X-Men Gold #13

By Marc Guggenheim, Mike Mayhew, and Rain Beredo

We’re now thirteen issues into X-Men Gold, which is pretty much when you decide if you are on board with the book or not. There has been criticism (“it’s too safe, not exciting enough, nothing happens, etc.”) but ultimately, the series has been a success. What makes this issue a little different from the rest in the run, is that it is a mini-crossover with Cullen Bunn’s X-Men Blue that puts everyone in the Mojoverse. While Marvel has sworn off crossovers for a while, a little two-title event isn’t something that should get fans in an uproar, and should be enjoyed for what it is.

Marc Guggenheim has done a good job of making this title work. Issue #13 pits our mutants in the Mojoverse which has always been a fascinating place to have a story. Guggenheim continues to show his love for the characters and their past as he opens with them playing baseball, which is a favorite pastime of the X-Men, but something they haven’t had much time for lately. As they get swept up and whisked away to the Mojoverse, team members get separated and form smaller groups. Guggenheim’s decision on who is with who is interesting. Cyclops and Rachel will be a good dynamic to see because they haven’t had all that much interaction. If there is one small gripe about the issue, it’s that Blood Storm, who is actually very cool, is so quickly integrated into the team. No one questions this and just accepts it. It seems kind of rushed, but is ultimately exciting to see what will happen with her character.

The pencils this issue are handled by Mike Mayhew with colors by Rain Beredo. Mayhew’s work is excellent this issue and looks extremely realistic. Looking at the images of the team playing baseball, it almost seems like you’re looking at photos. You may also never see any pages where Mojo looks this real. Mayhew’s style is amazing and this issue doesn’t seem like a superhero book until our characters get into costumes. The realistic pencils are helped immensely by the brilliant colors by Rain Beredo. Beredo uses earthly tones in the early pages of the book, like the baseball game. As we get deeper into the issue, bright pinks and dark colors emerge, but the art and colors never lose any quality. Art-wise, this is the finest issue of X-Men Gold yet.

For all the complaints being thrown out about the X-Men line right now, X-Men Gold has been pretty consistent and solid. Marc Guggenheim brings an old school charm with a good cast that should make you feel nostalgic as you read through these pages. Enough can’t be said about the wonderful art in this issue. Mayhew and Beredo put on a display of how great a book can look with the right art team behind it. X-Men Gold is one of the most entertaining books on the rack this week.