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A review by crookedtreehouse
Reign of X Vol. 10 by Leah Williams, Tini Howard, Simon Spurrier, Gerry Duggan
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*