Uploaded November 2021 | Updated September 2026, 4 hours ago
SWORD #10 is the penultimate issue in my first or second favorite series in the Krakoa era depending on how recently I’ve read the latest issue of Hellions. The Al Ewing written series remains excellent, continuing here with the threat of the Lethal Legion and SWORD’s mole as mutantkind is threatened from every angle.
Today I'll Answer:
+ What is Abigail Brand plotting and what does it mean for the future of the mutant space program and Krakoa?
+ Theories and predictions for what’s to come!
Writer: Al Ewing
Artist: Jacopo Camagni
Colors: Fernando Sifeuntes
Letters: Ariana Maher
Spoilers for discussed comics may follow!
For the full Krakin' Krakoa X-Men playlist:
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbUTT7Ae14QsfMq3Uz8bNnnzpiUwXHgJ-
For all Reign of X videos:
youtube.com/watch?v=v6EnUGTZKIg&list=PLbUTT7Ae14Qt3HSgMSxsgYR3leRTa6OiO
For the full Dawn of X reading order:
comicbookherald.com/the-complete-marvel-reading-order-guide/jonathan-hickman-x-men-reading-order
For the full X-Men comics reading order:
comicbookherald.com/the-complete-x-men-reading-order-guide-modern-marvel-comics-era
So SWORD #9 advanced the role of Henry Peter Gyrich as a key antagonist to Abigail Brand and SWORD. Henry Peter Gyrich is acting commander of the Alpha Flight Space Program and servant of the anti-mutant collective Orchis. For the less familiar, Gyrich has effectively been the governmental stand-in for a conservative stooge since 1980s Avengers comics, somewhere between Dark Reign era Norman Osborn and MCU Alexander Pierce, usually wielding his bigotry through established political infrastructures and friends in high places. If you’ve read the original SWORD miniseries by Kieron Gillen, you know that Gyrich is effectively the villain of that run.
So in issue #9, we see Gyrich selling James Hudson, Guardian of Alpha Flight, on the threat of mutant Arakko. But most importantly, we learn that Gyrich’s mole inside SWORD is none other than Takeshi Matsuya, aka Wiz-Kid. Which given how likable Ewing has made the character, transforming him from this virtually untouched original Inferno cast off into a crucial part of SWORD, would be a bummer!
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Video music by:
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Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
About Comic Book Herald:
My name's Dave, and Comic Book Herald is a labor of love designed to help new, lapsed, and curious comic book readers explore and enjoy the wonderful world of comics. I've been developing reading orders, chronology guides, and detailed comics recommendations since late 2011. Comics can be confusing and intimidating; I try to help.
SWORD #10 is the penultimate issue in my first or second favorite series in the Krakoa era depending on how recently I’ve read the latest issue of Hellions. The Al Ewing written series remains excellent, continuing here with the threat of the Lethal Legion and SWORD’s mole as mutantkind is threatened from every angle.
Today I'll Answer:
+ What is Abigail Brand plotting and what does it mean for the future of the mutant space program and Krakoa?
+ Theories and predictions for what’s to come!
Writer: Al Ewing
Artist: Jacopo Camagni
Colors: Fernando Sifeuntes
Letters: Ariana Maher
Spoilers for discussed comics may follow!
For the full Krakin' Krakoa X-Men playlist:
youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbUTT7Ae14QsfMq3Uz8bNnnzpiUwXHgJ-
For all Reign of X videos:
youtube.com/watch?v=v6EnUGTZKIg&list=PLbUTT7Ae14Qt3HSgMSxsgYR3leRTa6OiO
For the full Dawn of X reading order:
comicbookherald.com/the-complete-marvel-reading-order-guide/jonathan-hickman-x-men-reading-order
For the full X-Men comics reading order:
comicbookherald.com/the-complete-x-men-reading-order-guide-modern-marvel-comics-era
So SWORD #9 advanced the role of Henry Peter Gyrich as a key antagonist to Abigail Brand and SWORD. Henry Peter Gyrich is acting commander of the Alpha Flight Space Program and servant of the anti-mutant collective Orchis. For the less familiar, Gyrich has effectively been the governmental stand-in for a conservative stooge since 1980s Avengers comics, somewhere between Dark Reign era Norman Osborn and MCU Alexander Pierce, usually wielding his bigotry through established political infrastructures and friends in high places. If you’ve read the original SWORD miniseries by Kieron Gillen, you know that Gyrich is effectively the villain of that run.
So in issue #9, we see Gyrich selling James Hudson, Guardian of Alpha Flight, on the threat of mutant Arakko. But most importantly, we learn that Gyrich’s mole inside SWORD is none other than Takeshi Matsuya, aka Wiz-Kid. Which given how likable Ewing has made the character, transforming him from this virtually untouched original Inferno cast off into a crucial part of SWORD, would be a bummer!
--------------------------------------------------------------------
Please like & subscribe Comic Book Herald to get all the new video guides, and help the channel reach more comic book fans!
You can subscribe to the Best Comics Ever podcast here:
podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/best-comics-ever/id1366035075
Find more from Comic Book Herald at:
-- comicbookherald.com
-- patreon.com/comicbookherald
-- twitter.com/ComicBookHerald
-- facebook.com/ComicBookHerald
-- instagram.com/ComicBookHerald
-- storenvy.com/stores/1279874-comic-book-herald
Video music by:
bensound.com
Disclosure: As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
About Comic Book Herald:
My name's Dave, and Comic Book Herald is a labor of love designed to help new, lapsed, and curious comic book readers explore and enjoy the wonderful world of comics. I've been developing reading orders, chronology guides, and detailed comics recommendations since late 2011. Comics can be confusing and intimidating; I try to help.
