"WE'RE NOT LOSING AN X-MAN... WE'RE GAINING AN AVENGER!" The moment we swore would never happen-heck, the moment EMMA FROST swore would never happen-is here at last! As the Frost/Stark knot is tied in INVINCIBLE IRON MAN #10, Emma's mutant family reacts to this surprise news!
Rated T+
After coming off of that high last issue, Duggan stubs his toe this issue, and it was pretty noticeable. The story tried to do too much in too small of a space, and left me wanting just a tad bit more. Read Full Review
Nevertheless, the saving grace of the issue was undoubtedly the Emma Frost angle along with Tony Stark and the Kingpin's development in this revenge plan. Thats where the truly fascinating story beats apply. Overall, X-Men #26 will most certainly keep your attention enough this month to entice fans to continue. However, readers get tons of setup and very little action. Hopefully, Duggan can find a way to even that aspect of the story out a bit more as this Fall of X continues to unfold. Let me know what you think, have a great week, and God Bless! Read Full Review
X-Men #26 explores complicated themes of trauma, revenge, and guilt but is surprisingly silent about the rest of the X-Men team. Read Full Review
Towe and Pina deliver exciting art throughout the issue. The Kitty Pryde sequence is particularly memorable for its viciousness. Read Full Review
Kate Pryde steals the show in X-Men #26 as she continues to show she's the most dangerous mutant alive. With nothing that can stop her and Firestar in her sights, it's going to be exciting to see who her next target is going forward. Read Full Review
For an issue that was frankly a mixed bag in quality, I still really enjoyed it. It points to a very fun future for the X-Men. Read Full Review
The engagement of Emma Frost and Tony Stark was as messy as one would expect as to how it would happen. The development does work into the sense of desperation seen throughout the Fall Of X direction. Though that does not mean Gerry Duggan and company don't have a lot of work ahead of them to sell this Emma and Tony relationship. Luckily X-Men #26 has the incredible scenes involving Shadowcat that lifts up the quality of this story. Shadowcat's scenes alone make X-Men #26 worth checking out. Read Full Review
With its slow pace, X-Men makes Fall of X feel less like it has anything to say and more like another awkward holding pattern for Marvel's mutants. Read Full Review
This issue is wildly uneven, dubiously paced, and I'm deeply uninterested in the "Shadowkat" (as far as codenames go, right up there with Tim Drake being "Drake") plot. But honestly, whereas Fall of X has been a drag on the more reliable titles, it's brought welcome focus to this hit-and-miss book, and Towe delivers some wonderful work on the art. I assume there must have been some last-minute reshuffling because the cover and solicit bear little resemblance to the interiors, but I prefer what the comic is to what was promised anyway
I felt as though there was a lot packed into this issue, similar to the previous issue. However, I think it worked significantly better in Issue 25 than it does here. Don't get me wrong, this isn't bad. However, it felt a little all over the place at times and there isn't a lot that I'm interested by. I really wish this title had more Shadowkat. She was the highlight of the last issue and I feel the same way here. I do have hope for this series, however, as the next issue not only has the return of Cyclops, but it's also supposed to have the awesome Phil Noto on the art duties.
OUCH, this issue's greatest strength is it's greatest weakness.
It is touching on storylines that are occurring in tandem across a variety of books, so if you're following those books, a lot of this feels very familiar and if you're NOT following those books, this is going to feel INCOMPLETE.
But setting that ASIDE, there's still some problems, for example Shadowkat and Firestar. That plot line had so much potential and drama that the way its handled here feels like an afterthought.
Also an afterthought... the cover of this issue and the stunt behind one of Fall of X's biggest plot threads... this was not a satisfying way to get to a wedding...
I love a lot of what's happening with FALL OF X, but X-MEN 26 as more
Fall of X continues in the wrong direction. Duggan was doing so well but it's just falling apart narrative wise from ShadowKat to Firestar to the dumb Tony/Emma setup. Maybe I'll change my mind if I was reading Iron-Man but that's the problem with these things. I don't need to read it all and I refuse to and this book is on thin ice. I'm not a fan of Towe's art and his faces just turn me off but others enjoy it so you know tastes and all. I wish Cassara or Caselli were tag-teaming then at least I get to look at a pretty mess.
Oh no, Mister Roper's gonna evict Tony if he finds out he "proposed" to Emma and really isn't gay! Now Tony's gonna have to set up a fake date with Northstar but it's at the same time as a date with Emma and he's gonna have to go back and forth between the two dates! Womp womp.
A definite step backwards in momentum; this felt like filler.
Low points:
- The jig is ALREADY up with Firestar? Wha???
- The continued idiotic spelling of Shadowkat. Maybe she can have an intervention by Cyklops and Nightkrawler.
- Continue retconning of Emma's deeds as a former villain. Even Butter Rum now?
I've generally liked the Duggan run but focus on the obvious pet characters is wearing thin; ready for a change.
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