Contains Spoilers for Avengers (2023) #12!As the X-Men prepare to head into an uncertain future, the Avengers have offered a sneak peek at the mutants’ new base, ahead of its full introduction. This type of minor crossover doesn’t happen often, but with both teams written by the same person, it makes perfect sense. It perfectly demonstrates one of the benefits of having a cohesive and interconnected Marvel Universe, and makes the Avengers that much more sympathetic in the larger picture.
Avengers #12 – written by Jed MacKay, with art by Francesco Mortarino – sneakily introduced the X-Men’s new base ahead of the X-Men’s relaunch later this year. In the issue, the Avengers finally take action against the anti-Mutant group Orchis, destroying a Sentinel factory in Alaska in the process.
As confirmed by future X-Men editor Tom Brevoort in his recent newsletter, this base will serve as the X-Men’s headquarters when current Avengers writer Jed MacKay relaunches adjectiveless X-Men alongside artist Ryan Stegman in July.
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The X-Men’s New Base Debuts In Jed MacKay’s Avengers
The X-Men are currently experiencing the Fall of X, ending the Krakoan era, in which Orchis is attempting to destroy mutants once and for all. In the aftermath of Fall of X, the X-Men will be split into several different teams, with one squad relocating to a base in Alaska. The base appears as more than a cameo in Avengers #12, but still offers some details worthy of analysis. Notably, the current Sentinels are Stark technology. If the X-Men are moving into a Stark-connected base, they may have closer ties to the Avengers in this upcoming era, especially with Jed MacKay writing both titles.
It’s also worth considering how the X-Men feel about residing in their enemy’s former bases. This upcoming status quo is reminiscent of the classic ‘Outback era’ of the X-Men, in which the X-Men relocated to a base in the Australian outback, belonging to the anti-Mutant cyborgs, the Reavers. Similarly, the living island of Krakoan, which famously became mutantkind’s homeland, began as a threat to the team. From the outback, to the X-Mansion, to the living island Krakoa itself, the only constant in X-bases has been change, so this factory isn’t as unusual of a location as it might seem.
Writers Working Across Franchises Makes Marvel More Cohesive
Jed MacKay writing both Avengers and X-Men gives the opportunity for this brief crossover between books. The Avengers often feel disconnected from mutant issues, busy with their own problems. This is a reality of Marvel having so much time and space, and so many issues to tell stories, with the priority in the Avengers books obviously being the titular team. However, in practise, it often makes the Avengers feel uncaring towards mutants. This is only exacerbated by the tendency of Marvel to put the teams at deliberate odds. So, it’s great for Earth’s Mightiest Heroes to be working alongside mutantkind in Avengers #12.
Having one writer working within both franchises makes crossovers much easier. For his part, Jed MacKay has been consciously interested in integrating the wider Marvel universe into his Avengers. Characters reference their solo titles, and current status quos, in a way that shows MacKay is dedicated to making this universe feel coherent. The Avengers fighting Orchis is only one example. Tom Brevoort also hinted during the announcement of MacKay’s X-Men that this won’t be the only crossover between the Avengers and X-Men, so as the latter’s relaunch approaches, readers can be confident that the books will remain in active conversation.
Source: Tom Brevoort Substack
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