Writer: Al Ewing
Artist: Stefano Caselli
Color Artists: Federico Blee & Protobunker’s Fer Sifuentes-Sujo
Cover Artists: Russell Dauterman & Matthew Wilson
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Reviewer: StoryBabbler
Judgment Day has come for the Earth and all of its peoples. However, judgment came even swifter for the Arakkii mutant of Mars and its leaders including one master of magnetism, Magneto. But their story didn’t end there and they pressed on to repel the forces of the genocidal Eternal, Uranos, and aid in his defeat on Earth. Now in X-Men Red #7, the leaders of Arakko must decide how to handle their sole traitor, Isca The Unbeaten.
Review:
It is a dark day indeed for the X-Men and Mutantkind. Or at least, it would be if the story being told was more compelling. Those who are following both this series and the A.X.E.: Judgment Day line-wide event will know of the current status of Magneto and the part he and Storm play in defeating Uranos. Fair Warning for mild SPOILERS In this comic, I will try to keep it to a minimum.
For those wondering, no, this issue doesn’t expand on the fight with Uranos in any way and is more of a direct follow up to that. What it does give readers is more time with Magneto, who in this reviewer’s opinion, is the real star, if not the biggest star character of this entire series who’s had the most focus, the best lines, and even the best fights. It also helps that Stefano Caselli brings his A-game when it comes to Magneto and making his moments in this comic look like real tearjerking moments, of course whether they work on readers is up in the air. His moments in the issue are meant to be played as heartwarming, but for someone cynical like this reviewer, it’s not all that dramatic.
Now, as the cover suggests, the meat of this issue is Storm and the Great Ring of Arakko dealing with Isca The Unbeaten. I will say this, the entire confrontation with Isca from start to finish is both intriguing and underwhelming, just like how the whole situation with her is resolved. I’ll spoil it right here: you don’t really learn how her powers work only more of the same “She can’t lose” on repeat. Even the method of how everything is resolved is rather underwhelming and out of nowhere. Thankfully, Caselli’s art keep the emotional effects of the encounter interesting especially when it comes to depicting the range of emotions on Isca from smug smiles to bold bloodlust and sheer outrage. But things do happen, the encounter with Isca is resolved, and there are some leadership changes in the Great Ring. Of course, the bigger question is whether any of it will actually matter in the long run outside of this series once it ends.
SPOILERS:
Mild Spoilers. Speaking of endings, the series finally has time to shift focus back to Cable and the whole storyline with Abigail Brand. While the rest of this comic left this reviewer feeling bored if not more cynical for this series, this issue’s ending with Cable has me a little excited for what might happen in the next issues. Yes, there are two more issues after this one where Brand takes center stage on the covers, hopefully as the main villain.
Final Thoughts:
X-Men Red #7 directly follows up after the events of A.X.E.: Judgment Day #5 and shows the fate of Magneto and the people of Arakko. On top of that, it resolves the matter of Isca The Unbeaten and her betrayal, brief as it was, but the encounter proves to be both intriguing and anticlimactic. However, the ending does bring the promise of something better and certainly more exciting happening in the next issue.