Jed MacKay’s latest X-Men issue centers on one of the team’s newest members. With the “Age of Revelation” event approaching, these final lead-in issues feel more urgent as they tie up lingering plot threads MacKay established almost a year ago. X-Men #21 picks up and partially resolves a story from X-Men #4, leaving the door open for future developments. With regular fill-in artist Netho Diaz returning, who also penciled issue #4, X-Men #21 serves as a tidy way to clear the board before the big event in October.
X-Men #4 introduced the Upstarts, Trevor FitzRoy’s gang of self-loathing mutants who murder other mutants for an anti-mutant social media audience. Their boss, the bizarre and terrifying Sugar Man, was revealed at the end of that issue, seeking to learn how the villain 3K successfully transformed humans into mutants. Issue #4 also introduced Jennifer Starkey, one of 3K’s human-to-mutant victims.
X-Men #21 continues Jen’s journey, checking in on her 17 issues later. We’ve seen more of her power, specifically her ability to trigger animal transformations to adapt to various situations, including a rare aquatic form and her primary, feathered, bird-like form. Like Ben Liu, another 3K victim the X-Men have taken in, Jen has had a consistent, understated character arc. She has bonded with Beast, and their relationship became explicitly romantic in Hellfire Vigil #1. But as is often the case with Beast these days, things are not simple. His spiral of depression has kicked into overdrive since X-Men #18, and he’s closed himself off from Jen.
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MacKay clearly enjoys writing downtime between team members, and the issue begins with a moment between a morose Jen and Quinten Quire. In a unique twist, the constant troublemaker Quinten takes on the role of a comforting friend, reassuring Jen that she belongs. The rest of the issue focuses on Jen as a new plan by Sugar Man leads to a rematch between the X-Men and the Upstarts, whom Sugar Man has abandoned. Magik, filling in for the absent Cyclops, leads Jen, Quinten, and Juggernaut in a long action sequence against Trevor FitzRoy’s gang.
The fight itself is largely uninspired, taking place inside the Upstarts’ standard warehouse base, “Sugarland.” While the fighting feels predictable, the Upstarts seem much more powerful than they initially appeared. There’s a moment when Juggernaut’s toughness is called into question, which he dispels brutally. It’s a powerful reminder that, despite being reformed, Juggernaut was a villain for decades and isn’t afraid to act the part. Jen also gets her own big moment, triggering a new transformation that helps turn the tide of the fight.
Visually, the fight is a bit cluttered, which makes the moments for Juggernaut and Jen feel less impactful than they could have been. The real intrigue comes at the end, where Sugar Man’s “other project” is revealed. It’s a truly surprising twist, connecting Sugar Man and the X-Men story to characters and places no one would have expected to see in a mainline X-Men title, especially not so soon. Still, there’s some frustration that 21 issues in, the comic is still building up yet another antagonist instead of advancing the main story. Regardless, the ending is an intriguing note to finish on.
Marvel Comics
X-Men #21 is drawn by Netho Diaz, who also provides the cover art, likely due to Ryan Stegman’s work on Age of Revelation Overture #1. Diaz is joined by his usual inker, Sean Parsons, along with Stegman’s regular inker, JP Mayer, and Livesay. The presence of extra inkers isn’t entirely apparent, though the opening and final pages have a distinct look. Fer Sifuentes-Sujo’s colors especially shine in the opening conversation between Jen and Quinten.
However, the comic has its weaknesses. The action sequences that take up most of the issue are visually dull and not particularly exciting. Juggernaut’s key moment also lacks the proper build-up it deserved, making its impact less significant. There is also some continued concern about introducing more villains without much forward movement on the main plot. Still, the issue largely succeeds as a fast-paced read that advances Jen’s character, provides signature action, and sets up another intriguing mystery.
X-Men #21 succeeds in its primary goal of making Jen a true member of the X-Men. It has clear strengths, including a strong character arc for Jen Starkey and a well-written conversation between her and Quinten. The art team’s visuals also enhance these moments. The interesting and surprising ending is another redeeming quality.
‘X-Men’ #21 Review: Tying Up Loose Ends Before the “Age of Revelation”
X-Men #21 succeeds in its primary goal of making Jen a true member of the X-Men. It has clear strengths, including a strong character arc for Jen Starkey and a well-written conversation between her and Quinten. The art team’s visuals also enhance these moments. The interesting and surprising ending is another redeeming quality.
