REVIEW: ‘Uncanny X-Men’ #14 - History Haunts The Present

I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: Uncanny X-Men has finally found its footing. With recent issues, the series feels like it’s truly settling into its identity. Outside of the occasional story detour caused by larger events, both the Outliers and the core X-Men team have found their voices—and the kind of compelling pull I expect from a flagship X-title in this new era.

Once again, the narrative is split into three parts, all inching closer to a convergence. We return to the past with Henrietta and her journey to New Orleans—a storyline I continue to enjoy for multiple reasons. First, it expands the scope of mutant history in a meaningful way, showing us that even then, community and communication among Mutants existed. Second, it reinforces an ongoing theme: no matter the era, mutants face hatred and fear. That tension between then and now adds weight to Henrietta’s story and keeps her arc compelling.

In the present, we follow the Outliers as they venture deeper into the Dark Artery, eventually coming face-to-face with the Man-Thing. This is where I realized just how much I’ve grown to like Deathdream. He’s easily the most enigmatic of the Outliers, with his connection to death and the dead—a thread that was even picked up in the latest issue of Psylocke. His link to the Man-Thing adds another layer of intrigue, as he's able to understand or communicate with the guardian of the Artery, a place seemingly only accessible to mutants.

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During their encounter, the Man-Thing passes judgment on the Outliers, allowing them to continue. But it's in this moment that we get a key revelation: Calico, who has always claimed her mutant abilities are connected to her horse, Ember, learns that she doesn’t actually understand what Ember is at all. With Deathdream’s insight, we find out that whatever Ember is, it’s not alive. That revelation casts a new shadow over their journey and raises more questions than it answers.

Meanwhile, with the main X-Men team, we’re still dealing with Gambit and his ongoing standoff with Sadurang, the dragon, over the Left Eye of Agamotto, a cursed artifact said to compel its wielder to feast on the flesh of their loved ones. What stands out here is Gambit’s refusal to part with it. While I assume he believes it would be far more dangerous in Sadurang’s hands, the truth is, it wasn’t a pressing issue until the Uncanny team took possession of it back in issue #1. His decision could have dangerous consequences—not just for him, but for his teammates as well.

After Gambit reunites with the team and his curse is exposed, the story returns to the Outliers—who, it’s worth noting, are only now being noticed as missing by the rest of the cast. At the heart of the Dark Artery, they discover it leads to something completely unexpected: a city. But not just any city—a city of the dead, filled with the souls of those responsible for the deaths of Mutants throughout history. It’s a striking and eerie concept. And at the center of it all, the one who summoned them there is revealed to be Henrietta, tying the past and present together in a chilling, almost poetic moment.

Simone is weaving an intricate, compelling story here, and I’m especially enjoying the horror elements that have crept into the narrative. My only concern is how Henrietta will be handled going forward whether she’s being positioned as a villain or something more complex. Her arc has been fascinating so far, and I’m hopeful it leads to a satisfying and nuanced resolution.

For now, I’ll keep reading with cautious optimism and maybe keep the lights on while I do.

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About Uncanny X-Men #14

Release Date: May 14, 2025

Written by: Gail Simone

Art by: David Marquez

Cover by: David Marquez

Page Count: 26

Synopsis: The Uncanny X-Men thought that Haven House was a safe place, a place to call home. But is it more than that? What is the history of the hidden landscape UNDER the Louisiana swampland, and what does it want with the young OUTLIERS? Long-held secrets revealed, and a part of X-history never before shown threatens to break both teams apart!