X-Men #25 - Review/Spoilers

[JB]

Duggan knocked it out of the park with this issue for me. It nicely sets up various elements while establishing the rapidly declining situation for the X-Men and mutantkind.

Then there's Kitty.

We open with what has become something of a Krakoan era staple, a bench scene. Kitty is talking to her rabbi in Central Park and this takes place just after Xavier's announcement of Krakoa to the world and right after Kitty broke her nose against the gate. The rabbi, Susan, ultimately asks her if she still believes in God and Kitty says she does after hesitating. Susan says that God has a plan and maybe her inability to access the gates makes Kitty special. The creative team does a good job going from this sunny sky scene to a much darker vibe as Kitty now approaches the Xavier school in Westchester. She's in her Hellfire Gala outfit.

This is happening shortly after the tragedy of the Gala and the false flag attack in D.C. As Kitty moves through the dark mansion we learn that an Interpol arrest warrant was being issued for her and all QC. That's when we see her pull out swords and a note from beneath the floorboards per the preview pages. The note from Ogun saying she will always be Shadowkat.

We get the other preview pages of Stasis updating the nation via news cameras and smartphones. He introduces Firestar as someone who didn't believe in Xavier's "cult" and has her demonstrate that the gates are now offline. Mutants are being deported to Arakko while others are receiving gene therapies to integrate them back into human society. Captain Krakoa is still on the loose, Stasis tells the nation. We see Stark Sentinels standing outside of the White House and defense systems being placed on the moon to "protect" earth from Arakko. They've also created Stark War Machines which patrol Phobos and gather information on Arakko.

The Orchis prison on Randall's Island is called the Henry Gyrich Center for Behavioral Studies. This is where Cyclops is being held. Stasis enters his cell and taunts him over his broken back and paralysis. He wants Cyclops to endorse the "official story" of the Mutant Massacre at the Gala. "So... what do you say?" asks Stasis.



It's a twisted and effective scene as Stasis moves in close, telling Cyclops the X-Men are no more, the gate transit system is shot, medicated humans have a kill switch in them, etc. He says it's only a matter of time before all remaining "muties" are captured.

Cut to Synch, Talon, Rasputin, and Ms Marvel in a safe house down in the Morlock tunnels. Synch asks Rasputin and Kamala to surveil the Orchis prison as they recently stepped up their defenses, making him think they're starting to guard some high-level targets. Kitty phases in through a wall and she's now in her new ninja gear. She says she's back to rest for a little bit then she's going back out. Synch follows her through a wall and they speak privately as he stitches up a fresh wound across her shoulder blade. She's being very hard on herself and is despondent.



They need her because she gathers and shares the most accurate information about Orchis, their strengths, weaknesses, etc.

The problems continue to pile up for the mutants and as the reader you can feel the weight of despair further crushing them with the next bit of information. Arakko is already in a raging civil war and many of the Arakkii view their cousins from earth as weak, offering them no help. People are dying and many hide in Port Prometheus. We see Woofer hiding with other earthers when he spots Kitty emerging from a gate, an example her current sloppiness. He excitedly runs over and asks how she was able to use the gate and she throws him up against a wall and tells him to compose himself, phasing one of her swords into his chest to quiet him. This is a great scene to show us how much Kitty has changed in such a short amount of time. She tells him things are going to stay rough for mutants for a while and that there is no help coming at this time. She repeats what Jean told Firestar at the Gala, that every mutant still standing is an X-Man now. She gives him a notebook and tasks him with taking a census, getting the names and powers of every mutant there. She says she was hoping to find Sunfire, Polaris, and Forge as the team needs big guns right now. Woofer proudly accepts the mission as Kitty leaves.

We learn next that Forge is in a distant world somewhere, confirming how scattered mutants are. His first thought when he realizes the gate he came through no longer works is "Oh @#$%, the Vault!" Sure enough we see the Children stepping out of the pods Forge trapped them in, Perro saying they're going to kill all the X-Men.

I won't go into detail about the next scene but it's a sweet moment where Emma, disguised as Hazel Kendal, escorts Kamala home after the Gala. We learn that Emma is wearing an inhibitor ring and she turns it off momentarily to wipe the minds of Kamala's family so that they think Kamala is returning from school in D.C. As she leaves, Emma tells Kamala to forget she's a mutant and to stay away from the X-Men during these difficult times.

Back to the present, the X-Men are meeting at the rendezvous point Kitty mentioned earlier. Emma lightly calls out Kamala for not listening to her about staying away from the X-Men and Kamala says she stands with them and is doing what is right. Emma understands and tells her to be careful. Captain America, Deadpool and Kwannon from the Unity Squad meet with them as well as Tony Stark. Cap asks Synch how they can help and Ev says they're making progress on the laced drugs and thinks he has a way to penetrate Orchis. These meetings are quick and take place in different parts of the sewer system each time.

As everyone leaves Emma confronts Kitty, asking her to tell her what happened to her after she fell through the gate right after the gala. Kitty barely says anything and Emma grabs her shoulders, wanting to know what the Orchis soldiers did to her that has caused her transformation.

Friends, we're shown what happened in Jerusalem when Kitty was surrounded by the soldiers. At first I dreaded what I was about to read, not sure if I was ready to see Kitty get hurt. My gut tightened (the hairs on my arms are standing straight up as I type this) as one of the soldiers, confused by Kitty falling out of the gate, radioed Central Column, asking them to confirm if the gates are closed. Kitty listens as Central confirms that yes, they are completely shut down. She realizes immediately that her ability to move through the gate is a precious and huge tactical advantage.

"It was a secret worth killing to protect."

We get about eight pages of Kitty killing the soldiers in shockingly brutal and quick ways. She doesn't hold back and neither does Duggan and the art team. She lets her training take over, she channels Logan, she thinks of Bobby, Jean and everyone that was killed at the Gala. When there is only one soldier left...



Back in the present, Kitty tells Emma that nothing happened. Kitty starts to leave and Emma says they should coordinate their efforts with Synch and Talon, asking Kitty where she's off to now. As she phases down through a puddle Kitty says she's going to kill Firestar.

I had been feeling a bit lukewarm about this title over the past few months but in my opinion this is the stuff Duggan has been waiting to write and it shows. He delivered in spades. This was fun, startling, hopeful, heavy, and shocking. Kitty's transformation and what she had to do will be talked about for weeks. She'll never be the same so say goodbye to the Red Queen. Frankly, I've been waiting for someone to say the "kill no man" law would be suspended and I feel like it's about time the X-Men start hitting back hard. Gloves are off, true believers.

[SugarMan]

This issue follows in tone the gala issue nicely, and answers a few status questions as well. Not the biggest Kitty fan, but loved her here. This is why the X-Men needed to fall. This fight to get back up is already amazing.

[Fokken]

Killer write up, Jbenito. Konsider me hyped, AF.
I may not be happy for mutants in this Post Gala existence, but I kan't say I'm not excited by everything that's going down!

[Hi-Fi]

This was great. We're finally back to focusing on the characters and Duggan excels when he gives his attention to Emma, Kate or Rogue (which makes me excited for UA).

[billee0918]

Thanks for the great recap.GREAT ISSUE and a wonderful intro to Kate’s new role as Shadowkat. LOVED!

[JB]

Killer write up, Jbenito. Konsider me hyped, AF.
I may not be happy for mutants in this Post Gala existence, but I kan't say I'm not excited by everything that's going down!

Thanks for the great recap.GREAT ISSUE and a wonderful intro to Kate’s new role as Shadowkat. LOVED!

My pleasure and thank you!

This issue really is great from start to finish. I've always liked Kitty but I'm soooo extra invested in her journey now.

[Jackraow21]

Pretty dark, but highly enjoyable issue. Thanks for the recap/spoiler thread, as always, Jbenito.

So far the "Resistance X-men" seem to be comprised of Synch and Talon (leaders), Shadowkat, Ms. Marvel and an undercover Emma Frost. I'm guessing at some point Forge gets rescued and links up with them, and we've seen Juggernaut and Logan (in yellow and blue costume) as well. Pretty solid team IMO.

My main disappointment with this issue -- which is minor and probably temporary (because surely CotV #1 will address it, unless editorial is just not doing their job) -- is that there was no follow up on the very random and seemingly pointless re-appearance of Kid Cable in this time period. He jumped back last issue, tried to stop Orchis solo, and got his ass kicked by them, losing an arm to Nimrod in the process. I cannot for the life of me figure out what the point of that was... especially considering it's the grown-up version of Cable who is in the Children of the Vault mini (and who somehow is also captured by Orchis and missing his T-O arm). I'm sure those events are linked and must come into play in CotV, though... right? Perhaps adult Cable is forced to return to Earth (from space where we last saw him) in order to free his younger self, otherwise the whole timeline is at risk. And this is how he ends up captured in Kid Cable's place? This is my best guess right now.

[Kingdom X]

Pretty dark, but highly enjoyable issue. Thanks for the recap/spoiler thread, as always, Jbenito.

So far the "Resistance X-men" seem to be comprised of Synch and Talon (leaders), Shadowkat, Ms. Marvel and an undercover Emma Frost. I'm guessing at some point Forge gets rescued and links up with them, and we've seen Juggernaut and Logan (in yellow and blue costume) as well. Pretty solid team IMO.

My main disappointment with this issue -- which is minor and probably temporary (because surely CotV #1 will address it, unless editorial is just not doing their job) -- is that there was no follow up on the very random and seemingly pointless re-appearance of Kid Cable in this time period. He jumped back last issue, tried to stop Orchis solo, and got his ass kicked by them, losing an arm to Nimrod in the process. I cannot for the life of me figure out what the point of that was... especially considering it's the grown-up version of Cable who is in the Children of the Vault mini (and who somehow is also captured by Orchis and missing his T-O arm). I'm sure those events are linked and must come into play in CotV, though... right? Perhaps adult Cable is forced to return to Earth (from space where we last saw him) in order to free his younger self, otherwise the whole timeline is at risk. And this is how he ends up captured in Kid Cable's place? This is my best guess right now.

I’m actually confident that Duggan will explain the Kid Cable of it all. Despite my reservations about his run he does tend to circle back to plot points even if it takes a while (he actually hinted at mutants walking through a gate all the way back in issue 12).

You do bring up the good point of what the hell SWORD is up to right now. They’re supposed to be under new management as of XMR #10, but they haven’t shown up in that book and none of them were at the Gala besides Frenzy.

[Master of Sound]

This is a big change for Kate, wow....! No more the pirate, no more the Red Queen, this is a whole new era of Kate and she reminds me of AoA Shadowcat. I don't think I stand alone in that thought.

I have one question; Do we see some of the mutants who are Mutants are being deported to Arakko and some of those who are receiving gene therapies?

[gonnagiveittoya]

Kate's spent most the 4 years since this era started dismembering and maiming but only now that it's lethal (I guess dismemberment never killed anyone before?) does anyone express concern over her behavior?

[Diammandis]

Duggan really knocked it out of the park. With this issue he makes you truly feel and understand Kate and transformation, and honestly its a welcome transition.

Some small moments that I enjoyed are that Emma is reclaiming her Hazel Kendal alias, with this alias she should be able to actually sneak into Stark Enterprises and hopefully shut Feilong and those sentinels down.


Along with that I have to mention Kate and Kamalas relationship, I think its pretty obvious that Kate is purposefully pushing her away not wanting her to get caught in all these problems that she believes she and the previous generation of mutants caused. Which is obviously not the case at all, so I am excited to see Kates realize this and properly bring Kamala in.

[gonnagiveittoya]

Thanks for the great recap.GREAT ISSUE and a wonderful intro to Kate’s new role as Shadowkat. LOVED!

It's kind of weird to have her be a super radical mass killer when this new era is, supposedly, only lasting till January?

[gonnagiveittoya]

Along with that I have to mention Kate and Kamalas relationship, I think its pretty obvious that Kate is purposefully pushing her away not wanting her to get caught in all these problems that she believes she and the previous generation of mutants caused. Which is obviously not the case at all, so I am excited to see Kates realize this and properly bring Kamala in.

....is it though? The Sins of Sinister thing is entirely the councils fault.

[Diammandis]

....is it though? The Sins of Sinister thing is entirely the councils fault.

I’m not talking about SoS, I am talking about this era now, the era where all mutants are scattered and being rounded up and hunted.

[Fokken]

Who was Kate dismembering that didn't first attempt to kill her?