An End Wrapped In A Beginning: Reviewing ‘Rise Of The Powers Of X’ #5

Orchis has fallen. All that remains is the Dominion known as Enigma, formerly one Nathanial Essex, and his devastating plans. All that stands in his way is the spark that brought about a flame that is the Phoenix, reborn.

Time, space, and beyond mean nothing as these cosmic titans slug it out with all of existence caught in the middle in Rise Of The Powers Of X #5. It all comes down to this as Kieron Gillen, Luciano Vecchio, David Curiel, and Clayton Cowles present the penultimate chapter of the Krakoan Era.

Sometimes you read an issue of a comic series, have to pause, think about it, then read it a few more times just to make sure you read what you thought you read.

The Krakoan era is (just about) over, and this issue had a lot to do in order to bring one of the biggest plotlines of the era to a close. As the intro highlights, things take a leap into the bizarre which comes with anything to do with time and the cosmos.

This issue sadly lost R.B. Silva’s amazing artwork, one of the defining styles of this era, but was able to bring in the amazing Vecchio, fresh off the transcendent work of Resurrection Of Magneto. It’d kind of fitting to not only have a fellow Krakoan era artist step into the fray, but for one of the original Krakoan artists to hand the proverbial baton to one of the newest as things wrap up.

Gosh, just what a visual feast we got here.

Gillen threw down a gauntlet of cosmic challenge, which Vecchio picked up and ran with to amazing levels. I’ve loved the vibes and style of Vecchio’s artwork since first seeing it, but these past few X-Projects have really seen him take everything to an even higher jaw-dropping level. Finding ways to take the concepts the story wants to explore and giving them deep life, while also making them tangible in a way. Many of the moments being familiar ones to long-time readers, mixed with cosmic-ness definitely helps.

Curiel’s been here coloring most of what Gillen has written in the X-Line, answering the call no matter what needs to be given vivid life. Letting the colors run wild in a very ordered way, swirls of far more vibrant powerful colors and those of a heavier darker tone mixing in such a simple yet poignant way. Slick and smooth but with a bit of a bite to them as well.

Cowles is another that has been here helping bring voices their power in the various titles of this thread. Letting the lettering breathe, delving into so many creative outlets that allow the voices to have depth, power, tone, and even personality. Dropping in little changes here or there that not only do those things but give it all a memorable visual punch.

Setting issues in a space where the heroes just duke things out physically is easy in a way. That’s a staple of comic superhero comic books. Turning a battle into something that is beyond fists and beyond the universe itself is not even the next level. That’s like a whole bunch of levels higher, but it’s where Gillen has played many times.

Sometimes it has not worked as well, not all higher concepts hit the same way. In this case, it not only works, it creates something special. Which was needed for so many of us as the end of Krakoa has been a very uneven, sometimes slog, for the past year. These little moments where we can remember the promise, the scope, and the creativity of the line are to be cherished.

Rise Of The Powers Of X #5 is now available from Marvel Comics.