- Written by: Gail Simone
- Art by: David Marquez
- Colors by: Matthew Wilson
- Letters by: VC’s Clayton Cowles
- Cover art by: David Marquez, Matthew Wilson (cover A)
- Cover price: $4.99
- Release date: November 13, 2024
Uncanny X-Men #5, by Marvel Comics, concludes the Red Wave arc as the battle rages on two fronts. Rogue gets a helping hand against the Hag, and the X-Men fight a losing battle against Hag’s army at Haven House.
Is Uncanny X-Men #5 Good?
If you read the description above, that pretty much sums up the entire issue. Never let it be said Marvel is averse to decompressed storytelling, but to writer Gail Simone’s credit, what little plot there is in this issue is jam-packed with action and heart. For most readers, that’s probably enough.
When last we left Rogue’s fledgling team of new mutants in Uncanny X-Men #4, Rogue and Nightcrawler raced to find Logan after his first match against the Hag left him in tatters. After Nightcrawler ported Logan away for medical attention, Rogue went toe-to-toe with the Hag. The issue ended with the Hag’s acolytes showing up at Haven House against Warden Ellis’s wishes.
In Uncanny X-Men #5, the battles rage on two fronts.
First, the X-Men leap into action against the Hag’s enhanced followers. We’re never told how they became followers, what the Hag did to the mutants to bring them under her control, or why the Hag desperately wants the X-Men dead. All we know and can see is that a fight breaks out.
Second, Rogue lies on the ground, bloodied and broken, during her fight with the Hag. The Hag moves to scalp and de-face Rogue when Rogue’s mind suddenly snaps to a different plane of consciousness where she’s met by… Harvey X, the kid who died in the hospital in Uncanny X-Men #1.
Harvey explains he slyly gifted her his mental and healing powers when they met because he foresaw this battle and knew she would need the extra power. Before he “moves on,” he wants to be with Rogue to win a big fight so he would know what it feels like to fight as an X-man. Rogue obliges, beating Hag to a pulp.
The issue ends with Rogue delivering a beaten Hag to Warden Ellis with a warning.
What’s great about Uncanny X-Men #5?
Gail Simone delivers on two fronts. First, the action is well thought out, which means it furthers the story instead of acting as the action for its own sake. Second, the psychic scene between Rogue and Harvey X is sweet. Simone has a strong knack for quiet, personal moments, so it works to great effect here.
What’s not great about Uncanny X-Men #5?
Consistent with the criticism in the previous issue, Simone has a chronic habit of not explaining key plot points. What is the Hag? Is she a mutant? Magic? Something else? Why and how is the Hag possessing mutants if she claims to eradicate all mutants? How and why did the Hag enter into a partnership with Warden Ellis if the Warden considers her dangerous and uncontrollable? Why did Wolverine have difficulty healing from the Hag’s physical attacks? Why is this arc called the Red Wave?
The more you think through the first five issues, the more the pile of unanswered questions turns into a small mountain. Gail Simone has written too many comics to be making this many sloppy mistakes in constructing a plot, which doesn’t speak well of Tom Brevoort’s editorial control.
How’s the Art?
The art looks fantastic. David Marquez and Matthew Wilson deliver a visually cinematic series of panels to project all the heart and energy necessary for maximum emotional impact.
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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Final Thoughts
Uncanny X-Men #5 concludes the Red Wave arc with a rousing battle on two fronts. Gail Simone impressively mixes gritty action with strong emotional beats for an emotionally weighty issue, and the art team’s delivery is first-rate. That said, the conclusion leaves too many unexplained plot points dangling for a sloppy, frustrating conclusion.
6.8/10
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