With Spider-Man 2099 set to play a major role in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, the spotlight in Marvel Comics returns to the dystopian future the character comes from. Along with Spider-Man, many future variants of classic Marvel characters appeared in this 1990s sub-line, including the X-Men. Now, a new X-Men 2099 debuts in Spider-Man 2099: Exodus.
X-Men 2099 helped form the 2099 universe in the 1990s, but they've had little attention in Marvel Comics since then. Comic book fans know the team appeared here and there in the comics in the 21st century, but they haven't enjoyed anywhere near the success of Spider-Man 2099. With animation and the comics revisiting this alternate reality, fans have a chance to learn about this intriguing team.
Dystopian Future
The X-Men emerge in the dystopian 2099 future timeline, where superheroes don't exist. The new X-Men form to take up the mythic quest Professor X sought a century before, seeking peace between mutants and humans. The team comes together thanks to the efforts of Cerebra and Desert Ghost, a quasi-religious figure who guides mutants in the desert outside Las Vegas.
In this future, corporations rule the world, in particular Alchemax and the Synge Corporation. Alchemax seeks to exploit mutantkind's genetic potential for their own greed and ambition, setting up the central conflict for the team.
Brimstone Love
The X-Men 2099 fight Alchemax in several storylines in the comics, but their primary villain in early adventures is Brimstone Love. This demonic figure leads a cult called the Theatre of Pain which made money off the suffering of others. He used the mutant La Lunática to record painful memories to display in his macabre theater.
La Lunática ultimately escapes Brimstone Love's control and joins the X-Men. Unlike his enemies, Brimstone Love derived his powers from elemental sources and not a mutant gene.
After Doom
X-Men 2099 experienced a major shift in the political landscape of the future when Doctor Doom conquerors the United States. Doom, among the most powerful Fantastic Four villains, extends his power to such a degree the entire 2099 sub-line adds the suffix A.D., for 'After Doom,' to the end of each title.
Doom plays a key role in mutant affairs for the duration of the original volume, making the X-Men his personal protection force in Halo City, which becomes a major locale for them in the comics going forward.
X-Nation 2099
X-Men 2099 launched its first spin-off title in 1996, with X-Nation 2099. This series focused on a group of young mutants, not unlike the New Mutants who went on their own adventures. The initial premise for the series, which lasted just six issues before being canceled, saw the team seeking a mutant messiah who would lead their kind to peace and prosperity.
The mission to find the mutant messiah actually comes from Doctor Doom, who tasks Cerebra with finding them and also leading the new team. The series takes place in Halo City, an independent city-state governed by mutants, similar to the situation mutants enjoy on Krakoa in current comics.
World Of Tomorrow
The comic book speculator bubble from the 1990s burst and sales collapsed for X-Men 2099 in 1996. This led to the entire 2099 sub-line being folded into a single anthology title, 2099: World of Tomorrow. X-Men 2099's story continued in this volume, though things take a dark turn when the Phalanx invade Earth, killing most of humanity and forcing the survivors to the Savage Land.
The series ends with Doctor Doom sacrificing his life to defeat the Phalanx and leaving Latveria to the X-Man Nostromo, whose powers include technological interfacing.
Mutant 2099
A new mutant appears in Mutant 2099, part of the Marvel Knights 2099 revival in 2004 by writer Robert Kirkman. Chad Channing works at the Baxter Building and takes pills to suppress his mutant genes. He ultimately becomes a hero, joining a robotic version of the Thing engineered by a disembodied Reed Richards in this alternate take on the 2099 universe.
Mutant 2099's costume shares many stylistic qualities with the original Spider-Man, though the two characters don't share any narrative connection in the comics.
Civil War 2099
The original X-Men 2099 line-up from the 1990s remained on the sidelines for years, until the final panel from 2016's Spider-Man 2099 #15. The original squad including Skullfire, Bloodhawk, and Luna makes an appearance as part of the title's connection to the greater Civil War II crossover event, which spills into the future.
Comic book fans know Spider-Man 2099 teams up with the X-Men and other 2099 heroes like the Punisher and Ghost Rider to take on Skrull imposters who have infiltrated the Alchemax Corporation and replaced key members.
Timestorm
A new X-Men 2099 roster made its first appearance in 2009's Timestorm storyline. This series reestablished the 2099 concept but in another alternate timeline, introducing a new mutant team in the future. Wolverine travels to this dystopian reality, among Marvel Comics' darkest timelines, where he finds an older version of himself leading the team.
The future Wolverine leads a team including brand-new characters like Meanstreak, Krystalin, Junkpile, and Bloodhawk. They fight mutant Hulks who have ravaged North America.
Magik Is The Sorcerer Supreme
Comic book fans know Magik ranks among the most powerful magic users in the Marvel Universe and in the 2099 timeline, she eventually becomes the Sorcerer Supreme. In Uncanny X-Men Annual #1 from 2014, the mutant Tempus travels forward to the future, where she discovers Illyana Rasputin serves in the role Doctor Strange does in the present day.
She trains Tempus in Magik for several years, trying to help her get back to the past. Magik also became the Sorcerer Supreme in other alternate realities, particularly in a 2018 issue of What If..? comics.
New Squad
X-Men 2099 made only sporadic appearances in Marvel Comics in the 21st century, but they're returning in the upcoming Spider-Man 2099: Exodus #5. This series introduces several new X-Men members to the far-future roster, including Cyclops, Northstar, and Kid Cable. They appear alongside legacy characters like Krystalin and Cerebra.
With Spider-Man 2099 gaining more attention thanks to his upcoming appearance in Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse, the X-Men stand to branch out from the comics into other mediums as well.