The Secret X-Men #1
Marvel Comics
Written by Tini Howard
Art by Francesco Mobili
Colors by Jesus Aburtov
Letters by Clayton Cowles
The Rundown: A new team of X-Men goes on a secret mission to rescue an ally.
Sunspot is enjoying life in the capital city of the Shi’ar empire, but his celebration comes to a swift end when Deathbird arrives seeking the help of the X-Men to protect the young empress. After going to see Cannonball, he reveals that he already has a team together and their waiting at his front door. To make things more difficult, the Imperial Guard comes knocking with a mission regarding the same target.
After suiting up and taking to the stars, the team finds itself facing off against a group of intergalactic bounty hunters. After finding who they are looking for, the team discovers that they have been chosen for something very specific and that the empress will do whatever she needs to in order to keep their mission and their existence, a secret.
The Story: Howard crafts a fun and often funny story in this issue. The team is bold, eclectic and entertaining both in personality and purpose. The story has a great, light tone but Howard crafts some brilliantly subtle subversive elements within the story. The story has some awesome layers to it that drew me in and make me excited to see what happens with this team next.
The Art: Mobili delivers some beautiful art in every page and panel of this issue. The action is visually exciting and the character designs are impressive.