This week in the Fall of the House of X, some tie-ins come to a close as the final battle draws nearer… and also, we get to see Caliban! We love Caliban!

PRELUDE TO THE FALL OF THE HOUSE OF X

This week: Cable #4, Invincible Iron Man #18, and X-Men #34.

RECAP OF THE FALL OF THE HOUSE OF X

After getting shot by the younger Nate, Cable reveals he is actually fine thanks to the techno-organic virus. He teams up with Parvenu’s assistant to catch up with him and Nate; they both soon learn that Parvenu wants to exploit the techno-organic virus to help him transcend into a post-human state and enact his plan for the future. Parvenu succeeds, but he quickly regrets what he becomes when he realizes how small and alone it makes him feel. Without a strong sense of self, Parvenu ceases to exist, thus preventing his future from coming to pass. With the matter settled, the Cables head off to the final battle against Orchis.

After the assist from Magneto, they —along with a begrudging Feilong—rebuild the Stark Sentinel Buster and fight Nimrod. Although knowing it’s just one of several duplicates, they handily defeat Nimrod together, and apprehend Feilong to pay for his crimes as they head off to the final battle against Orchis.

With Earth set off into chaos after Xavier’s betrayal, the X-Men attempt to aid civilians, especially after MODOK activates Orchis agents into sleeper monster transformations. After a crisis of faith with Caliban about Xavier, Shadowcat catches up with Wolverine and announces she intends to quit the X-Men.

ANALYSIS OF THE FALL OF THE HOUSE OF X

Something of a slighter week with these issues, since two of them (Cable and Invincible) are conclusions to their Fall tie-ins, while the flagship X-Men title will not return until after the finales of the core event titles, apparently serving as a coda to the Krakoa era ahead of the upcoming “From the Ashes” relaunch. So there’s not much to say about them, but I did appreciate some of the themes brought up in Cable about identity and fate. Cable is a famously stodgy character usually preoccupied with preventing the future before it happens instead of living in the moment, and I think that’s a valid message as I start approaching my mid-thirties amid a recent family emergency and knowing my parents are also growing older by the day! But enough about my troubles…

NEXT IN THE FALL OF THE HOUSE OF X

Next week: Wolverine #49 and X-Men Forever #3.

Fall of the House of X: Week 18

6.3

Cable #4

6.5/10

Invincible Iron Man #18

6.0/10

X-Men #34

6.5/10

Credits

Writers: Fabian Nicieza (C), Gerry Duggan (IIM, XM)
Artist: Scot Eaton, Lan Medina, Cam Smith & Jose Marzan Jr. (C), Crees Lee & Waldon Wong (IIM), Joshua Cassara (XM)
Color Artists: Java Tartaglia (C), Bryan Valenza (IIM), ROmulo Fajardo Jr. (XM)
LetterersL VC's Joe Sabino (C), VC's Joe Caramanga (IIM), VC's Clayton Cowles (XM)
Cover Artists: Whilce Portacio & Alex Sinclair (C), Kael Ngu (IIM), Joshua Cassara & Marte Gracia (XM)