Era #4, Part 14: Day of Wrath

Grade: C

The Brood are back, and they are looking for revenge. Captured in X-Men vs. The Brood - Day of Wrath, this run deals with a Brood plan to use mutants to host their invading forces. I am not a huge fan of the Brood in large part to their close similarity with Alien. The Brood giving themselves individual supervillain names was unexpected (and silly) since they are all part of a hive mind, but the story ended stronger than I expected.

The arc also advances a subplot with Maddie. She catches a news report in which she learns that her husband, Cyclops, is alive and with none other than his former lover (and supposedly dead) Jean Grey! The demon S'ym arrives when she is most vulnerable setting in motion a plan that will eventually culminate in Inferno.

[3-Stars] 232 - "Earthfall" The Brood begin their infection with a small group of campers in New Mexico. The sole survivor of that initial encounter flees carrying the egg of a Brood Queen. The X-Men find him in Denver infecting mutants to form a super-powered army.

[3-Stars] 233 - "Down of Blood" The X-Men battle the mutant Brood over Denver.

[3-Stars] 234 - "Glory Day" The X-Men and Brood battle reaches the Red Rock Amphitheater where Reverend William Connover prepares to speak. He is drawn into the battle helping the infected Wolverine. I really like how this issue shows a minister taking a stand against mutant discrimination since it seemed that in past stories, religious figures (such as William Stryker) viewed mutants as an abomination without seeing the inconsistency of their beliefs. Reverend Connover, however, makes it clear even before the fight or meeting his first mutant that he will not allow intolerant language from his staff and that he views mutants as God's children like every other human. Refreshing.