Review: ‘X-Men Red’ #15 gives the Fisher King a much needed backstory

Comics

Sep 13

Al Ewing dives deeper in the Fisher King’s past as a means of hope for the future as the Genesis War rages on in X-MEN RED #15.

PUBLISHER’S PITCH

SINS OF THE PAST! Under siege in Port Prometheus, Storm readies to hold the line against the ultimate bioweapon. Meanwhile, the Fisher King finds himself tormented by his strange new abilities...and the secrets in his memory might turn the tide of the Genesis War.

REVIEW

After debuting back in X-Men Red #1, more of the Fisher King’s past is finally revealed after he showed up to the Brotherhood’s war room in the last issue with a plan to defeat Genesis. On one hand, I’m so glad we’re finally get to see more on what Ewing has previously only hinted at. We always knew there was more than meets the eye given some of the tales he’s told others yet this is the first time we’re getting to see how he’s become the man he is today. It’s much-needed history to fill in the gaps for one of the more unique inhabitants who has been appearing in X-titles for the last few years. I wish would could get more of this for others on Arakko who are playing pivotal roles in the current confrontation.

On the other hand, it was disappointing to see that much of the Fisher King’s motivation rests on the death of a female character from his past. This is a textbook case of fridging, the overplayed and sexist trope where which female characters are either injured or killed to allow for the growth of a male character or his story. While it was on a much smaller scale with a brand new character, it was still a shame to see this used after the very public outcry against Marvel for the fridging of Kamala Khan earlier this year in The Amazing Spider-Man. It also didn’t feel like the backstory was entirely relevant to the present-day story also happening in this issue.

Storm’s battle with an amphibious creature sent by Genesis is a visual delight from Yildiray Çinar. There’s a full-page panel to cap off the battle that is not only awesome to look at but truly capture the power Storm wields as an Omega-level mutant. Çinar’s designs for the new characters we meet in the Fisher King’s backstory, especially Zsora, are unique, impressive, and left me wishing we got more time with them. Federico Blee’s colors complement the book well with a nice range of palettes.

FINAL VERDICT

This issue definitely takes a break from the battle-heavy previous issue to build up one specific character, but the ending indicates the war is far from over and Storm and the Brotherhood are going to be facing some very long odds. Given the work Ewing did here, I would be shocked if the Fisher King didn’t factor into the endgame somehow and I can’t wait to see how this all plays out.