X-Vengers is one of the surprises of the Age of Revelation titles. Jason Loo is an artist and writer who has been working on Marvel comics for a few years now, but his prior work on Dazzler left me a bit leery about his writing on this title. However, X-Vengers #1 was quite a delightful surprise, setting up a team of characters you wouldn’t expect to work well together and finding a way to make them gel. Loo’s focus on the concept of adult mutations as a disability and living with those disabilities was very strong, and Sergio Davila’s pencils were excellent, providing short but high-octane action sequences that really stood out.
X-Vengers #2 picks up where the story left off, with the new, mutated Avengers team, helmed by Dani Moonstar, the inheritor of Captain America’s shield, dealing with the sudden demise of Variable Man (the mutated Ant-Man). While the team discusses whether this is a new form of the X-Virus that has ravaged the world, the Avengers are granted an audience with Revelation himself. As Revelation is Doug, of New Mutants fame, seeing his dynamic with Dani Moonstar and Sam Guthrie in this future is quite an enticing prospect, as Sunspot, one of Revelation’s Seraphim and a former New Mutant, points out. Indeed, although Revelation is the main antagonist of this event, his ill will does not immediately extend to his old comrades and friends, allowing us to see a more nuanced take on him.
Though he’s not an ally to the Avengers, he isn’t quick to shut them down either. When the technarchs attack, both sides must work together to survive. We see the Avengers prioritize saving mutant lives, risking their own lives to protect them from the technarchs. The situation is resolved, but at the tragic cost of one sacrifice that puts both sides on the brink of war. Only Dani can buy time by trying to get answers herself, but under the watchful gaze of Sunspot.
X-Vengers is a location-contained follow-up to the first issue, focusing on the fallout of the cliffhanger from the previous issue and expanding the problem and setting up a finale with high stakes. Loo does this deftly, making the conflict flow naturally and well, while also finding time for action sequences that highlight the characters’ heroism and Revelation’s ruthlessness. What makes the conflict unique is the idea that the humans, who thus far have been victims of this brutal Age of Revelation, may be responsible for the latest turmoil.
Sergio Davila is the penciler, with Aure Jimenez on the inks and Rain Beredo on the colours. As with the first issue, the team works seamlessly together. Davila’s coordination and staging of the action sequences have real dynamism and momentum, and stand out as the best action sequences of the event so far, which is no small feat.
X-Vengers #2 is one of the biggest surprises of the Age of Revelation, setting up an interesting, high-stakes story that blends the mutant metaphor with the Avengers’ good-hearted heroism. With strong action and dynamic art, X-Vengers #2 sets the stage for an exciting finale.
‘X-Vengers’ #2 Review: The Age of Revelation’s Biggest Surprise Just Got Better
X-Vengers #2 is one of the biggest surprises of the Age of Revelation, setting up an interesting, high-stakes story that blends the mutant metaphor with the Avengers’ good-hearted heroism. With strong action and dynamic art, X-Vengers #2 sets the stage for an exciting finale.
