The first crossover event in the X-Men: From The Ashes direction is here. “Raid On Graymalkin” brings together Jed MacKay’s X-Men and Gail Simone’s Uncanny X-Men. With the two teams doing their own thing since the fall of Krakoa we don’t know what their dynamic will be. We’ve seen that both teams operate very differently even if they fall under superhero formula. The differences between the two as they now deal with Charles Xavier’s legacy in this story will be very interesting to see play out. Let’s see how the crossover begins in X-Men #8.
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Jed MacKay
Artist: Ryan Stegman
Inkers: JP Mayer, Livesay, and Ryan Stegman
Colorist: Marte Gracia
Letterer: Clayton Cowles
X-MEN #8 SOLICITATION
“RAID ON GRAYMALKIN” PART ONE! With one of their own incarcerated, the X-Men move on Graymalkin Prison in order to free their teammate. But it’s not just one team – in Alaska, Cyclops’ X-Men scramble a rescue mission, while in Louisiana, Rogue’s X-Men move to strike out on their own sortie. Doctrinal rivals each with their own objective, will these two fractious teams find themselves at cross-purposes? After all…an “X” is made by two lines crossing.” – Marvel Comics
REVIEW
Now this is how to kick of a major X-Men crossover! With “Raid On Graymalkin” being the first post-Krakoa event there was a lot for this to live up to do. Jed MacKay and Ryan Stegman understood a tone needed to be set that this is a crossover that both builds off the start of the From The Ashes direction while being for all X-Men fans who hear this is a crossover event. Hitting that is not easy and makes this opening chapter that much more impressive.
Right away opening with Cyclops assembling the team and how Beast’s capture by Doctor Corina Ellis forces set the tone that no time is to be wasted. Psylocke calling Cyclops out for initiating the Hellions Protocol so quickly naturally works in how she is the second-in-command on this X-Men team. Even though Cyclops pushes forward with the plan having Psylocke there to slow things down was needed.
This also establishes how Cyclops has his own internal turmoil of seeing the X-Men as a family and superhero team. Beast being capture made this personal to him because of everything that happened with Hank during the Krakoa era. We see the weight of Beast’s reboot in all his scenes as this version doesn’t carry the history of knowing all the X-Men, like Jubilee. At the same time, Cyclops and the team needed to be on the same page to be able to take down the Graymalkin Prison while saving their teammate.
The raid on the Graymalkin Prison worked as a payoff to show how much chemistry has been built by this X-Men team. There was an efficiency in how they executed the Hellions Protocol. Every member had a role to play with their unique powers having a chance to be showcased.
The X-Men’s efficiency worked into how dark of a threat Doctor Ellis has become as the Warden of Graymalkin Prison. Seeing how she shows zero remorse for having her people brutalize Beast whenever they have the chance creates a great sense of danger. You feel even greater concern for all the mutants she has captured. It makes mutants like Blob falling in line understandable in its own way as they have no other way.
Doctor Ellis being established as such a big threat is how she tries to force Calico to sign a document that she denounces being a mutant. This was a great way to integrate the Uncanny X-Men characters to quickly learn about Calico within the context of the story. Calico standing by being a mutant while sitting next to Jubilee shows she is a character to be interested in.
The ending of X-Men #8 provides a good transition point for the next issue of Uncanny X-Men to show what Rogue’s team was doing at the same time. Give Rogue’s tone with Cyclops it does not look like they are on the best terms. How the chemistry of both X-Men team turns out to be will say a lot about the current state of the franchise.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Jed MacKay and Ryan Stegman knocked it out of the park with how they kicked off the “Raid On Graymalkin” crossover event. The layers to this story created a compelling narrative around where the X-Men are right now and how Doctor Corina Ellis has become a major threat to the mutants. By the end of this first chapter your left wanting to find out what will happen next.
Story Rating: 9 Night Girls out of 10
Art Rating: 8 Night Girls out of 10
Overall Rating: 8.5 Night Girls out of 10
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