WARNING! SPOILER ALERT!
As 2011 comes to a close, Marvel’s Merry Mutants are divided over whom to follow: Cyclops or Wolverine? At the end of Jason Aaron’s mini-series, Schism, Wolverine quit the team because Cyclops ordered mutant children into battle to protect Utopia from a giant Sentinel. However, Wolverine did not leave quietly because he fought it out with the one-eyed leader of the team. When the dust was settled, many mutants had a huge decision to make: stay with Cyclops on Utopia or head back to Westchester, NY to help Wolverine start the Jean Grey School for Higher Learning.
Marvel has divided titles equally to both sides. The books reflecting Cyclops’ side are Uncanny X-Men, X-Men, Generation Hope and New Mutants. If readers want to see Wolverine and his followers’ adventures, then check out Wolverine and the X-Men, X-Men: Legacy, X-Factor and Uncanny X-Force. To make it easier on fans, I will break down each book and give you the 101 on the characters, creators and upcoming story arcs.
The Blue Team-Cyclops’ side
Uncanny X-Men (Vol.2)-Kieron Gillen (Writer)/ Carlos Pacheco and Greg Land (Artists)
The longest running X-Men title recently re-launched with Gillen at the writing helm and longtime X-Men artists Pacheco and Land rotating on art duties. Gillen’s line-up consists of a lot of former villains: Namor, Magik, Magneto, Danger and Emma Frost but to counter the former villains, Cyclops has Colossus, Storm and “granddaughter” Hope. The first arc deals with the return of longtime X-Man foe Mr. Sinister. Marvel released a preview splash page containing previews of things to come that included a romance between Namor and Frost, team in fighting and Hope confronting the Phoenix Force.
X-Men-Victor Gischler (Writer)/Will Conrad (Artist)
The third volume of X-Men features a line-up that will make readers go: “Hey! Aren’t they supposed to be on Wolverine’s side?” Victor Gischler will write stories that feature Colossus, Domino, Jubilee, Psylocke, Storm and Warpath. Normally all of these heroes would side with Wolverine but in recent X-Men series, Domino and Warpath parted ways with Wolverine due to X-Force events, Jubilee became a vampire and bit the Mutant Avenger which caused their relationship to deteriorate and Storm was personally asked by Cyclops to stay behind on Utopia. Their first arc features a story with War Machine.
Generation Hope- James Asmus (Writer)/Ibraim Roberson (Artist)
If you are coming onto Generation Hope, then you are in luck. James Asmus has taken over the writing duties from Gillen, who is writing Uncanny X-Men. Hope has lost one of the Five Lights to Wolverine and his crew and they maybe taking on one new member: former X-Man villain and Hellfire Club leader Sebastian Shaw? Wait! What the…! Readers saw Emma Frost give him amnesia near the end of Uncanny X-Men, Vol. 1. If readers want to see how Shaw gels with Hope and her team, pick up Generation Hope.
New Mutants-Dan Abnett & Andy Lanning (Co-Writers)/David Lopez (Artist)
Schism has hit the New Mutants team extremely hard. Longtime fan favorites Cannonball and Karma have left the team to join Wolverine and the team added controversial member X-Man to their group. Readers who enjoy reading this book trust the direction that Abnett and Lanning are taking in the book. Here’s to an easier run for the team.
Now the moment that everyone has been waiting for…. Here are Wolverine’s teams
Wolverine and the X-Men- Jason Aaron (Writer) & Chris Bachalo (Artist)
This was one of the most anticipated new series of 2011. Fan-favorite creators Jason Aaron and Chris Bachalo have put together an all-star line-up of mutants led by Wolverine, which include Beast, Iceman, Kitty Pryde, Rachel Grey, Cannonball and Rogue. Their goal: teach young mutants like Oya, Kid Gladiator and Quentin Quire to use their powers for good. However, their philosophy is going to be challenged by old enemies including the Hellfire Club, the Brood and even…Cyclops?!
Do not miss out on this terrific joy ride known as Wolverine and the X-Men.
X-Men: Legacy-Mike Carey/Christos Gage (Writers) & Rotating Artists
After writing six years worth of X-Men: Legacy, Mike Carey will be leaving Rogue and the X-Men behind him. Fortunately for fans, Avengers Academy writer Christos Gage will be taking over the title starting in January’s 260.1. The book will continue to follow Rogue as she deals with a long-term relationship with Magneto and the re-emergence of Gambit in her life while adjusting to their roles as staff members of the Jean Grey School of Higher Learning. Also look for cameos and appearances from other X-Men including Iceman, Rachel Grey, Frenzy and the Guthries.
X-Factor: Peter David (Writer) & Leonard Kirk/Emanuela Lupachhino (Artists)
X-Factor scribe Peter David re-introduces two very important characters into his book: veteran members Havok and Polaris. The last time readers have seen them, they were trapped in space but thanks to Rogue and her crew in X-Men: Legacy, they returned to Earth. Now on orders from Wolverine to check in on their old crew, how will their teammates cope with their returns? Find in out in X-Factor’s January 2012 issue.
Uncanny X-Force: Rick Remender (Writer) & Jerome Opena/Robbi Rodriguez (Artists)
One of the breakout Marvel books that have fans craving for more is Uncanny X-Force. This book focuses on Wolverine and his team of assassins including Deadpool, Psylocke, and Fantomex focusing on tackling mutantkind’s greatest threats. Unfortunately, during their Dark Angel Saga, the team had to battle one of their own: Archangel, who fell to the dark side and tried to take over the Age of Apocalypse timeline. According to sources like Newsarama.com, Marvel will publish the arc’s finale polybagged, which means that a big death will occur in the conclusion. After the finale, Robbi Rodriguez will help Remender pick up the pieces.
These images that I am posting on my blog are properties of Marvel Comics. All characters in these images are also properties of Marvel Comics.
