Mahmud Asrar and Leinil Francis Yu bring beautiful backgrounds and dazzling details to the pages of this issue. There is a beautiful brutality to the battles and the contrast between those moments and the pre-war peace of Otherworld was brilliant. Read Full Review

This is certainly an issue that can't be missed if only for its clarifying purposes and historical significance to the overall story. Read Full Review

This is a flat, nearly static story, which is elevated by some truly first-rate art. Read Full Review

This is a great issue. The art is well drawn and coloring is vivid. But I have to applaud the writing here. They made a character that isn't really lovable a great protagonist to this event. A person who can shoulder the emotional weight of the mutant nation and balance that against his apparent love for his family. There is also the subtle hint of isolation and the negative effect it can have on the psyche; something that is prevalent within the current pandemic. Read Full Review

For an installment dedicated almost entirely to the backstory, X-Men #14 does a stellar and subtle job of pushing "X of Swords" forward. Read Full Review

Overall this is not an explosive chapter, but one that packs in a ton of exposition. This is the main history lesson of Arakko. A good read, but also a little dry in places. Read Full Review

X-Men #14 is a well done comic, but one's enjoyment of it entirely hinges on whether X Of Swords is working for them. It's all very predictable, but it does do an excellent job of getting across the kind of person Genesis is- she may actually be more hardcore than Apocalypse. The art is great if a little static. However, it's just more set-up for a crossover that already feels like it's gone on too long. Read Full Review

Yet another issue focused entirely on filling out the " in my opinion " meaningless back story ahead of this swordfight. Read Full Review

a little slow but the story doesn't stagnate, the art is really good

Another issue for this series with a lot of focus on Apocalypse and I enjoyed it. Yes, a bit of it is a re-telling of story we've already read, even with some recycled art from Asrar, but it's good content nonetheless. I think having Genesis's perspective added a new emotional layer to X of Swords that wasn't present before and I'm glad Hickman decided to go in this direction. Also, I just wanted to point out that the way Yu draws Apocalypse is absolutely fantastic.

This issue continues a trope in Hickman's writing that seems pretty divisive. I like it though. I like the idea of putting the same events in different lights and seeing how they morph. In this case, Hickman took a rather clinical history lesson and turned it into a character-driven emotional backstory. I don't find this issue lazy. I think people should try to appreciate the artform on display here.

Great character piece and art. This is a lot of retreading old ground and giving us great characterization for Apocalypse and Genesis. You can feel the weight of the emotional impact this will have on Apocalypse as he becomes a much more compelling character. The cautionary tale of Arrako added a nice learning from history dynamic that added a lot to the possible future of Krakoa. I'm excited for the fight and also concerned for what might happen to these characters. The art was spectacular as well with such beautiful colors that emoted such beauty and tragedy. Recommend it.

I think this is pretty cool still.

It's not bad but we've heard and seen almost all of this. The few pages with any new material are not worth the price of admission. It's a great story but stretching like this to build suspense and intrigue just kills any momentum or interest I had. I was all in then we slowed it down then was back in and now I'm just meh and waiting for it to be over already. The art from Asrar and recycled Yu stuff is elevating this story but that's it. Disappointing!

I know Hickman tried to tell the different versions of one story, and it woks in the last 2 issues. But, however, this time they sound like the same version.

This issue was a skimmer...

Art 4/5
Story 2.5/5

Hickman just keeps retelling this story. At least that's over now. This crossover really needs to start moving along.

The art so nice they used it twice! Is it clever? Is it cheap? Both, but I think more of the latter. It's clear that Jonathan Hickman loooves to build up his stories incrementally and repetitively. This issue, although it does deliver some new things, is tiresome enough to suggest that the author needs to be on a tighter editorial leash.

The REALLY important question: Do you think Leinil Francis Yu managed to get paid twice?

This looks like a dead-end. Nothing is happening. Hickman has been telling the same things for months. There is no action and the narrative sections are so convoluted and specific they just feel boring.

Not good. I've liked X of Swords more than most thus far and even thought the last issue was fantastic, but this is just rough. We've already heard this story. I expect better from Hickman, and I expect no recycled art.

Pretty boring. I kept zoning out reading this one.

Ehhhhhhhhhh?

Won't waste my time Hickman.

I was patient with this re-re-retelling of the same story with a few new details back when Hickman was doing it in his Avengers run. I have no patience left for it now, especially when the story is a lot of generic fantasy tropes that are impossible to get invested in.

XOS Ch. 12: Wow! This is a really lazy comic. X-Men #12-14 tell basically the same story from 3 different viewpoints. I like Hickman usually, and gave him the benefit of the doubt with issue #13, but this is just embarrassing. Recycling art too?! What a shame. This issue screams filler and this is coming from a reader who has been enjoying Apocalypse's character development.

I am really getting fed up with this. I usually love Hickman and secret wars was probably my favorite event, but at this point I dont think he hasn’t anything woth to tell here and just came back for the juicy paycheck.

Go away Hickman

Pretty disappointig. This event is costing lots of money but I don't think it is worthy it. This issue just feel like a filler and they even recycle the art from a past Lenil Yu issue.

Recap + filler.

A repeated book is not worth any rating at all.

Recycle art, recycle 80% of the story. I don't even care about Arakko and Krakoa story anymore