By
Title: X-Men Gold #21
Publisher: Marvel Comics
Writers: Marc Guggenheim
Artists: Diego Bernard
Story Rating: 9
Art Rating: 10
Color Rating: 10
Overall Rating: 9.6
A new threat emerges from the past as Mesmero, Avalanche, and Pyro seek revenge against the X-Men. A plan unfolds for the mutants as our heroes fall into a murderous trap. Together these villainous mutants will form a new Brotherhood.
Marc Guggenheim creates drama as the team seems to be lost being unsophisticated dealing with the aftermath of the Negative Zone War. These new obstacles only shatter what little connection the X-Men have, as they are overwhelmed leading to defeat.
The X-Men respond to Mesmero, Pyro and Avalanche attacking Lydia Nance and her Fundraising Gala. Therefore, it’s up to Kitty Pryde, Colossus, Storm, NightCrawler, Prestige, and Magma to stop these breakout mutants. Lydia Nance is a powerful politician who aims to get rid of all mutants within the United States.
The comic offers understandable character motivation and struggle. The dark past of these heroes become their downfall in the line of duty. The stakes rise at each possible moment for the course of events reach from bad to worse to eventually impossible.
Artwork carries a decent display of color and the dramatic as the manifestations of powers are precise and defiant. Sharp colors of red, blue, black, and yellow create a smooth visual for the reader. The characters share multiple color tones to either blend or mix over the surface of the skin and physical features to deliver depth.
Everything upon the panels is understandable in relation to what is happening at the particular moment. Pencil work utilizes thin lines clean and functional to offer detail while leaving the main focus of color to complete the image.
Each line has a proper place without being too intense or jumbled together. Therefore, the comic book balances all elements between the story and the vision portrayed behind the eye of Diego Bernard.
The conclusion leaves the fate of the X-Men unknown for Mesmero, Avalanche, and Pyro may enforce a devastating end to the famed students of Charles Xavier. Find out in further issues to come as the mutants take on this familiar but deadly force.
