NERD INITIATIVE

Creative Team – Gail Simone, Mikki Kendall, Francesco Mortarino, Elisabetta D’Amico, Mattia Iacono, VC’s Clayton Cowles, David Marquez, Matthew Wilson

Published by Marvel Comics

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The Story

This comic is reviewed by Nerd Initiative’s Shawn, and your truly, Megan!

Shawn – Whoo boy did Gail Simone and Mikki Kendall craft a tale. I LOVED hearing about The Regulators. Simone and Kendall put a great deal of heart into this story. Even more than the fact they put so much heart into this issue is that it didn’t come at the expense of the narrative.

Getting to see not only the history of how the Regulators came to be but their connection to the modern X-Men world was satisfying. Simone and Kendall move seamlessly between the days of yesteryear and today in this story. It’s a self-contained story that gives us a glimpse at yet another adventure in the long line of adventures in the life of one of everyone’s favorite mutants. On top of Simone and Kendall working all of that into the story, the story helps provide a little backstory on Haven, making it not just a location chosen by some of the X-Men as a home base, but a place of rich heritage steeped in the darkness and hatred of the time.

Megan – I’m not even sure where to start when discussing what I loved about Uncanny X-Men Annual #1. Gail Simone and Mikki Kendall brought something genuine and beautiful to the pages that just can’t be created unless it’s pushed by passion. In Uncanny X-Men Annual, Logan asks Jubilee to accompany him on a mysterious trip. On this trip, it’s discovered that Logan is here on his own mission to keep a woman safe. Who’s the woman? You won’t know until the end and I promise it’ll warm your heart.

While Wolverine does his hero work, we’re taken back to the past of the Haven House. Introduced to new characters who are used to being hated for what they are, mutant or a person of a different skin color. Slaughter Freedman is one of our new characters that’s new to town and has a mission of his own, to bury his passed son. Upon riding into town, he comes toe to toe with some townsfolk who make their prejudices extremely well known. What they don’t know is that Slaughter has a few tricks of his own for people like this. After the battle, Freedmon happens upon a very familiar character who is in need of immediate help. They end up at the Haven House, where they find safety and people who understand what he’s been through in more ways than one.

That feeling of safety and calmness is fleeting as Slaughter’s actions come back to haunt him, and it’s up to the Regulators of Haven House to set things right.

The Art

Shawn – Franceso Mortariono, Elisabetta D’Amico, Mattia Iacono, and Clayton Cowles crafted such a beautiful issue. Everything about the art of this issue was simply spectacular. Mortariono drafts beautiful lines and beautiful character artwork for the Regulators. Elisabetta D’Amico adds perfect shades with her inks, making spanish moss that feels like it’s crawling off the trees. Mattia Iacono brings it all together by expertly jumping back and forth with color palettes, utilizing cooler, more muted colors for the older setting while contrasting them beautifully not only with the warmer, bolder colors of modern times but also with the bold colors of Jubilee.

The art feels perfect for the setting. The early-century art feels particularly impressive, expertly invoking the images of the swamps surrounding New Orleans at the turn of the century. The panels contain such depth, bringing not only faces and emotions to the front of the scene but also highlighting bark, moss, and blades of grass while other trees fade into the background.

Megan – On each and every page of Uncanny X-Men Annual #1, there’s beauty, there’s depth, and there’s power. Francesco Mortarino, Elisabetta D’Amico, Mattia Iacono, and Clayton Cowles bring so much of their own talents to the art. The characters are drawn in a way that makes you clearly see their personalities such as Slaughter Freedman or Mother Witchfire. These characters aren’t just regular citizens, but mutants, so of course their mutant abilities are on full display.

Mortarino and D’Amico bring these characters and their otherworldly powersets to life, showing how powerful they are in more ways than one. Iacono, who handles the colors, somehow achieves vibrancy in a time where everything was much more muted. Where I think Iacono’s talents absolutely thrive are when Mother Witchfire’s mutant abilities are shown. While they are incredibly beautiful to see, there’s still a mysterious energy surrounding them showing that we don’t know how powerful she truly is. Cowles is the letterer of the comic, and allows the reader to feel the emotions of the characters clearly through their dialogue. The artists all came together to make one of the best annuals I’ve read in a long time.

Final Thoughts

Shawn – 10/10. Uncanny X-Men Annual #1 is a beautiful, heartfelt story full of action, adventure, and a bit of history. I started reading, excited to learn about the Regulators and left wanting at least a limited series about those same Regulators. Easy one of the best X-Men Annuals of any of the X-Men line in a while.

Megan – 10/10. While Uncanny X-Men Annual #1 was gorgeous and full of life, there was an incredible amount of depth to the story and the characters. Gail Simone and Mikki Kendall shed light to the hatred and aggression that was felt by, not only mutants, but people who had a different skin color than those who went out of their way to destroy them. Impactful, heartwarming, beautiful, and powerful. That’s how I’d describe Uncanny X-Men Annual #1.

Overall Grade – 10/10

Let us know in the comments what you thought of Uncanny X-Men Annual #1!