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Following a groundbreaking era is challenging for any team, so it’s not surprising that the X-Men comics have struggled to find their footing since the Krakoan Age. It’s been less than a year since X-Men: From the Ashes launched, and three series, Nyx, X-Force, and X-Factor, have already been canceled. Beyond that, it feels like the books are struggling to establish direction and have essentially brought the X-Men back to square one. Some would even argue the franchise is in a worse state now than it was before House of X.
While it seems the X-Men have been in a holding pattern for the past year, there are signs of change on the horizon. The franchise is marking the one-year anniversary of From the Ashes with the upcoming Hellfire Vigil one-shot, due out in July. There are also rumors of an MCU X-Men reboot, which could have a lasting impact on the comic series.
From the Ashes Was to Supposed to Start a New Era for the X-Men
The X-Men Books and From the Ashes Need More Excitement
X-Men: From the Ashes launched a new line of X-Men comics in July 2024, beginning with three core teams: X-Men, Uncanny X-Men, and X-Force. The line quickly expanded to include others, such as X-Factor and NYX. Naturally, character-specific titles soon followed, including Wolverine, Storm, Dazzler, and Phoenix. Some teams returned to their roots, while others continued to reinvent themselves and explore what it means to be a mutant.
More importantly, the diverse lineup helped highlight how different people responded to the return of mutantkind’s status quo. The main X-Men title offered something familiar, with Cyclops leading the team. X-Force, on the other hand, featured a ragtag group working behind the scenes under Forge’s leadership, offering a riskier take on what an X-Men team could look like. Meanwhile, Rogue and her Uncanny X-Men have focused on protecting and guiding the next generation of mutants, continuing a tradition the franchise has long embraced.
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But while From the Ashes has delivered some excellent stories, there have also been moments where it felt like the X-Men were stagnating. Uncanny X-Men has done a strong job bringing fan-favorite characters to the forefront, but other titles, like the main X-Men book, have struggled to recapture the excitement of the Krakoan era. Some series, like X-Force and X-Factor, appeared to be aiming for bold new directions but ultimately delivered retreads of stories the X-Men books have explored many times before.
The biggest issue with From the Ashes might come down to timing. It’s hard to deny that the relaunch arrived at one of the worst possible moments. It began just a few months before DC Comics launched its new Absolute Universe, and those alternate universe stories have broken records and dominated the comics charts ever since. As a result, the new X-Men books struggled to gain attention before they had a chance to build momentum. The upcoming Hellfire Vigil will reflect on the end of the Krakoan age and has the potential to get things back on track, but it may be time for the X-Men to enter another new era.
Marvel Canceling Comics Makes It Harder for Readers to Get Invested
While it’s frustrating to see comics get canceled, especially when a series hasn’t been running long, ending a book isn’t always a bad thing. The X-Men franchise has long been known for releasing an overwhelming number of titles, often making it difficult for readers to keep up. Trimming the line could be a sign that Marvel is responding to reader feedback and focusing on quality over quantity.
What’s concerning about the cancellation of Nyx, X-Force, and X-Factor is how quickly they wrapped up after From the Ashes began. All three books ended after just ten issues, without enough time to fully find their footing. It gives the impression that Marvel is throwing out a range of ideas, waiting a few months to gauge response, and then canceling titles accordingly. X-Force was able to wrap up its storyline in its final issue, and the recently released Giant-Size X-Men gave Kamala the chance to continue her story from Nyx, but ending books so suddenly can make it hard for readers to feel invested in what’s happening.
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The early wave of cancellations could also be a sign that Marvel is preparing to wrap up the current X-Men direction and move on to something new. Over the years, the X-Men franchise has faced dozens of relaunches with varying levels of success. Sales for From the Ashes haven’t matched the success of the Krakoa era, and Marvel may already view the line as ready for another shift.
Editor Tom Brevoort has stated that he wants every book in From the Ashes feel distinct, saying that he doesn’t want the comics to feel like “more of the same.” While the current slate is fairly diverse, the splintering of teams and narratives has made the universe feel more disconnected and less cohesive. What was meant to be a strength may have become a weakness. A full reboot may not be necessary, but the books need a strong unifying force, whether it’s a major event or an unexpected new storyline, to bring momentum back to the line.
The MCU X-Men Reboot Could Shape the Direction of the Series
The MCU Has Influenced Comics Before
The X-Men comics aren’t the only version of the team on the verge of a new era. Rumors of an MCU X-Men reboot have been swirling for some time, and the announcement that multiple X-Men actors, including Patrick Stewart as Professor X and Ian McKellen as Magneto, are returning in Avengers: Doomsday has only fueled speculation. While the timeline and creative direction of the new films remain unclear, the next phase of the cinematic universe could influence the direction of the comics.
Marvel has adjusted its comics to align with the MCU on several occasions, including changes like de-aging Agatha Harkness and reclassifying Ms. Marvel as a mutant. If a new X-Men movie universe is in development, editorial shifts in the comics may follow. A streamlined entry point, similar to what New X-Men accomplished in 2001 under Grant Morrison, could be the kind of reset the franchise needs.
From the outset, X-Men: From the Ashes faced impossible expectations. It was expected to live up to the legacy of the Krakoa era while also appealing to readers who had grown tired of it. In trying to do both, the relaunch may have created more problems than it resolved. The future of the X-Men line remains uncertain, but signs point toward yet another new age on the horizon.
“}]] Between canceled comics, post-Krakoa struggles, and an upcoming MCU reboot, Marvel’s X-Men are on the brink of a new era. Read More