X-Men Forever has been in the unfortunate spot of being where the scenes that could make the page count in Rise of the Powers of X end up. That is at least how the first two issues of this series have felt. Now with X-Men Forever #3 it is the first issue that isn’t releasing in conjunction with Rise of the Powers of X. That provides the potential for Kieron Gillen to provide fresh content in X-Men Forever #3 that doesn’t feel like it was cut from another comic book. Will we get that? Find out with our review of X-Men Forever #3.
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Kieron Gillen
Artist: Luca Maresca
Colorist: Federico Blee
Letterer: Clayton Cowles
X-MEN FOREVER #3 SOLICITATIONS
“NOW… War in Krakoa! A hunt in the White Hot Room! And a heartwarming family reunion (by which we mean “possibly involving setting fire to someone’s heart with a flamethrower”). Spinning out from RISE OF THE POWERS OF X and IMMORTAL X-MEN comes a must-read for the conclusion of the Krakoan Age!” – Marvel Comics
REVIEW
Given the benchmark set by the first two issues it is not surprising that X-Men Forever #3 is by far the best issue of this mini-series. There is a sense of freedom with how Kieron Gillen supports the story unfolding in Fall of the House of X and Rise of the Powers of X. Coming out on its own rather than simultaneously with its parent title was clearly what this needed. While we don’t see much progression to the main plot the character moments hit so much better in X-Men Forever #3.
X-Men: Forever #3 feeling bigger is thanks to the focus characters for this issue. These characters were Hope Summers, Destiny, Mystique, and Nightcrawler, along with other supporting characters. While a large cast for one issue Gillen and Luca Maresca showed their talents to juggle a large cast. Each focus characters individual story and their impact on the latest X-Men crossover is balanced well.
The best balance is Hope Summers. Anytime Hope is on screen what she is doing feels important to the overall plot. That is thanks to her ties with what is going on with Jean Grey and the Phoenix. Gillen utilizes what we saw with the developments around Phoenix in Rise of the Powers of X #4 to give Hope’s journey a race against time feeling. This was a missing element from what we saw going on in the previous two issues we spent in the White Hot Room.
Adding that urgency elevated how important everything Hope was doing is to the overall plot. She needs to accomplish her mission to make sure Jean Grey can become the Phoenix again and save the day. This in turn highlights how this journey to save Jean and the Phoenix is what Hope’s character arc has been building towards. That is driven home with her goodbye to her father, Cable, before she goes off on the mission alone.
With Hope’s journey we get the biggest, unexpected development to end X-Men: Forever #3. That ending is the teaser that Hope Summers father is Mister Sinester, or at least one of his clones. Given where we are right now, this revelation felt sudden. With how Mister Sinister has played a key role in everything that led to and during the Fall of the House of X and Rise of the Powers of X this needs to be treated with that much importance. At the same time, having this revelation so close to the end could completely backfire as it can be completely rushed. That would lead to this development being forced and unnecessary depending on how Gillen executes why it is a revelation that happens now of all times.
In addition to Hope Summers plot, Destiny, Mystique, and Nightcrawler are the other major drivers of this story. This was a long time coming and has been honestly the biggest omission from the Fall of the House of X and Rise of the Powers of X crossover. Especially when it comes to Destiny and Mystique, the lack of payoff for their character arcs after being so important to the second half of the Krakoa Era has been disappointing.
Gillen addressing this by paying off on the drama around Nightcrawler being confirmed to be the son of both Destiny and Mystique was a natural way to reintegrate them into the story. This was the trigger to dig in further into how far Destiny went to protect both Mystique and Nightcrawler. Her love making it so she locked away her love for Nightcrawler and would not share her visions of Charles Xavier plan with Mystique was appropriately heartbreaking.
Maresca did a good job at making Destiny appear as stoic as possible with this revelation. Destiny’s dialogue and way she stood made Mystique and Nightcrawlers reaction hit harder. It leaves us on a note where we are left wondering what key role Mystique and Destiny, deserve, to play with how this event ends.
For as good as these two key coinciding stories were the rest of the cast in X-Men Forever #3 have rushed moments. Sebastian Shaw’s battle in particular comes across as unnecessary. Sebastian’s role is one of those sub-plots that does feel like leftover scenes that Gillen was forced to cut out of Rise of the Powers of X. He is just not needed in this story with everything else going on.
The other characters like Rachel Grey and Manifold also unfortunately don’t feel like they are doing much other than filling the page count. It is too bad because there are so many key players to the Krakoa Era in X-Men Forever #3. There just isn’t enough time for them to get the payoff for their individual arcs during this period of the X-Men.
FINAL THOUGHTS
X-Men Forever #3 is easily the best issue of this mini-series by far. That is thanks to the way the direction Hope Summers, Destiny, Mystique, and Nightcrawler arcs are developed. These four characters carry the story in this issue to feel important to what is going on in the Fall of the House of X and Rise of the Powers of X titles.
Story Rating: 7 Night Girls out of 10
Art Rating: 7 Night Girls out of 10
Overall Rating: 7 Night Girls out of 10
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