The saga of Kamala Khan, Melee, Bronze, Rift, and Colossus comes to an end in the third and final part of this event tie-in. Expatriate X-Men began with a bold premise, following a crew of young mutants, all grown up X years in the future, brought to the page by writer Dr. Eve Ewing and the artist team of Francesco Mortarino and Raul Angulo. While the ambition of the series was clear to see, all three parts have been uneven, and that remains the case with the final installment.
Darkchild and the Betrayals of Providence
The flotilla has reached the Providence territories of Darkchild, the demonic remnant of Illyana Rasputin, who rules her own Severance-like hell with Juggernaut as her enforcer. The flotilla believes they were there to trade Lyrebird to Darkchild in exchange for payment, but as the heroes soon discover, it was Lyrebird who was luring them to the Providence lands.
Schemes are unearthed, with Melee being revealed as a catspaw of 3K, smuggling their technology into Providence in exchange for help with reuniting the wayward, lost hero with her beloved mentor, Kitty Pryde. Meanwhile, Lyrebird has tricked the heroes and led them into Darkchild’s clutches in exchange for the return of his daughter, whose mother will come as a major shock to X-Men fans.
Pacing Issues and Lack of Resolution
Expatriate X-Men #3 revels in these twists and turns, but the ambition of the series might be bigger than the page limit allows. Things move so quickly in this final issue that nothing gets a chance to catch its breath. Major revelations and betrayals happen across pages, and there is very little time for it to sink in.
The mother of Lyrebird’s daughter asks more questions than provides answers, and it’s all left so vague that the surprise never fully lands; instead, it leaves the reader scratching their head. The dysfunction between the flotilla forces likewise doesn’t have much payoff. Throughout the comic, there is a sense of major change being needed amongst these young heroes, or the possibility of them going their own ways, but the comic ends without much resolution. Even Colossus, reunited with his sister’s demonic alter, is given almost no time to truly respond. In the end, these half-hearted twists and the inconclusivity spoil the entire mini-series.
Mortarino and Angulo’s Visual Flourish
Francesco Mortarino and Raul Angulo turn in largely good work once again. The colors are distinct and vibrant, and Mortarino’s art is well-suited to this cast of young heroes, providing big, dynamic splash pages when called for. Neither artist will be part of the Shadows of Tomorrow era of X-Men, and that is a shame, as their work on NYX and Expatriate X-Men has been distinct and visually exciting.
Final Verdict: Is Expatriate X-Men Worth the Read?
Unfortunately, Expatriate X-Men falls short of its bold premise and the ambitious attempt to build a complex narrative. While presented in a visually interesting way, the writing and coherence of the story leave much to be desired. The final effect is a cluttered, wasteful story that is ultimately less than the sum of its parts.
KPB Comics’ Expatriate X-Men Related:
‘Expatriate X-Men’ #3 Delivers a Cluttered Conclusion to the Mutant Future Saga
Expatriate X-Men falls short of its bold premise and the ambitious attempt to build a complex narrative. While presented in a visually interesting way, the writing and coherence of the story leave much to be desired.
