Several really fun and well-developed character moments make this a standout issue. The sci-fi and superhero stuff is already off the chain, and then Duggan finds the heart over and over again. Read Full Review

Cassara delivers some beautifully detailed imagery throughout the issue. The visuals are thrilling and engaging. Read Full Review

X-Men #17 is a solid character study of Forge's shifting priorities and allegiances, with a fascinating glimpse into the wonders of the Vault, a beautiful reunion for a tragic romance, and a setting that lets Cassara flex his impressive illustration skills. Read Full Review

The team wraps up some loose ends in a great way. It points towards some exciting stories to come, and the art team illustrates the hell out of it. Read Full Review

Its the first full mission for the newly elected team, and first up was to save Darwin from the Vault, but what we ended up with was something completely different. The story didnt hit quite how I expected it too, but there were moments that I needed from the characters here. Read Full Review

X-Men's return to the vault takes some twists and turns, with Gerry Duggan furthering and resolving certain plot threads left dangling by Jonathan Hickman's exit from the X-Office. Read Full Review

X-Men #17 is like digging through sewage to get a lunch box. Theres lunch, but everything stinks. Duggan is his usual terrible throughout the issue. Cassara and GURU-eFX arent up to their usual stellar, which is just plain weird. This book continues to be abysmal, but thats not even surprising anymore. Read Full Review

Holy Mutant Resurrection! That was effing brilliant! Seriously, where was this writing in the first 16 issues (well, maybe 15, as 16 was pretty good, too)?! I am of the opinion that Gerry Duggan has been trolling us, having us for a lengthy spell, a spell which ended with this lovely confection!

From finishing out his very Forge-centric story arc inside the Vault to dealing with "Alpha Wolverine" Laura Kinney dealing with her first steps outside the Vault to a fine wrap-up of Forge working with Caliban, everything about this issue was a solid homerun! I hope going forward this is what we can expect from the writing/stories in the book! Sooooo good!

And bonus points to Duggan for bringing "Vault" Laura back to the game! Laura is my favorite mutant, so I may have to buy him a drink if I ever have the opportunity to meet him at a convention!

#eXtremeSatisfied! more

This was phenomenal! I have absolutely loved every minute of this arc. I couldn't be more intrigued by what they are going to do with one of my favorite characters Laura kinney after this. I found forge's decision to be very heartwarming and beautiful but it does create quite an interesting issue. I can't wait for the next chapter

You know, between my mixed-to-negative feelings about Duggan's run in general and this X-Force-y arc in general I almost skipped this issue, but I'm glad I didn't. A fine coda to the Vault story, an excellent redemption arc for Forge to lead him out of the dark-and-edginess, I'm into where they left Darwin's plot and I loved the reunion towards the end. I'm always thinking of dropping this book, but it keeps pleasantly surprising me like this just often enough to keep me reading

Another strong issue for this run. Cassara continues to kill it on the art duties, and Duggan writes a compelling story with Forge inside the Vault. Darwin's cameo was nice, but I also really enjoyed the reunion of Synch and Laura after their time in the Vault together. That scene is absolutely nailed here, which is what solidifies this as a 9.0 for me.

I think the Vault storyline has been so intriguing.

Seems like this had a fake ending. I'm intrigued.

Just read this & liked it more than the last 2 issues. I'm really into Forge's vision of Krakoa's future, re. his "real estate" development plans. I just hope it's not already too late, to see it come to fruitition, is all.

Also found it *very interesting*... that during the *eXchange* w/Darwin while in his own mind, he donned the suit for... Captain Krakoa!!

And I 💚 seein' Forearm behind the bar @theGL, miXing drinks. Not sure if that's new, but it's the 1st time I noticed it, and think it's a positively brilliant, li'l detail to add.

Another nice touch was everything... Caliban! After this arc, his characterization's a keeper, AFAIC. This modern, mutant age needs more of his kind around.

And Cassara's Krakoa sitting in giant, meditative humanoid form, was the most memorable image for me. Just so well done, and I really liked it.

Adding that Serafina in particular, has the potential to become a... successful, major mod antagonist for mutants, IMO. This was the most intriguing I've found her since Hickman's X-Men 2019 #1 kicked things off, post HoX. Which is where & when I found her more visually striking, also, with that unique, reverse negative look. Prior to, I guess ya could say I found her to be sorta... your basic moustache-twirler, with the rest of the CotV just being her henchmen, pretty much. more

It's a solid capstone for the arc. The art isn't quite as spectacular as previous issues, but it's still excellent.

I feel like the script is caught in a Catch-22 trap. It sticks mainly to tying up the existing plot threads, but it does so in a pretty safe way--that leaves the arc as a whole feeling slightly decompressed. It doesn't help that the prose is pretty pedestrian and there's little real action.

I do like the "Forge's heart grew 3 sizes that day" character work, though.

It was a good ending to the arc, even if some parts felt easy. I liked it enough to keep this series around a little longer.

I want to catch up on Dr Stasis… can anybody recommend which issues of this series to collect just for that goal?

Thanks!