Today at Marvel’s Next Big Thing panel at San Diego Comic-Con the company revealed the series titles and creative teams for the upcoming highly anticipated relaunch of the X-Men line. The panel kicked off with Editor-in-Chief C.B. Cebulski, Jonathan Hickman, X-Men editor Jordan D. White, and Executive Edior Nick Lowe to discuss the recently announced “Ghost Rider,” as well as the upcoming “Absolute Carnage,” “Spider-Man,” and “Marvel Comics” #1000 before getting underway. The panel showcased artwork from “House of X” and “Powers of X,” with Hickman stating “that House of X and Powers of X are setting up a new status quo for the X-Men.”
While the panel was tight-lipped on story details for the books, they played a game where they announced the series title and creative team and had audience members guess which X-Men would be on which team.
The first title the panel announced was “Marauders” from writer Gerry Duggan (“Infinity Wars”) and artist Matteo Lolli (“Deadpool”). That book will star Pyro, Iceman, Storm, Bishop, Emma Frost, Kitty Pryde, and Lockheed. The solicit text describes the first issue sayin, “Even in this glorious new dawn, Mutantkind faces hardships and oppression from their human counterparts. Led by Captain Kate Pryde and funded by Emma Frost and the Hellfire Trading Company, Marauders Storm, Pyro, Bishop and Iceman sail the seas of the world to protect those hated and feared!” The first issue hits stands in October.
Next up is “Excalibur” from writer Tini Howard (“Thanos”) and artist Marcus To (“Justice League: No Justice”). That team will star Rictor, Jubilee, Rogue, Gambit, Psylocke (now going by Captain Britain), and the villain Apocalypse. The solicit text teases the title will deal with mutantkind’s “relationship with the world—or WORLDS—around them.” The first issue also hits stands in October.
Third was “X-Force” from writer Ben Percy (“Green Arrow”) and artist Joshua Cassara (“Falcon,” “Secret Empire”). X-Force will feature Wolverine, Jean Grey (going by Marvel Girl), Domino, Beast, Kid Omega, Sage, Colossus, and Black Tom. This new X-Force team is described as “the CIA of the mutant world.” “X-Force” #1 will be out this November.
Fourth up is “Fallen Angels” from writer Bryan Hill (“American Carnage”) and artist Szymon Kudranski (“Punisher”). This team will feature three members: X-23, Cable, and Psylocke (Kwannon). The solicitation text describes Kwannon being on a personal mission of vengeance. The original “Fallen Angels” was an eight-issue miniseries that ran in 1987 from writer Jo Duffy and artist Kerry Gammill. “Fallen Angels” will debut in November.
The penultimate series announced was “New Mutants” from writers Hickman and Ed Brisson and artist Rod Reis. Hickman and Brisson are set to co-write the first arc, with Brisson taking over sole writing duties after that. This team will feature Magik, Sunspot, Cypher, Mirage, Karma, Wolfsbane, Chamber, and Mondo (with Wolfsbane and Chamber newly resurrected). Hickman stated he’s co-writing this first arc to “set up stuff that’s going to matter years from now.” The solicitation text also teases that this team will be heading to space “alongside the Starjammers.” “New Mutans” #1 comes out in November as well.
The last book that was announced was a new flagship book called “X-Men” written by Hickman with art by Lenil Francis Yu (“Captain America”). Hickman revealed that this title is an “all encompassing mutant title” and will feature every mutant. The cover for the first issue showcases Cyclops, Wolverine, Jean Grey, Rachel Summers, Havok, Corsair, young Cable, and Vulcan. “X-Men” #1 will launch in October right after “House of X” and “Powers of X” conclude.
Hickman also revealed that a second wave of titles is already in the works and that Leah Williams and Vita Ayala would have books in the second wave.
“House of X” #6 and “Powers of X” #6 both conclude in October, with “X-Men,” “Marauders” and “Excalibur” launching that month before “X-Force,” “Fallen Angels,” and “New Mutants” follow suit in November. The first issue of this new X-Men relaunch comes out this Wednesday. You can find more solicitation information for the books over at CBR.
