The Marvel Rundown: SINS OF SINISTER DOMINION tees up the FALL OF X

This week, Sins of Sinister concludes in explosive style, ushering in the beginnings of the upcoming Fall of X… will Mister Sinister ascend to Dominion status? Will anyone survive the Year 30xx and make it back to the 616? Find out in our SPOILER-HEAVY review! If you’re looking to experience this issue on your own, scroll down to the Rapid Rundown for a spoiler-lite blurb on Alien #1 and Strange Academy: Finals #6.

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Sins of Sinister: Dominion #1

Writer: Kieron Gillen
Artists: Paco Medina & Lucas Werneck
Color Artist: Bryan Valenza
Letterer: VC’s Clayton Cowles
Design: Tom Muller w/Jay Bowen

Just as Age of Apocalypse had major ramifications for the 616, so does the Sins of Sinister — and maybe even more so.

Kieron Gillen (along with the SOS braintrust of Al Ewing and Si Spurrier) takes everything we thought we were afraid of about Mister Sinister and throws it out the window. Though Gillen is well known for his comedic yet villainous take on Sinister, this issue brings us the next evolution of his diabolical Victorian: the sympathetic Sinister. His world-building and sci-fi know-how are superb, but it’s this character work that I think stands about the rest.

Though this has been a somewhat bewildering event (and that feels intentional), I’ve been entranced at every step. The strange concepts and mashups of mutants have been so fun to see come together, across all three titles in this event. From a Ghost Rider filled Galactus corpse to the Unstoppable velocity of a Juggernaut-bullet, this event has been one of the most fun X-Men events period… while simultaneously one of the most consequential. 

The middle of the issue resets the timeline, sending shockwaves back into reality. The revelation that a Sinister Dominion already exists is devastating, especially for Mister Sinister, who now fears his own existence. The Quiet Council also finally learns about the Moira clones, and comes face to face with Mother Righteous… who, fulfilling a dream from FOUR years ago, brings the iconic Rasputin IV into the main 616. There’s also a major twist at the end of the issue (which I will not spoil) that perfectly sets the stage for the Fall of X… and I am worried.

Paco Medina was the perfect choice to close out this world, and it was great to see his fantastic designs for a planet-sized Xavier and the final evolution of Jon Ironfire (who I’m hoping we haven’t seen the last of). Lucas Werneck comes in for the last third of the book, helping to differentiate styles and bring us back into the 616. His facial expressions are top of the line, especially when it comes to the anguish that consumes Mister Sinister after he learns of his ultimate failure.

Bryan Valenza does a great job of unifying the entire book, keeping a consistent palette from start to finish. The same goes for Clayton Cowles, whose lettering is clean and incredibly easy to follow. This book wouldn’t have been as enjoyable without that level of consistency, and I’m happy to say that this is an all-around gorgeous package.

If I have any gripe with this book, it’s that this is an incredibly dense comic. I understand that each individual series of this event was designed to be read in a specific order, as well as separately, but I don’t think I would’ve understood half of what happened in this finale without having read absolutely everything. Obviously, this specific issue (probably) shouldn’t be anyone’s first X-comic, but there were definitely a few moments where I had to stop and restart the sequence to figure out what was going on. 

Regardless, if weird sci-fi, drama, and X-Men are your jam, I think this is a solid conclusion to a rip-roaring event. Not only does it wrap up this story in a trippy way that just feels X-Men, but it also sets up some horrific stakes I’m sure are to doom mutants with the upcoming Fall of X. 

Verdict: BUY. If you’re sold on this era of X-Men, this is for you.

Rapid Rundown!

Next Week: Carnage Reigns, 2099, and FCBD, oh my! Catch up with past entries in the Marvel Rundown archive.