THE UNCANNY X-MEN #34 – New Problems, New Complications

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Creative Team – Gail Simone, Luciano Vecchio, Matthew Wilson, VC’s Clayton Cowles

Published by Marvel Comics

Catch up with The Uncanny X-Men #33!

The Story

Gail Simone, what gives you the right to have me so emotionally invested in these characters that you’ll have me on the edge of my seat when reading The Uncanny X-Men #34? Probably your writing skills or the fact that you’re able to make the readers connect with the characters on an entirely new level. In this issue, we see the hope of curing Gambit of this demonic infestation dwindling smaller and smaller. Rogue seeks out the help of Gabriel the Devil Hunter who may be able to help, but even then, it seems like he has a ghost of a prayer’s chance. Things will only get worse until the problem is solved, but how can the problem be solved if there’s no one that can help? Side note, Rogue makes a very interesting comment in this issue that I can’t get out of my head, and if you’ve read the issue, then you know exactly what I’m talking about. I need ANSWERS!

Meanwhile, the Outliers and their mentors are at the Haven house, trying to go about life as normal as possible with Rogue and Gambit’s absence. However, it’s the X-Men and nothing ever goes normally. The mentors are outside training when Mr. St. Juniors realizes something has attacked his animals. This isn’t something new from someone who has a farm, until they realize this wasn’t an animal attack. This was something different and whatever it was is still in the barn.

There’s a huge contrast in the stories, and somehow Simone is able to find the perfect balance of each. While Rogue and Gambit go through something that’s pulled straight out of their nightmares, the Louisiana X-Men are learning of an entirely new and different problem. Both are wildly different situations, but both are emotionally driven. Gambit’s story is continuing on and pulls the reader with it while having us feel every emotion of the characters. The story that’s beginning in Louisiana is already compelling and makes me want to know more, but knowing Gail Simone’s writing, it’s going to make me suffer in the best way possible.

The Art

In case you couldn’t tell by the cover art by Luciano Vecchio, The Uncanny X-Men #34 goes heavy with the horror energy. It’s brought to life by the artists on the creative team, Luciano Vecchio, Matthew Wilson, and Clayton Cowles. Vecchio brings so much to the comic with the incredible linework and the drawings of the terrifying characters. Gambit may have met his match with these characters he sees, and Vecchio makes sure they make their presence known. With Vecchio is Matthew Wilson, who handles the colors. Wilson works perfectly off of Vecchio’s drawings to bring even more depth to the panels and really nail down the scary vibes. In Gambit and Rogue’s story, we see a lot of darker tones accompanied by the purples and reds that make the story have an interesting otherworldly feel. In the story at the Haven House, things go from light and vibrant to dark and spooky really quick, with Wilson doing what he does and knocking it out of the park. Clayton Cowles wraps this in a perfect bow with his work on the lettering. With so many different tones and so many different personalities, Cowles nails every one of them through the dialogue and lets the personalities shine brightly. Together, the artists really came together and showed up in The Uncanny X-Men #34.

Final Thoughts

The Uncanny X-Men is going new places and doing things unlike ever before. There’s no other word to describe what Gail Simone and the creative team are doing other than “groundbreaking.” As always, I will be very anxiously waiting for the new issue to drop!

Overall Grade – 9.3/10

Let me know in the comments what you thought of The Uncanny X-Men #34!

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 The Uncanny X-Men #34, 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!