This week in the Fall of the House of X, Magik and Ms. Marvel make some big moves as the final battle against Orchis draws nearer.

PRELUDE TO THE FALL OF THE HOUSE OF X

X-Men #32 and Ms. Marvel: Mutant Menace #1.

RECAP OF THE FALL OF THE HOUSE OF X

While Emma Frost continues the Resistance efforts, a depowered Magik (previously thought to be dead) raids an Orchis detention facility. She reunites with Shadowcat, and they continue their assault while Shadowcat catches Magik up on what she’s missed since she’s been gone. They’re then joined by Polaris, who uses her magnetism to remove the nanites dampening Magik’s powers. After working together to destroy a Stark Sentinel, they release the detained mutants and catch up with Emma, who surprises Kitty with Lockheed. Emma communes with Cyclops, who informs her that Dr. Alia Gregor is on their side, and Magik leaves to join him.

In Jersey City, Ms. Marvel helps bust a Purifier amid heightened mutant aggression and public opinion turning on her after her mutant revelation. The X-Men encourage Kamala to focus on school, but she struggles with keeping her secrets from Nakia and Zoe, who were both mind-wiped to forget about her dual identity for their safety. Later, Bruno informs her that the surveillance app Mutant Watch has picked up the presence of The Planter, a mutant with plant-based abilities, robbing a jewelry store. She tries to de-escalate the situation, but they’re interrupted by Hordeculture, the gang of elderly bioterrorists previously encountered by the X-Men. Kamala helps the Planter escape and prepares to fight off Hordeculture, but she’s then suddenly whisked away into space by Lila Cheney. Elsewhere, Dr. Nikita Gaiha prepares her revenge on Ms. Marvel, after the latter ruined her Orchis operations at Empire State U.

ANALYSIS OF THE FALL OF THE HOUSE OF X

Another quiet week this time, focusing mainly on character development than plot movement, but that’s not a bad thing in the slightest. X-Men #32 features many have returns and reunions, notably with Kitty finally back with both of her besties Magik and Lockheed, and it gives Magik a spotlight she’s been missing. Even depowered, Magik can still pack a punch and then some, as lovingly depicted by Phil Noto’s bloody and delightful art. Plus, Emma gets to put her new Stark repulsors to work, and that’s fun to see.

The same is largely true in Ms. Marvel: Mutant Menace #1, with the grind of Kamala’s daily life interfering with her increased scrutiny as a publicly known mutant. While some people still trust her (such as Ali, her friend on the police force), anti-mutant rhetoric is taking hold in Jersey City thanks to Orchis, which gives Kamala stakes that are both micro and macro. It’s very subtly clever, and a good way to tie her into the meta narrative in a way that feels organic.

NEXT IN THE FALL OF THE HOUSE OF X

Fall of the House of X #3 and Dead X-Men #3.

Fall of the House of X: Week Ten

X-Men #32

7.0/10

Ms. Marvel: Mutant Menace #1

7.0/10

Credits

Writers: Gerry Duggan (X-Men), Iman Vellani & Sabir Pirzada (Ms. Marvel)
Artists: Phil Noto (XM), Scott Godlewski (MM)
Color Artists: Phil Noto (XM), Erick Arciniega (MM)
Letterers: VC's Clayton Cowles (XM), VC's Joe Caramanga (MM)
Cover Artists: Joshua Cassara & Marte Gracia (XM), Carlos Gómez & Jesus Aburtov (MM)