For decades, it seemed like Marvel’s X-Men were constantly on the run. The aftermath of 2008’s M-Day event saw a confused Scarlet Witch depower most of mutant-kind. Between 20th Century Fox’s ownership of the superhero team and subsequent events like Avengers vs. X-Men, Death of X, and Inhumans vs. X-Men, many X-fans feared the demise of Marvel’s long-standing mutant squad was nigh.
All those years of struggle seem to have finally come to an end. Marvel’s spring rebirth, dubbed “ResurrXion,” promises an end to the long nightmare facing the Children of the Atom.
In preparation for the mutant team's return, Marvel recently launched a video (watch it above) heralding their now-sizable X-book line. Set to the catchy '90s theme from the classic X-Men animated series, the "ResurrXion" promo tracks the new groupings and solo books across the soft reboot. The House of Ideas will be bringing the X-gene enabled back in near-record numbers, with ten different comics – including five new team books (X-Men Blue, X-Men Gold, Generation X, Weapon X, and Astonishing X-Men) as well as five new or returning solo series (Iceman, Jean Grey, Cable, Old Man Logan, All-New Wolverine) – all kicking off this April.
ResurrXion picks up after the X-Men's short but brutal war with the Inhumans. For the first time in nearly a year, mutants everywhere can breathe a sigh of relief, as the Terrigen mists responsible for the M-Pox have been neutralized. However, the various X-teams will have to pick up the rubble and deal with the repercussions of their actions, including the fallout from their (understandable) preemptive strike on the Inhumans, Cyclops' branding as a war criminal, and Emma Frost’s insane vendetta against the Inhumans (and subsequent escape). The next round of X-books brings new adversaries and situations, in addition to classic threats like the Hellfire Club, Magneto's shifting allegiances, and the ever-present global anti-mutant sentiments.
A respite for many fans, the X-Men’s sudden resurgence is welcome news. Marvel may not own the film rights to the mutant band, but their cultural cache continues to fill seats at the cinemas, as Logan, Deadpool, and even X-Men: Apocalypse clearly proved. Marvel seems to have accepted their own fate with regard to cinematic mutants, as FOX is unlikely to let go of their lucrative franchise rights – especially with several new films like New Mutants, Deadpool 2, and X-Men: Supernova in production. Even without the films under the Marvel Cinematic Universe's banner, the team's extensive exposure is a great way to build new fans in print and also catch spill-over from moviegoers looking for an in-depth understanding of their big screen heroes.
Embracing the world's continued love of mutant-kind bodes well for X-fans and the House of Ideas. The mutant squad is still among the company’s strongest properties, with a dedicated fan base and major events like Inhumans vs. X-Men putting up solid sales. Most of all, it’s great to see the oft-beleaguered team receive a genuine boost from their publisher, as well as a short-term break from all the doom and gloom – at least until “Secret Empire” arrives anyway.
Next: X-Men and Inhumans War Comes to a Shocking End
Marvel’s X-Men “ResurrXion” arrives in print and online, beginning in April of 2017.
Source: Marvel