Uncanny X-Men #12 - Marvel Comics

UNCANNY X-MEN No. 12, May 2025

Described by Editor Tom Brevoort as “a full-on spotlight” upon Remy LeBeau, Gail Simone’s script for Issue Twelve of “Uncanny X-Men” arguably makes for a pretty compulsive read. Indeed, the twenty-page periodical's insights into Gambit’s past life as a young, rather naïve ward of the New Orleans Thieves Guild, coupled with the American author's superb handling of the wonderfully villainous Vig is probably worth the comic's cover price alone - especially as the ever-ominous hoodlum continues to shadow our Cajun super-hero all the way to his modern day home at Haven House in Louisiana; “You got four new li’l freaks. I want one. You pick. Then we square.”

Looking somewhat like a bespectacled Killer Croc, this treacherous villain simply oozes wilful wickedness in every panel in which he appears, and should completely capture any onlooker's attention with his disconcertingly polite manner and disarmingly quiet way of speaking. Furthermore, the well-dressed enforcer makes it incredibly clear without actually resorting to violence, that he is perfectly capable of ripping a non-powered human apart with his bare hands if even slightly provoked, and this palpable sense of jeopardy does not bode well for Chris Claremont's co-creation when he finally decides to stand up to the cold-hearted killer.

Infuriatingly though, what does debatably let this publication down a little bit is its opening, which focuses upon Rogue’s ridiculous decision to have her husband blast a hapless Jitter into next week during a training session, just so the X-Men can supposedly teach the adolescent Outliers a life lesson. Understandably, Anna Marie is wracked by guilt for this unforgivable decision, and yet decides to initially harangue the startled girl even more when she discovers the young mutant back training in the ‘Danger Room’ just after four o’clock in the morning. Such behaviour really is hard to excuse, especially when the narrative then appears to ask its audience to have some sort of sympathy for Raven Darkhölme’s foster-child because she’s struggling to be the team’s leader.

Sadly, Gavin Guidry’s layouts are also a bit of an inconsistent conundrum, due to the artist not seemingly getting to grips with the storytelling until after Rogue’s renewed spate with Sofia Wong. The freelance illustrator’s clean-looking style is definitely proficient enough. But probably appears a little stiff-looking for this comic’s early, action-orientated shenanigans. However, it is absolutely spot-on for the measured physicality of The Vig, and adds plenty more Machiavellian menace to the grey, three-piece suit-wearing hitman when he once again meets up with Gambit.

The regular cover art to "UNCANNY X-MEN" #12 by David Marquez & Matthew Wilson