X-Men #18 closed out a story arc in epic fashion, but X-Men #19 will ramp up the anticipation as Doug returns after being turned into the Heir of Apocalypse. That’s largely because there hasn’t been a development with Apocalypse and his corner of things since X of Swords, but also because we haven’t seen Doug for long in this new form. Joined by his wife Bei the Blood Moon, and his trusty bud Warlock it’s time to catch up with the odd trio.
X-Men #19 opens with Apocalypse narrating and filling us in on Doug’s, aka Revelation’s, rebirth. It’s a short two pages that feels epic, juxtaposed well with a page turn of Revelation waking up in a humble house and bed beside Bei. It seems he’s been living a domestic life while lying low.
Aside from marital bliss, this issue establishes Revelation’s new powers and then tests them. Warlock puts it best when it comes to Revelation’s powers as he has “administrator access to thinking minds.” There’s a nuanced difference between Xavier, but it’s not entirely dissimilar. In a way, it makes Revelation almost biblical, as if he were an angel that people had to listen to and obey. Given Doug is a good soul, that’s not such a bad thing, but one can see writer Jed MacKay putting him to the test down the road.
Not a bath you want to get into.
Credit: Marvel
He’s put through a few physical tests in this issue, including getting thrown out a window by his wife. She’s from Arakko, and that’s totally normal. Another test involves a hit squad, which leads to an intense attack. It’s cool to see Revelation’s powers and how he’s been amplified into a mutant who can do some real damage.
Netho Diaz continues to show he’s one of the best things to happen to X-Men comics in the last few years. The art is dynamic, fun when it needs to be, and action-packed. The acting Revelation goes through is key as well, making him humanized and relatable. The kind and underpowered Doug of old is still there in his facial expressions, so when he goes all out, you realize there’s a kind man behind all this power.
One wrinkle with the hit squad, however, is that the stakes never feel all that high. Sure, it’s a taste test of what Revelation can do, but you won’t think for a second that Revelation and his compatriots are in any real danger.
X-Men #19 is a thoughtful, visually striking reintroduction to Doug as Revelation, positioning him as a major player with near-divine abilities and moral complexity. Though the action beats feel more like a warm-up than a real threat, the emotional and thematic groundwork is impressively laid.
You must be logged in to post a comment.