Marvel’s X-Men Red follows the inner working of Arakko on a planetary and galactic scale. The Judgment Day event had tremendous effects on the red planet and its ruling body, The Great Ring. While the political power vacuum caused by vacant seats is still unsolved, intergalactic politics are equally unstable. Abigail Brand, leader of S.W.O.R.D., has been plotting and playing as many sides as possible. Cable uncovered many of her secrets and has now recruited his own X-Men Red team to help take her down. Written by Al Ewing with art by Madibek Musibekov, colors by Federico Blee, letters and production by Ariana Maher, and design by Tom Muller, X-Men Red #8 thrives on political maneuvering.
Cable recently took Brand’s resurrection as an opportunity to discover how deep her machinations run. After recruiting his own team — including Thunderbird, Manifold, Khora of the Burning Heart, Wiz-Kid, and Weaponless Zsen — the group ventures to the edge of space. It’s an adventure that features deep lore and a handful of twists. Simultaneously, an emergency intergalactic diplomatic meeting is held in Arakko’s Lake Hellas Diplomatic Zone. The ensuing meeting further escalates political tensions among space-faring empires while Brand’s schemes begin to take shape.
Ewing masterfully weaves the various political schemes together. There are a lot of characters and factions in this book, and they all have their own competing agendas. Ewing covers an impressively vast scope as all the puzzle pieces align for maximum drama. The high-stakes conversations hit with as much force as the tremendous action that Cable and his companions encounter in space. Brand is a particularly stand-out character as the depths of her plotting come into focus.
Musibekov’s art is phenomenal on each page. This issue features a large cast of characters, each of whom is rendered with a great amount of detail. Dramatic paneling helps build suspense for major moments and surprises throughout X-Men Red #8. In an issue that spans to the edge of the universe, Musibekov brings all manner of otherworldly creatures to life. The visual impact of the heroes’ powers is strong, easy to read, and absolutely thrilling.
Blee’s colors are outstanding. Various alien species and their unique costumes are colored to perfection and instantly stand out on the page. There is one location the main team visits that features a jaw-dropping range of colors arranged in beautiful contrast. Maher’s lettering effectively guides the reader across each page, always working in tandem with the drama. Maher’s lettering and Muller’s design work fluently on an especially important data page early on in the issue, conveying pivotal story information in a visually appealing way.
X-Men Red continues to impress with thoughtful and compelling storytelling. Character motivations and political intrigue are handled with poise and purpose. It’s a wild ride with no signs of slowing down. Plot lines years in the making are finally bearing fruit, and it’s an incredible sight to behold. With X-Men Red #8, Ewing and the rest of the creative team deliver another stellar issue.
