Comic Review: Uncanny X-Men #3 – Chaos, Emotion, and Surprising Depth

 

Issue three of Uncanny X-Men, written by Gail Simone and illustrated by David Márquez, is a comic that—while sometimes chaotic—pulls you in, moves you, and leaves you with a head full of questions. It's classic X-Men: an emotional soap opera with superpowers, where family drama intertwines with mutant politics and the struggle for survival. And that's exactly what we want from this series.

Plot? Complex. Emotions? Genuine. Characters? Plenty.

At first glance, this issue might feel overloaded. There are three parallel storylines: Rogue and the Outliers, the Graymalkin Prison, and Charles Xavier facing his (possible) old flame – The Hag. If it sounds like a soap opera, that’s because the X-Men have always been a soap opera in spandex.

Is that a bad thing? Not really. Simone walks the line between narrative chaos and coherent storytelling, and thanks to her instinct for pacing and characters, she manages to keep the reader—mostly—not lost. Even if some subplots feel temporarily disconnected from the main story, it all serves a purpose. Xavier’s murky past is particularly intriguing—full of implications and potential “secret mutant children.” (Yes, Calico probably is his daughter with The Hag—because with the X-Men, nothing is too absurd to be true.)

The New Kids – A Breath of Fresh Air That Works

A big part of the issue is dedicated to the new characters—four mysterious teens sent to Graymalkin Haven. Instead of dull exposition, we get to know them through a “capture the flag” challenge with Nightcrawler, which is a clever way to introduce cagey characters without forced info dumps. We learn a lot, though many secrets remain. Importantly—each one has a hook: Becca has her horse, Hotoru does the creepy ghost thing, Sofia stutters, and Valentin… well, he still needs to show us more.

It brings back the vibe of early New Mutants—raw, uncertain, emotional. And sure, two of them are “dead,” and two come from rich families? That’s just the kind of social and existential tension that makes the X-Men so compelling—and Simone uses it smartly.

Dialogue and Emotion: Simone in Top Form

One of the strongest aspects of this issue is the dialogue—both the light, witty exchanges and the heavy emotional moments. Transitions from humor to heartbreak are fluid and natural. The conversation between Rogue and Marcus, for example, is surprisingly honest—and raises more questions than it answers. Who is Marcus, really? What did he mean when he said “that” to Rogue?

Logan’s interactions are also handled well—his departure from the team, while expected (he has a solo book again), feels meaningful this time. He seems changed by what happened in his own title—a rare bit of continuity actually acknowledged in an X-Men comic.

Artwork and Colors – Once Again On Point

David Márquez delivers once more with art that is both dynamic and expressive. Each character has distinct facial expressions, and the panels are thoughtfully composed and beautifully colored. The visual contrast—between warm and cold tones, light and shadow—adds emotional weight to the scenes.

Only drawback? A few pages felt a bit blurry—maybe a printing issue or a stylistic choice, but it broke immersion a bit.

Calico and Deathdream – Two Sides of the Same Coin

Among the new team members, Calico and Deathdream stand out—for better and worse. Calico comes off as excessively privileged—from her “pity me” backstory to the way she refers to Marcus and his family as “the help.” Even winning the belt-cummerbund-thing feels like she didn’t earn it.

Deathdream, on the other hand, gets actual development for the first time—his argument with Nightcrawler is powerful, real, and suggests he’ll play a major role in the coming showdown with The Hag. Though let’s be honest—Logan’s nickname for him is tone-deaf and probably should’ve stayed on the cutting room floor.

The Ending: More Questions Than Answers… and That’s a Good Thing

The final pages of this issue leave us with more questions than resolutions—and that’s exactly the point. Who is The Hag, really? Does her backstory reflect Calico’s? What is Marcus hiding? And is Haven meant to become the new Xavier School after this arc?

Conclusion

Uncanny X-Men #3 is imperfect but compelling, full of emotion, mystery, and promising characters. Simone continues to build trust as a writer unafraid of exploring complex relationships and emotionally raw characters. If you love your X-Men messy, dramatic, and deeply human—this is the series for you.

Pros:

+Excellent dialogue and emotional depth

+Intriguing new characters

+Beautiful artwork and color palette

+Tension, mystery, and momentum

Cons:

-Narrative chaos—almost too much going on at once

-Calico’s character feels overdrawn

-Tonal inconsistencies (and that weird nickname from Logan…)

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My Score: 8.5/10

Uncanny X-Men is back on track. If the next issues maintain this level, this could be the best X-Men team book in years.