Knights of X #3 Spoilers/Review

[JB]

Ugh I'm trying to go through this one quickly cause I can't really see with the tears in my eyes.

We open with Saturnyne visiting Roma in her region. They're looking for Shogo who is curled up on the floor trying to hide (he can't, he's a giant dragon.) They know he's frightened but tell him with magic, a balance must be made. "There can be no joy without great suffering." They take him to a gazing pool and tell him he must watch one of his friends die. The poor guy is already crying.

As they activate the pool they can see Gambit's team fighting in the Crooked Market. A Fury blasts Meggan but she shakes it off, proclaiming Otherworld is her home and they can't defeat her. She whips up a giant tornado to surround the Fury and Rachel is circling it to amp it up. Meggan than launches the Fury tornado far into the distance back to Everforge where it came from. Bei is pleased, smirking.

Rachel has lost psychic connection with Betsy and wants to find her, but Gambit insists they stay and defend the townsfolk. As they bicker, the townsfolk are calling Rachel, "Askani! Askani!" Asking them why they call her that, they tell her it's from a story that told them the "Bright lady of flame" would come. Unsure of how to respond, Rachel is saved by the bell as the Furies and their green soldiers return with Mad Jim gagged and quartered, preparing to execute him in front of the people. Gambit makes the final call that they're staying because he we will not allow the mutants of the market to witness the death of Mad Jim while the Knights do nothing.

The preview pages in Sevalith as Betsy and her team are sneaking through the realm. They take out the vampires and continue on to meet with Death. King Arthur and their team are not far behind. They reach the palace where Death is held "prisoner" (his punishment for losing to Storm in X of Swords). They free him and ask him to join them, but he's been rather enjoying his time with dead vampires and declines.

Rictor has Apocalypse's Grimoire and asks Death if he can help translate it. Death opens it and can easily interpret what Doug was unable to. Flashback: We see Mr. Absolon Mercator looking over a desolate realm. He is speaking with someone and asking them why he is being offered an entire realm while Xavier is inviting everyone to Krakoa. As one of the most powerful mutants, Apocalypse offers him the realm in exchange for protecting the Siege Perilous. Apocalypse explains its importance. "With it, one can make and unmake our very souls. The time will come when that needs doing - when the GREAT SACRIFICE is made. Open your realm to us then - no sooner." Mercator agrees.

Betsy's team is resting in the sewers of Sevalith. We get a beautiful, quiet moment between Rictor and Shatterstar. They now understand that a sacrifice is needed and Julio thinks it should be him. Shatterstar says losing Julio would be his own sacrifice and that he is simply not willing, and they embrace.

Now that it's daylight the psychic connection between Betsy and Rachel is restored. Modred wants to continue to find the Siege Perilous but Betsy points her finger at him and says they're going to the market. With Bei as an anchor, Shatterstar teleports them to the market and the team is reunited.

Betsy tasks Gambit, Meggan, and Kylun with rescuing Mad Jim while the others hold off the forces. Betsy and Rachel have a quiet moment before Rachel takes to the sky to watch over Gambit's group. The townsfolk strangely start attacking Mordred and Rachel has the epiphany that this may be Mordred's mutant power. "Do people want to fight him?! Keep it up, kid - it's keeping the crowd safe." I guess that's one way to perform crowd control. LOL!

Gambit, Meggan, and Kylun approach Mad Jim when Rachel suddenly warns them to abandon Jim and get out of there. Merlyn appears.
Gambit, the consummate hero, heads straight for him, pulling out the Death card.

The final three pages...





I cried with Shogo and the data page added to the emotional moment for me and caught me completely by surprise. The good news is that Apocalypse predicted and planned for this, and they're heading to Mercator next. Now I'm biting my nails to see if/how Gambit returns and what form/state he returns in.