• X-Men Red #7
    X-Men: Red #7
    Writer:
    Al Ewing
    Artist:
    Madibek Musabekov
    Letterer:
    VC's Ariana Maher
    Cover Artist:
    Russell Dauterman, Matthew Wilson
    Publisher:
    Marvel
    Price:
    $3.99
    Release Date:
    2022-10-05
    Colorist:
    Federico Blee, Protobunker's Fer Sifuentes-Sujo

Marvel's X-Men Red follows the inhabitants of the mutant planet of Arakko, formerly Mars, as they build a mutant society on a planetary scale. The ongoing event Judgment Day has extracted a heavy toll on the red planet, with Uranos delivering destruction on a mass scale. Storm and Magneto have reminded the world that they are Omega-level mutants, defeating Uranos, but much of the planet still lies in ruin. Written by Al Ewing with art by Madibek Musabekov, colors by Federico Blee and Fer Sifuentes-Sujo, letters and production by Ariana Maher, and design by Tom Muller, X-Men Red #7 is a heart-wrenching entry in this standout series.

While Storm and Magneto have managed to defeat the immediate threat of Uranos, the Eternal brought tremendous loss to the planet and its ruling council, the Great Ring. The ramifications of this issue will be felt not only in the pages of X-Men Red but across the entire X-line and the Marvel Universe as a whole. Arakko is a new planet still trying to establish its footing as a society, and this issue continues to test it. The Great Ring is fractured, and the politicking and infighting that result is engaging and thought-provoking. There is no doubt that this is a time of war, and the governance of Arakko's decision is treated with the weight it deserves.

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X-Men Red #7 preview page 1

Ewing delivers a masterclass in storytelling with this book. The emotional impact of the opening pages alone is enough to make readers pause and take a breather, needing to regain composure before pressing on to finish reading. It is a powerful read in every sense of the word. Ewing manages to deliver heavy emotional beats on multiple occasions over the course of X-Men Red #7, with a particular highlight on Isca the Unbeaten. Isca's mutant power is that she cannot lose, and the conundrum this presents is explored in a fascinating way.

Musabekov's art matches Ewing's storytelling in brilliant fashion. The previously mentioned emotional moments land as strongly as they do, thanks to Musabekov's detailed and earnest character expressions. Close-ups and wide, pulled-back shots are utilized and rendered at the perfect moments. There is essentially no action in this issue, but Musabekov makes characters standing around talking feel dynamic. The art complements the narrative pacing excellently with great character reactions and poses to fit the dialogue as it unfolds.

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X-Men Red #7 preview page 2

Blee's colors make up the bulk of this issue, with Sifuentes-Sujo taking the reins for the final three pages. The overall color tone of the issue skews towards cooler shades, matching the somber tone. This overall vibe makes characters like Isca, who is red and yellow, pop more on the page. Maher's lettering is spot-on throughout, deftly presenting a large amount of dialogue in an easily digestible manner. Two data pages cover very different but equally powerful emotional beats and a lot of narrative information that Maher and Muller bring to life wonderfully.

This issue continues the trend of standout entries for X-Men Red. The culture of Arakko is again expanded in meaningful and thoughtful ways without losing sight of the emotional core of the book. Characters are consistently given a platform for growth in a compelling story. With X-Men Red #7, Ewing and the rest of the creative team craft one of the most pivotal issues in X-Men history.