Marvel’s Immortal X-Men spotlights various members of the Quiet Council, the ruling body of the mutant-island nation of Krakoa. Each issue features a new narrator, offering a fresh perspective on the developments around the world of the X-Men. With the events of Judgment Day behind mutantkind, this issue takes a leap into the past to dive into the history of three of the oldest members of the Quiet Council. Mystique takes center stage as the issue’s narrator, and her relationship with Destiny is one of the pillars of the narrative. Written by Kieron Gillen with art by Michele Bandini, colors by David Curiel, letters by Clayton Cowles, and design by Tom Muller, Jay Bowen, and Gillen, Immortal X-Men #8 tells a tale of the past with dire implications for the future.
The bulk of the issue takes place in London in 1895, as Mystique and Destiny investigate a series of killings that lead to something even more sinister. It’s easy to forget how old both Mystique and Destiny are, and seeing them in late 19th-century London fully puts that into perspective. These two have seen plenty of history, and more importantly, they’ve seen it together. As the issue unfolds, they are drawn into a web of mystery that has incredible implications for the future of mutantkind. It’s impressive how grounded this story feels while still having world-altering implications.
Gillen once again proves his mastery at character work. Mystique’s voice is perfectly in character, providing playful commentary on the unfolding events and carrying a sense of dreadful foreboding. Gillen walks an impressive tightrope between past and present. While the issue takes place firmly in the past, Mystique’s narration roots readers in the here and now. Everything displayed is sharply contrasted by what readers know the future has in store for these characters. Gillen tells a personal, character-driven story for Mystique and Destiny while driving the overall story forward.
Bandini’s art is gorgeous. Clean lines, picture-perfect character profiles, and an incredible depiction of 19th-century London are just the tip of the iceberg. Since this story is a mystery at its core, there are a lot of scenes consisting of just back-and-forth dialogue, but Bandini’s character and camera movement keep things visually engaging. There are close-ups of characters’ faces for dramatic effect and wide, establishing shots of the city and its surroundings that create a great sense of distance between characters while adding to the atmosphere of the book. Mystique’s transformations are also a treat to see.
Curiel’s colors complement the art masterfully. Every shade is applied smoothly. Red and orange hues pop with a fiery intensity. Mystique’s blue skin and white outfit are iconic and rendered perfectly. Cowles’ lettering is, as usual, top-notch. This is a dialogue-heavy issue, and Cowles neatly arranges speech bubbles and narration boxes in an easily digestible manner. Muller, Bowen, and Gillen’s design work is great, if a bit sparse. There are only two data pages, excluding the credits pages, but they’re visually compelling.
Immortal X-Men continues to be a must-read series for fans of the X-Men. This issue deftly balances humor, character work, and high stakes, all wrapped in a period piece mystery. A break from the world-shattering events of Judgment Day is refreshing. With Immortal X-Men #8, Gillen and the rest of the creative team intricately weave together the past for a foreboding look into the future.
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