January's Marauders: Annual 2021 #1 by Steve Orlando and Creees Lee followed Captain Kate Pryde and Bishop as they assembled a new team with an altruistic mission to help at-risk mutants around the world. But before they were even finished recruiting, Kate discovered an ancient mysterium puzzle box containing a map and a message with potentially colossal implications about both the past and the future of mutant-kind. Now, Orlando is teaming up with artist Eleonora Carlini, colorist Matt Milla and letterer Ariana Maher to present Marauders #1, an exciting first issue full of surprises.
Marauders #1 begins when Kate Pryde follows the map from the puzzle box to a forgotten corner of Krakoa, where she comes face to face with the infamous Cassandra Nova. Kate still holds Professor Xavier's deranged twin sister responsible for the deaths of countless mutants in the attack on Genosha, but she is a reformist at heart, and Cassandra assures her that she "couldn't hurt a mutant fly." So Nova becomes the final member of the Marauders and points them in the direction of hordes of mutants in need of assistance in outer space.
Orlando does a great job introducing readers to the new team of heroes without getting bogged down in exposition. By introducing the team to Cassandra Nova, Orlando is able to quickly introduce readers to each member of the team to catch readers up naturally. The tension between the Marauders and their powerful new teammate adds to the overall sense of danger and uncertainty that surrounds the team as they embark on a mission to confront the Shi'Ar. By maintaining such a fast pace, Orlando gives the reader a sense of the disorienting flurry of activity that Kate Pryde and her compatriots are struggling to respond to.
Carlini's art complements Orlando's writing perfectly. Her page designs bring the pain and chaos of the action to light in an entertaining, but empathetic way. When Kate and Bishop are trying to help a distraught mutant, Carlini perfectly balances the serious emotional implications of the situation with a thrilling action sequence. The scene that introduces Cassandra Nova is particularly compelling. Carlini reveals the controversial character with a large spread that makes her appear as monstrous as her reputation would suggest. But Carlini's best work in Marauders #1 can be found in her stunning depictions of outer space. She does an excellent job capturing the vast beauty of the landscape to underscore the epic science fiction side of this first issue.
Marauders #1 ends with the titular heroes in a remarkably precarious position and sets the stage for a fast-paced series. Whether they are exploring the wilds of Krakoa or rocketing into the far reaches of space, the Marauders are intriguing and easy to root for. The entire creative team works together to craft an excellent first issue that is sure to have fans hooked from the very first panel.
