Uncanny X-Men has claimed the top spot once again as the premiere series for the franchise. That is not an easy thing to do as Chip Zdarsky’s X-Men has been just as strong. Gail Simone has done this by continuing to focus on the chemistry between the veteran and new students of this X-Men team. The latest adventure in Uncanny X-Men has been featuring the duo of Wolverine and Ransom dealing with the latter’s family history. Let’s find out how things go next with Uncanny X-Men #21
CREATIVE TEAM
Writer: Gail Simone
Artist: Luciano Vecchio
Colorist: Matthew Wilson
Letterer: Clayton Cowles
UNCANNY X-MEN #21 SOLICITATION
“The Wolverine/Ransom two-fisted team-up takes a definite weird turn, as our baddest heroes chase a classic X-villain to, of all places, a COMIC BOOK CONVENTION in beautiful Argentina! How do they find and eliminate their target in a sea of masked cosplayers? And what if some of the cosplayers are the ACTUAL villains they are portraying? It’s CARNE and CARNAGE for the two toughest fighters on the squad!” – Marvel Comics
HIGHLIGHTS OF UNCANNY X-MEN #21
Wolverine is at His Best as a Mentor
Gail Simone certainly knows that one of Wolverine’s strengths as a character is the fact he is a good mentor. For as much as we see him as a long wolf, whenever Wolverine is paired with a younger mutant he naturally falls into the mentor role. We saw this with Shadowcat, Jubilee, X-23, and Armor. Ransom being part of the new cast naturally fits the protégé role as Wolverine is there to guide the new mutant through his family drama. Wolverine does this while making sure Ransom is the one to agency over his decisions. He only steps in when needed and lets Ransom figure things out so he can grow.
Ransom Building Character Beyond His Powers
Its one thing to interact with peers it is another thing to interact with your family. That is certainly the case with Ransom helping out his family. We see a different side of his character that we only get because his family is involved. This helps ground the character in a relatable way as we all know how complicated dealing with family can be at times. Through this story Simone continues to build in classic X-Men elements like dealing with hate and those that don’t understand them in a natural way.
Fun with Cosplay in the Marvel Universe
Seeing Wolverine and Ransom latest mission involve them going to a local comic book convention led to a fun situation. Seeing Wolverine’s reaction to a cosplayer who did her own take on Phoenix, as Fenix De Plata, made this entire setting worth it. The setting also worked to create confusion with everyone at the convention not knowing they were in the middle of an X-Men operation. It something different for not just an X-Men comic but a comic book in general.
Luciano Vecchio Smooth Artwork
Uncanny X-Men #21 featured some of Luciano Vecchio’s best artwork to date. He does such a great job having fun with the comic convention setting of drawing different versions of classic Marvel heroes’ costumes. Once the action kicked off Vecchio showed he has the ability to draw smooth choreography. The action wasn’t long but shows that given the chance Vecchio could potentially deliver big event level artwork.
WHAT DIDN’T WORK IN UNCANNY X-MEN #21
Lack of Rest of Uncanny X-Men Cast Appearance
As the last issue of Uncanny X-Men for 2025 it is disappointing that only Wolverine and Ransom were featured. As a team book you want to see the team in some shape or fashion in a meaningful way. It feels like a missed opportunity to not remind readers why this cast was so strong heading into whatever direction the series goes when it returns in early 2026.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Uncanny X-Men #21 shines thanks to the chemistry between Wolverine and Ransom. We once again see how well Wolverine’s character works playing the mentor role. The story strengthened Ransom’s character. It all leaves you hoping we see more of this pairing with the other cast members when Uncanny X-Men returns in 2026.
Story Rating: 7 Night Girls out of 10
Art Rating: 8 Night Girls out of 10
Overall Rating: 7.5 Night Girls out of 10
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