Hitting Yourself In The Night: Reviewing ‘Dark X-Men’ #5

Those cloaked in darkness, surrounded by death, aren’t marked for happier of endings. Yet, what if it was somewhat possible?

All roads have led here as it’s Maddie vs Maddie in the fifth and final brutal issue of Dark X-Men. A tale of sacrifice, power, and faith from Steve Foxe, Jonas Scharf, Frank Martin, and Clayton Cowles.

If anyone had cornered me right after all the Fall Of X minis were announced and asked which one would be my favorite, while slightly anxious panicked at such a move, I would have pointed at this one. Probably chiefly because I like dark stuff, as Hellions is one of my top Krakoa era books. Also, this creative team and the concept are beyond solid. I would have honestly assumed it would be this and like Uncanny Avengers neck and neck, but, well, my reviews for that will show why this is not the case.

One major element that catapults this one to the top of my list is the focus. I don’t mean the focus characters or the overall darker concept. I mean the fact that this book, compared to others in the run, is very much rooted in the aftermath and ongoing effects of what Orchis has done. Desperate times call for desperate measures when many of the characters featured here represent some of the final foundations as mutant society has crumbled.

As mutants face their latest (umpteenth) brush with genocide and extinction, this is the series that reminded us truly how dire that can be.

If I didn’t already know the reality, I would swear that Foxe has been writing the various X-titles for years upon years. There is a deep familiarity and comfort level with these characters that radiates a veteran level status. Able to tap into the deep wealth of these characters’ lore but in a way, that doesn’t require someone to read decades of comics or power through a Wiki. Tons of rich character interactions, natural beats, and interactions that are fresh, exciting, and unexpected.

I’m kind of wishing that Foxe had been tapped a while back so that we could have had more of him in the Krakoa era. I’ll follow whatever works are coming next, be they Marvel or beyond, but oh what could have been. This is someone that had me invested in what happened with Emplate of all characters, so who knows what other feats they are bound to pull off.

Also, as a huge Operation Zero Tolerance era fan, seeing my boy Maggott sailing off into a (at least temporary) happy ending is what I’m here for.

I’m also laughing, as Azazel isn’t having the best of months. A one-shot removed his genetic contributions to what was his most prominent child, he lost his thrall Emplate, oh and he was ripped to shreds by the Limbo altered dragon beast multiversal variant of that former child.

Probably should have checked his horoscope.

As noted, this is a brutal issue. There is blood, death, and finality. It all has such weight and gravity, without tipping over into gory or off putting. Because Scharf knows how to easily balance on the line. Everything has a sharper edge to it, with a bit of roughness, while also having a softness mixed into the whole thing. Character faces feel emotive, and even welcoming even though some of them are angry or evil or dark.

Much like the previous issue, most of the overall action takes place in a singular more confined space. This allows for a lot closer up framing, letting us luxuriate amongst the characters really marinating in that emotional energy. We get a couple shots that are wider shots, like the wonderful team springing into fighting action pose scene, but most of the issue is very much right there in the middle of stuff types of views.

This also allows us to feel each of the losses, be close up for the brutal bloody moments, giving them even more weight. Even when there is blood or grievous harm, the blood or the gore is there but done in a way that never lets it go too far. We feel the impact without needing to see some horror movie level of guts spilled across the ground (which would require a higher rating in comics too).

Scharf’s visual instincts tap into the darkness, pairing smoothly with the color pallets Martin brings to play with. Things have a more grounded, for lack of a better term, feeling to them. Meaning that the overall colors are a more natural, neutral tone level reflective of the world around us in many ways. Even the more fantastical vibrant flashes are brought closer to a real level, with all the darkness and shadows that swirl through. A razor sharpness found in the artwork is reflected within the colors, striking quick and precise as needed.

Just as sharp as the words that they are all flinging around at one another (or the blades, tails, and explosive playing cards). Cowles is a master of the craft, knowing just when to zig rather than zag to pull the most out of any letters needed. Character voices are hard and true (even though we’ve never actually heard them), bits of energy and personality bursting out. Thanks to the choices of bubbles, colors, spacing, placement, and more. Just like the rest of the artwork, it shifts and morphs so easily in order to convey whatever the story has to offer in the most pleasing of ways.

Even though we’re talking about mutants, demons, devils, and other elements everything feels real. This is a lived in, well-worn, dangerous place and it feels every bit that.

Dark X-Men #5 is now available from Marvel Comics.