The heroes of Krakoa become the heroes of Earth in the surprise relaunch of the hit series X-Men. With July 7's X-Men #1, writer Gerry Duggan and artist Pepe Larraz will take over the flagship mutant title just after head X-writer Jonathan Hickman minted a new line-up for the team with X-Men #21, and a mission: save not just mutants, but the entire planet.
"It's my privilege and honor to be reteamed with Pepe Larraz as we throw beautiful and deadly threats at the X-Men beginning in July," Duggan tells Marvel.com. "Mutants have saved themselves, and are now going to save the world. Krakoa will grow roots in the capitol of the world, New York City, and the inaugural year will star Cyclops, Marvel Girl, Rogue, Wolverine, Synch, Sunfire and Polaris. The threats to Earth will come fast and hit hard, and every page from Pepe and Marte will blow your hair back. See you in July."
And for an early look at those pages from Larraz and Gracia, go no further:
Marvel also released a trailer for X-Men #1, which the publisher says also contains first look art from the issue.
"Once again protecting a world that has hated and feared them their whole life, original X-Men Cyclops and Marvel Girl have rejected the notion that mutantkind is only out for itself and brought back the world's premier team of mutant super heroes," reads a new description of the series in the trailer announcement.
"Things might be complicated between the new mutant homeland of Krakoa and the rest of the Marvel Universe, but to the X-Men, things are simple—you do what's right, you protect those who need protecting and you save the world we all share."
While the X-Men title has been around for all of the Hickman era on the mutant line, it was never about a specific team in the superhero sense - instead, it was the crossroads for all the mutants since the foundation of the mutant nation of Krakoa, and the place where the biggest storylines occurred.
In addition to what's going on inside X-Men #1, there's also the story of what's on the cover… or covers, I should say. In addition to the primary cover by Larraz and Gracia, there are 18 variant covers and counting you can seek out. They are: Carmen Carnero; Peach Momoko; RB Silva, Natacha Bustos, and Patrick Gleason; Joshua Cassara; Larry Houston (a '90s themed variant); Rob Liefeld (a Deadpool 30th ANniversary themed variant); Peach Momoko solo (an anime-themed variant); Tom Muller; Russell Dateruman (trading card variant); Skottie Young; Doaly; Rian Gonzales; Patrick Gleason; Shannen Maer (two, both Comic Mint variants); Rian Gonzales (a TFAW exclusive variant); J. Scott Campbell/Sabine Rich (a ReedPop variant); Nickshaw/Molly Hollowell; Greg Horn (three); Felipe Massafera; Mike Mayhew; and Clayton Crain (a Black Flag Comics exclusive).
Check them out:
X-Men #1 goes on sale July 7. A collection of the first six issues, under the name X-Men by Gerry Duggan Vol. 1, is scheduled for February 1.
Keep track of this and all the new X-Men comics thanks to Newsarama.
