Review: ‘Dark Web: X-Men’ #3 Provides Closure

Dark Web has been one chaotic crossover, with disparate elements across the Marvel Universe. Dark Web: X-Men #3 proves the value of the crossover, as two key characters reconcile in a way that only the X-Men could.

Gerry Duggan, Rod Reis, Phil Noto, and Cory Petit bring the X-Men’s return to Inferno to a close.

While the rest of the X-Men battle the hordes of Limbo, Jean Grey and Madelyn Pryor have found themselves locked in psychic battle. It’s one that neither may win. But as they might be about to learn, it’s not always about winning.

Duggan refocuses the story here in this issue and does what he does best. After the silly opening of the mini, and the creeping unease of the previous, here we get a character piece. It’s a conversation between Jean and Maddie that’s long overdue, but Duggan is able to frame it in a very superheroic way. There are psychic battles, memory downloads, and a bit of time travel, but it’s all centered in Jean Grey bonding with a character who’s practically her sister, and creating a sense of closure for them both.

I could just say “look, the art is by Noto and Reis” and that would be enough. Both of these artists are some of the most skilled in the industry and they complement each other so well in this issue. Noto takes the emotional beats and makes them feel real and lived in. Reis depicts the most action-centered moments, making them feel emotionally raw and visceral. I would love to see more of these two together, because they made an unsurprisingly great combination.

This issue is an exciting step forward into the future for longtime X-Men fans. There’a ton of possibility from what’s here and I can’t wait see what is done with it.

Dark Web: X-Men #3 is available now from Marvel Comics.