S.W.O.R.D. reigns supreme. Read Full Review

If Ewings Immortal Hulk is about the end of the world and the decline of civilization and empire, this is the opposite of that. Al Ewing and Valerio Schitis S.W.O.R.D. isnt just about one agency, or one nation: its a book about renewal, where dreams can be achieved and creation can be touched. This first issue was nothing short of a masterpiece and Im looking forward to the next issue by the entire team. Read Full Review

Overall ‘S.W.O.R.D.’ goes where no mutant has gone before, and I am so excited we get to be a part of the ride. This book is wonderfully crafted with its sophistication and design. This has the potential to be one of the best series in the ‘Reign of X’ line-up. Read Full Review

Marvel's star-bound debut might be the best issue they've put out all year. Read Full Review

Bottom Line: S.W.O.R.D. opened up strong this time around with a large, interesting cast, gorgeous art, a premise that brings fresh blood to an already dynamic relaunch of Marvel's Mutants. Definitely worth the coin. Read Full Review

All in all, I would call S.W.O.R.D. #1 a winner in my book. Right now I would call this the strongest debut for these X-Books so far, because this is in fact what comes next. This is the kind of bold storytelling I expected from this new line of X-Men stories since this all started. If a book like Marauders took us out to sea, why not S.W.O.R.D. take us further out into space too? Read Full Review

With all that said, I must praise Ewing for the genuinely funny moments that are consistent in S.W.O.R.D. issue #1. Not only does he keep the comedy at an enjoyable level, but he understand these characters. This is most evident when Magneto explains his reason for not allowing a teleporter to beam him up the the Peak. Magneto states, “Its good to travel the harder road sometimes, Abigail. After all, if we never tested our limits…we might assume we had some.” And that's about as perfect as is gets to summing up what this issue is all about. Read Full Review

S.W.O.R.D. #1 accomplishes everything you can hope for from a first issue of a new comic book series. Al Ewing establishes the new mission statement for this version of S.W.O.R.D. and how it ties into what is going on with the X-Men franchise post-X Of Swords. In the process we get a firm understanding of who each member of the cast is and what their roles will be moving forward. Valerio Schiti further elevates all of this with how he gives S.W.O.R.D a vibe that just makes this series feel cool from character design to the setting of the Peak space station. Read Full Review

S.W.O.R.D. #1 positions itself to be a thought-provoking comic that honors and expands on character history while boasting beautiful visuals. Read Full Review

SWORD #1 is an interesting addition to the X-line of the books with its “spacer” (As Abigail Brand calls herself in contrast with “earthers” like Magneto.) perspective on both Krakoa and the Marvel Universe. Al Ewing and Valerio Schiti are in full spinoff pilot episode with Magneto playing the role of familiar character from the previous show giving readers insights into the cast of the book as well as the mysteries and conflicts they face. There are a few pitfalls on the visual side and more questions than answers (This isn't bad at all), but it's nice to have an outsider/literal big picture perspective on the world of Krakoa from Abigail Brand and her team in SWORD. Read Full Review

With Schti and Gracia providing stunning artwork and Ewing plotting the course, S.W.O.R.D. promises to be a cosmic victory for Marvel's X-Men line. Read Full Review

S.W.O.R.D. #1 launches a bold new frontier for the X-Men, promising to bring sci-fi adventures to mutantkind's doorstep. Even though the issue is largely setup, the creative team still manages to hook the audience with its concept and cast, and the ending promises further adventures on the horizon. Read Full Review

While the book is predominately based on the station, the glimpses of what lies beyond are even more visually ravishing. The art team is already proving to be a strong match for the series' thematic concerns. Read Full Review

Ewing's Empyre collaborator Valerio Schiti re-teams with him to draw S.W.O.R.D., and it looks as great as you'd expect from him. Schiti is among the current class of newer Marvel talent whose work you see with increasing frequency and prominence, and there's lots in this issue to prove his clout. Read Full Review

Look ... up in the sky! The mutant space program has taken its place in the stars, and they've come to level up the whole solar system.  Read Full Review

Ultimately, the plot was unsubstantial and lacked strength. Read Full Review

While I was not the biggest fan of the overall product that was this book, I am left hopeful in the direction of the story. The marriage of mutant abilities to technological advances certainly intrigued me and bought a second issue out of my curiosity. I am a fan of Al Ewing as a writer (owning signed copies of some Immortal Hulk books) and Valerio Schiti is known for some amazing work! My hope is that the story projects through the subsequent books. I'm willing to give it another "Krak"! Read Full Review

SWORD #1 is alright. There are some very cool moments in the book, but Ewing doesn't really make an argument for why this book exists. For example, why is this even a mutant book at all? A SWORD book isn't a bad idea, but it feels like the only reason this is a mutant book is that those are what's selling right now. That said, Abigail Brand is a very cool character, and there are some obscure mutants in this book that some fans love, and that's reason enough to come back. Ewing has proven just how good he can be in other books, and this book does have some potential. Valerio Schiti's art is pretty great throughout, and he and Gracia work well together. This isn't a great start, but this book does have potential. Read Full Review

The first issue of the series is mainly to introduce the various characters, through the eyes of Magneto who shows up for an inspection and to tease the potential dangers of the facility's secret mission. As a fan of Magneto, the issue held some interest for me, but also has references to all kinds of larger Marvel plotlines (snake invasion?) I didn't follow. I also had trouble buying the “science” of the issue which S.W.O.R.D. #1 which is more hinted at than explained. Read Full Review

I appreciate writers who want to take the time and explain why their science/magic thing works. It just shouldn't have been done all in one issue. Read Full Review

Ewing’s ability to write any B- and C-List character greatly is insane, such an awesome cast. Happy to see Blink and seeing Peeper was amazing lol

Marte Garcia is making me really appreciate colors and I hope colorist start to get more shine. Good setup and nice intro to this series, but the art and colors put this about average. This is also a book that I wanted to experience in both digital guided view and with a physical copy, those full page spreads when the 6 began their thing provide a different experience on both formats that is great

Big ideas and great art! couldn't expect more of this creative team!

This was great. It was a lot to take in, but it was great.

I was on the fence about picking this up but had heard some really Interesting things so I grabbed a copy. I am definitely on board now!

This is basically Ultimates: Mutant Edition, and I'm completely on board for that. Maybe this time it won't be unjustly cancelled. It's an X-Book after all, and those sell now. That final page quote from Dr. Doom was ominous to say the least. Can't wait to see what they just snatched out of the ether.

This is basically like Star Trek, but with X-Men.

As someone who isn't familiar with at least half of these characters, it introduces and sets them up quite nicely. Nice to see Manifold getting more leave since Wakanda. Lots of interesting faces to see here, can't was sit to get to know them.

For our first mission we quite literally have a journey into mystery, like I said, very final frontier, good science fiction stuff. The art is great, and the characters are all written well. Mags seems a bit cheerful, but who wouldn't be with such promise.

Theres a lot of X books now, and at this point each one needs to justify its existence. This is a great example of how to still feel fresh and interesting snd make use of the large cast of mutants available to choose from. Down for more. more

Oh this has some potential.

What are they up to? No good I guess but that's where the fun is. I'm on board with Ewing's crazy ideas. Schiti is great as usual but what's with Gracia's giving everyone red bottom eye lids as if they're all infected ?? Weird look but the rest is greatly done.

Nice opening!

Feels like Al Ewing's mutant follow up to his Ultimates run.

The visuals of this comic is so amazing. Everything from the character designs to page layouts to the art itself to the colors.

Brand gives Magneto the nickel tour of the new, mutant SWORD and shows off the party trick of her new "circuit," the Six: They can teleport to an incredibly ineffable super-reality and make stuff (also ineffable) there and bring it back. It took me two reads to dig it, but now I REALLY dig it.

Enough sci-fi-minded writers have gotten entranced with doing this woo-woo "end of 2001" stuff that editors should really have a toolkit for snapping them out of it when it turns sour. (Not saying this comic is anywhere close to there yet … but it's a risk.)

S.W.O.R.D.
Vol. 2, Issue: 1
“Mysterium”

Publisher: Marvel @marvel
Writer: Al Ewing @al_ewing
Artist: Valerio Schiti @valerio_schiti
Colors: Marte Gracia @martegraciacolor
Letters Ariana Maher
Cover: Valerio Schiti & Marte Gracia

S.W.O.R.D. has officially been reinstated with the Peak space station being outfitted with Krakoan technologies, officially signaling the first mutant space program. While inspecting Commander Brand’s progress, Magneto bares witness to their marvelous first mission. Utilizing Krakoan Gateway technologies and a team of teleporters, a specific grouping of mutants known as the Six unite their abilities to breach into the unknown, and seemingly appear in the White Hot Room of the Phoenix and retrieve a strange stone. S.W.O.R.D. aims to pave the way for mutant-kinds place in the universe.

This first issue of S.W.O.R.D takes its time setting the stage and introduces an epic roster of B-list characters which I am beyond excited to see taking the spotlight. Did I misinterpret this or did they really just rob the Phoenix? I feel like this book is going to be a lot of fun. Add that to the fact that Valerio Schiti & Marte Gracia’s artwork throughout is amazing. A lot of potential with this title and I’m excited to see how it all goes.

Rating: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️ (4/5)
Reviewed by: @meanadam of The Comic Book Club of Instagram
Note: Follow @the_comic_book_club on Instagram for more reviews! more

I had a little trouble with the pacing and stuff but there were things to like here.

I'm not 100% sold on this yet. It's a cast of characters I've had to google, a lot of [REDACTED] and mystery space pyramids which, sure, are setting up later reveals, but were enough to annoy me, and... what was up with Magneto's face? I can't put my finger on it.

But, maybe it just didn't click with me when it should have. I want to give it at least a couple more issues to see if I like it... but it's jumping straight into a King in Black tie-in, which I haven't taken an interest in yet.