Powers Of X #3
The X-Men take the fight to Nimrod in the Year One Hundred in Powers Of X #3, by writer Jonathan Hickman, artist R.B.Silva, colorist Marte Gracia, and letterer Clayton Cowles. Unlike previous issues, this one focuses on the events in the Year One Hundred, as the X-Men try to get some sensitive information about Nimrod.
The X-Men of the future attack The Temple Of Concordance as a first step towards getting Nimrod’s attention. Karima tries to get Nimrod to intervene, but he declines, and she leaves with a group of Sentinels. As that’s happening, Apocalypse, Wolverine, and Cypher get access to one of the machine’s information depots. This does get Nimrod’s attention, and he teleports there. He attacks Wolverine, nearly incinerating him. At the Temple, Rasputin unleashes Xorn’s singularity on Karima. Apocalypse gives Wolverine the information they found and sends him away, holding the line against Nimrod. Wolverine wakes Moira up and gives her the information then kills her, allowing her to take the information into her next life.
The biggest take away from this issue is that it’s not the current reincarnation of Moira, but the ninth one. Hickman plays with the concept of Moira’s multiple lives, using it to subvert readers expectations. It’s using the concept perfectly. If the X-Men can stop Nimrod in the past, then the dystopia of the Year One Hundred might not come to pass, and Moira’s mutation is tailor-made for this sort of plan. It’s a shocking moment, but it also makes sense with Moira’s powers. It also casts the rest of this book and House Of X into doubt about which life readers are seeing. Hickman can play with that, making the story that much more interesting.
Beyond the big reveal, this book is action-packed. It also highlights the power of Nimrod as he fights Apocalypse, showing readers how much of a threat he is. If he can toss around En Sabah Nur, he’s a very big deal. The Sentinels throughout the book are portrayed as powerful foes. The only reason Karima’s side is taken out is because of Xorn. This was an extreme circumstance and would have been negated if Xorn had been taken out earlier. Before that, the Sentinels are pretty handily winning.
R.B. Silva’s art fits the story, its both kinetic and detailed. He matches the tone of the book to a tee, and his action scenes pop off the page. Seeing three Nimrods attacking Apocalypse is pretty cool. Marte Gracia’s colors work with the art so well, giving the comic a great feel. He knows when to darken things up and when to use brighter colors to make the action look better.
Powers Of X #3 takes Moira’s mutation to the next level, using it as an unexpected plot twist at the end of the issue. It allows for Hickman to play with reader’s expectations in this book and the other one. Really, it makes perfect sense with her powerset, and it’s a surprise she hasn’t done something like this before. Beyond that, this is a fun issue, fast-paced, and action-packed. The art by Silva and Gracia really make the whole work. It’ll be interesting to see where Hickman takes the story from here.