Krakoa’s resident mad geneticist and undisputed fashion icon finally enacts his will on the universe in Sins of Sinister #1.

Sins of Sinister is a quasi-Elseworld saga that depicts a timeline in which Nathaniel Essex (AKA Mister Sinister) successfully fostered mutant supremacy, but specifically one in his own image — figuratively and literally. After successfully tricking the Quiet Council into psychic corruption through some casual temporal resetting and murder, he was able to seize control of not just Krakoa, but also the United States, then Earth itself, and beyond. But even with his plan working out so well, nothing is ever perfect, and there are still forces of good seeking to make Sinister suffer for his crimes…

As alluded to above, Sins of Sinister isn’t quite an Age of Apocalypse-type deal, but more along the lines of a “flash-sideways” running in tandem with the rest of the X-Men line. Immortal X-Men, X-Men Red, and Legion of X specifically are temporarily replaced with new titles Immoral X-Men, Storm & The Brotherhood of Mutants, and Nightcrawlers respectively, all accounting for the bulk of the narrative while every other X-Men title (e.g. X-Men, Marauders) will proceed without interruption. (In this way, it’s actually comparable to that of the more recent Age of X-Man, which had a similar meta structure.) This is possible through a framing device from the past year of X-Men comics that establishes Sinister’s newfound ability to undo time using one of his many —but finite— Moira MacTaggart clones. After several failed attempts resulting in quick death, Sinister is now on his final life, meaning he must survive if he wants to never wake from his nightmarish dream, because heaven knows he’ll be in for a rude awakening if the extent of his plotting is discovered by the rest.

As a number one issue, Sins of Sinister #1 rather clearly explains the premise of this storyline, outlines the stakes, and sets up each of the three tie-in limited series that will contain most of its action. That’s not to say it’s entirely “standalone” in nature, because it requires the reader to be familiar with pretty much everything that’s happened from House of X/Power of X onwards, but I feel like anybody seeking this event out will more than likely have that knowledge. It’s a lot to ask from a reader, but as with the entire Krakoa era in general, I think it’s a rich, rewarding experience for those of us who are invested. There’s nothing quite like the scope of the Krakoa saga in comics right now, nor throughout the history of Marvel for that matter, which makes it just as daunting to face as it is exciting. I’m especially excited for the Storm arc, which places her as something of a resistance leader against the growing specter of Sinister throughout the universe, especially in Magneto’s absence. (Her choice to not back herself up in Cerebro is really paying dividends now!) With an intriguing narrative hook and gorgeous art from Lucas Werneck, Sins of Sinister #1 is sort of a no-brainer for me to pick up… unless you’re somehow a Sinister hater, who is a type of person that apparently exists and I pity for.

5.99