Leah Williams’ X-Terminators features art by Carlos Gómez, colors by Bryan Valenza, letters by Travis Lanham, and covers by Federico Vicentini & Matt Milla. It collects all five issues of the titular series focusing on a team-up with Dazzler (Alison Blaire), Jubilee, Boom-Boom (Tabitha Smith), and Wolverine (Laura Kinney). The story begins with Dazzler breaking up with her boyfriend and calling Jubilee and Boom-Boom for a girl’s night. As they party, they discover that Dazzler’s ex spiked their drinks. When they awaken, the trio find themselves in a fighting arena surrounded by a vampire audience with Wolverine trapped alongside them. Unbeknownst to Dazzler, her ex was Xarus, the son of Dracula. He teamed up with the Collector and plans to add the women to his menagerie.

Leah Williams’ story is absolutely brilliant, full of bombastic action and snappy dialogue. The whole book has the tone of a road trip comedy and she perfectly draws out the essential characteristics of each character. All four – Dazzler, Jubilee, Boom-Boom, and Wolverine – have been through more than their fair share of drama over the many years of X-Men history, which Williams references while showing how they process their trauma through friendship. It’s easy to identify with how they feel like human disasters trying to find joy and companionship in a bleak world. Gómez’s art and Valenza’s colors perfectly capture the tone of Williams’ writing as well as the characters’ identities. Great fun for fans of the characters or of Williams’ writing. ( )

I haven’t had this much fun reading an X-Men title in a long time. When Dazzler kicks her cheating boyfriend out of her apartment, she calls on Jubilee and Boom Boom to go take her out to help drown her sorrows. That’s when they get kidnapped by vampires, stumble on Wolverine (Laura, not Logan), end up in space, and save some Fae. And kickass and look fantastic while they’re doing it. It’s just as batshit crazy as it sounds, and just as much fun.

Leah Williams’ writing is laugh out loud funny, and she captures the personalities of the X-Ladies spot on. Carlos Gomez’s art is slick, stylish, and vibrant; an excellent choice for the story. Bryan Valenza’s eye-searing colors are the perfect compliment to pull everything together. I’m hoping we’ll get some more of this particular combination of talent again with this cast of characters in the future.

Collecting X-Terminators (2022) #1-5

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