This issue works equally well as a standalone Marauders story or as the lynchpin of a longer, more complex story. Beautiful art and brilliant character work combine to make a story that is more than worth the cover price. Read Full Review

Marauders #21 is everything you hoped it would be. Gerry Duggan kicks off the Hellfire Gala with a lot of questions and some great firepower. Where things go from here is anyone's guess. The pencils and colors work very well for the story being told. Marauders #21 is a must read issue that sets everything up for the gala. Read Full Review

The Hellfire Gala kicks off in style as Emma Frost welcomes the Avengers and more than a few villains to Krakoa. Read Full Review

Those last few pages top it all off with an amazing hook, and it all showcases why Marauders is the best X-Book around. Read Full Review

A solid opening to 'The Hellfire Gala' that feels like a fly on the wall at a fancy soiree. Read Full Review

Marauders #21 is the first chapter of a new kind of a crossover, and I, for one, welcome our fabulous mutant overlords and look forward to seeing how these powerful, flawed characters screwed it up in the upcoming issues of “Hellfire Gala”. Read Full Review

Something is missing in this issue. Something big happens, BUT what is it? What I am guessing, is that it will be revealed in one of the other Hellfire Gala Books. Marauders #21sets the stage for what is sure to be a new feather in X-History. Everything from the White Queen, the outfits, the hustle and bustle in the kitchen, etc., is perfect! Overall, I would recommend picking up this issue. Something big is going to take place in the Marvel Universe and it starts here! Read Full Review

The Hellfire Gala has begun and this issue does a lot of the work to get all the pieces into place for the next eleven issues and the event story as a whole. While there are a lot of plots and moments and feelings left somewhat dangling, there are also a lot of great character moments and the art team knocks it out of the park juggling such a huge undertaking/cast. Read Full Review

Overall the Hellfire Gala has a promising start. This night will definitely be one to remember. Relationships may bloom but others seem like they may not survive after. My interest is certainly peaked after reading this issue. Read Full Review

Really good, really solid kick-off to the Hellfire Gala. The fun character moments and vignettes really carry the issue. Read Full Review

Marauders #21 does a great job at the overall presentation of the Hellfire Gala. Gerry Duggan's writing of Emma Frost as the host of the event and other key character interactions keep you invested in what is going on. That is further elevated by Matteo Lolli artwork that sets a high bar for the look of the Hellfire Gala in every following chapter. The only thing that Marauders #21 misses on is how quickly it gets to the end of the Hellfire Gala by the conclusion of chapter 1. This leaves you as the reader feeling left out of what took place at the Hellfire Gala rather than looking forward to the next chapter in this crossover. Read Full Review

I am really looking forward to what will happen during this gala! I thought this book did a fantastic job of getting the ball rolling and has increased my anticipation

"Uh. Knock Knock. "
- CAPTAIN AMÉRICA

Really good first issue of the Hellfire Gala, if you like these characters. If you don't... well, you should probably go read DC.

Good start to event, but was expecting a bit more umph

I really hope this chapter is collected as its own story. Because this feels like a cheap way to make sure everybody buys the rest of the Hellfire Gala tie-ins. But at least the character interactions are fun to witness.

I feel like this would have been a great "free comic book day" prequel comic. That said, there was still some greatness in it. Emma was flawless and I loved the uneasiness of all the guests.

An even comic like this is something new and I'm excited to see where it goes from here.

Emma really does steal the show here. Duggan is so good at writing her. Some fun character moments aside (the Doom/Emma interaction is especially hilarious), this issue feels very meandering. There's an awkward cut to the end of the evening that, I assume, is meant to tease a reveal coming up in a future Gala chapter; probably in Planet-Size X-Men. This issue would've made a much bigger impact if they just showed us what everyone was shaken up about. Overall, not bad but definitely an underwhelming opening chapter to the Hellfire Gala event.

Pretty underwhelming for the big opening of a Summer event. A bif prologue that goes nowhere.

We get the opening pleasantries of the Hellfire Gala and the departure of the shocked guests at the end and NONE of the meat in between. Some decent (but thin-spread) character moments are the only real highlights.

I don't hold "continuity gags that go over my head" against a comic, but that's far from this issue's only offense. The couture element is an embarrassing failure; these are bad designs badly rendered. And cutting straight from intro to epilogue in a misguided attempt to build tension for subsequent issues is the kiss of death as far as I'm concerned. I agree this would make a nice free preview; pretending it's a complete comic by itself is just infuriating.

This deserves less just because of the insufferable Megan Rapinoe cameo but I'm feeling generous today.

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Lucas - Jun 2, 2021

What a pathetic criticism

Merlyn - Jun 2, 2021

It was bad all around, adding that annoyance of a person just didn't help.

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Worst event opener ever. So damn boring.

I’m not sure why I’m supposed to be interested in the gala and this issue didn’t help.