Writer: Leah Williams
Art: Lucas Werneck, David Messina, Edgar Delgado, VC’s Clayton Cowles, Tom Muller, and Valerio Schiti
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Release Date: October 20th, 2021
Price: $4.99
In case you forgot, the Scarlet Witch was killed! And now… she’s not… somehow. Utter confusion has surrounded the AVENGERS and X-MEN has the search for answers about their fallen comrade resumes. However, as the story continues to unfold, Magneto remains the prime suspect, especially since he basically confessed at the end of the last issue. Let’s dive into X-MEN: TRIAL OF MAGNETO #3 by Leah Williams to discover clues and suggestions as to what happened and why.
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THE DISPATCH
The funny thing about this week’s X-MEN: TRIAL OF MAGNETO is that it begins to focus on chaos magic as it wraps yet the entire issue was choppy, quick, disheveled, and chaotic itself. Readers learn nothing about the revelation that Wanda is back. We don’t see how or why nor do we dive deeper into a trial for Magneto. Actually, the comic is rudely interrupted by three, self-healing Kaiju Monsters. Now, one would ponder the purpose of these monsters in the comic. Well, if there is, it’s certainly not clear throughout this installment.
Ultimately, readers get an X-FACTOR continuation that has a few X-MEN and AVENGERS sprinkled in. The action that fans get this issue of X-MEN: TRIAL OF MAGNETO is merely fighting beasts that never existed prior in the narrative and currently have nothing to do with the story. It’s almost as if Leah Williams kidnapped the story herself and is posturing in an unrelated direction. Why? What story is she trying to tell? Is this a murder mystery? Aren’t we supposed to care about who killed Wanda and why? Yet, as the issue opens, it looks like we’re going to get those answers. Wanda even meets Vision, her children, and all seems mysteriously eerie and dysfunctional. Readers can tell something is off. And then… Kaiju monsters. Why Kaiju Monsters?
Finally, readers are snapped out of the beastly Battle Royale with two wasted pages of clocks and words only for an incoherent reveal that’s narrated by confusing statements from Wanda that immediately threw this reader out of the series entirely. However, lucky for fans, everything stated that was confusing to Wanda before is now magically self-understood giving fans a big reveal that ultimately fell flat on its face.
ART
The biggest saving grace of this issue of X-MEN: TRIAL OF MAGNETO was by far the art. Lucas Werneck and David Messina lead the charge with some incredibly crisp and emotional illustrations between Wanda, her friends, and her family. From unique panel layouts taking a deep mental dive into her psyche to blurry backgrounds causing the feeling of mental dysphoria, Werneck and Messina deliver an exceedingly bright and vibrant display that kept this reader’s attention where the narrative plot elements let down. Werneck and Messina fans should definitely check this comic out.
FINAL THOUGHTS
There is no trial. There are no answers. And, we see no direction. All we know for sure is that Wanda appears to be missing memories, which we discover within the first 4 pages of X-MEN: TRIAL OF MAGNETO. Fans get a weird concoction of action and mystical nonsense that ultimately masks the lack of story wrapped in a cocoon of confusion. Somehow, fans can assume that Wanda is responsible for the Kaiju beasts yet nothing is truly set forth. Moreover, one could also assume that this Wanda we see was backed up by an extremely old copy of her memories against the Council’s wishes. However, the problem is that in order to arrive at any of these answers, readers have to drastically read into the narrative to put these pieces together. I’m sorry but there are just too many gaps and choppy moments to formulate a thorough analysis of what’s going on in this series as well as its purpose or end goal. I would recommend staying clear of this series and getting the cliff notes when it’s done. Let me know what you think, have a great week, and God Bless!
I think you are being kind with your rating, 4/10 for me
I haven’t heard that a lot lately:) me… being kind:) well thank you! And thanks for the read. I appreciate. I think sometimes people assume as a reviewer our goal is to destroy. But that couldn’t be further from the case. I review comics because of love them!! However, it’s also important to be honest without degrading someone’s work. I try to keep as straightforward and helpful as I can without tearing the creative team down. Personally, I loved the art. It was well done, which is where a ton of that 6.8 is coming from. They definitely paint a good picture. And if it’s true that Leah was forced into telling a different story than she wanted… well that just stinks. But I’m reviewing the story on these pages not the premise or idea of what isn’t on the pages. Thanks again for the read!!!