Wolverine and the X-Men #30 is a prelude issue, but it performs the task of kicking off the Hellfire Saga admirably. This series is firing on all cylinders and this arc is primed to be one of the best in the title's existence and should not be missed by X-Men fans. Read Full Review

We still don't know what the Hellfire Club's goal is or why they are recruiting mutants to their school. Without the Phoenix being one of their driving factors (so far at least) it seems a bit too petty to just be about money. We're still being withheld some critical piece of information and I want to know what exactly that is. Thankfully the subtitle of this issue was ‘The Hellfire Club Prologue'. We're finally going to be getting some answers on what exactly is going on here soon. Read Full Review

The art was the real standout among many other aspects of this issue. The combined work of Ferry, Larraz, and Espin made this book look clean. When I first picked up this book I was a bit scared about how the interior would look based on the cover. The cover just didn't grab me and almost made me put it back down, but the interior made you want to read it. This was possibly the best artwork done in this series to date. Read Full Review

"Wolverine and the X-Men" #30 does a very admirable job in setting up for the big story arc next issue. That's not to say nothing really happens here; a lot of truths are revealed, some great foreshadowing is done, and there are plenty of character moments to go around. Not to mention the quality art being put out by Pasqual Ferry here. It's going to be incredibly interesting to see what happens to the faculty and students of the Jean Grey academy in the upcoming months, but it certainly won't be pretty. It will, however, be a little strange, a little funny, and a little tragic; just like this title has been throughout its run. Read Full Review

This issue is a great jumping-on point for new readers, as it kicks off the Hellfire Saga arc that will be the focus of the book for the next several issues. Wolverine and his faculty and students have been plagued by the Hellfire Club in the past, but now it seems as if it is all coming to a head. This book does a good job of setting the stage for the next arc, and the writing is what we have come to expect from Jason Aaron on this book: smart, funny, and well done. The Hellfire Saga sure looks promising if the quality of the rest of the issues measures up to the prologue. 8/10. Read Full Review

I'm liking this Starblood guy, and he might prove to be cool. I also like the idea that Idie isn't just a bonehead, but is instead on an undercover mission of revenge. So she's redeemed a tiny bit in my eyes. At least Storm voices the complaint I've had about Idie since the beginning, that none of the X-Men or teachers ever took the time to deprogram her ‘mutants are evil' conditioning. That should have been step one with the poor girl. Instead, the X-Men let her wander around for months spreading her hate speak. I'm also in favor of Quentin going in double under cover to save/help Idie, and I'm cool with Toad betraying the X-Men to join the Hellfire Academy. I enjoyed Toad's pseudo membership with the X-Men while it lasted, but it was probably never going to stick. Hopefully it won't turn out too badly for him in the end. Read Full Review

The three-man art team puts out some nice visuals, and that is where this book is able to keep a somewhat lighter tone. The staff are pretty pissed at Quentin Quire, yet the fact that Doop is there giving him the stink-eye as the teachers yell at him make it read completely differently, i.e., incredibly hilarious. So with the narrative taking a turn for more somber times and desperate measures, it's the art that keeps this boat afloat. Read Full Review

Wolverine and the X-Men #30 may be one of the darkest issues this series has had but Jason Aaron accomplished what he set out to do: set the stage for The Hellfire Saga. Aaron quickly set this event apart by having the X-Men of the Jean Grey School immediately become proactive in their fight with the Hellfire Club. But even with a more proactive X-Men team Aaron was still able to deliver some surprises as traitors are revealed as the X-Men have already fallen behind before the war even starts. Although the art by committee had its rough spots Pasqual Ferry, Pepe Laraz and Salva Espin were able to execute on the dramatic and action sequences well enough that it didn't get in the way of the story. With what Aaron was able to accomplish in this prelude to the Hellfire Saga I am even more pumped to find out how this event plays out and what ramifications it will have for the X-Men Universe. Read Full Review

"Wolverine & The X-Men" #30 is an enjoyable, solid superhero comic book. It's not going to blow your mind, but especially if you're already invested emotionally in these characters, you'll enjoy every page. Read Full Review

As we head into what will be this book's biggest storyline yet, it seems that all of the storytelling pieces are in place to make it the most excellent yet as well. The art on this issue is a big misstep, and drags this issue's final score down massively as a result, but we can rest assured knowing that next issue will be a marked improvement. Read Full Review

This chapter of WOLVERINE AND THE X-MEN cleared up a lot of dangling story threads, while finally getting a chance to set up the story of the new Hellfire Club, a story I think Aaron's been burning to get to for some time. That being said, it's difficult to recommend and issue when the best thing you can say about it is that it's ‘necessary'. The creative team makes a pretty engaging read out of an issue that's little more than sweeping out the attic, but that's what makes it ultimately skippable. I'm sure THE HELLFIRE SAGA will make an engaging read, but this is little more than an assemblage of parts. Read Full Review