Writer: Gerry Duggan
Art: Joshua Cassara, Frank Martin, Marte Garcia, Clayton Cowles, Tom Muller, and Jay Bowen
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Price:$3.99
Release Date: August 2nd, 2023
The Fall. She’s been known as Kitty, Sprite, Ariel, Red Queen and Captain Kate. Now, as a new X-Men team finds their way through their darkest hour…Shadowkat emerges in X-Men #25 by Gerry Duggan!
If you’re interested in this comic, series, related trades, or any of the others mentioned, then simply click on the title/link to snag a copy through Amazon as you read the X-Men #25 Review.
THE DISPATCH
Gerry Duggan has thought of everything. He’s set up this Fall of X brilliantly and continues to lay the groundwork for the State of the World. And readers, it’s bad for mutants. In all honesty, it might be too bad. Meaning, I wonder if Duggan went so far the other way that it might seem virtually impossible to bring mutants back to where they were before this all began. Sure, mutants and humans never completely got along. Think about it like politics. You have Democrats, Independents, and Republicans. What people thought of mutants has always been placed into three categories: acceptance, neutrality, and rejection. After what Duggan outlined in the Hellfire Gala 2023 #1 and in X-Men #25, Orchis has certainly moved the needle to not only snag the “Independents” but many (if not all) the “Democrats”. So, who is on the side of the mutants anymore?
It gets worse. The story presumes that the Five are gone, whether dead, missing, or hiding. And, any surviving mutants are on the run. However, the rebirth of Shadowkat becomes the focus of X-Men #25. Readers, it’s dark, twisted, and pretty gruesome. Nevertheless, this focus on Kitty is the same emphasis Duggan had on her in Marauders. And the irony is that the same focus was centered around her ability to use the gates. It was fascinating, as well as fantastic storytelling, by Duggan in order to intertwine his original Kitty dilemma back into the narrative from when HOXPOX began. Just amazing writing by Duggan.
On a side note: Duggan has a bit to say about Ms. Marvel as well. The problem is that what he has to say once again makes light of any and all deaths in the comic realm. No one can stay dead. We all get that. However. Can we give someone’s death time to breathe? Nope. One week you die and the next week everything is back to normal. And in X-Men #25, it’s literally as if nothing happened at all thanks to Emma… I mean Hazel. Honestly, it’s become a meme at this point and it’s just sad. Make her death meaningful and make it last at least for a time.
ART
In X-Men #25, I’d like to focus on where the art shined. Look no further than Kitty’s ability to phase through objects as the highlight of this week’s installment. The art team became incredibly imaginative as to why and how she could utilize her powers and abilities. There is no denying the free rein Duggan gave this art team as they gruesomely developed some literally insane ways of Kitty Breaking Bad! Any Kate Pryde fans will love the heck out of this issue.
FINAL THOUGHTS
X-Men #25 is all about Shadowkat. Kitty is off her rocker and it’s spectacular. Duggan perfectly incorporates why and how Shadowkat is back in a way that hinges on something he personally created for the character back in Marauders. Readers, that’s just solid, creative storytelling showcasing just why Duggan is one of the best writers in comics right now. Are we going to get an X-Men team with Juggernaut? Sadly, it doesn’t look that way. However, you will get a pretty wicked issue with tons of action and emotion. If you’re coming off your high that was Hellfire Gala 2023 #1, this X-Men #25 isn’t a bad issue to fall back on. Let me know what you think, have a great week, and God Bless!