REVIEW: ‘NYX #10’ - A Bittersweet End To A Found-Family Favorite

To be honest, I wasn’t sold on NYX when it first launched. But now that we’ve reached issue #10, I’m genuinely sad to see it go. There was something distinct about this series that many books in the From the Ashes era lacked. It tried, in its own way, to keep the spirit of Krakoa alive. That’s not to say it ignored the rules of the post-Krakoan world; it clearly played within the current X-Office framework. Still, its roots were undeniably Krakoan.

In this final issue, the overarching threat reaches its climax as Mojo enacts his plan to use the last Krakoan seed to seize control of New York. If you read issue #9, the setup won’t come as a surprise. But the execution is visually stunning. Special credit goes to Francesco Mortarino and Raúl Angulo for the incredible first page, a graffiti-style montage that brilliantly recaps the story and its key players. It’s a beautiful intro to NYX’s final act as the group is once more drawn together.

NYX #10. © Marvel

What stood out to me most throughout this series is how much it evoked the spirit of the YA novels and RPG video games I grew up with. Like a party coming together, it embraced a “found family” theme that felt refreshing and different from typical X-Men stories. These characters weren’t backed by the familiar comforts of the Xavier Mansion or veteran mentors. They were young adults figuring things out on their own, among humans, in the wake of yet another blow to mutant peace. And yet, they endure.

At its core, NYX has always been about community and culture. Sophie says as much, and the story backs it up. Mutants have always symbolized change and adaptability. It’s their greatest power, and it’s what enables them to survive, even in the darkest times, when together. That spirit is fully realized when the group unites in a mutant circuit to defeat Mojo’s scheme. But the victory comes at a cost. Local, a newer mutant, is lost in the process. While the moment didn’t hit me as hard as it likely intended, partly because we didn’t get a lot of time with Local, it was still a meaningful sacrifice that underscored the stakes.

There’s another kind of loss too, as Ms. Marvel confronts the reality of revealing her identity to her family. This is something she had discussed earlier in the issue with Prodigy and Sophie Cuckoo, and now it finally comes to a head. The reveal is a major step for Kamala, but it’s met with a cold, uneasy response that plants seeds of self-doubt and hesitation. By the end, she decides to step back from superheroing for a while, leaving her future uncertain.

It’s a fitting conclusion to the series, even as it sets up Kamala’s next chapter in Giant-Size X-Men #1. Still, I can’t help but feel a bit worried for the lesser-known mutants who finally got the spotlight here. Synch and Prodigy had strong roles in the Krakoan era, but others like Anole and Hellion barely appeared. Kiden was practically forgotten until now. Credit where credit is due: Kelly and Lanzing did a fantastic job giving these characters depth and visibility, offering fans new reasons to care about them and the broader mutant community.

You can count on me to follow this creative team into Giant-Size X-Men #1 next month. NYX may be over, but its spirit and the questions it raised are far from done.

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NYX #10. © Marvel

About NYX #10

Release Date: April 30, 2025

Written by: Jackson Lanzing & Collin Kelly

Art by: Francesco Mortarino

Cover by: Sara Pichelli & Federico Blee

Page Count: 25

Synopsis: THE CITY THAT WALKS LIKE… A SPINELESS ONE?! With MOJO a bigger threat than ever (in all ways!), and everything they've built at risk of crumbling to pieces, it's time for the mutant community of New York City to rise up and fight! It's going to take everything they've got - and every power they can muster - to stand against Mojo! But taking down an interdimensional enemy channeling the power of the city is no easy feat…and not everyone will emerge unscathed!