This past weekend at MCM London Comic Con, writer Kieron Gillen announced that he’s exiting Marvel for more creator-owned work. And now comes news that past his run on Rise of the Powers of X in January, he has another book coming in March: X-Men Forever.
Walter White Voice: Gillen is done when Marvel says he’s done.
Before we march with pistols at dawn, this is what Gillen is calling a “coda” to his X-Men work. His run on Immortal X-Men has mostly focused on more esoteric ideas like the ruling Quiet Council, versus fisticuffs and mash-em-ups. Basically, classic Gillen worldbuilding.
“X-Men Forever is Luca [Maresca] and myself doing a coda to Immortal X-Men, a requiem for the Krakoan age and generally setting fire to all time and space,” Gillen explained via press release. “It’s the manipulative hand in the steel glove that is Rise of the Powers of X. By the time it drops, you’ll be wondering what on earth is going on with certain characters, and X-Men Forever will give you all the answers.”
Here’s a short list of what on earth will be going on in the book. First, what is up with the quest for Dominion, a key player in the upcoming Rise of the Powers of X? Second, the interpersonal conflicts in the Quiet Council. Third, the escape from The White Hot Room (where 250,000+ mutants including Jean Grey are currently housed). Fourth, the “divine intervention of the Phoenix.”
Or as Marvel explains it, “The series will provide pivotal insight into the shocking events of Fall of the House of X and Rise of the Powers of X as a new omnipotent threat to mutantkind is introduced and the final secrets of Krakoa burn to ashes!”
Given there are a lot of question marks, it’s not entirely clear whether X-Men Forever will be a direct continuation of Rise of the Powers of X, or run concurrently. We do know the former will run four issues beginning in March, while the latter will run five issues beginning in January. And whether Marvel will let Gillen run wild and free after that? We’ll have to wait and see.
X-Men Forever #1 Cover And Synopsis:
HAUNTED HOUSE OF X! How can you kill a digital god? What do you do when the Phoenix is bleeding out into nothing? There’s been questions that have haunted you since the end of Immortal X-Men. Finally, some answers. There’s also been some questions that have haunted you since the START of Immortal X-Men. Finally, some answers, too. But not the ones you’re expecting…
X-Men Forever #1 (of 4) will hit stores on March 20, 2024.
Comic Book Club Live Info:
Want to watch Comic Book Club live? We stream every Tuesday at 7 p.m. ET to YouTube, Facebook, Twitch, and Twitter/X. Come hang out, and ask questions of our guests (and us!). And you could potentially win a $25 gift card to Midtown Comics, or Long John Silvers. You can check out a current list of upcoming guests and other live appearances on our Shows page.
