R. B. Silva’s stunningly beautiful cover to Powers of X #1 sets a high bar for things to come. Like Pepe Larraz, Silva is a master of deep textural designs and dynamic perspectives, ideal for the cinematic quality of the storytelling and Hickman’s penchant for cryptic symbols and motifs. But where Larraz’s line is more smoothly fluid, Silva’s is a bit more angular—a nice contrast for the interweaving titles. (Similar contrasts could be drawn between Alan Davis and Stuart Immonen—and that comparison to past masters is justified by the level these younger artists are working at.)
Related:
[Read more…] about How to (Re)Read the Hickman Era of X-Men: Powers of X #1 Pt. 1
is a story about love, like all the best X-Men stories. This is why it excels so beautifully, because it honors the emotional core of its characters and themes of found family and protecting the weak. The newly-collected crossover event is about what our heroes will sacrifice to recover lost love – in a contest of swords, the sharpest are the ones that pierce the heart. Tini Howard, Jonathan Hickman, Pepe Larraz, and Marte Gracia lead the entire X-Men creative team in a coordinated effort to create a sprawling epic. It may wobble at times but never loses sight of its true purpose, sticking the landing with Olympic flair. The story introduces years’ worth of new material and vibrant characters into the canon while giving fans hit after hit for their long-time favorites. X of Swords draws on the past, present, and future of the franchise to pull just about every heart string. 
: The House That Xavier Built