Thoughts

This is another issue that exists to raise the stakes, but its one that takes a very different tack. It focuses almost entirely on the threat. Dark Phoenix has been born and this issue is all about illustrating what a hideous and terrifying prospect that is.

In doing so, its something of a bloodbath. The D’Bari supernova causes the death of 5 billion, instantly murdered by a Dark Phoenix we’re explicitly told does not care. Then a Shi-Ar spaceship is obliterated and then we’re told this peril is heading back to Earth.

I think its a shame that Claremont doesn’t maintain our insight into Jean’s mind with her internal monologue. The scale of destruction and corruption is so alien that having an insight into what a human who has become God could be some great writing. That said, I can understand why it is done instead using narration – getting inside the mind of an star-destroying entity isn’t going to be easy.

But I think these three panels show how narration allows the text to be incredibly clear about the scale of what is happening is huge. Claremont indulges in hyperbolic prose on the Cosmic scale but this time Byrne’s art can keep up. There is no doubt at the end of this issue that there has been a terrible disaster and – cue cliffhanger music – its not over yet.

Fun Panel

In an issue steeped in death and destruction, it’s surprising not an issue of supernova and planets crumbling that best capture things. But rather this gem.

Mutant Mailbag Mayhem

As an aside though, it’s a bit of a shame that the reprinted letters pages in this second omnibus are all so beautifully clear. I miss the fading classic comics yellowing of these pages in the first omnibus. Maybe Marvel can bring this page. And sell omnibus editions with tiny bottles of mildewing paper aroma for the full back issue experience.