X-MEN #35 — Tony Daniel frames Hank McCoy’s darkest mirror
Hank McCoy isn’t just fighting an enemy in X-Men #35; he’s staring down a version of himself that has already won. Jed MacKay and Tony Daniel turn the X-Men’s scientific mind into the battleground in a DNX Prologue chapter that feels personal, immediate, and utterly terrifying.
There are threats that challenge the X-Men’s bodies, and then there are threats that dismantle their identities. When you look at Tony Daniel’s cover for X-Men #35, you aren’t just seeing Hank McCoy—you’re seeing a fracture in his soul. The artist has captured a moment where the line between savior and villain isn’t just blurred; it’s erased. It’s a chilling portrait that tells you exactly what kind of journey you’re about to embark on.
Jed MacKay’s script for this issue, titled the DNX Prologue, moves the conflict inward. Beast is haunted, but not by the ghosts of Krakoa or the wars of the past. He is being pursued by a phantom of his own potential. This isn't a random supervillain show up; it is the Chairman of 3K, an older, amoral iteration of Hank himself. It is a confrontation with a version of his mind that has made the hard choices so thoroughly that they have lost all moral compass.
The beauty of this setup is in the psychological weight MacKay brings to the page. We know Hank’s brilliance is the engine of the X-Men, but here, that same intellect is the weapon being turned against them. If you have ever wondered where the line is drawn between necessary evil and pure malice, this issue draws it in permanent marker. Tony Daniel’s art grounds this cosmic horror in the tangible reality of Hank’s face, making every expression feel like a warning.
This is the issue where you realize that the greatest danger to the team might not be coming from the outside at all. It is a masterclass in character study, using the familiar iconography of the X-Men to explore a future that feels earned rather than imposed. If you love stories where the hero has to defeat themselves to save everyone else, this is the drop you need to have on your shelf.
As you head to the product page, keep an eye on how Tony Daniel handles the lighting in the interior pages. The way he contrasts the blue of Hank’s present self against the shadow of his future counterpart is subtle work that pays off in the quiet moments between the dialogue. It’s the kind of visual storytelling that makes you want to sit with the page a little longer than usual.