EXCEPTIONAL X-MEN #9 – It’s All for the Kids

Creative Team – Eve L. Ewing(writer). Carmen Carnero(artist). Nolan Woodard(color artist). VC’s Travis Lanham(letterer). Carmen Carnero & Nolan Woodard(cover artists).

Published by Marvel Comics

Catch up with Exceptional X-Men #9 here!

The Story

After the wild events of Exceptional X-Men #8, where Axo’s clone melted in the streets, Melee and Bronze have to make quick work of not drawing any attention to themselves. With the excuse that it’s a school project, the young mutants pick up the melted Axo clone, or “ice cream clone”, as Bronze so elegantly put it. Taking the clone goo back to Kitty, Bobby, and Emma, their minds are put at ease when they find out it’s not actually Axo and barely even human. After some back and forth about what could possibly be going on, Kitty realizes that it’s Mister Sinister who’s behind all of this mayhem.

Leaving Bronze and Melee behind, Kitty, Emma, and Bobby head out to save Axo from the menacing hands of Mister Sinister. While waiting for the X-Men to get back with their friend, Melee and Bronze are confronted by Bobby, who says he doesn’t have time to explain, but they have to come and help the X-Men. Without questioning it, the young mutants follow Bobby, or who they think is Bobby, to Mister Sinister’s lair.

Upon arriving, Axo is found hooked to Mister Sinister’s machine that will siphon his empathic neural core, which make it extremely difficult to remove him from the machine. With Axo attached to this machine, and now the younger mutants are put in harm’s way by Mister Sinister’s trick to get them there, it seems more than one plan will have to take place for everyone to survive.

The Writing

Eve Ewing does another fantastic job at keeping the energy up throughout the story, making it an absolute blast of a read. I really enjoy seeing the younger mutants, namely Melee and Bronze, come into their own as heroes, especially when their friend is in danger.

There are a few moments that tug at your heartstrings, like when Emma goes into Axo’s mind and sees that his core is enjoying dinner together with his team. It really shows you where he’s happiest and most comfortable, and that’s with his X-Men team. Another moment is how much care Kitty shows for Melee, Bronze, and Axo. Of course, Kitty doesn’t want them in danger, but it really hammers in the idea that Kitty is much more than their mentor, but their friend.

The Art

There were so many gorgeous panels throughout Exceptional X-men #9, all thanks to Carmen Carnero and Nolan Woodard. Both artists have been so consistent in their quality throughout the Exceptional X-Men run, and they continue that in the ninth installment. What stood out the most to me in this comic was any panel that had to do with Bobby’s powerset. Carnero and Woodard nailed showing just how strong Bobby is, and out otherworldly his powerset can be.

Overall Grade – 8.7/10

Let me know in the comments below what you thought of Exceptional X-Men #9!

This review was written by Megan from the Vigilante Vibes Podcast. If you liked my review, be sure to check out my other reviews! Let me know what you think of Exceptional X-Men #9, or tell me what comics you’d recommend me trying out! Find me on my socials, and check out my Marvel podcast, Vigilante Vibes, by clicking here!