This week, Kamala Khan’s crash course in Mutantkind’s history continues with the huge size Dark Phoenix Saga #1. In this article, artist Rod Reiss joins the creative team. The creative team already includes event writers Jackson Lanzing and Colin Kelly, VC Clayton Cowles and Tom Breboat. Fellow newcomers at this huge size anniversary celebration are Steve Fox and Lucas Wellneck. Old Legion was thwarted in an attempt to destroy the past by killing Krakoa before the island became the home of mutants. His new target? Dark Phoenix.
2025 marks the 45th anniversary of the original Dark Phoenix Saga. In June 1980, the grand finale of the story, Uncanny X-Men #137, was released. Four and a half years later, the Dark Phoenix Saga has come to mean a lot to many people. For years it acted as Jean Gray’s last tragedy. It was the second time one X-Men has passed away, and the second time the first woman on the team has bitten a bullet. It is the story of a woman’s reaction to sexual violence, hurting her victims, her loved ones, and many innocent people in a self-destructive spiral in man disease that ends with suicide.
On a symbolic level, the story draws on cultural horrors about the rise in institutions that white women in America held as independent consumers following the second wave of feminist movements. Importantly, the creation of the Dark Phoenix Saga itself provides insight into the joint relationship between writer Crisque Raymont and artist John Byrne. In light of all this, it is Hercules’ job to try and force a huge sized dark phoenix to be involved in the entire original legacy. Thankfully, Marvel’s presence offers creative teams elements that allow them to focus on resonant themes, making this short revisit worthwhile.
So where were we? At the end of the huge sized X-Men #1 (2025), Kamala Khan accidentally catalyzed the power of mutants, fighting the old time travel corps. The side effect of both her X and inhumane genes activating the rack is that Legion throws them forward in time, smacking them in the middle of the Dark Phoenix Saga. While taking part in the formation of an entirely new, completely different X-Men and taking part in the mission of saving his predecessor from Kurakoa, Kamala was able to minimize changes to his timeline. The execution was different, but the result – the same thing sinned as the X-Men was saved and the Krakoa was exiled to the universe. However, the events in the Dark Phoenix Saga have already changed by the time Marvel and Legion arrive, so it’s clear that the butterfly effects are already working. That’s why Marvel Girl begins.
The cascade effect of timeline interference appears at the beginning of Dark Phoenix as a slight sort of plot beats from the original saga. Legion and Kamala collide with the opening of the creepy X-Men #135, in which the X-Men fails to protect themselves from the Dark Phoenix in Central Park. However, this dark Phoenix has already consumed the D’Bari Star system, but her hunger remains. Before Mr. Marvel or the X-Men can leave the situation, Old Man Legion offers himself to the Phoenix Force as his new host. Dark Phoenix persona is a traumatic response, but the inner confusion between Jean’s morality and her feelings is unstable enough for Phoenix to consider, at least, Legion’s offer. David Haller was gone, and his consciousness, his soul, rose to the astral plane and white hotroom to help ensue the eternal crakoa there. Without the main self to rule over them, Legion offers Phoenix himself as an infinite stream of mind. Such a deal is intoxicating and Phoenix has what it wants. Dark Phoenix Legion leaves and the X-Men returns to Xavier with Jean and Kamala.
Amazing
Emotions run high in the mansion, with several misguided words from her frightened teammates sending Jean into her room in tears. This sets the central scene stage in question and structural inference to eliminate certain plot elements from clicks on Uncanny #135 and #136. The unchanged timeline roughly spotted a dark Phoenix in the Gray Family’s house, squealing high from her Dali’s meal. In the middle of her nerds, Jean feels her self-image is beginning to clash with the girl Dark Phoenix sees in her childhood photos. Looking for security from their parents and sister, their horrifying thoughts have the opposite effect. Walking the tightrope, thin ice shatters, and Dark Phoenix’s violent loop becomes a downward spiral, and in the end Jean chooses to take his life rather than risking further harming his loved one. Dark Phoenix’s modified timeline discovers that Jean is still isolated and confused by the cliffs of this breakpoint. So, what is the difference in meaning this time? Kamala is here and she is ready to sit and talk with Jean.
Kamala Khan is unfamiliar to getting a new power to confuse, the consequences of her actions that harm others, or the spiritual breakdown of classic high-drama superheroes from reality. Marvel’s experience and unexpected rest from the strength of the Phoenix Force creates an unusual opportunity for connection. Their conversation is that they can’t take advantage of the vulnerable parts of their jeans to reach the original story of Cyclops and Storm’s lover and her best friend. It’s moving, but this story is about how it ultimately affects Kamala, not how she affects her past. In this broken, wounded Marvel girl, Marvel looks at herself. The shame and rejection from her cousin Bilal, the discomfort of lying to her parents again, the fear and accompanying risks of accepting her newly awakened powers weigh on her. Just like the Dark Phoenix Saga, we can see that Kamala is used to control her if she doesn’t control her powers. This realization culminates in a remix of Blue Area Moon Battle in Uncanny #137. At the final moments, Kamala is able to use her hard light forces in a steady way, restraining the corps while Jean reunites with the Phoenix forces. Phoenix is still taking her life the same way, but this time it’s not tragic but heroic. In doing so, Jean is preventing Legion from hosting Phoenix again. This is where the main story ends, and Legion is determined to somehow remove herself from Mr. Marvel. However, his attempt to move forward in time landed them in the Apocalypse era…
Amazing
There’s a lot to say about the huge sized dark phoenix, but I need to focus on the art for a minute. Rod Wraith from “Marvel Girl” and Lucas Reck from “Song for the Lonely” offer epic work. Wraith is perfect for the emotional strength that is central to the Dark Phoenix Saga. Fans of Reis’ work on Dark Web: X-Men, as well as fans of the new mutant “The Trial of Magik” arc, will love what he’s doing here. Also, I’m not the biggest fan of Ms. Marvel’s X-Gene giving her MCU Hard-Light Powers, but Reis makes them look really cool in this book. For the backup of the revelation, Fox writes a gentle story about the present Phoenix, which imposes a wellneck by filming the vast and epic love story of Jean Gray and Scott Summers on several short pages. His art not only offers him, but also the most beautiful version of Phoenix’s new costume.
Marvel’s next stop in X-Men history brings her to one of the most famous tragedies in the hugely sized Dark Phoenix Saga #1. More than simple Retread, Lanzing, Kelly, and Reis, bring out emotionally resonating stories that are deeply involved in the original story. At its heart is the meaningful connection between the X-Men and the first woman to join one of the most recent ones, and these very different women struggle with similar internal battles. It’s still not known why Kamala was particularly enveloped in this time travel adventure, or whether Bruno was swept through the Timestream, but Khan is beginning to gain the power of mutants. However, Marvel is about to enter a world where “mutant power” completely means something. Plus, stick to the end of the matter for a gorgeous little retrospective on love between Cyclops and Phoenix.
“Giant Size Dark Phoenix Saga” #1 Review: Heart
Giant Size Dark Phoenix Saga #1
More than simple Retread, Lanzing, Kelly, and Reis, bring out emotionally resonating stories that are deeply involved in the original story.
Weaves a special connection between Marvel and Jean Gray
Jeans Struggle will be used as a mutant as Marvel Journey’s foil
Luxurious art from both Reis and Werneck
Marvel’s cockram-esque costume inexplicably transforms into her regular super suit.
What draws Marvel into Legion’s time travel antics remains a mystery
