REVIEW: ‘The Uncanny X-Men #13’ - Three Stories of Dark Mystery
- Keith M.
- 5 days ago
- 3 min read
Uncanny X-Men has been a bit of a mixed bag for me over the last 13 issues, but I think the series may have finally found its stride. There are a few things that have made this a rocky read, and I don’t think the two X-Men events since the start of the From the Ashes era helped much. We were promised a mystery surrounding the Outliers, a story that would reveal who they are and which of them might spell the end of mutants, and I finally feel like we're getting closer to that story in earnest—well, sort of.
Rather than opening with the present-day adventures of our mutant misfits, Simone takes us to the past, introducing us to Henrietta Benjamin, a young Black schoolteacher living in Chicago. Despite her roots in the city, she seems to be on an urgent mission to Louisiana. One thing that immediately piques interest is the urgency with which she must leave home, despite never having ventured more than a few miles away. Her mystery deepens when, as she departs, she carves a symbol on a nearby sign, one that strongly resembles an "M."
A lot happens in this issue, starting with Gambit and Rogue enjoying a quiet morning together. The heartwarming moment is interrupted when Remy is called away by the dragon Sadurang, the same mystical creature Gambit took the Left Eye of Agamotto from in issue #1. Despite Sadurang's intimidating appearance, this interaction is unexpectedly amusing, especially when the dragon references events from Storm #3. However, Sadurang isn’t just here for casual conversation, he brings an important reveal about the Left Eye of Agamotto, which has been a lingering mystery. I found it very satisfying that this plot thread was finally brought back into the fold.
Meanwhile, the Outliers are on their own journey, with Deathdream (who’s quickly becoming a favorite character of mine) leading the group. He cryptically tells them that something is calling to them, guiding them down what he calls a “highway of pain” and a river of tears, all leading to a monument in the swamp. Unsurprisingly, the monument is shaped like an "X" and is called The Dark Artery, a sort of beacon that ties into the title of this arc.
The narrative becomes more fragmented as three storylines unfold simultaneously. Gambit, alongside Sadurang, learns that the Left Eye of Agamotto is cursed, and its power could potentially turn him against his allies. Sadurang offers to take the eye from him, but as of now, we haven’t seen any indication that Gambit has acted out of character, which makes me question whether the dragon’s warning is truly accurate. Meanwhile, we learn more about Henrietta’s connection to Louisiana, and to the X-Men. It’s revealed that she must travel to Haven to lay her mother to rest, and, of course, that she is a mutant. Though this revelation wasn’t particularly shocking given the nature of X-Men stories, it adds another layer of intrigue.
The issue concludes with the Outliers having entered and navigating the Dark Artery, which increasingly resembles some sort of tomb. Ember is notably absent, perhaps the only one with the sense not to enter. But fear turns out to be the least of their worries (or the most), as Deathdream leads them to none other than the guardian of the Nexus of All Realities: The Man-Thing. This was a surprising twist, considering the swamp he inhabits is typically located in the Florida Everglades.
Overall, Simone does a fantastic job weaving together three distinct narratives that tie back to the mysteries introduced in issue #1, while also building a new mystery and injecting more suspense into the ongoing story. While I wasn’t the biggest fan of Uncanny X-Men at the outset, it’s clearly evolving into a much more interesting and engaging tale.
About The Uncanny X-Men #13
Release Date: April 09, 2025
Written by: Gail Simone
Art by: David Marquez
Cover by: David Marquez & Matthew Wilson
Page Count: 26
Synopsis: "THE DARK ARTERY" Starts Here! In their most terrifying adventure yet, the four young OUTLIERS discover the true meaning of Haven House and a doorway that should never be opened. Meanwhile, an otherworldly presence has set its covetous eye on one of the four young mutants, in a story that tells a never-before-told slice of the history of mutantkind
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