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Storm #1
- Writer:
- Ann Nocenti
- Artist:
- Sid Kotian
- Letterer:
- VC's Ariana Maher
- Cover Artist:
- Alan Davis, Alejandro Sánchez
- Publisher:
- Marvel
- Price:
- $4.99
- Release Date:
- 2023-05-24
- Colorist:
- Andrew Dalhouse
The focal point of Marvel's X-Men: Red #11 (Ewing, Caselli, Camagni) and Immortal X-Men #11 (Gillen, Werneck) has been Storm's fractured relationship with the rest of the X-Men, with her time strained between Krakoa and Arakko, and her faith in Charles Xavier shattered. Storm #1 takes a different approach by diving into the past, weaving a new story in the Uncanny X-Men timeline, and exploring Storm's time as the undisputed leader of the X-Men. Storm #1 is written by Ann Nocenti, with art by Sid Kotian, colors by Andrew Dalhouse, and letters by VC's Ariana Maher.
Storm #1 opens in classic Silver Age X-Men territory, with an iconic line-up (Storm, Wolverine, Nightcrawler, Colossus, Rogue, and Shadowcat) locked into a brawl with the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants. The objective of the battle is oblique, but the fallout leads Storm to clash with several of her teammates. As the X-Men deal with interpersonal conflict, anti-mutant xenophobia, and teenage hijinks, Storm's doubt manifests in unusual ways, culminating in a confrontation with an all-new villain that will send her down a new and unforeseen path.
In an era of storylines that span the entire cosmos with dozens of interconnected teams, Storm #1 has a decidedly homelier feel in its writing. Nocenti's smaller scope is oddly refreshing, supplanting the current status quo of plot-propelled space opera with character-driven drama. That said, the success of the character exposition and execution is mixed. In some places, the team drama feels a little contrived, and the dialogue is uneven. The writing really shines when it comes to unpacking Storm as a character, with some really interesting and revealing moments that explore the intersections between her sense of self and her mutant powers. Nocenti excels at pulling at the existential threads of Storm's character. The conclusion of the comic sets the stage for a series that will continue to probe these themes and questions in greater depth.
Kotian's art for Storm #1 sticks very closely to the style of the Uncanny X-Men comics of the 1960s, with a distinctly retro feel. Working predominantly in bold lines, with smaller and more delicate work being saved for hatching and shading, Storm #1 channels the vintage X-Men style with rousing success, although it does little to abstract the elements of this design that have fallen out of fashion. Although the illustration allows for some wonderfully expressive character design at particular moments, the thread of inconsistency that runs through a lot of the anatomy ranges from being a touch distracting to downright uncanny at times and takes gravity away from important beats.
The colors of Storm #1 feel deliberately under-saturated to harken back to Uncanny X-Men, but Dalhouse skilfully retains a degree of vividness that allows for some really impactful and beautiful moments. Dalhouse's masterful use of light and shadow adds an extra dimension of richness and depth to panels and brings landscapes to life with impressive intensity. Maher's letters are serviceable throughout, as are her sound effects, doing their work with clarity but little in the way of inspiration. The stand-out of her work in Storm #1 is probably the alternative lettering and balloons used by the villain in the comic's conclusion, mottled and scratchy, adding to their mysterious and foreboding supernatural aura.
Overall, Storm #1 succeeds in taking the X-Men back to simpler times, stripping down the cast and world-building. This formulation will appeal to nostalgic fans, but its status as a prequel feels limiting. This first issue does good work establishing the parameters of the series and teasing a greater plot that has yet to be revealed. Nocenti and the rest of the creative team deliver a fun first issue that will be especially appealing to longtime fans.