If you think there are a lot of X-Men books on the shelves now… Well, you’d be correct. At the moment, there are 8 titles available for purchase including; X-Men, X-Force, New Mutants, Marauders, Excalibur, Giant-Sized X-Men, and Wolverine.
From what I can tell, Fallen Angels is canceled, and, of course, X-Men+Fantastic Four is a mini-series. However, fear not -assuming you were afraid- there will soon be more than enough books coming to replace those two – and then some. Let’s take a look at what’s in the Krakoan pipeline.
1. X-Factor
Out of all the 2020 Dawn of X titles, I don’t think any, save Wolverine, has gotten as much attention as X-Factor. At least as far as social media goes – which makes sense when you look at it from a certain angle. Half the cast is LGBT. Kind of hard to miss that.
Related: X-Men: Marvel Shows Off X-Factor’s New Character Designs
Written by the infinitely talented Leah Williams, X-Factor will return to it’s Peter David roots. By that I mean, they’ll be doing detective work as they look into the disappearance of mutants. Hence the missing “X” in their logo, which was designed by the book’s artist, David Baldeon.
X-Factor #1 will be available on April 22nd.
2. Cable
Gerry Duggan is always such a busy boy. Along with helming the Kitty Prude led title, Marauders, he’ll soon also be dreaming stories for the first child of Cyclops – Cable. Reminder, this is the teenaged version of Cable, not the original, experienced, grizzled one we’re all more accustomed to.
Duggan will find himself on familiar ground -which is probably why he got the gig- as he’s dabbled with the character in the past during his run on Uncanny Avengers. I also expect to see some of his work with Deadpool rub off on the series by way of action and teen Cable’s more sophomoric personality.
Cable #1 will be available on March 11th.
3. Hellions
DC and Marvel often borrow from each other. We see it in their story arcs, characters, and in this case, book premise. Hellions are a team of misfit, dangerous Krakoan mutants being used to tackle tough missions and at the same time rehabilitate them.
Related: X-Men: Recently Announced ‘Hellions’ Title Simmers With Goblin Queen Teaser
In other words, it’s the X-Men version of Suicide Squad (DC) or Thunderbolts (Marvel). While the idea isn’t horrible – the cast is less than stellar. Writer Zebb Wells has chosen Wild Child, Orphan Maker, Nanny, Scalphunter, Empath, Psylocke, Havok and Mister Sinister. The last three will obviously be the book’s anchors, but sheeeeesh. I think I could have picked a better bunch with a gun to my head.
Hellions #1 will be available on March 25th
4. Fantomex (Giant-Sized X-Men)
We don’t know a whole lot about Fantomex’s title, but it’s less a stand-alone book and more of a volume within Giant-Sized X-Men. The last time we saw Jean-Phillipe, he’d donated his body to help resurrect Professor X in Astonishing X-Men.
According to X-Men boss Jonathan Hickman, that loaned body was the same one that acquired an extra hole via bullet during the opening issue of X-Force. I think it’s safe to assume this book will show us how he returns. You see, Fantomex isn’t a mutant. Will the Krakoans float him special dispensation for his prior sacrifice?
Giant-Size X-Men: Fantomex #1 will be available on March 20th
5. Children of the Atom
Like it, love it, hate it – this book is coming. I’d voice a more distinct opinion on it myself – if I knew what it was even about. To this day, the book is still a mystery. Outside of a couple of covers and the announced creative team (Vita Ayala & Bernard Chang), we don’t even know how many pages it’s going to be, much less what it’s really about.
Related: Why the Children of the Atom Should be about the Chimera
If you take the solicits literally, it stars several new characters modeled after Gambit, Cyclops, Angel, Nightcrawler, and Jean. Supposedly, they grew up idolizing the X-Men. That in and of itself doesn’t make a lick of sense. It’s hard to be excited about something that looks ridiculous. Here’s hoping this is somehow linked to the Chimera from Powers of X. Otherwise – what the #&#&?
Children of the Atom #1 will be available on April 15th
6. Juggernaut
Juggernaut isn’t returning to comics alone – and I’m not talking about his new teenaged sidekick. The miniseries will be written by X-Men franchise veteran and creator of the Age of Apocalypse storyline, Fabian Nicieza.
Related: X-Men: Fabian Nicieza Returns With New Juggernaut Miniseries This May
Since the end of last year’s Uncanny X-Men, Marko has been stripped of his connection to the chaos god, Cytorak, and banished to Limbo. It was a huge cluster #&#& of a finale. Anywho… Nicieza will be addressing not just his return to this plane, but his adjustment to an unfamiliar world where mutants are on top.
Juggernaunt #1 will be available in May
7. X-Corps
This is a weird one. X-Corp was supposed to debut in February, but the only info we’ve got on it is that Captain Marvel/ X-Men: Red artist Carmen Carnero has been tapped for illustration. This is as strange as Fallen Angels coming to an abrupt end.
Related: Marvel Shocks With The Announcement of New X-Men Book, X-Corps
Much of Dawn of X has appeared to be meticulously planned. So much so, that a drop/delay like this seems out of place. All we know of this title is based on speculation and past experiences with the name.
8. X of Swords
This Summer marks not just the first anniversary of the House of X and Powers of X books that changed the X-Men landscape, but it’s also the start of their first crossover. X of Swords will be headed up by Jonathan Hickman and Excalibur writer, Tini Howard.
Whether this will be a book on its own or just the name of the event spread across 15 issues within the franchise – or both – has yet to be announced. However, I can assure you, whichever reaps Marvel more money is the answer. What’s it about? Swords. Maybe ten of them. It’s a Hickman story so, who knows?
Take this with a grain of salt – in tarot, the ‘Ten of Swords’ card predicts not only a total failure, but an unavoidable disaster. Seeing as this event is being co-piloted by Howard – someone very interested in the occult – this is more than likely not a coincidence. But which of you thought that this Krakoa business was going to end well?
Here’s the official description from Marvel Comics:
“Threatened by powerful forces from the unknown, ten mutants will rise up to defend their home. Arming themselves with legendary blades both new and familiar, mutantkind will finally meet its mystical destiny.”
Are you looking forward to any of the new titles on the way? Let us know below.