The newest X-Men event, Sins of Sinister, is now in full swing. For the next few months, ongoing titles X-Men Red, Immortal X-Men, and Legion of X will be suspended. In their place, readers will see Storm & the Brotherhood of Mutants, Immoral X-Men, and Nightcrawlers, respectively. Each series will feature one issue that takes place at the 10, 100, and 1000-year marks in the Sinister Age, the timeline created by Sinister and his Moira Machine to take control of the world. Storm & the Brotherhood of Mutants #1, written by Al Ewing with art by Paco Medina, colors by Jay David Ramos, letters by Ariana Maher, and design by Tom Muller and Jay Bowen, throws readers into the Sinister Age, focusing on Storm and the last survivors of Arakko.
This issue moves at a breakneck speed. Beginning with the fall of Arakko, readers witness the final stand of an entire planet. Sinister attacks with his Chimeras, genetically engineered mutants that possess a variety of powers, overwhelming the Arakki populace. A small band of survivors led by Storm take shelter in the asteroid field of what was once their great planet. Storm is confronted by Destiny, who brings hope in the form of one final mission. Just when fans think they know where the story is heading, Ewing adds a new twist to keep the audience on their toes.
Ewing maintained an excellent voice for Storm throughout X-Men Red, which continues in this new series. She is regal and emanates power, even in the dire circumstances she finds herself in. The main plot is fairly straightforward in this issue. Destiny’s mission makes this issue engaging. Seeing a timeline in which Krakoa and the power of Arakko have been wiped clean is such a striking contrast compared to other modern X-Men books. While the situation is dire, Ewing effectively injects some levity into the issue through in-character banter among the New Brotherhood.
Medina’s art is exceptional from cover to cover. Battles are rendered with incredible detail, with each character’s powers perfectly represented. Medina makes use of a variety of panel shapes, sizes, and layouts to keep each page feeling fresh. He thoughtfully renders each character’s emotional expressions to help flesh out their arcs.
David Ramos’ colors are another excellent element of this book. Evenly applied throughout, each scene’s lighting sets the tone. Red and blue hues are a particular highlight, while Storm’s silver-white hair and costume feel unique when standing in crowded panels. Maher’s lettering is deft, effectively navigating readers through each panel and across each page. The design work of Muller and Bowen is put to great use on a few pages as the text and data take on a retro feel.
This issue is action-packed and instantly establishes high stakes for the Sins of Sinister event. Storm is as powerful as ever, a bastion of justice against the Sinister’s endless cruelty. This event is all about the long game, and this book establishes the mindsets of some of the major players. With Storm & the Brotherhood of Mutants #1, Ewing and the rest of the creative team deliver an engaging entry in this twisted X-Men event.
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