Men" #34 finds clever ways to navigate a few lingering plot threads for the ongoing series before the final curtain falls on Krakoa. Read Full Review

Moreover, X-Men #34 features several fan-favorite X-Men characters, including Kitty, Wolverine, and Synch that will elevate the fan's excitement through the story. Overall, X-Men #34 is a solid comic book that lays the groundwork for an exciting new chapter in the X-Men saga. With its captivating art and intriguing premise, this issue is sure to leave readers wanting more BUT with some underdeveloped characters and so much focus on the impending disaster, some aspects of the issue were a bit underwhelming and disappointing. Read Full Review

The art in X-Men #34 is as solid as it gets. Something I love about the X-Men comics is that every mutant shines in their own right when it comes to how they're drawn. The colors on their suits are always gorgeous and fits their personality perfectly. In this case, I think Shadowkat looks fantastic. The blue and black suit with the hood added to the emotional tone of the scene at the end of the comic book. Read Full Review

This book had such potential, but unfortunately it was bogged down by event after event in that second year. X-Men, and the rest of the mutant titles brain trust really tried to give us a fitting end to this very ambitious story. Unfortunately this book was too busy trying to tie all of the events from the other books, which only led to this lackluster issue. Read Full Review

Gerry Duggan and Joshua Cassara deliver a comic book in X-Men #34 that builds momentum for how Fall of the House of X and Rise of the Powers of X will end. This did as much as a tie-in can do to progress the narrative of the main story being told in the two core titles telling this event. Now the stage is set for the conclusion of Fall of the House of X and Rise of the Powers of X to set-up the new path forward for the franchise. Read Full Review

X-Men #34 is a fun issue. It has exciting action and a good moment of character work ahead of Shadowkat's exeunt. Sadly, its flaws raise a number of questions that could have been easily avoided with a few more proofreads. In the end, this book remains the franchise's flagship title in name only, a feeling to which Synch ought to be able to sympathize with by now. However, things are set to change for both hero and book upon the arrival of the hotly anticipated Uncanny X-Men #700 in the coming weeks. We'll see you there. Read Full Review

While I have not been a fan of Duggan's run on X-Men, this issue was a decent read. My only complaint is the same one I always have about events within the Marvel Universe these days too many crossovers. Read Full Review

The issue does bring some closure to the Synch/Talon/Wolverine situation that has been at the heart of the book, but with even the considerable artistic talent involved struggling to make something out of what little the script has to offer, X-Men #34 feels like the tail-end of a story stretched too thin. Read Full Review

There's a good amount here that I like, but the biggest problem with the end of the Krakoa Era, for me, is that everything just feels so crammed together. We start off with a few mutants hunting down and taking out M.O.D.O.K., which had some "fine" dialogue. Then, we suddenly start getting more deep/emotional/etc. with Synch and Laura. I liked the moment itself, but it just felt a little out of nowhere. The strongest point of this, for me, was the ending with Kate and Logan. I just wish the rest of the book was as good as that.

It's OK/fun for what it is. As a single issue anywhere else within an X line would have been fine but as part of the Fall of X it really doesn't work. Duggan is trying I believe but it just a bit too late. Cassara on art is FANTASTIC as always and I command his effort and Fajardo Jr. colors him wonderfully!

The issue feels like a rushed & messy conclusion to a phase that seemed to forget its main cast along the way.

The biggest issue for me is Duggan’s treatment of the main X-Men lineup. Laura, Sync, Firestar, & to a lesser extent Shadowkat, have been so underutilized outside random missions. It’s as if the creative team realized they had forgotten about the actual X-Men team needing to be involved in the main plot & hastily shoved them into a new side quests to wrap up their stories before X-MEN #35 closes the book on this run.

There were also a few head-scratching editing mishaps that made this all feel like it was an afterthought. One example is how we see Synch using Polaris’ powers to fight MODOK & then on the next page Laura tells him to load Polaris’ power up WHILE HES GLOWING GREEN ALREADY. 🥴

The only redeeming aspect of this issue is the continued addition of Ms. Marvel. Her character has been a highlight of this phase, and her mutant journey is genuinely compelling. Her ascension to one of the most interesting X-Men is a welcome addition to the team, & I can’t wait to see more of her growth in From the Ashes.
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SPOILED REVIEW

We begin our adventure with the Professor daydreaming about times immemorial, when mutants could fly, skate, handstand, and survey their serene backyard without a care in the world for what anyone else thought of their idea of fun and leisure. He reminisces about a time when they could throw a party to watch *They Live*, starring everyone's favorite rowdy wrestler taking down invading aliens attempting to brainwash and enslave humans through subliminal messaging, without maligned prejudice from others.

Unfortunately, there’s always that one person who wants to root for the villains in the story because they’re edgy that way. That would be the Professor Charles Xavier, who apparently has decided there needs to be 'no more humans.' To that end, he has sided with Orchis, the anti-mutant, pro-human organization determined to rid the world of mutants, in order to save mutants.

Today, in New York City, we find George, AKA Mental Organism Designed Only for Killing, doing his best impression of an olive on top of a @#$% sandwich. George, the self-described jerk, rewards a loyal Orchis tug guard for a job well done by cranking the monster 'o meter dial all the way up to eleven. The dope was just trying to earn an honest salary man, only to have avant-garde wannabe George repay him with the worst case of dermatitis you've likely ever seen.

Over at the Daily Bugle, news of investigative journalist Ben Urich breaking his favorite mug, given to him by his always late wife Doris, are reportedly true. Though, independently unconfirmed. The Orchis fellas have just arrived to ask Ben to publish a retraction regarding the misleading news stories he's been printing. Apparently, George's art project has gone viral, as more Orchis goons have gone grossly grotesque. Firestar arrives just in the nick of time, preventing Ben from getting his face licked.

Meanwhile, Miss Marvel is wiping mutated Orchis slime on her grubby mitts all over innocent bystanders. Wolverine—no, not that one, the other one—is on the scene SNIKTing, because she's the best at it and that's what she does.

The always mind-numbingly annoying White Queen interrupts everyone's private thoughts with an update on current affairs. The elusive Nimrod remains so, and Professor X has joined him. No worries, though; the top X-Men are on it. Kitty ('Kat, Kate, Katherine) Pryde has arrived at the Orchis facility, where Pestilence, I mean Caliban, who was once lost, has now been found. Shadowkat asks Caliban for help finding Chuck. Caliban responds, 'Nope’.

Elsewhere, Firestar, Miss Marvel, and Wolverine—no, not that one, the other one—track down George and find him safe and secure, floating unmoored from a dock on his previously mentioned tugboat, protected from persecution under admiralty law, apparently. Firestar, having no respect for such laws, blasts the boat, blowing it to fiery bits.

As luck would have it, just inches from the flaming boat, Miss Marvel found barrels filled with gasoline. Unluck would have it, George is fireproof. Luck would have it, Firestar can cook with microwaves. Unluck would have it, George gets cooked with microwaves. Luck would have it, George can shoot telekinetic force blasts from his tiara. Unluck would have it, Wolverine—no, not that one, the other one—can block M.O.D.O.K. beams.

Luck would have it, Synch can replicate superpowers, such as Polaris's ability to control magnetism, and use those powers to hurl Laura Kinney at high-flying, hovering George. Unluck would have it, Laura is certain to fall into the water and get all wet after eviscerating George. Luck would have it, Synch is there to rescue the clawed damsel in distress by utilizing Polaris's power of flight. Unluck would have it, Miss Marvel apparently turns into a psychopath and pummels near-dead George to death.

Poor George, so unlucky.

‘Back at Little Tokyo’, Kitty is still pestering Caliban to reveal where Chuck is hiding. Wolverine—yes, that one—interrupts their bickering and lets them know he’s going to SNIKT Professor Xavier because he’s the best at it and that’s what he does. Kitty decides she's done being called an X-Man and hands Wolverine her ninjato sword, calling it quits.

And that’s just about all folks. We’ll let Kitty sum up this issue, “I’m done. I can’t do it anymore.” more

I'm finding this lame duck era especially bad. Here we just get more of Duggan's pets (Laura, Emma, Kitty, Everett) continue to do their shtick and get more of the continued vilification of Xavier.

Wow. This is incredibly bad. Weird jokes in the fighting. Plot points that make no sense. While I think Duggan had good issues, this one is not it.

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Out of Gluck - May 1, 2024

Totally agree.

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