Warning: Contains SPOILERS for ALL ongoing X-Men series
For the first time since the fall of Krakoa, the X-Men are facing a major crossover event, which threatens to tear the already fragmented team apart. At the center of the conflict is Charles Xavier, the disgraced founder of the X-Men. After striking a deal with Orchis for the good of mutantkind, Charles spent months trapped beneath his old home. Now, Xavier is about to break free.
As part of the Marvel Comics announcement explaining the upcoming crossover, X-Men executive editor Tom Brevoort explained why Charles Xavier had to be at the center of it. X Hunt and an upcoming seven-part crossover event that finally brings together every corner of modern mutant comicsfor the first time since the start of the franchise's new era.
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The mysterious X-Men #11 (2025) |
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Release date: |
March 3, 2025 |
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Writer: |
Gail Simone |
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Artist: |
Javier Garrón |
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Cover artist: |
David Marquez |
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X-MANHUNT PART ONE! At the end of the Orchis War, Charles Xavier surrendered to the authorities and allowed himself to be imprisoned in Graymalkin Prison! But now something has spurred him to action, to escape from incarceration and embark on a mad dash across the country! What made Professor X run away? And will his diverse students move to protect him, recapture him, or kill him? The answer, of course, is all of the above. In this opening chapter, Rogue and her team of X-Men are forced to ally with their worst enemy to betray their most trusted friend! |
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Since the fall of the mutant nation, Charles Xavier's “sons” have had to step up and lead their own teams of X-Men. However, not everyone agrees on whether to forgive Charles or not, especially Cyclops and Rogue.
Charles Xavier connects every character in the X franchise, which means the franchise can't move beyond him so easily
X editor Tom Brevoort on Xavier's role
As Tom Brevoort explained, as part of the inauguration of the X Hunt:
We mostly kept the various groups of X characters separate from each other while defining the post-Krakoa landscape. But it seems like now is the right time to make them collide with each other. And who better to instigate this situation than the disgraced Professor X, who has intimate connections with almost all of our key players?
X-Men stories thrive more vibrantly when the cast of characters is kept in smaller groups. However, because the teams are so isolated from each other, Marvel needed something important enough for the entire mutant family to bring them back together. This time, it's Charles Xavier. Since the founding of Krakoa, the old dogmatic war between Xavier and Magneto has ended. Most agreed that Xavier and Magneto were right, establishing a new peace between the two minds. However, this ideological war was replaced by a new one.
After Krakoa, things calmed down relatively quickly in the comics. The X-Men stories have returned to their usual episodic feel. But Charles Xavier persists as the last unresolved problem of that era.
To save mutants, Charles Xavier turned against his family. Some, like
Cyclops' Alaskan X-Men
justify Xavier's actions, believing that he did what was necessary to save the entire mutant race. Others, like
X-Men of Rogue Louisiana
condemns the Professor for intentionally harming his children and allies, refusing to let this be an example to follow; whether he was justified or not is the question that X Hunt event intends to respond. After Krakoa, things calmed down relatively quickly in the comics. The X-Men stories have returned to their usual episodic feel. But Charles Xavier persists as the last unresolved problem of that era.
Rogue and Cyclops are trying to reestablish what it means to be X-Men – Xavier complicates this
X-Men's 'From The Ashes' Era Assesses Charles' Legacy
In fact, the Krakoa Saga brought the X-Men and mutants as a whole closer together. Enemies became allies. Old wounds were healed when they were given a safe place to do so. Mutants proved that they could change the world together. In the modern era, Marvel needed a solid justification to bring the team back together. However, doing it the same way it has always been done,
unifying the X-Men
against a common enemy, is an exaggerated conspiracy. This time Marvel needed to change things. As the X-Men adapt to the current era, each team must reestablish what they stand for.
X-Men: Alaska is preparing for the next anti-mutant war. The Louisiana X-Men are trying to build a new School for Gifted Youngsters. Ms. Marvel and her friends are working to manage humanity's perception of mutants. Each team is prioritizing a different aspect of mutantkind's journey. With Charles Xavier escaping his self-suffering captivity, his family will have to look within themselves to decide whether protecting him is the right or wrong thing to do. As sad as it is to see old allies turning against each other, there is no better way to have brought the X-Men together again.
Source: Marvel Comics
The mysterious X-Men #11 will be available on March 3, 2025 from Marvel Comics.