Uncanny X-Men #492 (2008) pages 7-8: Messiah Complex: Wolverine on the hunt
Artists: Billy Tan (Penciller) , Danny Miki (Inker)
1,528 Views - 17 Comments - 10 Likes
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Second printing cover
Published pages
The artist and his art (2025)
Artwork Details
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DescriptionThe "M-Day" event severely decreased the role of mutants in the Marvel Universe, making space for the Avengers characters who would soon become the focus of a score of connected movies. It also gave new urgency to the X-Men's perennial fight for survival in a world that hated and feared them. In the "Messiah Complex" story, the first new mutant baby is born, and promptly disappears. All signs point to Mister Sinister as the culprit. In this issue, three X-Men track down some of Exodus' former Acolytes for interrogation, because Exodus is now working with Sinister. The flying one who clips some of Angel's feathers is Gargouille. This issue marks her only appearance after a a debut in the Wundagore Mountain story (1998). She was killed by Predator X not long after this final appearance here. Billy Tan's crisp artwork fit very well with the fine but detailed style David Finch brought to this same story arc. Together with writer Ed Brubaker, they would introduce us to Hope Summers, one of Marvel's most enduring new characters of the last twenty years. You want buildings? We've got buildings! All lovingly rendered fully. Each of the panels in this spread tilts slightly, adding energy to the urban scene. Don't miss Nightcrawler, crouching on the balcony with his extra-long tail. The overlapping panels and lack of gutters on the bottom tier allow Tan to squeeze in one more close-up of Angel. The first panel would have been a full page splash if it had been vertically oriented instead of horizontal. The colorist appropriately gave Angel a halo with the sun behind him. As Jason Richardson points out in the comments below, this panel became the cover of the second printing for this issue. In the final panel, arch-backed Angel looks like an homage to Led Zeppelin's Icarus logo. Social/Sharing |
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Comments on this Artwork
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Marcus Wai 
Member Since 2005
2 - Posted on 9/13/2025
Tan is in the same class of Hitch and Finch making these DPS's so cinematic and flush with iconic poses. Having Danny Miki ink it is the icing on the cake that finishes their common look off!
Byron B
Member Since 2018
1 - Posted on 9/13/2025
Wow! I remember passing on this DPS at a convention here in Australia back in maybe 2013. At the time my friend convinced me I shouldn't spend so much money on art. I should never have listened to him, haha. Such a great example of Tan's work. I'm suprised it hadn't been snapped up sooner. Congrats!
Derek Crabbe
Member Since 2020
1 - Posted on 9/13/2025
"Messiah Complex" was a return to form of the great X-events of the 80s and 90s! Wonderful imagery of Angel and Wolverine!
Kavi H
Member Since 2018
1 - Posted on 9/13/2025
Badass UXM DPS! The main Angel establishing shot and subsequent sequence of panels is amazing.
James Dornoff
Member Since 2019
1 - Posted on 9/13/2025
Some really gorgeous Angel art, Tan and Miki knows how to really treat these characters well and make this particular character so graceful.
Christopher Daley
Member Since 2019
1 - Posted on 9/13/2025
Fantastic DPS. Love Billy's work on X-Men
Jul-Kha T
Member Since 2013
1 - Posted on 9/13/2025
That issue had some of the best shots of Messiah Complex. Makes me wish Billy got to draw more of the classic X-Men on his run
Jason Richardson
Member Since 2022
1 - Posted on 9/14/2025
Congrats on the piece. It also looks like they used that Angel image for the 2nd print of issue 492 also.
Miki Annamanthadoo
Member Since 2003
1 - Posted on 9/14/2025
Tan was so good! And this is a great example of his best work! Congrats!
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