Update: Our exclusive debut of the cover art for X-Men: Grand Design, Second Genesis

Today, Marvel announced their latest mutant endeavor at San Diego Comic-Con, X-Men Grand Design, which digs up the historic dirt on everyone’s favorite mutants. X-Men history already stretches back several decades, with the classic team first bursting from the page in The X-Men #1 (1963). Over the years, the adventures of the X-Gene-enhanced spread from one book to dozens, creating a sizable legacy of diverse characters spanning several generations and different mutant squads like the New Mutants, X-Factor, and X-Force among others.

Over the years, numerous events, such as Decimation, Death of X, Avengers Vs. X-Men and Battle of the Atom — which brought the original X-Men, Jean Grey, Beast, Cyclops, Iceman, and Angel into the present — also mucked up the timelines, creating complex histories and legacies. As a result, sorting out the current state of mutant affairs can be a Herculean task. Fortunately, some help is on the way.

Marvel’s latest series, X-Men Grand Design, was unveiled at their first Comic-Con panel, the Next Big Thing. Created by Ed Piskor (Hip-Hop Family Tree), Grand Design is a six issue miniseries. According to CBR, each issue will examine a different era from X-Men history, starting in the '60s and wrapping up in the contemporary era. Marvel’s press release describes Grand Design as a book that “stitches together the stories of the important years of the X-Men. Bridging the history of everyone’s favorite mutants with the present day, it’s a title that truly sums up Marvel Legacy and its importance to the Marvel Universe.” The latest X-book is currently set to debut this fall during their "Legacy" soft reboot.

[vn_gallery name="X-Men Grand Design SDCC" id="1021400"]

Marvel describes Grand Design as an “inclusive” comic, one that all readers can enjoy, meaning it will cover a lot of ground in a fun manner, similar to X-Men and Inhumans Prime during “ResurrXion.” While the stories will act as a stepping stone for new fans, old schoolers will also get a chance to visit memory lane, as the publisher notes the book is filled with “Easter eggs.” Piskor claims to have the first four issues completed, with another two in-progress. At present, the first issue is scheduled to arrive in December of 2017.

At this point, it sounds like Piskor’s tale will be a connective tissue, linking the sprawling mutant universe, which is particularly crucial during an era-spanning reboot like Legacy. The X-universe only grew by leaps and bounds after this spring’s “ResurrXion,” which launched nearly a dozen mutant comics. Since Generations will team classic characters with their legacy characters (such as X-23 Wolverine with classic Wolverine), a potentially perplexing endeavor, X-Men Grand Design should be a solid guidepost, helping fans new and old navigate the characters and their many, many stories.

X-Men Grand Design looks like a balm for those suffering from crossover burn-out. Piskor's book should also shed new light on the twisting branches of the X-Men family tree while honoring these extraordinary characters. 

Next: Marvel Comics is Returning to PLANET HULK

X-Men Grand Design is slated to ship in December of 2017.

Source: Marvel, CBR