REVIEW: ‘Phoenix #10’ - Empathy and Power Fight for Reality
- Keith M.
- 7 days ago
- 3 min read
When I began reading Phoenix #10, it took me a moment to settle into the story. The first few pages revisit much of what many fans (myself included) already know about Jean Grey. However, I had to remind myself that for some readers, this might be their first introduction to Jean and the events that have shaped her journey. This creates a challenging balancing act for writer Phillips: merging decades of established knowledge with the task of building a new narrative for a fresh status quo. It’s no easy feat, and one I certainly wouldn’t envy.
Fortunately, Phillips manages to nail this balance, diving into the core of this 10-issue arc with finesse. At the heart of the story is Jean Grey, a young woman who lost her childhood in an instant when her best friend died, experiencing that moment of death in her mind. Similarly, Adani's childhood was abruptly interrupted by the death of her father, and having power she didn’t understand thrust upon her at multiple turns. Jean's vow to “fight like hell” to prevent Adani from experiencing the same loss of person and innocence brings their story full circle in a powerful and satisfying way.
The Dark Gods who’ve used Adani for their own needs view Phoenix’s empathy as a weakness, something they believe will distract her long enough to leave the Nexus of All Realities and spread their evil across the multiverse. These particular scenes stand out, as Miracolo’s art perfectly conveys the chaotic, surreal nature of the Nexus, with creepy death fairies, odd tentacles with eyes, and windows leading to countless alternate realities. None of this daunts Phoenix, who boldly warns she will take the fight across the Multiverse if necessary to stop her enemies.
The ensuing battle is as chaotic as it is captivating, with Miracolo using the entities of the Nexus as panel borders and obstacles, allowing the characters to interact with them in dynamic ways. Jean, however, effortlessly dispatches most of the Dark Gods, blending her formidable psychic powers with the raw might of the Phoenix. Notably, we also see more of Jean’s inner dialogue here, which had been conspicuously absent in earlier issues.
Through her narration, we come to understand that her empathy is not a weakness, but a strength. Jean will always choose to save lives, but as the Phoenix, she also knows when to burn. In the end, while Jean stays behind to save Adani, the Phoenix’s power is used to scorch away the spreading shadows of the Dark Gods, obliterating both the villains and their influence through the multiverse. What remains is a resolution between Jean and Adani, the latter absolved of her past sins, and her heart lightened after being consumed by power and rage, much like Jean once was.
The conclusion to the Phoenix storyline introduced in issue #1 is neatly wrapped up, but I couldn’t help but feel that the resolution was a bit anticlimactic. The battle in the Nexus of All Realities, while visually engaging, didn’t quite pose a real challenge for Phoenix. It left me wondering, much like Nova: "What can’t the Phoenix do?" It raises the question of how Jean Grey can be meaningfully challenged in the future, beyond her ongoing struggles with the Phoenix identity, which has been explored extensively by now. For Jean and the Phoenix story to continue to succeed, both she and Phillips will need to face fresh and exciting challenges that push the boundaries of their narrative. With a new artistic team comprised of interior artist Roi Mercado and cover artist Lucas Werneck starting in issue #11, I look forward to seeing the Phoenix story grow and soar to new heights.
About Phoenix #10
Release Date: April 09, 2025
Written by: Stephanie Phillips
Art by: Alessandro Miracolo
Cover by: Yasmine Putri
Page Count: 26
Synopsis: THE FINAL BATTLE! JEAN GREY has ascended to her most powerful form ever, but she’s going to need every ounce of her strength to defeat ADANI, whose connection to the PHOENIX FORCE — and to Jean’s psyche! — makes this battle exceptionally dangerous! As Jean herself struggles to hold on to her humanity, Adani and the DARK GODS seek to end her time in this galaxy — for good!
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