Astonishing X-Men #5

LIFE OF X pt V

Written by Charles Soule
Penciled by Ramon Rosanas
Cover by Ramon Rosanas
Published Nov 1 2017

   On the Astral Plane, Professor Charles Xavier explains to Rogue why Gambit couldn't be saved. At the moment, he's playing an illusion filled chess game against the Shadow King. Gambit is with Logan, with mind locked inside the plane and body loose in the real world.
   In London, he charges the floor and as the police fire at him, he leaps away and it explodes. He swings aboard a nearby helicopter as Psylocke transports the SWAT team and incapacitated X-Men safely to another rooftop. Gambit however gets away on the hijacked chopper.

Yeeee! Gotcha!

   Meanwhile, Charles continues telling them what happened to him. After Cyclops killed him, Farouk collected his spirit. For some unexplained reasons there's a side conversation going on between Fantomex and Xavier as well, which was a little confusing. Either way... Charles played against the Shadow King, learning more and more about him. With his X-Men, he can eventually defeat him, but he's running out of time. As he degrades, he's going to need his former students to become like knights and fight on his behalf.

Look. I know this looks bad...

   Back in London, Angel and Bishop trail Logan while Gambit approaches from behind and turns him into a Shadow King controlled zombie. Logan emerges from a nearby building with more subjects in tow and Warren reports back to Betsy on what he's seeing.. This possession spreads from person to person by touch.

Somewhere Robert Kirkman is saying "HEY! ZOMBIES ARE MY IDEA!"

   In a nearby command center, British officers observe the crisis, discussing and eventually approving what appears to be destroying everything. Back above London, Psylocke explains to Warren that he needs to let out his inner Archangel. He's hesitant but with her help, she convinces him they can keep everything at bay. He agrees, rips his skin off and the metal wings of death and blue appearance emerge. With that, we're left to be continued.

Time to make myself look cool again!

   I'm not sure, but I think this might be the best X title in publication right now. While it's weird to have a different artist every single issue, Charles Soule is definitely giving us a story that's at the moment better than the over-published Gold and Blue books combined. It also makes me realize how much I miss old Professor X. At this point, he's been dead for over 5 years. Maybe it's time for his return? Anyway, for this issue, I give it a 10/10.

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