The X-Men‘s Fall of X looms near, but a newly announced series may show Jean Grey the light at the end of the tunnel for mutantkind. This next stage in X-Men storytelling blurs the line between a crossover event and a new era that shifts the mutants’ status quo. One thing is painfully clear, which is that the Fall of X will be a dark age catalyzed by tragedy. But just as Marvel’s marketing had begun to tease that all is lost for the Krakoan Age, the surprise announcement of a new Jean Grey solo series has provided precious hope to many distressed fans.
Marvel initially teased an announcement this week on Twitter with the word “Rebirth” written in Krakoan script, only to reveal later that day that comics legend Louise Simonson will be collaborating with artist Bernard Chang on a new Fall of X book, Jean Grey. The synopsis given for the limited series promises that Jean with spend the majority of the four issues reflecting on aspects of her past such as her origin, meeting the Phoenix Force, and her controversial battle with Madelyne Pryor. Flashback elements aside, this miniseries does take place in the present, and key secrets from these past eras are apparently essential for the role Jean has to play in Fall of X. The solicit also included the cover of the series’ premiere issue from artist Amy Reeder.
Simonson’s Return to X-Men Could Signal More Than Jean Grey’s Rebirth
Louise “Weezie” Simonson played a key role in the creative environment that made the X-Men into icons during the 1980s, writing and editing in concert with Ann Nocenti and Chris Claremont. Her most notable writer credits at Marvel include the original Power Pack and X-Factor books. In particular, Simonson’s work on X-Factor is often considered essential work on Jean Grey, especially since she had the unenviable task of handling the character so recently after being resurrected from her death in the Dark Phoenix Saga. It makes sense that she would be the pick for a book that heavily deals with her own previous work, but it’s not the norm for Marvel to have such classic creators work on new stories in the present. In fact, Marvel has set a tentative precedent recently in the X-Franchise of rehiring legends like Nocenti and Claremont to write historical miniseries set during their iconic eras of days past. Apparently this is Marvel’s initial test run at having classic creators collaborate with the current X-Office.
Since the introduction of the Phoenix, Jean has been inextricably tied with rebirth. Yet in the context of Fall of X, this could signal that Jean may bring about a rebirth of Krakoa, radically reforming the mutant nation so that it may endure. The exact elements of this potential rebirth being the salvation of mutantkind is unclear, specifically since the inciting tragedy of Fall of X remains a mystery. Phoenix iconography has become more prevalent in X-Men art lately, as well as having an important role seeded in the Krakoan Age all the way back in House of X/Powers of X. Perhaps reflecting on new aspects of her own past will lead to Jean’s renewed acceptance of the Phoenix Force.
Details aside, it seems clear that Jean Grey’s actions will be an inflection point at the end of Fall of X. Due to her choices, mutantkind could either rise again or lie down in defeat. It’s certain to be a fascinating story, and fans are lucky to have an icon like Louise Simonson involved in telling this tale. All the secrets will be laid bare as original X-Men member Jean Grey takes center stage once more in her all-new solo limited series.
Jean Grey #1 will be available from Marvel Comics on August 23.
