Extraordinary X-Men #13
Written By: Jeff Lemire
Art By: Victor Ibanez
Colored By: Jay David Ramos
Lettered By: VC’s Joe Caramagna
Release Date: 8/24/16
Price Tag: $3.99
Plot:
The X-Men return from their over thousand year trip to the future with a new mission: to save Colossus and prevent what they witnessed from coming to pass.
Story:
Out of the current slate of X-Men titles, Extraordinary X-Men is my favorite. That’s not saying much considering how boring the the X-titles have been collectively lately. Marvel’s long running trend of constantly putting the mutants through the wringer makes each title seem like a chore to read.
Extraordinary X-Men #13 picks up not long after the events of the previous issue. The team is on separate missions: Ice Man and Nightcrawler are on a quest to find fellow mutant and best pal Colossus and the team of Magik and Storm are dimension hopping to find the wayward mutant Sapna.
So as mentioned above, the action in this issue is generally split between two stories. Both stories combined don’t seem to do much to advance the overall plot but I enjoyed Magik and Storm’s bogus journey through several different dimensions just for the characterizations the worried Magik and always level headed Storm.
The highlight of this issue is what happens to Storm and Magik on their manhunt.The dual find themselves in trouble with a group of angry otherworldly foes. Okay, they might not had been bad guys exactly. Lemire makes it clear that Magik and Storm are the bad guys in this situation. They were bound to encounter locals who weren’t too happy with the two invading their world.
Lemire jumps around quite a lot this issue. This is easy for him to do considering the lack of depth in the story. At this point I hardly see the point in why “The Apocalypse Wars” wrapped up only to get a semi-continuation afterwards.
Speaking of Apocalypse, we don’t get to see much of the captive future first mutant this issue. This is weird considering how he essentially remains the backbone of the whole post “Apocalypse Wars” arc. Not that I’m complaining, though. Quite honestly, I could care less where this particular story is going. “The Apocalypse Wars” was a yawner that hasn’t quite clicked with me. And now in it’s aftermath, I’m ready for new foes and new storylines that focus on building what little X-Men characters are left.
Art:
The only positive thing I can say about Extraordinary X-Men #13 is the art. If nothing else, Victor Ibanez’s art has stayed pretty consistent throughout the series. The main thing that caught my eye with issue #13 is the art in the Sapna subplot. Here is also where artist both Ibanez and colorist Jay David Ramos really get to flex their artistic muscles.
One panel in particular that demonstrates both of their strengths working as one is where Illyana and Ororo first set off on their fantastical journey through different realms to find Sapna. The combo of bright to dark colors mixed in with intricate details of each world is easy on the eyes.
Verdict:
Extraordinary X-Men #13 was a boring issue that advanced the story at a snails pace.