Immoral X-Men #3
Sinister and Rasputin travel a universe gone mad looking for the Moira Machine in Immoral X-Men #3, by writer Kieron Gillen, artist Alessandro Vitti, colorist Rain Beredo, and letterer Clayton Cowles. This issue sidesteps a lot of the problems that previous parts in SoS had, leading everything to its climactic conclusion.
Rasputin and Sinister investigate one of the many Exodus Prayerworlds, looking for a clone with the information they need. Rasputin finds it, but the towering Exodus clone awakens and makes chase. Sinister calls out that the Exodus has launched in a general hail, causing another Exodus to attack, starting a war between the various Exodus factions. After traveling through the universe, avoiding the many perils of the Red Diamond Empire, they find what they’re looking for: an ancient vinyl cylinder launched from Earth by Destiny years ago. Sinister listens to the message, which points him in the right direction, while Rasputin listens in. She learns what Sinister really wants - to become a Dominion - and stands in his way. After a short fight, he launches her from the ship, leaving her to die in space. He makes his way to Earth and picks up the one person he needs and who will help him - Moira MacTaggert, still alive in her artificial body after a millennia. He promises her a restoration of her powers, and the two leave, but the Doombot living with Moira has spy programming. Beast lets Emma Frost know, and she mobilizes her forces. The trail leads Sinister and Moira to the World Farm, where they’re shot down by Jon Ironfire. Sinister has a deal for Ironfire, one that could save the universe. Meanwhile, a still-living Rasputin makes a deal of her own.
So, the Year One Hundred portions of SoS were pretty weak, but that’s because readers kept getting glimpses of what had happened since Year Ten, and the glimpses were too tantalizing. The beginning of the Year One Thousand portion is quite different. Gillen drops readers into a completely unrecognizable universe, using Rasputin to explain things like Prayerworlds and the Exodus schism and an info page to reveal the fate of the Quiet Council. He does a lot more showing than telling. It’s a completely different experience from earlier issues.
Everything is so alien, and that’s why the short explanations work better. This issue gives readers a callback to Destiny’s vision of the future from Immortal X-Men #1, and Gillen kills it with the concepts he throws at readers. Readers constantly get the feeling this is an entirely new world. On top of that, the plot is fantastic. Making Rasputin the point of view character is inspired, as she’s always been a character readers wanted more from. Teaming up Sinister and Moira is a great idea, and bringing in a still-living Jon Ironfire is inspired. This issue builds the endgame expertly, really boosting anticipation for the end of the book.
Vitti and Beredo are the perfect art team for this issue. Vitti’s style really works for the alien/sci-fi environs of the story. The heavy linework lends everything a darkness that fits the hopeless vibe of this future. Beredo’s colors also add to this oppressive feeling; they aren’t overly dark, but there are a lot of shadows. The art creates just the right vibe to fit the script. On top of that, it looks excellent.
Immoral X-Men #3 launches the last phase of SoS expertly. This story was stalling a bit in the middle, but this one kicks it into the next gear. Gillen, Vitti, Beredo, and Cowles give readers an engaging read that sets the stage for the next phases wonderfully.
