In what has turned into a jam packed Friday morning, Marvel has announced three new X-Related titles. First off is the return of GIANT-SIZE X-MEN, the classic titled that kicked off the all-new, all-different, and commercially successful era of the X-Books back in 1975. This will be an ongoing series written by Jonathan Hickman with a rotating cast of A-List artists. The first issue GIANT-SIZE X-MEN: JEAN GREY & EMMA FROST kicks off with superstar artists Russell Dauterman and Matt Wilson weaving a yarn about the former rivals uniting to rescue Storm from some unknown danger. Each issue will combine Hickman’s captivating storytelling with the iconic art of a different superstar artist to depict grand-scale adventures focused on specific X-Men characters.
Next up, as announced by Newsarama is X-MEN/FANTASTIC FOUR, a four issue mini-series combining Marvel’s first family with everyone’s favorite superhero soap opera. Writer Chip Zdarsky is joined by Terry and Rachel Dodson to expand on a plot point from all the way back in HOUSE OF X #1. This book will focus on Franklin Richards, the mutant son of Mister Fantastic and the Invisible Woman. For his part Zdarsky said “this series will have repercussions for years to come in the Marvel universe, which is incredibly cool. Unless, again, I’m being punked by Hickman.”
Lastly, we have an unique announcement with Alex Ross curating a six-issue anthology called MARVEL. This will tell small tales from around the history of the Marvel universe, including one in the second issue that takes place right after the X-Men’s first mission on Krakoa. Ross will be doing covers along with Dan Brereton and they are very pretty.
Between all of these, the success of the Dawn Of X books so far, and the rumored, but unannounced series that are yet to come, I will just be signing my paychecks directly over to Marvel for 2020.
Zachary Jenkins runs ComicsXF and is a co-host on the podcast “Battle of the Atom.” Shocking everyone, he has a full and vibrant life outside of all this.
