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A.X.E.: Eve of Judgment #1
- Writer:
- Kieron Gillen
- Artist:
- Pasqual Ferry
- Letterer:
- VC's Clayton Cowles
- Cover Artist:
- Carlos Pacheco, Rafael Fonteriz, Rachelle Rosenberg
- Publisher:
- Marvel
- Price:
- $3.99
- Release Date:
- 2022-07-13
- Colorist:
- Dean White
Eons ago, the Celestials came to Earth, leaving behind 100 immortal Eternals in the care of The Machine and 100 mortal Deviants to proliferate on the planet. It is the Eternals' sacred duty to cull excess deviation, and for millennia, they have exacted their mission. Recently, a splinter group of the Eternals has left their society to repent after learning that the price of their immortality comes from sacrificing human lives. Druig, who now sits as Prime Eternal after defeating Thanos, sees mutants as an excess deviation and is hellbent on taking steps to eliminate them. Written by Kieron Gillen with artwork from Pasqual Ferry and Dean White and lettering by VC's Clayton Cowles, A.X.E.: Eve of Judgment #1 is the beginning of an epic war.
A.X.E.: Eve of Judgment #1 starts on a calm day. The Avengers are having breakfast together, and the X-Men are merrily carousing away. But Prime Eternal Druig has nefarious plans in store for the heroes. He wants to destroy the X-Men, and his science chief Domo has an effective solution: an anti-matter bomb. Meanwhile, in Lemuria, Ikaris, Sersi, and Thena help Kro and his people rebuild even as Deviants see them as nothing more than threats. In Celestia, Ajak and Makkari plan to make a new Celestial, but they need Phastos to build the design.
A.X.E.: Eve of Judgment #1 opens with tranquil scenes, but it soon becomes clear that peace was never an option. The story focuses primarily on the diverse cast of Eternals who adapt to the new developments in their own ways. Druig knows he is the last person anyone would want to be Prime Eternal and, in his desperation, he makes a power move that will allow him to rule with an iron fist. Devout priests like Ajak need a God to worship, so they take matters into their own hands. Their recklessness is evident, which makes Druig look like the lesser of two evils. Gillen underplays this massively, possibly to use that later on, while for now, engrossing the readers in a tense narrative. He lets the expatriate Eternals take the moral high ground, but in their tunnel vision, they miss out on all these power plays. Dialogues form the basis of storytelling. There isn't a lot of action in this issue, but multiple narratives work together to create an engaging tale.
Artist Pasquel Ferry and colorist Dean White fill the book with a plethora of visual information to help readers understand the delicate balance on which things stand. The juxtaposition of the united heroes and the scattered Eternals stands out in their artwork. The madness in Druig's eyes as he looks upon the mutants with disgust captures the book's theme perfectly. Ferry makes a particular point to frame the expressive faces, although they don't always look so graceful up close. White uses a soft glow as lighting against muted backgrounds. There is a grainy, pastel-like aesthetic to the colors bringing depth and vibrance to the panels.
A.X.E.: Eve of Judgment #1 moves steadily along, mapping out the allegiances of all involved and giving a glimpse into the plot devices that will surely come into play during the main event. With no significant plot progression, the issue feels stagnant at times. But it does reveal a secret link between The Machine and Krakoa which becomes an intriguing development. A.X.E.: Eve of Judgment #1 ends with Druig seeking help from a real villain, heralding a dark beginning for the AXE: Judgment Day event.