Issue #34 of The Uncanny X-Men by Gail Simone introduces Howler, a young mutant who reveals his story as one the X-Men can easily relate to. Sharing a distinct, scarred, and animalistic look that clearly disqualifies him from being able to hide his mutant identity, Howler hints at being abused and experimented on at a new facility.
During this conversation, Jubilee’s tear slipping out from her sunglasses was a nice touch. It maintains her cool factor while highlighting her empathy, alongside Monet St. Croix, Wolverine, and Nightcrawler, who all silently relate to Howler’s predicament of being seen/treated as less than human. The parallel is well-crafted as their pasts: Monet as Penance, Logan as Weapon-X, and Kurt as a circus performer, help steel their resolve to take down this facility.
The aforementioned Monet’s leadership role within the situation is really intriguing. Regardless of being one of the most intelligent characters in Marvel, she’s admittedly out of her element. However, she’s trying her best, and it starts with her hugging Howler instead of fighting him when he perceives her as a threat. Despite freestyling, it eventually works out as she calms the young and traumatized mutant down.
On the other side—both in terms of paneling and globally—Gambit and Rogue are across the world at a hidden monastery trying to exorcise the demon Wyvern from Remy.
The issue loses a few points here because for me, it was a bit confusing to follow narrative-wise. The dialogue and internal thoughts don’t convey all the details properly in my opinion.
However, from what I understood, Gambit saw his and Rogue’s unborn son during a fear montage by Wyvern. Whether this was a hallucination or an actual child yet to be born is unsure, due to the mystical nature of the issue. Father Gabriel classifies this as a delusion based on his fears, but Remy’s conversation with the child involved reference to events they both already knew, hence the confusion.
In the follow-up, Rogue reveals she has something to tell Gambit relating to a child. She was seen communicating with someone while holding her stomach in the issue’s opening.
Pregnancy? Past miscarriage she kept secret? Another hallucination? I’m not entirely sure, but I am interested in where this is heading.
As for the other parts of Mr. & Mrs. X’s adventure, there’s a good amount of gray to support the hidden island’s eerie setting. The issue cuts between this and the rest of the X-Men back at the Haven House in New Orleans. It provides a nice contrast, as the house is in a sunny setting.
Contrasting the color scale between the two symbolizes Gambit’s internal strife. The sunny and bright setting suits the hope the X-Men bring, along with how Gambit feels about them. But in his current demon form, Remy doesn’t feel he belongs within this sunny and bright setting, which is why he and Rogue fly away to this eerie dark setting for a cure. The setting and panel cutting complement his internal feelings.
On the topic of the cure, one of the highlights for me was Anna Marie saying she loves Gambit enough to get used to the demon form, on the chance it’s permanent. Little romantic moments sprinkled into issues like that make me happy the marriage exists. Marvel is usually so scared to have their characters be in long-standing relationships, so having Gambit & Rogue together is a huge plus.
Lastly, the fights are solid. There’s not a wide showcase of abilities, but the moments are enjoyable. In one of them, Rogue literally takes a demon’s head off his shoulders.
Issue #35 releases on September 16.
Rating: 3.6/5
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