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X-Men

The Road to X-Men Inferno (2021) | Krakin’ Krakoa #197

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What is Inferno? The X-Men event series promises to deliver answer to many of the mysteries throughout the past two plus years of X-Men stories. Likewise, the theme of the event promos is that secrets, lies, and betrayals will rule the day, as allies, enemies, and leaders alike can’t be trusted. The mutant nation of Krakoa has offered the promise of paradise for mutantkind, but it’s likely that here in Inferno we’ll see that promises come burning to the ground.

Marvel is perpetually teasing that an “Event changes everything,” but there’s a real sense with Inferno that it will genuinely change the landscape of what we can come to expect from X-Men comics in 2022.

Spoilers for discussed comics may follow!

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Jonathan Hickman’s Full X-Men Run: Dawns & Endings | Krakin’ Krakoa #195

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In July 2019, writer Jonathan Hickman returned to the Marvel Universe after a nearly 4 year sabbatical to deliver House of X #1, a game-changing paradigm shift for Marvel’s X-Men comics. With collaborators Pepe Larraz, RB Silva, and Marte Gracia, Hickman completely reinvigorated X-Men and the fandom that surrounds it. After the massive success of House of X and Powers of X, Hickman turned to an ongoing X-Men series, set during the new status quo of the X-Men’s Krakoa era, a run that lasted from Fall 2019 through summer 2021.

Looking back at the full run now, what did we learn, what mysteries still remain, and how effective was Jonathan Hickman’s X-Men as a whole?

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Where to Start With X-Men Comics – Essential X-Men Fast Track

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One of my favorite aspects of House of X  / Powers of X and Jonathan Hickman’s takeover of Marvel’s X-Men comics line is how many new or lapsed readers want to dive into the vast and often complicated world of the X-Men. While I have a wide array of guides on Comic Book Herald – including massive full reading orders for all of X-Men – I thought it’d be easier for some new readers to start with a fast-track guide to the essential starting places. [Read more…] about Where to Start With X-Men Comics – Essential X-Men Fast Track

(Re)Read Hickman’s X-Men Era: An X-Force to Be Reckoned With

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A Companion to 2019’s X-Force #1-6!

Benjamin Percy’s X-Force dives right in from the first page, opening the dark vein this violent sub-franchise has tapped into since its 1991 inception—growing darker and bloodier with every iteration. Or seemingly so. Certainly, each volume after the initial and longest-running one has been grim, dark, and brooding—except Ed Brisson’s relatively light 10-issue run* immediately preceding House of X. While we’re looking here at the sixth X-Force series, we shouldn’t forget the grimmest iterations—the two volumes of Uncanny X-Force written by Rick Remender. And there was the underwhelming Cable and X-Force, as well.

Related:

Hickman X-Men Reading Order

Krakin’ Krakoa!

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*Brisson’s series is very timey-wimey and focused on teen Cable—following on from 2018’s Extermination, the mini where Brisson introduced him. For the conclusion of teen Cable’s arc, read Duggan’s Cable title, which just wrapped up at issue #12.

But what exactly is X-Force?

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(Re)Read Hickman’s X-Men: The Sword Is Drawn – 2019’s Excalibur #1

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Somewhat like Marauders, Tini Howard and Marcus To’s Excalibur reinvents a familiar X-franchise name, though in this case the new Excalibur retains strong ties to the beloved classic team of the 1980s. Their base will still be the Lighthouse, and their leader remains Captain Britain—and a Braddock—but their roster is otherwise entirely different. Missing, too, is Claremont and Alan Davis’ signature gonzo satire on the title, but Omniversal Majestrix Opal Luna Saturnyne will see her grandest showing yet, while the Braddocks, Pete Wisdom, and Merlyn and Roma play increasingly prominent supporting roles as the series continues. In fact, as a hub or nexus of the multiverse, Otherworld will be far more prominent in the new series—and so will its province of Avalon.

Related:

Hickman X-Men Reading Order

Krakin’ Krakoa!

More in this series!

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