DNX #1 and X-Men #38 are a Strong Kickoff to a New X-Event
Marvel has an event problem. Just this week we have Avengers: Armageddon #4, Queen in Black #4, and DNX #1, as well as a tie-in for QiB and DNX. They’ve even got the Fantastic Four involved in all 3 of them, poor little guys. Events have long had the problem of “do they actually matter”, are they justified as big events or are they just sales boosts. While I won’t speak on the other 2, this is the big issue facing DNX. Sure it justifies the scale, it’s a big world ending event, and a culmination of a lot of writer Jed MacKay’s storytelling over the past 36 issues, but for an X-Men event, it’s strange that none of the other X-Men books are even a little bit involved, instead opting to crossover with Ryan North’s Fantastic Four. I truly don’t know exactly what is required to make an event worth it, but right now, irregardless of quality, it’s a little unclear why DNX isn’t just a story arc in X-Men itself, especially with how tightly X-Men #38 fits into it.
DNX is the story Jed MacKay has been building up to for a while now in X-Men, as the villainous 3K seek to use the encoded information from Magnetos DNA to create the X-Virus that Cyclops and The Chairman, also known as Krakoan Beast, witnessed in a dystopian future ruled by Doug Ramsey, Revelation. Tired of being on the back foot, the X-Men wait in Philadelphia, the origin site of Revelation’s X-Virus, for 3K to arrive and release their own. Only one group is leaving Philly intact.
With an event #1 like this, you need to walk a tightrope between making the issue actually enjoyable, pushing the plot forward, but also getting those who haven’t been reading the buildup caught up. DNX does a great job there, laying out how we got here without feeling overly like an exposition dump. DNX is all about getting us right into the action, the X-Men are sick of being on the defensive and it shows. Jed has always written a great Scott, and it’s right on display here. His relationship with Hank McCoy, both of them, is perfectly written as he uses his knowledge of his once friend to predict their plan perfectly. Cyclops comes in with a plan, aware of 3Ks X-Men and their abilities, and prepared to take them out with ease. It’s great to see a good display of a competent leader.
Our other perspective in this issue is that of Reed Richards, looking after Magneto on the verge of death after his encounter with the Chairman. He faces a dilemma, while he’s willing to save Magneto’s life, is he willing to restore Magneto’s powers? If so, would he be responsible for what Magneto does with them? To the X-Men, Magneto may have been a hero for years at this point, but it’s easy to see how an outside perspective, especially Reed Richards considering X-Men/F4, could be less than believing about it. While Magneto himself has espoused how much he had changed in the fantastic Resurrection of Magneto, it’s interesting to see that change through other characters, especially Hank McCoy. This Hank McCoy only has his memories since his Avengers days, to him, Magneto was his greatest foe about a week ago, so seeing him especially stand up for Max demonstrates a lot. Redemption of villains is something that’s not often given this close an examination, instead often quickly dismissed.
Back to the Fantastic Four, there’s a clear love for the team here from MacKay. Sue Storm is definitely paralleled to Cyclops, the real leader of the F4 and one step ahead of the rest. While Reed is focused on Magneto, Sue is piecing together the rest of 3Ks plan before Beast even gets a chance to tell them and has Johnny and Ben on the way to Philly already. While Reed debates the philosophical nature of restoring Magneto’s powers, Sue is quick to cut through the noise and see Reed is going to do it anyways, but makes it clear that if he goes rogue now, it is their problem and they’ll fix it.
While this may only be the start of the fight, DNX makes the contrast between the F4, X-Men and 3K clear. While the heroes trust each other, and trust their leaders, 3K is scattered. They don’t even trust each other enough to share a drink to toast their victory. While our X-Men charge in deliberately under Scott’s orders, 3Ks come one at a time, desperate to win on their own and prove themselves “the leader” without understanding what a leader is.
Federico Vicentini is pretty new to X-Men, but I’m already a big fan of his work. His Scott especially feels young and old at the same time, like a man who has lived through more than anyone should have to. He feels tired, but no less determined. His real strength is the action though, especially the scene in which Scott’s team takes down the first of 3K’s X-Men. The linework makes Timebomb feel fast without even seeing her move. We get some great money shots of the two teams coming at each other too, all brought together by David Curiel’s vibrant colours. I also want to take a moment to mention the great design of the credits pages too, designed by Jay Bowen. It’s something Marvel have been experimenting more and more with recently, and I’m a huge fan.
While not in the main issue itself, also out this week is X-Men #38, the first tie-in for this event with a clear handoff mid DNX #1.Quentin Quire has never been a favourite of mine, but I’ve really started to come around after this issue, which shows his clear growth over the years. No longer defined by his overconfidence, his provocative t-shirts swapped out for a ska-inspired X-Men uniform, we see a Quire who has accepted and is proud of his role as an X-Man, aware of his limits and able to rely on others. Mirroring DNX #1, we see the real source of that change too – Magneto. Much like Magneto grew beyond the human/mutant divide, he has inspired Quire too as well. It’s a great demonstration of growth, and combined with MacKays strong voice for Cassandra Nova a real essential tie-in to the issue. It’s a great demonstration of Netho Diaz’ skill too. Starting as a fill-in artist between Ryan Stegman issues, Diaz has grown massively as an artist with each issue, and none make it clearer than this one. With Tony S Daniels leaving the book for Maximum X-Men, Diaz has more than proved himself worthy of being the main artist for the book.
While it may just feel like a continuation of Jed MacKays X-Men run, DNX is a great debut that wastes no time getting right to the action but still gets readers caught up. MacKay writes a great Fantastic Four, and with stunning art, I hope a lot of new readers take this as a chance to jump on MacKays X-Men run.
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