The Hellions take the fight to Mastermind and Arcade in Hellions #11, by writer Zeb Well, artist Stephen Segovia, colorist David Curiel, and letterer Ariana Maher. This story has been sort of disappointing, but this issue redeems it, revealing the point behind the whole thing and supplying more madcap Hellions fun.

Basically, this issue deals with the Hellions breaking free of their Mastermind-created fantasies, starting with Greycrow finding Psylocke. In the real world, Arcade lords over Sinister and Mastermind, but things are falling apart as the Hellions link up, and Psylocke is able to break out of the fantasy and come to the real world. Before she can kill Mastermind, he shows that he’s on their side by taking control of Arcade, and the whole point of the caper is revealed- Sinister wanted to use Arcade’s desire to build a cloning facility to his own advantage. Mastermind makes it, so everyone but he, Psylocke, and Sinister remember the Hellions beating Arcade, and everyone goes home.

For the first two parts of this story, it felt like Wells wasn’t really firing on all eight cylinders. Wells writing Arcade versus the Hellions, with Mastermind, seemed like a recipe for some awesomeness, but the story never reached that until this issue. However, it does reach it this issue and completely different from what readers would expect. The whole thing being a scam by Sinister and Mastermind is so perfect, and it really redeems something that was feeling like a bit of a mediocre story. Why does Sinister want a cloning facility away from Krakoa? What is he doing that he doesn’t want the Quiet Council to know? Will he and Mastermind continue to work together? This issue lays out some intriguing questions for the future.

Wells also does some great character work in this issue. He reveals that Greycrow has a crush on Psylocke, which is interesting, to say the least. Speaking as Psylocke, she’s the focus of this issue in a lot of ways, and she gets the most character work. She’s the only one who knows the truth, but her loyalty to Sinister- enforced by him threatening her daughter- in total. However, this issue starts to show cracks in that whole facade. Psylocke is a great ally to have, but she can be pretty dangerous, and this issue feels like it’s a turning point in her dealings with Sinister.

Segovia’s art is great as usual. While there’s not a lot of action- the closest that the book gets is the Hellions running away from some of Mastermind’s illusions- Segovia’s character acting really sells everything in the issue. Take Greycrow’s crush- readers get an idea that it exists in the scenes between him and Psylocke in the opening pages. Same with Psylocke’s getting fed up with Sinister’s manipulations. Segovia shows just what’s going on in the character’s heads under the surface, and it makes Wells’s script work that much better.

Hellions #11 redeems what felt to be shaping up to be a mediocre, at best, story. Wells expertly cleverly subverts reader expectation- of course, Sinister and Mastermind, mutants known for their subterfuge, had something shady planned. It’s a great twist, and it pulls this issue into the stars. Segovia’s art is the icing on the cake. Hellions #11 does a lot of heavy lifting for the book’s future, and it’s looking to be a great one.

Grade: B+