- Written by: Jed MacKay
- Art by: C.F. Villa
- Colors by: Fer Sifuentes-Sujo
- Letters by: VC’s Clayton Cowles
- Cover art by: Ryan Stegman, Marte Gracia (cover A)
- Cover price: $4.99
- Release date: September 24, 2025
X-Men #22, by Marvel on 9/24/25, continues the latest era with page after page of rich visuals and awkward team shifting.
First Impressions
This issue looks fantastic, with Villa’s linework and Sifuentes-Sujo’s colors carrying the whole package. Unfortunately, the story itself reads like filler, dragging its feet while it moves pieces into place. It’s a glossy transition, but one that leaves you cold once you close the cover.
Recap
Last issue, the X-Men, led by Magik, tracked the Upstarts and their human-mutant conversion scheme to Sugarland and staged a direct attack. Jennifer Starkey struggled with her new powers and feelings of isolation, while Magik reasserted herself as team leader. The group launched their assault on the villain’s base in a fast-paced confrontation, leaving the fate of Sugar Man’s plans and Cyclops’s leadership in flux.
Plot Analysis
The comic opens with Cyclops released from the Merle jail. The Police chief thanks him for his cooperation when Magik arrives to teleport Cyclops home. Along the way, Magik briefs Cyclops on their recent fight with the Upstarts. Cyclops is, needless to say, displeased. Meanwhile, Beast exchanges tense words with Juggernaut about killing Ocelot in the Upstart fight, and Temper exchanges tense words with Psylocke about holding Fitzroy prisoner.
Suddenly, Doug Ramsey, Warlock, and Bei the Blood Moon arrive at the factory. Rather than a dramatic confrontation, the encounter unfolds in subdued conversations that lay out why the trio seeks safety with the mutants. Doug explains his group has nowhere else to turn after ZER*O’s relentless pursuit.
The rest of the team listens but doesn’t act with urgency. Cyclops believes the decision to stay or leave should be made by a team vote. Magik and the others exchange reactions, but the dialogue meanders instead of escalating into conflict or tension.
By mid-issue, the focus shifts squarely onto Doug, Bei, and Warlock as they plead their case to join. The X-Men offer little resistance, which undercuts the weight of their entry. The supposed danger of ZER*O fades into background noise, with no immediate threat manifesting on-page.
The book closes with the trio effectively welcomed into the fold, framed as a “fateful offer” to strengthen the team. Instead of a climactic twist or action beat, the story ends with a muted acceptance. The tease for Age of Revelation looms, but here it only lands as setup without payoff.
Writing
Jed MacKay’s script is all about “telling” instead of “showing.” The characters stand around analyzing the team’s failures and talking through the leadership change—over and over, with no threats or problems to solve. Doug, Bei, and Warlock are added with barely a hand wave for dramatic pretense. Dialogue tries to evoke world-weariness but lands as bored shop talk.
Art
If the writing is snooze-inducing, the art is a rocket-fueled energy drink. Every panel jumps with detail and emotional expressiveness. The faces are beautifully rendered, the staging dynamic, and even the backgrounds pop with life and color. Even guys standing in a row feel visually interesting.
Characters
The regular cast gets plenty of time to mope and fret, each voice consistent with their long histories. New additions show up with no build-up, rolled into the story with all the suspense of a surprise staff meeting. No one gets a real arc, especially Doug, Bei, or Warlock, whose presence feels more like editorial fiat than storytelling.
Positives
The art does all the heavy lifting here. Emotional expressions and staging keep the eyes glued to the page even when nothing is happening. Even quiet moments feel intense, and the visual chemistry between Warlock’s weirdness and the classic X-Men style is a treat. If you’re browsing for inspiration on superhero staging, this issue is an eye feast.
Negatives
The story limps along as pure filler, with the plot going backward or sideways instead of forward. The sudden addition of Doug, Bei, and Warlock is a creative dead end, with no meaningful setup, tension, or payoff. Instead of evolving the series, this issue plays it safe and leaves the team (and the readers) looking for a reason to care.
About The Reviewer: Gabriel Hernandez is the Publisher & EIC of ComicalOpinions.com, a comics review site dedicated to indie, small, and mid-sized publishers.Follow @ComicalOpinions on YouTube, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter
Final Thoughts
X-Men #22 shines in presentation but collapses in execution. It’s a flimsy transitional chapter that looks incredible yet delivers little in terms of story or impact. For readers waiting on Age of Revelation, this issue is more waiting room than launchpad, with gorgeous art wasted on a script that never gets out of first gear.
5.5/10
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