by Matt Sernaker, Managing Editor
We’ve known for a while that the Fall of X was coming, and things aren’t going so well for our favorite Krakoan heroes. The Sins of Sinister might be over, but that doesn’t mean that Mother Righteous and Doctor Stasis aren’t done creating trouble for the mutants. With Orchis on the rise and Feilong taking control of Tony Stark’s technology, it was only a matter of time before all of the players started making their moves. Get ready, because Marvel’s X-Men #23 is simply titled: “When Cometh — The Stark Sentinels”.
Creative Team:
Writer: Gerry Duggan
Artist: Joshua Cassara
Colorist: Dee Cunniffe
Letterer: VC’s Clayton Cowles
Design: Tom Muller w/ Jay Bowen
While the X-Men might be used to dealing with your run-of-the-mill Sentinels, they definitely weren’t ready for their first battle with a Stark Sentinel. Cyclops, Forge, Iceman, and Firestar arrive to assist when one of the new Sentinels endangers the public, but quickly learn that Stark Tech has taken this genocidal robot to the next level. Even with backup from Synch, Magik, Talon, and Jean, the mutants are in for a tough battle… Meanwhile, the curtain is pulled back a bit to reveal more about Orchis’ big plan (you ain’t seen nothing yet) and we also get a bit more insight into the recent activities of two of the Sinister clones.
Although you might think an issue dedicated to fighting a singular Sentinel would be just another X-Men story, this particular fight seems to have some lasting ramifications. The stakes have been raised, and it is becoming a bit clearer to our heroes just how bad things might get if they don’t start preparing. The creative team took full advantage of the situation to allow for some standout character moments from each of the current team members, including a painful moment for Synch and a rage moment for Magik. The subplot with Mother Righteous and Dr. Stasis was a nice touch, adding a new layer to these ever evolving characters. Beyond the main story, we get a great moment between Emma and Scott on the shores of Krakoa, which leads to the information drop about the untimely (and frankly ridiculous) death of Ms. Marvel.
The main X-Men book has been one of Marvel’s most consistent titles over the last few years. I can’t think of a single issue since the House of X/Powers of X relaunch that hasn’t been captivating, and this issue is no exception. The characters are being written at their finest, with stories that feel like they are opening up new avenues of exploration and development. The art and coloring for X-Men have been equally as impressive, taking every opportunity to play with the Krakoan elements and current team power sets to their fullest.
X-Men #23 (Legacy 688) is a damn good read, encapsulating everything great about mutantkind and their ongoing fight against injustice. The creative team has channeled their magic (and Magik) to create a must-read issue.
Rating: 
ComicsOnline gives X-Men #23 – 5/5 Stark Sentinel fights.
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