The new post Krakoa era of X-Men begins with a team of familiar faces. Professor X is gone! Now, a core group of essential X-Men must find a way to rise again. All bonds among the mutant community seem to be slipping away, and Rogue reluctantly finds herself as the hero designated to bring them back together. But a fearless, malignant power is out there hunting mutants, and it has a terrible secret that may destroy what remains of the X-Men! Rogue can count on Gambit and Wolverine, but they’ll soon welcome back another friend — just in time to face four uncontrollable and wild mutants in the swamps of Louisiana! But will a grieving Rogue take Xavier’s place in guiding them to the light? Or will a darkness from the past destroy the X-Men, one at a time?!
Since 2019, the Krakoa era took the X-Men a radical new direction which saw mutants elevated to unseen heights. But mutants are now once again public enemy number one, and the Children of The Atom are now scattered across different teams with very different ideologies. Uncanny X-Men follows the team that probably leans closest to Charles Xavier’s original dream of training young mutants to control their powers so they can live peacefully amongst humans. But even these most ardent followers of Xavier’s ideals are finding it hard to move past the traumatic end of Krakoa.
Gail Simone has made a significant name for herself in comics for her work at DC on series like Bird of Prey, Batgirl and Wonder Woman. She has partook in several Marvel projects in the past including Deadpool, Domino and Savage Wolverine, but reviving Marvel’s flagship X-Men title is definitely her highest profile Marvel project yet. Extra pressure is on with the huge success of X-Men ’97 – the Disney+ sequel to the 90s animated series – and the public’s desire for an X-Men comic that has a similar vibe. But Simone has risen to challenge with a series that not only cements this new era but is a perfect jumping on point for rejoining 90s era fans.
Uncanny X-Men features some of the franchises most popular characters – Wolverine, Rogue, Gambit, Nightcrawler and Jubilee – and Simone proves to have a strong handling on all of them. Her work with Rogue and Gambit is particularly on point. The pair maintain their strong romantic chemistry, but with extra layers thrown in as Rogue struggles with her grief over her mentor’s disappearance and whether she is the worthy leader her teammates believe she is whilst having to take responsibility of a new group of young mutants. Wolverine also has some great moments which takes him through all his known roles – a loner, dependable friend and gruff mentor. In addition, the team have a nasty new villain to go up against with the militant anti-mutant scientist Doctor Corina Ellis taking over the old X-Mansion to wage a personal war.
Miles Morales and Civil War II artist David Marquez handles art duties and is a perfect fit for this series. He has a style that lends itself well to the 90s era this series is leaning into. The costume designs would feel right at home in any comic coming out at that time. His action scenes are also tremendous and packed with the energy that fans would be expecting.
The new era of X-Men has got off to a blazing start and will more than satisfy fans old and new. Simone and Marquez prove that the future of the flagship X series is in safe hands!
Uncanny X-Men by Gail Simone Vol. 1: Red Wave is out 8 April from Marvel (9781302959296, p/b, £17.99)
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