EDT

It can be difficult to keep the tone of your book when a major event comes along, but X-Men: Gold #7 has managed to concoct a winning formula.

Slight spoilers incoming for X-Men: Gold #7, so if you haven't read the issue yet you've been warned.

It should be noted that this is exactly how you create a worthwhile tie-in. This issue takes place right towards the beginning of Secret Empire, which has tangible effects on the lives of those in the school. It also adds the perfect air of tension to the new villain, which seems to be a new version of the X-Cutioner.

If this book gets one thing consistently right, it's that it manages to encapsulate that true "X-Men" feel without feeling like a retread. X-Men history is constantly being mined throughout the series, with Guggenheim always giving it a fresh spin. Character relationships are also heavily explored, building off of classic duos and fresh ideas alike, but seen in this issue alone.

Art wise Ken Lashley delivers a striking barrage of gore and brutality while also nailing the smaller more subdued moments that the X-men have become known for. Throw in a slick new X-Cutioner design and there is very little to complain about on this front.

X-Men: Gold continues to set the bar for the other X-Men books, and this issue is no exception. X-Men: Gold #7 injects meaningful ties to Secret Empire while still retaining its delightful focus on great characters, a feat not to be underappreciated.

Rating: 4 out of 5 Stars.

Second Opinion: ComicBook.com's Jamie Lovett also had some thoughts on the issue, and loves the callbacks from the rich X-Men lore.

"This issue finds a really strong balance as a tie-in issue, using the events of Secret Empire as a backdrop rather than allowing the event to hijack the story. The callbacks to Colossus's previous problems with his powers and Nightcrawler and Prestige's burgeoning relationship, which feels like it is being built on their friendship from the original Excalibur series, shows how well Guggenheim knows and understands these characters."

"Plus, the new X-Cutioner made a heck of an introduction to the new X-Men era with Stellar, if a bit grisly, artwork by Ken Lashley."

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X-Men: Gold #7 is written by Marc Guggenheim with art by Ken Lashley, who also provides the issue's cover. The official description is located below.

SECRET EMPIRE TIE-IN! When Manhattan is besieged, the X-Men open their doors and repurpose their school as a safe haven for any human or mutant in need of sanctuary. But little do they know that one of the humans they've welcomed in is the all-new X-CUTIONER! And he's about to make the Xavier Institute the last place mutants want to be…

X-Men: Gold #7 is in comic shops now.

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