When this title was announced, I was cautiously excited, interested in the positioning of the lead character, Dani Moonstar, with the shield of Captain America. While many other tie-in series to the Age of Revelation have felt wasteful of the story and premise, X-Vengers truly works within the confines of the event and is the rare dystopian-set series that pays respect to all of the characters it features.
President Sam Wilson and the Technarch Virus
With the death of Vision in the previous issue and the possibility that the technarch virus was engineered by Sam Wilson, the President of the United States, the Avengers are forced to try to stop a war between two sides, knowing the damage would be cataclysmic. Sent to monitor them is Sunspot, one of Revelation’s Seraphim, whose close bond with Moonstar and Cannonball, both Avengers, is tested.
Two Captain Americas: A Bold Vision for Marvel’s Dystopian Future
The true culprit is a familiar face to Marvel comics readers, and said culprit launches an attack on Sam Wilson’s base. The Avengers charge in for the rescue, working with Sunspot to fight the Technarch virus and the X-Virus mutated soldiers. Sam gets to dust off his wings and join the fray alongside the Avengers: two Captain Americas fighting side by side. One a Native American mutant and the other an African American human. It’s quite an uplifting sequence in a Revelation world stratified along the lines of mutants and humans, as well as a bold pronouncement of what America is and can be.
Action-Heavy Pacing and a Bitter, Hopeful Ending
The rest of the issue is action-heavy and intense. While two more characters die, perhaps unnecessarily, truth be told, the issue ends on a bitter but hopeful note. The heroes prevailed, but they suffered for their victory. And yet there is greater understanding now between all the parties involved. If there is a problem here, it would be that the final page is a little too abrupt.
Sergio Davila’s Kinetic Art Stays the Landing
Sergio Davila’s pencils bring their signature kinetic, dynamic action to the comic, inked by Aure Jimenez and coloured by Rain Beredo. This team’s art has been the best of the entire 17-comic event at depicting action and fight sequences, and all three deserve to take a bow as they stick the landing in this final part.
Verdict: Jason Loo’s Heartfelt Contribution to Age of Revelation
X-Vengers has told a story about people struggling with mutation after living much of their lives without them. The metaphor for disabilities brought on in later life are clear, as is the message that life can continue on in a fulfilling way once those conditions are managed; all that is needed are people willing to stop and help. Jason Loo brought to the page something heartfelt and action-heavy, and that’s an accomplishment for a three-issue mini-series in an event that has struggled to have compelling stories told within three issues. With wonderful art by Davila, Jimenez, and Beredo, X-Vengers is one of the top titles of the Age of Revelation.
KPB Comics’ X-Vengers Related:
‘X-Vengers’ #3 Review: Dani Moonstar Shines in the Best Age of Revelation Tie-In
X-Vengers has told a story about people struggling with mutation after living much of their lives without them. The metaphor for disabilities brought on in later life are clear, as is the message that life can continue on in a fulfilling way once those conditions are managed; all that is needed are people willing to stop and help.
