Review by Frank Plowright

For centuries the Arakki had been a warring race, honour and survival determined by combat and conquering, yet in a brief time Storm has managed to steer thoughts to what a peaceful life could be like on their new planet. That experiment was shattered with the return of former ruler Genesis, accusing the Arakki of cowardice. Time has passed since the end of Vol. 3 and Arakki society has divided along ideological lines. The mutants of Krakoa can be no help as they’re facing their own problems.

With Storm and her allies as the focus, this volume plays out the war while also providing the backgrounds of new characters introduced on Arakki. As he has done throughout the series, Al Ewing escalates the threats faced, and this time they’re existential, so he’ll have you wondering just how much of Arakko will be left for anyone to claim. Yet this is a volume of constant surprises, and far more accessible than the massive history dump of Vol. 3.

Everything builds toward an appalling decision in the penultimate chapter, making good use of something last seen in Vol. 2. The war can be won at a stroke, but every single person supporting Genesis will die. Will Storm be tempted? The ending is as unpredictable as anything in the series, and as drawn by Yıldıray Çınar provides a magnificent spread. It’s the type of visual spectacle X-Men Red has been lacking, yet Çınar as primary artist, drawing four chapters of five, doesn’t always provide it either. On the other hand he’s got a lot on his plate what the cast growing ever more.

There is a cliffhanger ending connecting with Fall of the House of X, but this delivers a separate story, largely unconnected and with some scope. The necessary small moments aren’t sacrificed either, just recontextualised as part of the bigger picture. You want epic? You’ve got it.