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With The Age of Revelation event just a week away, X-Men #22 serves as a powerful and direct lead-in to what will be a dominant storyline for the remainder of the year. This issue, the strongest yet from writer Jed MacKay, masterfully pulls together the threads he’s been weaving since the series’ debut. Joined by guest artist C.F. Villa, MacKay delivers an exciting, well-paced story that builds on the disarray of the X-Men and sets the stage for a dystopian future. It will leave readers eager for what’s next.

In the last few issues, MacKay has painted a picture of an X-Men team in total disarray. Following 3K’s raid, the team has been scrambling to deal with the fallout, pressure from ONE*, and internal friction between Beast and Cyclops. X-Men #19 introduced Doug Ramsey, formerly Cypher and now the new Revelation, to the fold. In X-Men #20 and #21, the X-Men are shown in various states of conflict: Cyclops is detained after a brawl with Agent Lundqvist, while Magik leads a successful but deadly fight against the Upstarts.

Now, X-Men #22 brings all these storylines to a head. Cyclops returns to the base, embarrassed by his detention and frustrated with Magik for acting on her own. Trevor FitzRoy, the team’s prisoner, is revealed to have a surprising connection to a faction introduced in X-Men #10. Meanwhile, the reformed Juggernaut argues with Beast over his brutal actions against the Upstarts, and new mutants Ben Liu and Jen Starkey discuss what they hope to get out of their extraordinary new lives.

Character conversations drive this issue, but they all feel crucial and purposeful. The moral debate between Beast and Juggernaut cuts to the heart of both characters: the reformed villain and the morally complex hero. Juggernaut’s justification for his brutal acts is not entirely unsound, but it’s Beast who quietly gets the final word. The typically close partnership between Magik and Cyclops is strained for the first time, a result of her unilateral decision-making. Temper and Psylocke’s talk brings back the Hellions, the organization that wreaked havoc in X-Men #10, and Ben and Jen’s discussion thoughtfully explores how ordinary people deal with their lives being upended.

MacKay’s writing is solid and effective, but the issue’s biggest moment comes with Revelation’s arrival at the base. The confrontation between him and Cyclops, two heirs to Xavier and Apocalypse, respectively, is well done. The dialogue is impactful, if at times a bit over-the-top. Still, MacKay proves he can write the character well despite the controversial decision to make Doug Ramsey the new Revelation. The issue ends on an epic cliffhanger: just as a decision is about to be made about Revelation’s future, a future force meddles with Cyclops’s mind, setting up the main event and proving that the past is far from settled.

Guest artist C.F. Villa, who previously contributed to X-Men #14, has complete control here and does an excellent job. His work is clean and smooth, and he’s especially effective at drawing Cyclops, emphasizing his slim features without making him look too old or too young. Although there are no major action scenes, each conversation is imbued with intensity, especially the final one between Cyclops and Revelation. The art is complemented by Fer Sifuentes-Sujo’s coloring, which pairs perfectly with Villa’s style and utilizes colorful backgrounds to effectively convey the right mood. Villa’s art is a great fit for the series’ overall aesthetic and provides some of the best character depictions since the series began.

X-Men #22 is a strong, well-paced issue that effectively uses character dialogue to bring together multiple plot threads from earlier in the series. C.F. Villa’s art is a particular highlight, capturing the essence of what series artist Ryan Stegman has conveyed in his own style. The comic ends on a strong note, building significant momentum and excitement for the upcoming Age of Revelation event. While some plot points could have been seeded earlier, this is not the fault of this particular issue.

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With The Age of Revelation event just a week away, X-Men #22 serves as a powerful and direct lead-in to what will be a dominant storyline for the remainder of the year. This issue, the strongest yet from writer Jed MacKay, masterfully pulls together the threads he’s been weaving since the series’ debut. Joined by guest artist C.F. Villa, MacKay delivers an exciting, well-paced story that builds on the disarray of the X-Men and sets the stage for a dystopian future. It will leave readers eager for what’s next.

In the last few issues, MacKay has painted a picture of an X-Men team in total disarray. Following 3K’s raid, the team has been scrambling to deal with the fallout, pressure from ONE*, and internal friction between Beast and Cyclops. X-Men #19 introduced Doug Ramsey, formerly Cypher and now the new Revelation, to the fold. In X-Men #20 and #21, the X-Men are shown in various states of conflict: Cyclops is detained after a brawl with Agent Lundqvist, while Magik leads a successful but deadly fight against the Upstarts.

Now, X-Men #22 brings all these storylines to a head. Cyclops returns to the base, embarrassed by his detention and frustrated with Magik for acting on her own. Trevor FitzRoy, the team’s prisoner, is revealed to have a surprising connection to a faction introduced in X-Men #10. Meanwhile, the reformed Juggernaut argues with Beast over his brutal actions against the Upstarts, and new mutants Ben Liu and Jen Starkey discuss what they hope to get out of their extraordinary new lives.

Character conversations drive this issue, but they all feel crucial and purposeful. The moral debate between Beast and Juggernaut cuts to the heart of both characters: the reformed villain and the morally complex hero. Juggernaut’s justification for his brutal acts is not entirely unsound, but it’s Beast who quietly gets the final word. The typically close partnership between Magik and Cyclops is strained for the first time, a result of her unilateral decision-making. Temper and Psylocke’s talk brings back the Hellions, the organization that wreaked havoc in X-Men #10, and Ben and Jen’s discussion thoughtfully explores how ordinary people deal with their lives being upended.

MacKay’s writing is solid and effective, but the issue’s biggest moment comes with Revelation’s arrival at the base. The confrontation between him and Cyclops, two heirs to Xavier and Apocalypse, respectively, is well done. The dialogue is impactful, if at times a bit over-the-top. Still, MacKay proves he can write the character well despite the controversial decision to make Doug Ramsey the new Revelation. The issue ends on an epic cliffhanger: just as a decision is about to be made about Revelation’s future, a future force meddles with Cyclops’s mind, setting up the main event and proving that the past is far from settled.

Guest artist C.F. Villa, who previously contributed to X-Men #14, has complete control here and does an excellent job. His work is clean and smooth, and he’s especially effective at drawing Cyclops, emphasizing his slim features without making him look too old or too young. Although there are no major action scenes, each conversation is imbued with intensity, especially the final one between Cyclops and Revelation. The art is complemented by Fer Sifuentes-Sujo’s coloring, which pairs perfectly with Villa’s style and utilizes colorful backgrounds to effectively convey the right mood. Villa’s art is a great fit for the series’ overall aesthetic and provides some of the best character depictions since the series began.

X-Men #22 is a strong, well-paced issue that effectively uses character dialogue to bring together multiple plot threads from earlier in the series. C.F. Villa’s art is a particular highlight, capturing the essence of what series artist Ryan Stegman has conveyed in his own style. The comic ends on a strong note, building significant momentum and excitement for the upcoming Age of Revelation event. While some plot points could have been seeded earlier, this is not the fault of this particular issue.