Writer: Zeb Wells

Art: Stephen Segovia, David Curiel, VC’s Cory Petit, Tom Muller, and Rain Beredo

Price: $4.99

Release Date: March 25th, 2020

This week kicks off another new X-MEN title that many have been looking forward to for months. HELLIONS by Zeb Wells is finally here and prepared to make its mark with its ragtag group of villains and heroes working together to do what several other teams don’t have the stomach for. That’s right X-fans, Mister Sinister has formed a team complete with Scalphunter, Wild Child, Empath, Nanny, Orphanmaker, Psylocke and Havok! What in the world has happened in order to give Sinister a team of mutants? It looks like we’re going to have to jump into HELLIONS #1 and find out! Who’s with me?

This issue is so much fun, highly practical, and covered with hints of biblical Eden undertones that Zeb Wells is ironing out for Jonathan Hickman. To anyone who has followed the X-MEN for even the slightest, you’d see that there are both good and bad mutants alike. So, how can a literal Garden of Eden support these bad mutants that will plague their world paradise? It’s actually the connection many Christians struggle with today. Who are the elect and who are not? In Krakoa, all mutants are elect. The point is: they can’t be welcome… but AGAIN… they are. So, this reader has wondered what in the world the Quiet Council was going to do with them. I honestly thought it was just a side of the event that would be skimmed over. Well, that’s not the case at all x-fans. That’s exactly what HELLIONS is all about. HELLIONS is the answer to that question and so much more. Wells uses the metaphor of a “bull in a china shop” as these HELLIONS and its a fantastic analogy for what this team is going to be for these X-titles. Do you need something destroyed, broken, and utterly annihilated? If so, call Sinister’s HELLIONS and let them loose!

Now, the absolute standout of the issue is Mister Sinister by a good horse length. Wells can write the heck out of Sinister. His sarcastic humor, degrading wit, and lack of tact was well-placed, equally well-timed, and pointed in perfect situations. My only hope is that Sinister is never left out of these issues. Readers, he’s genuinely the star of the show and you’ll want to pick up this number one solely for him if nothing else.

Lastly, if Sinister isn’t your jam or if logically the team creation doesn’t make sense to you, then simply focus on the dark, crisp, and intricate line work by Stephen Segovia. His splash pages are gorgeous and his use of larger panels while still telling the story at hand certainly helps to make this issue wildly entertaining. Together, Wells and Segovia make a perfect combination that will really capture new and old readers to this inaugural issue.

FINAL THOUGHTS

Wells and Segovia create a sharp opening tale packed with humor, spice, action, and pure insanity. The story simply makes sense while showcasing Segovia’s fantastic artistic chops and makes this reader genuinely fall in love with Mister Sinister… Yup, I just said it. Wells makes Sinister this hilarious character we want to despise but simply can’t. If you’re on the fence with this one, I highly recommend grabbing this and adding it to your pull list. Don’t forget to drop me a line and let me know what you think!

9.3/10

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