Warning: contains spoilers for X-Men #12!
Marvel's fan-favorite new X-Men team is disbanding, just in time for the mutants of Krakoa to vote on the next roster at 2022's Hellfire Gala, but in doing so, they just redefined the idea of the modern superteam.
Humanity's response to mutants has long been an allegory for marginalized groups and exclusion, meaning that the X-Men franchise consistently explores themes of diversity and belonging. Though this is reflected in the team's mission to protect humanity, including those who hate and fear them, it is also reflected in the sheer magnitude of its roster and the multitude of abilities that they bring to the table. In this context, it makes sense to explore motivations and what specific goals team members hope to achieve individually. As of this date, the X-Men’s official ranks have easily exceeded 100 official members, ranging from founding members (like Cyclops) to foes-turned-friends (like Magneto) and the next generation of iconic heroes (like Laura Kinney as Wolverine.) This invites a lot of variations on how one mission can be fertile ground for achieving multiple disparate goals.
In X-Men #12 by Gerry Duggan and Pepe Larraz, the team discuss who'll remain and who is officially leaving the team ahead of the next election. While flashing back to the reasons each member gave for wanting to join the team in the first place (a theme of this run), it becomes clear that each hero joined for their own individual reasons, with some happy to leave because they've accomplished what they wanted from their membership. Jean wanted to save enough people to equal the lives she took as Dark Phoenix, Sunfire has awakened a new sense of purpose, and Synch isn't quite ready to go, as he wants a major hero moment before he hands over his spot. These character moments offer amazing insight into each member, but they're also a reinvention of how superteams usually work.
Generally, groups like the Avengers form around a shared cause, with the assumption that they'll stay together until a reason to disband - or for individual members to leave - comes along. For the X-Men, teams generally form to respond to a specific emergency, and are made up of whoever is hanging around Xavier's Mansion when the alarms sound. In contrast, this issue shows that each of the X-Men joined with a specific goal in mind, and that having accomplished their personal aims, they're more than happy to step aside. This makes a hero leaving the team as much cause for celebration as them joining it. Usually, as in the Avengers' recent loss of Black Panther, such moments are all but ignored, generally coming whenever Marvel editorial decides a character is needed elsewhere.
Since Krakoa makes literally every mutant available via resurrection, this allows for getting to know heroes even better through their individually-tailored reason to join. It is a sensible and genius mechanic for writing about an ever-changing superteam, allowing fans to be excited about newer heroes getting a platform while also holding their favorite veteran X-Men members accountable, and exploring new ground based on their motivations.
X-Men #12 is available now from Marvel Comics.