The ComicsXF series-by-series guide to the X-Men: From the Ashes era

Welcome to the ComicsXF series-by-series guide to the new era of X-Men comics. The last few years saw a new dawn for the House of X: Mutants reigned (for a while) but were always destined to fall. And From the Ashes of the mutant island nation of Krakoa, this is what comes next.

What do I mean by this? Well, I’m not sure. Certainly a relaunch: There will be at least 10 new X-Men titles starting between July and October; seemingly a back-to-basics approach to the X-Men: back in the “real” world (mostly America), contending with the old-fashioned hatred and fear. That’s not to say that they didn’t face that in the Krakoa era, but it’s the most prominent theme coming through previews and solicitations for the From the Ashes titles, which makes it hard to place what this era is about. 

That is to say that there doesn’t appear to be a unifying concept to this line of books. Each title very much feels separate from the others — set in different locations, combating different threats, featuring different characters. So if there feels like a lack of cohesion or connectedness between the titles, that’s by design. New “Conductor of X” Tom Brevoort has said as much: The idea is that there’s something for everyone here, something catering to each and every type of X-Men fan. 

It sounds to me, then, like the most appropriate way to approach this new era is on a series-by-series basis, and that’s exactly what we’re going to do here. I’ll be talking you through each new title in release date order, firstly focusing on what we know about the series including the core concepts, creators and characters, and my thoughts on what we’ve heard so far. I’ll then be pondering the existential questions I have about the series — hopes, dreams, concerns, aspirations, everything. 

Let’s get started.

X-Men

Issue #1 out 7/10

Creative team: Jed MacKay (writer), Ryan Stegman (artist), Marte Gracia (colorist)

What we know: First things first: This is a team full of powerhouses. Between Cyclops, Beast, Magneto, Psylocke, Kid Omega, Temper, Magik and Juggernaut, all bases are covered when it comes to power sets and the storytelling flexibility that comes with them. It’s also an unusual composition for an X-Men team, with representation across a range of eras and backgrounds. With three former villains on the team (counting Quentin Quire but not this version of Beast), there’s a natural point of tension within the team that’s the complete opposite of the Uncanny X-Men team.

That said, there are some tried and tested pre-existing relationships here that are ripe for exploration. Cyclops and Magik’s “work father-daughter” connection has always been fun, and Temper (formerly known as Oya) and Quentin Quire’s relationship is likely to have changed drastically over the years. But the tension between the two headline characters is surely where the action is. A reprisal of the precarious alliance between Cyclops and Magneto in the Brian Michael Bendis era has the potential to be fascinating, and how Jed MacKay positions Scott Summers politically in relation to his mentor’s oldest adversary is definitely something to watch out for.

Judging by the solicitations for issues #1-4, X-Men could be adopting a “villain of the week” approach, with aliens, government agents and ’90s villains Trevor Fitzroy and the Upstarts all teased in sequential issues. This would be relatively unusual for X-Men comics, which have typically been focussed on the longer-form storytelling characterized by Chris Claremont (although he was not immune to stretches of “one and done” issues). Between the cartoon-style approach to form and the storylines that have been teased, this series has the feel of “updated nostalgia” X-Men ’97 had. But it could also be so much more.

X-istential questions: The biggest question therefore is how this series deals with the politics of mutant identity. Solicits have described “a flag of defiance,” teased “Scott Summers vs. the United States of America” and referenced “mutant murder,” but how bold are the creatives willing to be? Again, Cyclops’ and Magneto’s characterization and positioning will be key to this. In the absence of Professor X, will Cyclops take up his mantle, or, as the final issue of the Krakoan era suggested, will Magneto? Will it move beyond the traditional X-Men political dichotomy of assimilationism and separatism? These are all key considerations I’m bringing into the book.

I’m aware this makes it sound like the book needs to be austere, and that is not the case at all. It’s clear from the previews that MacKay and Stegman intend to have fun with these characters and these stories, and an equally key consideration is whether they can sustain an overarching plot. With a new threat being added each week, it’s crucial that each character gets ample development time and that the villains feel rounded and interesting enough to keep the momentum high and the action exciting. MacKay’s undisputed hits for Marvel have been primarily in solo titles, so balancing the cast is key. The potential of this team is undeniable, and it’ll be amazing if they pull it off.

Buy X-Men #1 here.

Phoenix

Issue #1 out 7/17

Creative team: Stephanie Phillips (writer), Alessandro Miracolo (artist), David Curiel (colorist)

What we know: Jeanie the meanie’s going cosmic again. I mean, what do you do once you’ve brought every X-man from every universe ever together to defeat a Dominion? After a brief sojourn to Norway with her husband (currently being told through the Marvel Infinity comics), Phoenix is escaping everyday life to perform the “cosmic ballet” of balancing a normal life and wielding a cosmic force. 

The stakes promise to be both astronomical and intimate, impacting Jean Grey and the universe around her. The inciting incident bringing “darkness to the universe and haunt[ing] her in ways she can scarcely imagine” is unlikely to do Jean’s rather patchy cosmic reputation any favors.

Initial previews of Phoenix #1 hint at some possible tension and/or hilarity with Scott and Jean trying to make an extremely long-distance relationship work. It’s also apparent from Tom Brevoort’s recent interviews that wandering eyes will not be welcome. Instead, Jean will be getting some good old-fashioned father-in-law bonding time in issue #2. Issue #3 promises a tantalizing battle against the Black Order, of death and entropy vs. fire and life.

X-istential questions: Although I don’t get the sense that this will be as intimate a character exploration as Louise Simonson’s 2023 Jean Grey miniseries, Jean’s characterization is of course crucial to the success of the book. Given the ending of Rise of the Powers of X, we’re more likely to see a Jean in control of the Phoenix, so the push-and-pull nature of their relationship may well take a back seat to exploring Jean and her state of mind. With Jean having time and space to herself for a change, there will be plenty of room for internality alongside the cosmic punch-‘em-ups. This natural contrast is one of the most interesting things about the character, and the way both Stephanie Phillips and Jean herself manage this balance will be crucial.

There’s an inescapable commercial question around this series, too: Can Jean sustain an X-Men solo title on an ongoing basis? Can anyone except Wolverine? There’s little historical evidence to support this theory; then again, few have tried in recent years. This question applies to all of the solo series, but Phoenix will be the first to test the market. Judging by the online reaction, her fans are ready to meet the challenge.

Buy Phoenix #1 here.

NYX

Issue #1 out 7/24

Creative team: Collin Kelly and Jackson Lanzing (writers), Francesco Mortarino (artist), Raúl Angulo (colorist)

What we know: According to solicits, NYX “isn’t a book about X-Men” but is instead about a group of young mutants navigating their way through new beginnings on the neon streets of New York. Led by big names Ms. Marvel and Wolverine (Laura Kinney) and supported by Prodigy, Anole and Sophie Cuckoo, the “mutant community activism and pop-punk young adult messiness” promised by co-writer Jackson Lanzing online suggests that NYX is positioning itself as the spiritual successor to the Krakoan era in the form of a “teen” drama.

The solicits mention threats “coming from every direction,” potentially including the mysterious new mutant character Local and the more recent tease of the Krakoan, a “former X-Man [who] twists the dream of Krakoa to rule the masses.” 

X-istential questions: To what extent will the series honor the legacy of the Krakoan era? The Hellion … ahem … “Krakoan” mystery teased in the marketing for issue #1 looks set to tackle the more divisive political aspects of the mutant island nation. Considering the pre-release scuttlebutt’s focus on the series’ youth revolt sensibilities, whether Lanzing and Kelly play this straight or slightly tongue-in-cheek is likely to color readers’ perceptions straight out of the gate. 

The writers being unafraid to engage with the very recent past sets this book apart from other titles’ penchant for nostalgia, although whether there’s actually anything new here is harder to decipher. With Anole and Prodigy on the cast, there is an opportunity to explore a range of queer stories, told within a real world setting, providing the slice-of-life storytelling that was missing from the latter part of the Krakoan era. How real the “real world” setting of contemporary New York feels, and the nature of the mutants’ relationship with other and their own marginalized communities is something I’ll be watching intently. Mortarino’s art will have a lot to do with this, and I’ll be interested to see whether he can scale down from his recent Avengers work. Based on preview pages, it would appear so.

History cautions against setting expectations too high, and I’m certainly not doing that, but the opportunity for the series to distinguish itself politically from some of the other “safer” books may make or break NYX for me. 

Buy NYX #1 here.

X-Force

Issue #1 out 7/31

Creative team: Geoffrey Thorne (writer), Marcus To (artist)

What we know: Writer Geoffrey Thorne has been very active online in answering fan questions in the lead-up to the relaunch. The message coming across very strongly is that this version of X-Force will be “all-new, all-different.” It won’t be calling back to previous stories, and won’t be playing the nostalgia card. It’ll be a roving team, traveling the world based on intel from the best (Sage), kitted out with the best tech imaginable from Forge, and supported by different specialists as needed.

The rest of the team promises more thrills and spills, with Rachel Summers and Betsy Braddock playing out their whirlwind romance at a million miles an hour, alongside Surge and the mysterious Tank. Artist Marcus To will be familiar to readers from his time on Excalibur, whose work on stunning settings and action set pieces will suit X-Force brilliantly.

X-istential questions: Now I’m not sure whether you could call this an existential question, but it’s the one on everyone’s lips: Who is Tank? That big bruiser could be any number of X-Men characters from Brian Braddock to Random, and I’m along for the ride.

On more existential matters, one of the key questions facing this series is “what makes X-Force X-Force?” Past iterations have achieved this to varying degrees of success, from mutant CIA, to pre-emptive strike wet work teams to just “the X-Men with attitude.” The defining features of the text based on solicits are the varied locations and rotating “specialist” cast members, but that doesn’t actually tell us much about the identity of the team itself. A recent response to a fan talks about the number of aliases Forge and Sage have, which hints at espionage being a key feature, as well as the use of the phrase “by any means necessary,” which is your classic “X-Men who don’t give a fuck” angle. 

How bullish Thorne has been on this title offering something new is encouraging. Now (spoken in the style of X-Force leaders of old) “it’s time to put up or shut up.”

Buy X-Force #1 here.

Uncanny X-Men

Issue #1 out 8/7

Creative team: Gail Simone (writer), David Marquez (artist)

What we know: This team is so classic that the solicit literally describes them as “essential X-Men.” And who could argue? The cast of Rogue, Gambit, Nightcrawler, Wolverine and Jubilee has a very Saturday morning cartoon feel to it, and appears to be targeted at bringing old readers back or new readers in on the back of X-Men ‘97’s success. That’s not to say that media synergy is the main reason this group of mutants has been brought together; this team has a natural chemistry to it, supported by a rich history of classic stories. 

Set in her husband Gambit’s home city of New Orleans, new team leader Rogue brings this band of outlaw heroes back together after the fall of Krakoa. Having just leapt out of the frying pan of the end of Krakoa and into the fire of a “fearless, malignant power hunting mutants,” the team will face a new threat. This, alongside the new band of “uncontrollable and wild mutants” the Outliers teased on the cover of issue #2, suggests that Uncanny X-Men will explore the familiar “good vs. bad mutants” dichotomy. 

The very overt bigotry suffered by Jubilee notwithstanding, the secret “M” hand signal designating mutant status revealed in the Free Comic Book Day: X-Men issue also suggests that the events of Fall of X have not ameliorated human prejudices. Worse than that, it appears that Charles Xavier’s “no more humans” gambit has further catalysed anti-mutant sentiment and the man now known as “Inmate X” is being made to pay for his crimes.

X-istential questions: The most fundamental question facing this series is whether the classic feel of the cast will be a strength or a weakness. There’s so much history among the cast, whether that be the (mostly) marital bliss of Rogue and Gambit, the sibling bond of Rogue and Nightcrawler, the intimate friendship of Kurt and Wolverine, or the surrogate father-daughter relationship between Logan and Jubilee. If Gail Simone can get the character voices right, the potential for instant rapport and snappy dialogue could give the book a real zip. 

That said, there is a risk that (from a reader POV) familiarity will breed contempt. There are further depths to be mined in these relationships I’m sure, but I’m most interested in how drastically these relationships change. Because the superhero element to the concept feels quite routine, the soap opera element needs to be really strong. I would like to see some melodrama and believable tension being created between the cast, which I think could be helped by the heavily rumoured appearance in the series of Monet, who, aside from Jubilee, has slightly looser ties to each of the team.

The other potential point of difference relates to genre. While everything I’ve seen so far suggests a classic superhero story, previews have described Uncanny X-Men as a “creepy Southern Gothic tale.” The extent to which Dave Marquez creates this tone through the art and whether Simone deploys Gothic tropes in her writing is something I’ll be looking out for, because I suspect this series will need a bit of juice to capture ongoing readers’ imaginations.

Buy Uncanny X-Men #1 here.

X-Factor

Issue #1 out 8/14

Creative team: Mark Russell (writer), Bob Quinn (artist)

What we know: If X-Factor has taught us anything over its almost four-decade history, it’s that there’s always a mutant willing to take the government coin. We may not like it, but it’s true, and it’s very much a reflection of the world we live in. This has always been especially true of “How about Alex” Summers, aka Havok, the X-Factor veteran who will lead this new iteration alongside fellow perennially forgotten man Warren Worthington, aka Angel. These two blond-haired, blue-eyed nepo babies leading a public-facing mutant government team is a statement in and of itself, but given Mark Russell’s history of “satirical, doom-obsessed, anti-capitalist comics,” as CXF Editor-in-Chief Dan Grote put it, it’s obvious: This book is a political satire comic.

History also shows us that respectability politics rarely work for mutants because guess what? Some mutants are violent cat people. Some will simply never bend the knee to prejudice. Others have destruction built in their DNA, and have been shunned not supported by their government. So while Havok may be able to walk the halls of the White House proclaiming “we are all humans of one tribe,” the likes of Feral, Frenzy and Pyro are natural spanners in the works. Throw Polaris into the mix, and you’ve got yourself a real powder keg.

X-istential questions: I have to say straight out of the gate: This team is perfectly constructed for the genre work Russell and Quinn appear to be going for. As such, this series will live or die by not just the quality of the satire but the boldness of it. How current will it feel? How incisive will the commentary be? And how do mutants fit into it? 

Balancing the political commentary with character beats and plot is also vital. I think there’s a fantastic opportunity for Russell and Quinn to have the characters participate in and be the subjects of the parody. Let’s be honest: Angel and Havok haven’t been pulling up any trees in stories for a good while now and, while every X-Men character has a cadre of loyal fans, these two are not exactly movie poster material. While they are mutants, they’re two white guys, one of whom is a billionaire CEO and the other the classic nepo baby who has been forgiven for mistake after mistake. They’re absolutely ripe to be made fun of, and I would personally be willing to forgo consistency of characterization to have them be effective participants in the genre play.

Buy X-Factor #1 here.

Exceptional X-Men

Issue #1 out 9/4

Creative team: Eve L. Ewing (writer), Carmen Carnero (artist)

What we know: If I had a nickel for every time Kate Pryde has quit the X-Men to become a barista, it’d be completely useless to me because I don’t live in America, but you get my point. Having quite simply had enough of the trauma and heartbreak, the ninja briefly known as Shadowkat seemingly hung up her katanas for good and retired once again at the end of Fall of X. As much as everyone loves a tribute to Chris Claremont and Juan Bobillo’s Mekanix miniseries, this is likely to be either a very short-lived career change or a cover identity. We know for sure that the emergence of a trio of new mutants will firmly place Ms. Pryde back in her adult status quo as a teacher. So too for Emma Frost, whose mantra of “once more for the children” is verging on The Expendables territory as she returns for the 12th time for her “one last job.” 

As for the three new characters — Bronze, Axo and Melee — details are scant so far, but some information on their powers has emerged. We have Axo, a vampiric-looking goth kid who holds power over others’ emotions; we have the stealthy fighter Melee; and Bronze, a sweet-looking mutant with Bronze skin who is able to use her hair as whips. 

X-istential questions: My fundamental questions about this series relate to the old and the new alike. The first and most obvious one is whether Eve Ewing and Carmen Carnero can bustle one of their new characters into the incredibly crowded field of young mutants and make them stand out. I’m less concerned about whether they can put them over in the long term (although this is important) but whether they capture the imagination of the readership. 

This may not be many readers’ first new-mutant rodeo, but Ewing has made a statement of intent with this series that I really like. Her quote to accompany the press release for the series identified the specific goal of bringing brand new and younger readers into the X-Men franchise: “I hope that for some 13- or 14-year old readers, this might be the first comic they pick up.” I think that’s brilliant, and if this commercial decision pays off, then comics are all the better for it.

This risk is hedged somewhat with the series’ two established characters, Emma Frost and Kate Pryde. Both are back in their familiar roles as teachers and mentors, which is something of a backward step from being the corporate powerhouse White Queen of Krakoa and its top assassin. The Krakoan era took brilliant, bold steps with these characters, and there’s a risk of the “after the Lord Mayor’s show comes the dust-cart” phenomenon applying here. 

That said, if the objective is to attract new readers, then this point is probably moot. One thing that is not in doubt is Carnero’s art, which is sure to make icons of these characters for newer readers.

Wolverine

Issue #1 out 9/11

Creative team: Saladin Ahmed (writer), Martín Cóccolo (artist)

What we know: Mutantkind’s oldest curmudgeon is back, and he’s had enough of tiki bars, X-Force and all that other Krakoan nonsense. Maybe he’s just heard the news that his previous relationship never happened and it was all in his and everyone else’s head.

Anyway, Wolverine is striking out on his own once again. There’s a fair amount of mystery to this series, with only little snippets of information here and there. First and foremost, we know that he’s returning to the Canadian wilderness in self-imposed exile. A note to collectors in the solicitation for issue #1 has teased the first appearance of a “major addition” to Wolverine lore, which is a pretty bold claim. We also know that Nightcrawler will be making an appearance to keep his friend from going off the deep end. 

The tenor of the solicits suggest Wolverine will be tested to his limits physically, mentally but also existentially. We’ve been told that Logan will encounter an ancient evil who threatens the entire universe, could “alter the scope” of Wolverine’s storied history and “force him to prove himself a hero like never before.”

X-istential questions: Like never before? Look, I like Wolverine stories as much as the next person, but there isn’t a lot of variety to them. If this series is able to re-contextualize Logan at least temporarily into a new kind of hero like, I don’t know … a shaman … that’d be cool, I guess.

Doing something like making Logan Sorcerer Supreme is not the only way Saladin Ahmed can put his stamp on the character, though. Reading some of his earlier solo series has really given me an appreciation for the warmth, love and loyalty he has toward the people who matter to him. There’s also the other side to him: the total badass-samurai-and-indestructible-and-spy-and-ladies-man male power fantasy that too many writers focus on while ignoring the duality that makes him compelling.

As with any Wolverine series, this balance is key. With Martin Cóccolo on board, I have every confidence that the art can be both epic and intimate, capturing all sides of the character. I’m not expecting anything innovative from this series, as Wolverine stories are what they are at this point. It just needs to be good.

Dazzler

Issue #1 out 9/18

Creative team: Jason Loo (writer), Rafael Loureiro (artist)

What we know: She’s back, baby! Mutantkind’s pop sensation Alison Blaire, aka Dazzler, is ready for the big time. And it definitely has nothing to do with real world pop stars! 

Dazzler is hitting the road on her Eras Tour. Supported by a tailor-made road crew of Domino, Strong Guy and Multiple Man, Alison is once again spreading light and joy to the world, but unfortunately her reputation as a mutant celebrity has an anti-mutant bigot seeing red. We’re told she suffers “a violent attack [that] may sideline the entire endeavour before it’s begun,” meaning she’ll likely be spending her midnights in the ER rather than on stage.

Will our fearless songstress cower from the limelight for evermore? We’ll find out over the course of this miniseries.

X-istential questions: I’m sorry to any Dazzler fans who were hoping to read some actual analysis rather than hackneyed Taylor Swift puns. The big question around this series does relate to this though, at least tangentially: Where is the Dazzler push coming from? 

Alison has always been a bit of a cult favorite among X-Men fans, but is by no means a big name. Rumors of Taylor Swift playing her in Deadpool & Wolverine are exactly the kind of commercial incentive that would lead Marvel to make this decision, but I’m really hoping the Conductor of X just believes that Jason Loo and Rafael Loureiro can get a tune out of this series. It sounds like a lot of fun, with a great cast and a concept that suits the playfulness of Loo’s writing style, which I became familiar with while reading the X-Men Unlimited comics. I particularly like the idea of each issue featuring original song lyrics from Ali’s notebook as something new and distinctive.

Storm

Issue #1 out 10/02

Creative team: Murewa Ayodele (writer), Lukas Werneck (artist)

What we know: Writer Murewa Ayodele has been very active on social media in the leadup to this series, and his enthusiasm and passion for the character have been infectious. In terms of the scope of the story, it’s everything Storm is and can be: “humanity, love, mystery, adventure, ALL-OUT ACTION.” Sounds great so far. Throw in artist Lukas Werneck’s gorgeous redesign of Ororo’s costume, and it’s certain we’re in good hands. 

The first arc, “Labors of Storm,” will see her reclaim her godhood, join the Avengers and face threats that are “beyond omega.” (The ancient Greeks are going to have to invent new letters at the rate the power classifications in the Marvel universe are expanding). 

Snarks aside, it’s clear this series is going to deal in planet-sized stakes, and there’s almost nothing better action-wise than Storm reading an unsuspecting alien warlord the forecast. Werneck’s art scaled up well toward the end of Fall of the House of X, and this will be a further opportunity for him to show off his range.

X-istential questions: As great as this all sounds, this series is coming off the back of one of the best Storm stories of all time. How do you follow S.W.O.R.D. into X-Men Red into Resurrection of Magneto? An epic story that celebrated the empowerment achieved through collectivism, that had Storm throwing off all thrones and focused on her humanity rather than her godhood, Al Ewing’s run will be fondly remembered by ongoing readers and is a lot to live up to.

The answer from Marvel has been pretty emphatic: You keep pushing her to the next level. What you don’t do is repeat the mistake of the ’90s onward and place her in the background. Now both a member of the Avengers and starring in her solo book, can Ororo retake her rightful place as one of Marvel’s most iconic characters?

And there you have it. The need-to-know on all 10 From the Ashes series announced so far. For what it’s worth, writing this preview has been quite cathartic. While I remain to be convinced about a lot of these series, I’m more sympathetic to the idea that there will be something for everyone here. Finding it will take some patience, but I’m along for the ride.

See you in July.

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