After announcing a company-wide relaunch making X-Men the most exciting Marvel property in comics, the upcoming House of X and Powers of X aren’t just giving mutants a fresh start. They’re about to drop the most important scene in Marvel history.
That’s obviously a bold claim, considering how world-changing some of the most important X-Men stories ever told have actually been. But Marvel is teasing exactly that from the story writer Jonathan Hickman will be bringing to fans starting in July, with artists Pepe Larraz and R.B. Silva. On paper, it’s a new narrative encapsulating everything the X-Men can be within the Marvel Universe. And thanks to a fantastic tease, it’s going to hinge on what Professor X sees in the mind of a single mutant.
The message surrounding the twin comic miniseries has emphasized the scope and scale, with a story expected to span each six-issue narrative, connecting with the other (either literally or figuratively). And with Hickman promising the first issues of each will be more than 40 pages, this tale is going places. But according to Marvel’s official Twitter account, “the most important scene in the history of the X-Men” isn’t just contained to a single page… it’s one they’re willing to show ahead of time.
It’s hard to gauge the tone of a teaser such as this, leaving only the widening of Xavier’s eyes to communicate this milestone moment (at least, we think that’s Charles Xavier). Hickman took to Twitter shortly after Marvel posted the teaser to comment on the absurdity of such high claims… while clarifying that the scene in question is much, MUCH more meaningful:
Marketing is, of course, always ridiculous. So ridiculous. This is actually the most important scene in the history of Marvel Comics.
Hickman’s reply should be taken as tongue in cheek, just in case both teases are meant to be taken as hype, more than completely serious descriptors. When the plan hatched by Hickman is finally told, fans can return to see if this page, and this scene are everything they promise. But based on what we know about House of X #1 from the official synopsis, Charles Xavier is causing a colossal change to Marvel’s status quo. And once his secret is out, you won’t need to be psychic to guess what Marvel has planned next. Read for yourselves:
Since the release of Uncanny X-Men #1, there have been four seminal moments in the history of the X-Men. Giant-Sized X-Men. X-Men. Age of Apocalypse. New X-Men. Four iconic series that introduced a new era for Marvel’s mutants and revolutionized the X-Men. In House of X, Charles Xavier reveals his master plan for mutantkind…one that will bring mutants out of the shadow of mankind and into the light once more.
After House pulls back the curtain, or at the very least hints at what lies beyond it, it won’t be all optimism. From the solicitation, Powers of X #1 looks to show why mutants and readers alike should “fear the future” if they’re lucky enough to catch a glimpse:
Intertwining with HOUSE OF X, POWERS OF X reveals the secret past, present and future of mutantkind, changing the way you look at every X-Men story before and after. You do not want to miss the next seminal moment in the history of the X-Men!
Fans looking to get in on this new age of Marvel mutants can start by picking up House of X #1 on July 24th from your local comic book store or direct from Marvel Comics, with Powers of X #1 arriving just one week later, on July 31st.
