Comic Review: Uncanny X-Men #4 – Mirror Match, Gorgeous Art, and Emotional Chaos

The fourth issue of the new Uncanny X-Men run is a comic that both impresses and frustrates. Although the first few issues showed a lot of potential—especially issue #1, which set the bar high—the whole arc so far feels like a ship sailing at half-mast. Issue #2 built the foundation, issue #3 unfortunately stumbled, but in hindsight played an important role in raising the stakes. Now, we get the emotional climax of the first arc—and while many elements work, there are also noticeable flaws.

Rogue vs. Sarah – A Mirror Fight

The core of this issue is the fight between Rogue and Sarah—a character with a murky past who emerges as something of an antithesis to our Southern mutant favorite. This is a fight not just of fists, but of trauma and reflection. Sarah wants a family with Xavier, a kind of emotional stability Rogue never asked for—yet somehow got, through pain and loss. That emotional contrast gives the fight depth, even if its narrative framing won’t appeal to everyone.

Rogue serves as the main narrator throughout. Her thoughts, reflections, and emotions dominate the issue. Sometimes this works to the comic’s benefit—deepening the character—but sometimes it becomes tiresome in its repetition. She reminds us a bit too often that she can “feel” what others feel, which comes off more like X-Men: Evolution than the classic '90s version of Rogue. Is this a deliberate nod, or just overkill? Mileage may vary.

Sarah’s Past – Too Much, Too Soon?

We start with yet another flashback from Sarah’s past—this time involving Hurricane Katrina. While there is thematic logic to this (mirroring Rogue’s own emotional losses), it’s hard not to feel fatigued. Gail Simone is great at crafting complex characters, but the heavy emotional investment in Sarah feels a little excessive—especially if she’s going to disappear in a couple issues. It risks becoming narrative overkill.

The Fight: Tenet Vibes and Symbolism

Visually, the fight between Sarah and Rogue is stunning. David Marquez shows his skill not only in dynamic action but in subtle detail—reflections, mirrored poses, synchronized movements. It’s not just a fight, it’s a symbolic showdown. The water, the mirrored hits, and even the emotional stakes create a sense that this is a confrontation between two versions of the same pain. Cleansing… or drowning?

B-Plot: Gambit, Nightcrawler, and a Barely There Wolverine

Aside from the main storyline, we get a smaller, moodier subplot with Gambit and Nightcrawler. The latter doesn’t get much to do aside from throwing in a few pseudo-biblical lines and showing off his sleek new outfit (great work, Marquez!). Gambit, meanwhile, continues his role as “Rogue’s husband,” which is a little disappointing. Where’s the charismatic Cajun we saw in issue #1? Hopefully this is temporary.

Wolverine, for his part, is physically present but narratively flat. He’s better suited for solo stories. I still hold that Uncanny X-Men #268 is his best team-era issue.

Narration and Pacing – Gorgeous but Unbalanced

The colors and overall visual flow are, once again, top-notch. Scene transitions are handled better than before, but still lack consistency. When done well, the scene changes are marked clearly with large, clean panels—but not always. That inconsistency is what breaks the flow. Still, the fight scenes and character expressions shine. The attention to emotional detail is a highlight.

Conclusion – Rich Atmosphere, Strong Emotion, Partial Satisfaction

Uncanny X-Men #4 feels like a “nearly great” issue. It boasts fantastic artwork, strong dialogue, emotional weight, and interesting symbolism—but lacks balance and cohesion. Gail Simone writes vivid, emotionally nuanced characters, but sometimes the team dynamic suffers.

This is a comic rich in detail, but leaves you a little hungry for more. You can sense the story building toward something bigger—and issue #5 might just deliver—but for now, this is a solid if uneven chapter. Or maybe… that’s good enough.

Pros:

+Phenomenal artwork (David Marquez is an artistic beast)

+Symbolic, layered fight between Rogue and Sarah

+Emotional depth and well-written character dialogue

+Subtle references to mutant history and personal trauma

+Rogue’s narration mostly works

Cons:

-Excessive focus on Sarah, a character with unclear future relevance

-Disjointed scene transitions

-Gambit and Nightcrawler feel underused

-Narration gets repetitive at times

-Story feels short—possibly due to extended fight scenes

My Score: 7/10

A good story with the potential to be something more. If issue #5 sticks the landing, this arc might really take off. For now, Uncanny X-Men #4 is a well-drawn, well-acted, but slightly uneven chapter in a story still finding its rhythm.