Uncanny X-Men #20

By Matthew Rosenberg, Salvador Larroca, and GURU e-FX

We’re entering the final stretch on Matthew Rosenberg’s polarizing Uncanny X-Men run. With only two issues left, including this one, things are really starting to take shape. We have sickness, fighting, death, and of course, more 90’s villains. How these last two issues wrap up will be a big determining factor on whether some critical fans like it or not. I’ve been enjoying the thrill ride, and love the nostalgic trip down memory lane.

Matthew Rosenberg has dwindled the team down to a select group of mutants. We’ve lost, due to death or flat out quitting, several key members and are left with an interesting core that includes Juggernaut. Our team finds the Nasty Boys have been defeated, and the victors in the match are an interesting bunch. After they group reveals theses are the end of days, they decided to hunt the most powerful mutants around, the X-Men. Rosenberg gives us a good fight sequence with some well scripted panels. It’s nice to see the team work together through their bumps. We also see more of Logan and Emma as they fight one another. Rosenberg writes Logan as angry, rightfully so, as his mind has been messed with yet again. The ending of the issue deals with Dark Beast. For those of us who have been waiting to see what he is really up too, all is finally revealed. Rosenberg has used Dark Beast wonderfully, and he’s been a character that has played off of Scott and others well. Loose ends are tied up, the real Captain America shows up, and more people die. Rosenberg ends the issue with a moment we’ve been waiting for too. This was another fun read from Mr. Rosenberg.

The pencils this issue are handled by Salvador Larroca with colors by GURU-eFX. Larroca is a legendary artist, and his greatness continues with this issue. A page as simple as Magik porting Banshee around as they plant the cure looks great. The placement by Larroca Magik stands off to the left of the page and Banshee is seen in multiple panels is great. We also get to see Larroca draw several cool characters as Mystique fights Kwannon. Mystique uses her powers to change up the fight by transforming to Lady Deathsrike and Spiral. Larroca’s art is near flawless. For as good as the pencils are in this issue, the colors are just as important. GURU-eFX’s work is stunning here. He allows Larroca’s art to leap off the page with his vibrant colors. Seeing Fitzroy get blasted by Havok is always great, but to see the color contrast between the blues and the green in Fitzroy’s hair is great. The art is amazing this issue and couldn’t have been better.

Matthew Rosenberg has given X-Men fans a look into his vision for the title. If you read X-Men in the 90’s, this should strike a chord with you. His work has been fun and thrilling at the same time. Salvador Larroca continues to show why he is one of the all-time great artists in this industry. His work on this series has been some of his best to date. Uncanny X-Men is a book that will floor you.