Marvel's X-Men: The Trial of Magneto #1 is a well-paced, measured issue that sets an excellent foundation for its consequential X-Men arc. An introspective debut, The Trial of Magneto #1 spends most of its time investing in the emotional and logistical turmoil surrounding the death of Scarlet Witch, with the aftermath of such a consequential death in the Marvel Universe echoing far and wide. However, The Trial of Magneto #1 wisely chooses to zoom in on the backlash and response within the X-Men's wide-ranging world.
Written by Leah Williams, drawn by Lucas Werneck, and colored by Edgar Delgado, The Trial of Magneto #1 pushes forward at an extremely engaging rate, not unlike a legal drama. While the title implies a heavy focus on the Master of Magnetism himself, the issue's opening chapter has a surprisingly diverse scope, with several unexpected X-Men characters taking and commanding center stage. Although Magneto certainly has his time in the limelight, the issue's most impressive moments are those surrounding characters on the perimeter.
Williams works undeniable magic in the pages of The Trial of Magneto #1. In an issue that's largely void of any explosive action sequences, the book pulls its audience in with subtle hooks. The grief that reverberates through the characters' voices is extremely impressive and never feels overdone or exaggerated. The issue opens with an investigational tone that melts naturally into a poignant issue that simmers in its hot-blooded moments and delves somberly in its quieter sections. Scenes with the Avengers and the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants reacting to the news of Wanda's murder are, while short, particular highlights of the issue and add a fantastic layer of emotion and context to an otherwise truly self-contained X-Men tale.
Visually, The Trial of Magneto #1 exemplifies the more recent style that X-Men has seen much of recently. With a focus on character expressions and layouts, Werneck brings a graceful and fluid realism to the panels that still manages to capture the colorful buoyancy of an X-Men story. With so many characters to depict, Werneck does a frankly astounding job of injecting each and every mutant with personality and their own unique charisma. With Delgado on colors, drastic shifts in tone are conquered easily. The issue's background hue changes often to match the scene and characters. Overall, the visuals work wonderfully in tandem with the script from Williams to give a gripping debut for The Trial of Magneto.
The Trial of Magneto #1 splits its time impressively between forwarding the narrative and making room for acknowledging the emotions that such a significant death would bring to the world of and around the X-Men. If The Trial of Magneto's debut does anything, it's set up an exciting foundation for the rest of the title to come. Should the subsequent issues manage to match the first issue's tone and pace, the rest of the title should certainly be one to pick up.
The Trial of Magneto #1 comes highly recommended for all comic fans, as it sets up a promising arc with impressive character work and an engaging narrative. While the issue isn't exactly action-packed, the action it does bring is top-notch. The issue trades off its relatively quieter approach for drama and spectacle that is well worth the price of admission.
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