REVIEW: ‘Exceptional X-Men #8’ - Old Villains vs New Blood
- Keith M.
- Apr 16
- 3 min read
While I genuinely believe Eve Ewing has done an excellent job with Exceptional X-Men and its mostly new cast, I’ve got to admit, the return of Mister Sinister feels like a bit of a misstep.
The Krakoan era will go down as one of the most iconic chapters in X-Men history, introducing radical ideas that completely reshaped the mutant status quo. Chief among them: mutant resurrection. And while this miraculous process gave us the return of countless lost mutants, we can’t forget one of its chief architects: Mister Sinister. His role during the Krakoan years placed him squarely in the spotlight, but unlike many of the era’s standout characters, Sinister often felt like he overstayed his welcome. That feeling has crept back in with this issue.
Ewing’s work on Exceptional X-Men has been a breath of fresh air following the Fall of Krakoa and the dawn of the From the Ashes era. That’s why it’s a little disappointing to see Sinister reenter the fold so soon. This time, he has his sights set on the mutant Axo, whose powers allow him to sense and influence the emotions of those around him. Sinister, disguised as Sheldon Xenos, founder of the shady biotech firm Verate, is once again up to his old tricks. He’s harvesting mutant DNA under the pretense of curing mutants, but his real goal seems to be creating perfect genetic copies.
It’s classic Sinister behavior, and that’s part of the issue. We’ve seen this play out before. So far, nothing new has been added to the formula. Thankfully, the real strength of this issue lies in the rest of the cast.
Bronze and Melee, two of the standout new mutants, are on Sinister’s trail, and it’s Bronze who notices the flaw in his plan. Despite Sinister deploying a near-identical clone meant to fool them, she quickly sees through it, realizing something’s off when Axo’s powers didn’t activate during a crisis, which, for someone with a visible mutation tied to emotional resonance, just doesn’t add up. It’s a sharp moment that shows her growth and perceptiveness.
Meanwhile, Kitty Pryde gets looped into the situation when a tense phone call with the girl she’s dating (love that by the way) is interrupted by a distress call from Melee. From there, I imagine the team starts piecing things together.
By the end of the issue, the clone’s more or less dealt with, Axo is confirmed missing, and the team is fully aware that something’s up with Sheldon Xenos and Verate.
Despite my reservations about Sinister’s return, it’s still a solid issue. Ewing doesn’t miss when it comes to blending comedy with emotional moments, and Carnero and Woodard’s art continues to elevate the material. Most importantly, this series is giving Bronze, Axo, and Melee the kind of spotlight they deserve. They’ve quickly become standout additions to the mutant lineup, and I sincerely hope this book propels them to stardom.
About Exceptional X-Men #8
Release Date: April 16, 2025
Written by: Eve L. Ewing
Art by: Carmen Carnero
Cover by: Carmen Carnero & Nolan Woodard
Page Count: 26
Synopsis: Our guy AXO is in trouble. Big trouble. He's bitten off more than he can chew in his relationship with charismatic technologist and Verate C.E.O. Sheldon Xenos, and now he's being held hostage while an Alex clone wanders around in his stead. Can the rest of the Exceptional team bail him out, or will they fall for the dupe of their beloved friend?
Comments