Release: April 2026 | Writer: Jed MacKay | Artist: Netho Diaz & Sean Parsons | Colorists: Fernando Sifuentes | Letterer: Clayton Cowles
As the Danger Room keeps the X-Men preoccupied in three different battles, are the odds stacking against them?
See how the X-Men ended up here by reading my review of Issues #26 & #27!
*SPOILER WARNING AHEAD!*
TIMBER! THE X-MEN FALL DOWN
The Marauder is under attack, and in a shocking splash page, Psylocke and Xorn appear to meet their end. It’s a brutal opening that immediately establishes the stakes, and it’s clear that the Danger Room’s plan is unfolding exactly as intended. With two X-Men seemingly dead, their focus shifts to the team in Alaska—still shaken from Glob’s recent near-fatal attack.
What’s most surprising in all of this isn’t Magneto’s reaction—but Quentin’s. He’s the one consumed by fury, teetering on the edge of completely losing control. Even when Magneto attempts to ground him and bring some level of calm, Quentin pushes back hard, insisting that anger is the only appropriate response.
To him, this isn’t a moment for patience or strategy—it’s a moment for action. While Glob fights for his life on the operating table, Quentin is already thinking about retaliation, determined to hunt down whoever is responsible no matter the cost.
Magneto assures Quentin that whoever is responsible will pay—but he urges patience. To him, the bigger picture is obvious: shooting an innocent mutant like Glob isn’t random, it’s a setup. And if they react impulsively, they’ll be walking straight into their enemy’s trap.
Temper pushes back, recognizing the pattern all too well. She tells Magneto she’s seen this kind of situation before—hesitation only leads to more bodies. In her eyes, inaction isn’t strategy, it’s surrender. She refuses to stand by and let more mutants die.
Meanwhile, on the other side of the conflict, Colton remains confident that everything is unfolding exactly as planned. With the shooter already gone, the X-Men in Alaska are left chasing a ghost—running headfirst into a wild goose chase for someone they’ll never be able to find. It’s a calculated move, designed to keep them distracted, divided, and exactly where the Danger Team wants them.
Back on The Spirit of St. Augustine, the main X-Men are fighting for their lives against a relentless, living monster that has overtaken the ship. No matter what they try, it won’t relent. Beast studies the creature, but admits he has no idea how to stop it—he doesn’t intend to kill, and that limits his options.
Juggernaut snaps him out of his hesitation, reminding him that survival in their world requires violence, especially when death is imminent. Moments later, Juggernaut is seized by the ship, pulled deep into its hull and disappearing from sight. Cyclops and Magik scream in alarm, but the ship shows no mercy, taking them as well. Beast is left alone, forced to fend for himself against the monstrous vessel.
Meanwhile, back at the Danger Room, the team celebrates the success of their plan, already plotting their next target: the Avengers. In Alaska, Quentin and Temper push onward, desperate to track down the shooter who attacked glob, determined not to let the perpetrator slip away.
Beast clutches Sheriff Robbins safely under his arm, scanning the chaotic surroundings for a way forward. Realizing that the only path through this deadly maze is to take a risk, he leaps down into a dark pit, plunging deeper into the unknown.
Meanwhile, back in the Danger Room, momentum continues unabated. Jackson asks Ms. Danger if she can eliminate John Greycrow, the final loose end in their plan. She gives the go-ahead, and Jackson summons one of their soldiers to carry out the hit. He confirms that Greycrow will be dead.
Ms. Danger applauds—her team has seemingly accomplished the unthinkable: the X-Men are wiped out. Or so she believes. Psylocke is alive, her energy blade piercing the soldier Jackson had spoken to. Fully aware of the Danger Room’s machinations, she and her allies, Greycrow and Xorn, now have a target of their own: retribution.
CONCLUSION
The X-Men finally get BRUTAL! This issue is an intense, blood-pumping ride from start to finish. With three intertwining storylines, the narrative never lets up, keeping the reader constantly engaged with actionable story progression. The Danger Room emerges as a legitimate and dangerous threat—a team that can challenge even our most fearless heroes. I was skeptical at first about how they could hold up against the X-Men, but they’re proving to be a genuine challenge.
I predict that Beast may be forced to get physical with someone from the Danger Room, and he might even cross the line into killing. The reminders of his pacifist stance feel intentionally juxtaposed against the overarching “kill or be killed” theme, highlighting the moral tension of this world. Quentin’s thirst for revenge is another standout, giving him new depth and a sharper edge. And of course, Psylocke’s brutal last page—her energy blade through a man’s head—is a visual moment that sticks with you.
This X-Team has endured so much over the years, and this issue perfectly demonstrates how that experience has shaped them. Their guards are always up, and their willingness to be ruthless is justified—they don’t want to be picked off one by one. It’s a stark and compelling contrast to the less dangerous, less vicious Uncanny Team down south, which I also love. All in all, this is a huge win of an issue!