Just in time before the release of X-Men ’97 next week on Disney+ is a new edition of X-Men: House of XCII from Panini’s Marvel Select line. Feared and hated by the world at large, mutants have always needed Professor X and his X-Men to fight their cause. Now, the world has changed. Mutantkind has its own island nation Krakoa, and thanks to the secret of the resurrection protocols, they’re stronger than ever. And when they’re facing challenges that include power-mad global mega-corporations and hi-tech mutant hunting robots from the future, they’re going to need all the help they can get!
In Marvel’s 2015 event Secret Wars, several alternate universes (Battleworlds) were presented in the place of Marvel’s regularly scheduled titles. One of the most popular ones – X-Men ’92 – focused on a world inspired by the fan-favourite 90s X-Men animated series. It was a big hit which lead to an ongoing series being launched after the event concluded. In 2022 the series received another follow-up in the form of House of XCII.
House of X/Powers of X was Jonathan Hickman acclaimed relaunch of the X-Men that saw the team take up residency on the Island of Krakoa to form their own nation. Now we get to see what happens when the 90s X-Men go through the same actions which given the scope of Hickman’s X-Men run and the difference in tone between the two stories is quite the challenge. Nevertheless, writer Steve Foxe manages to successfully move this plot into a 90s X-Men world. He cuts down the original House of X/Powers of X story to its core ideas whilst presenting some of his own take on the Krakoa saga. All the X-Men characters are written perfectly with Cyclops, Wolverine and Rogue in particular feeling like they’ve just stepped off the TV screen.
Artist Salva Espin has plenty of experience working on X-Men related titles so he is a natural fit for this series. His art is packed with energy and – most importantly – has the vibe of the 90s X-Men animated series that the comic is going for whilst still having some modern influences sprinkled throughout.
This is a perfect release to whet fans’ appetite for more classic X-Men before the release of the new Disney+ series. One for both fans old and new.
Marvel Select X-Men: House of XCII is out now from Panini (9781804912003, p/b, £9.99)
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