X-Lapsed, Episode 121 – X of Swords: Stasis #1 (2020)
X-Lapsed, Episode One Hundred Twenty-One
X of Swords: Stasis #1 (December, 2020)
“X of Swords, Chapter 11”
Writers – Jonathan Hickman & Tini Howard
Art – Pepe Larraz & Mahmud Asrar
Colors – Marte Gracia
Letters – VC’s Clayton Cowles
Design – Tom Muller
Edits – Bissa, White, Cebulski
Cover Price: $4.99
On-Sale: October 28, 2020
Here we are, friends – the halfway point of #EcksofTens!
What better way to celebrate than cramming this over-sized issue with… a whole bunch of lists? We’ll see Kingdoms of Otherworld, both Fair and Foul… Swords of Arrako… Warriors of Arrako… Tarot Cards for the Krakoans… an ending we all saw coming – and, well – not much more. Least it’s pretty to look at!
Also: Some X-Cellent and thought-provoking Listener Mail!
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@acecomics / @cosmictmill / weirdcomicshistory@gmail.com
This issue is probably the most important of the entire crossover as it sets up all the key characters and settings for the rest of the story. Like the X-Men issue that preceded it there is too much exposition that I personally would have preferred to have spread over numerous issues but it is pretty much all pertinent. We need to know that Otherworld is unstable and that the various regents are jockeying for position, we need to know that the Arrakoans(?) have different agendas and we need to see the Krakoans arriving.
Once again I loved the use of the Tarot cards. I remember how the predictions set off the fan community to come up with theories of what was going to happen. My favourite being the write ups by Paul O'Brien who used to do the X-Axis and really pulled together the past continuity that could be reflected.
I worry more and more that X of Tens might break you. I loved it but it does take a few surprising turns which may irritate you as you're already annoyed by the inconsequential nature of certain elements. Then again you are the World's biggest Jeff the Land Shark fan so maybe you'll enjoy the more weirdo elements.
The Annihilation/Genesis reveal set me off wondering if Annihilation was related to Malice. I could see Malice as a daughter of Annihilation. It's not that big a stretch. It is a little unfortunate considering the World that the only character wearing a face covering is a villain. Anyway until I remove my mask to reveal I'm not really evil, Make Mine X-Lapsed!