X-Men #26 kicks off the new Danger Room arc for the X-Men team, expected to last five issues through to X-Men #30. This particular issue is a follow-up of X-Men #25, driven by the reveal of Frank Bohanan, the Crimson Commando, as the new Director of ONE. Written by Jed MacKay and drawn by Netho Diaz, who will be handling the entire arc, X-Men #26 is a solid start to a questionable arc.
Set-Up for a Bigger Story
X-Men #26 begins with the X-Men team scattered due to circumstances: Cyclops and the main team leave to find Chief Robbins, the police chief of Merle, Alaska who has proven an ally of the X-Men; Psylocke and Xorn go to attend to John Greycrow, Psylocke’s boyfriend who has been injured while robbing a bank; and Glob Herman attends a farmer’s market where he sells his own crops.
It quickly becomes apparent however, that the X-Men are targets in an insidious plot. ONE’s new director, Frank Bohanan, otherwise known as the Crimson Commando, has procured the services of a surprising figure in dealing with the X-Men. The identity of the character will come as a surprise to those familiar with the character, although it may leave some fans scratching their heads. Jed MacKay is prone to deep-cuts, and this one is more recent but also more forgettable than others.
The issue itself is mostly set up for a larger story, so it’s quite thin overall. There are some strong pages that focus on Glob at the farmer’s market, selling his wares. The affable, friendly, and bizarre-looking mutant has become a fan favorite, and his interactions with the Cobbs and with shoppers are well-written and enjoyable to read.
Likewise, there’s some intrigue in the situation of John Greycrow and Psylocke. Last we saw of John Greycrow, Psylocke had attempted to persuade him to live in the Factory with the other X-Men. But Greycrow has maintained his life of crime, even if he’s no longer the mercenary killer he was. His inclusion in the story does leave an interesting thread to be picked up over the course of this arc.
The main X-Men team locates Robbins in an abandoned tanker and is quickly beset by their enemies. The threat thus far is vague, however, and feels a bit standard and routine.
Overall, X-Men #26 is a fine set-up issue for a broader story arc. One has to question why Jed MacKay is introducing yet another villain cabal to the story when so many villains he has introduced are left on the table still: 3K, Sugar Man, the Hellions. While the threat ONE poses is worthy of exploration, a five issue dedicated arc feels frustrating at this stage in the series, where there are more plot threads than resolutions.
Scenic Pages are the Artistic Highlights of the Issue
Netho Diaz returns to draw this issue and will be handling the entire five-issue arc. Diaz’s pencils are inked by Sean Parsons, and the color artist is Fer Sifuentes-Sujo. The trio is a well-oiled machine, well-matched and equipped to handle fast output and numerous pages.
Diaz isn’t an artistic whose strengths are in facial designs, but he is skilled at action, and the large scenery pages and panels are a particular highlight of this issue.
Verdict?
X-Men #26 is a sturdy start to a new arc, featuring a new threat for the team to deal with. Jed MacKay’s writing is strongest in the sequences involving Glob and Greycrow, setting up intriguing story threads there. However, the issue itself is mostly set up for yet another villain group, and in a story that moves slowly at times and seems meandering, X-Men #26 sadly doesn’t offer anything new.
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X-Men #26 Review
X-Men #26 is a sturdy start to a new arc, featuring a new threat for the team to deal with. Jed MacKay’s writing is strongest in the sequences involving Glob and Greycrow, setting up intriguing story threads there. However, the issue itself is mostly set-up for yet another villain group, and in a story that moves slowly at times and seems meandering, X-Men #26 sadly doesn’t offer anything new.
