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boards_books_and_brews's review
adventurous
dark
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
jammasterjamie's review
3.0
These stories were all fine and I can't really pinpoint any specific problem, but I think my fascination with the Krakoa era of the X-Men has come to an end. At this point I find I'm buying the books more out of a compulsion to keep current than out of an actual interest in the story-lines, so I think it's time to take a break. I liked the idea that Hickman had a long-game around the story he wanted to tell that had a defined beginning, middle, and end, but now that he's leaving the X-line it's all now starting to feel like spinning wheels with no real destination for me and now I think I'm ready to get off of the ride. I'll probably pick up Inferno when it comes out just to see how Hickman ends his time as Chief of X, but that's more out of curiosity than any real need or caring about what happens. Too bad, because things really did start out on an incredibly strong note, but I've lost interest in how it's all going to move forward. Took too long to get to too many of those dangling plot-threads, I guess, to the point where my attention has utterly waned, even with the two new launches in this v0lume. Again, nothing to complain about any of the stories in here, but it really does just start to feel like more and more of the same after a while regardless of how many new coats of paint they put on it.
crookedtreehouse's review
4.0
Another excellent collection of X-books!
X-Factor #8 & 9: Reign Of X has been doing things slightly differently from [b:Dawn of X Vol. 1|48614029|Dawn of X Vol. 1|Jonathan Hickman|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1578965794l/48614029._SY75_.jpg|73950337], in that the final issue in a collection often leaves a cliffhanger picked up directly in the next volume. In this case, we had some Morrigan shenanigans in issue #7, which was collected at the end of [b:Reign Of X Vol. 9|58505959|Reign Of X Vol. 9|Zeb Wells|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1647998798l/58505959._SY75_.jpg|91888664], and now we start volume ten with two more issues that close out the storyline, while opening up a whole new range of story possibilities going forward. [a:Leah Williams|13881554|Leah Williams|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1441655853p2/13881554.jpg] has been absolutely envigorating every character she brings into the story. I was a little worried about a return to Mojoverse, as the earlier Mojoverse storyline was, by far, my least favorite part of this series, but it all tied together here. Also [a:David Baldeón|2944493|David Baldeón|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png]'s work has always been strong but there are some inspired panel layouts and stylistic choices in these issues. 4/5*
X-Corp #1: This was the weak link in this book, but that's really a testament to how good the other stories around it were. This book focuses on the power struggle between humans and mutants using corporate and government politics. It centers on how to make stock prices rise. I'm sure there are readers who find that fascinating. It's just not my thing. [a:Tini Howard|14205385|Tini Howard|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1573146594p2/14205385.jpg] makes it more interesting to me than I imagined, but her excellent character work just couldn't get me excited for this particular portion of the overarching X-plot. 3/5*
Marauders #20: [a:Gerry Duggan|594966|Gerry Duggan|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1442471582p2/594966.jpg] is clearly having a blast on this book. This issue, focused on what a badass Storm is, has such delightful energy and dialogue in it. I wish the color pallete wasn't as flat, but I absolutely love [a:Stefano Caselli|9839081|Stefano Caselli|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png]'s facial expressions and staging. 5/5*
Way Of X #1: I haven't really been a fan of [a:Si Spurrier|22343867|Si Spurrier|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png]'s work on X-books so I remember being cautiously pessimistic about Way Of X's quality. I was wrong to be that way. A story about Nightcrawler's constant complicated relationship with faith has been stale for thirty years, but this felt intriguing. I enjoyed how he was played off of Magneto and Pixie, and the final page reveal is a little eye rolley but I"m curious to see where it's headed. 4/5*
X-Factor #8 & 9: Reign Of X has been doing things slightly differently from [b:Dawn of X Vol. 1|48614029|Dawn of X Vol. 1|Jonathan Hickman|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1578965794l/48614029._SY75_.jpg|73950337], in that the final issue in a collection often leaves a cliffhanger picked up directly in the next volume. In this case, we had some Morrigan shenanigans in issue #7, which was collected at the end of [b:Reign Of X Vol. 9|58505959|Reign Of X Vol. 9|Zeb Wells|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1647998798l/58505959._SY75_.jpg|91888664], and now we start volume ten with two more issues that close out the storyline, while opening up a whole new range of story possibilities going forward. [a:Leah Williams|13881554|Leah Williams|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1441655853p2/13881554.jpg] has been absolutely envigorating every character she brings into the story. I was a little worried about a return to Mojoverse, as the earlier Mojoverse storyline was, by far, my least favorite part of this series, but it all tied together here. Also [a:David Baldeón|2944493|David Baldeón|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png]'s work has always been strong but there are some inspired panel layouts and stylistic choices in these issues. 4/5*
X-Corp #1: This was the weak link in this book, but that's really a testament to how good the other stories around it were. This book focuses on the power struggle between humans and mutants using corporate and government politics. It centers on how to make stock prices rise. I'm sure there are readers who find that fascinating. It's just not my thing. [a:Tini Howard|14205385|Tini Howard|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1573146594p2/14205385.jpg] makes it more interesting to me than I imagined, but her excellent character work just couldn't get me excited for this particular portion of the overarching X-plot. 3/5*
Marauders #20: [a:Gerry Duggan|594966|Gerry Duggan|https://images.gr-assets.com/authors/1442471582p2/594966.jpg] is clearly having a blast on this book. This issue, focused on what a badass Storm is, has such delightful energy and dialogue in it. I wish the color pallete wasn't as flat, but I absolutely love [a:Stefano Caselli|9839081|Stefano Caselli|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png]'s facial expressions and staging. 5/5*
Way Of X #1: I haven't really been a fan of [a:Si Spurrier|22343867|Si Spurrier|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png]'s work on X-books so I remember being cautiously pessimistic about Way Of X's quality. I was wrong to be that way. A story about Nightcrawler's constant complicated relationship with faith has been stale for thirty years, but this felt intriguing. I enjoyed how he was played off of Magneto and Pixie, and the final page reveal is a little eye rolley but I"m curious to see where it's headed. 4/5*
vroodles's review
adventurous
challenging
mysterious
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Oh my goodness, I love the direction this book takes us! Between X-Factor, Marauders, and Way of X I have only favorites and X-Corp is a bit sketchy at the moment but could lead to some great story
afreen7's review
4.0
X-Factor (2020) 8-9 - 3.5/5
X-Corp (2021) 1 - 3/5
Marauders (2019) 20 - 4/5
Way of X (2021) 1 - 5/5
X-Corp (2021) 1 - 3/5
Marauders (2019) 20 - 4/5
Way of X (2021) 1 - 5/5
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