• Written by: Ann Nocenti
• Art by: Geraldo Borges
• Colors by: Andrew Dalhouse
• Letters by: VC’s Ariana Maher
• Cover art by: Alan Davis (cover A)
• Cover price: $3.99
• Release date: July 26, 2023

Storm #3 finds Storm coming to terms with her decision to leave the X-Men after the betrayal at the Neotek presentation. Soon, the weather entity appears again to create chaos… or does it?

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Is It Good?

Storm #3 is finally giving the mini-series a semblance of purpose and direction in this issue, so it’s an improvement over issues #1 and #2. However, the super-stiff dialog and uneven pacing hinder the enjoyment factor.

When last we left Storm, tensions flared after Logan confronted Travis after the Neotek presentation. Meanwhile, Kitty struck an unsavory bargain with Mystique, masquerading as Travis’s partner, to ruin Travis. Now, Storm slowly accepts her need to move on from the X-Men, possibly with Travis, when the weather entity reappears. The X-Men defeat the entity long enough for Rogue to take a peek inside its mind to discover a shocking truth.

[SPOILERS AHEAD]

What’s the shocking truth? The weather entity IS Storm or a version of Storm. I don’t know. Rogue doesn’t get specific, but the entity, tentatively called Blowback, is somehow a version of Storm. Let that bake your noodle for a while.

[END SPOILERS]

What’s great about this comic? The revelation about the weather entity is intriguing, and that’s a big idea that makes this comic worth the read. Knowing who and what it is opens up a world of possibilities.

What’s not so great about this comic? There’s almost no narration, leaving the story development to the dialog, and the dialog is as stiff as a block of concrete. Try it. Speak the words out loud, and it sounds like a robot reciting a speech from a script. Nocenti’s dialog lacks the natural rhythm found in two or more people conversing with each other.

The second down point is Kitty’s over-the-top rebellious teenage angst. The hair, the tattoos, and her willingness to make a deal with Mystique boil down to Kitty’s anger over Storm’s inward and outward changes. Kitty somehow believes Storm should have talked with her about the changes, and it comes off as bizarrely oppressive and authoritarian. I noted in the previous review how Nocenti appears to be painting a very different version of Kitty’s personality, and this issue doesn’t change that opinion.

How’s the art? Geraldo Borges creates a classic, 80s/90s-inspired style for the X-Men, especially during the fight scene. The comic looks great, especially for fans of that specific era of the X-Men.

About The Reviewer: Gabriel Hernandez is the Publisher & EIC of ComicalOpinions.com, a comics review site dedicated to indie, small, and mid-sized publishers.

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Bits and Pieces

Storm #3 finally delivers worthwhile intrigue and classically inspired art for the best issue in the run so far. That said, the dialog is painfully stiff, and Kitty’s personality seems radically off.

6.5/10