The citizens of Krakoa are ramping up for this year’s 2nd annual Hellfire Gala hosted by Emma Frost and the X-Men, which Marvel Comics promises will deliver huge reveals, dramatic betrayal, and gorgeous costumes that will all rival last year’s epic event. The first Hellfire Gala was used by the leaders of Krakoa to establish their new mutant nation as a force for change in the world, and to prove mutants’ dominion over Earth and the Sol System, so this year’s reveals will hopefully be just as planet-shaking as last years.
The 2021 Hellfire Gala was a massive event for the mutants, but also for the Avengers and governments of Earth, as the X-Men and Quiet Council literally terraformed Mars, turning it into the new planet Arakko, home of the Arakkan mutants and new center of the Sol System. Not only was the mutants “fireworks display” a phenomenal show of their ascension, but the first annual Gala led directly into the event Trial of Magneto, the anti-mutant agency Orchis ramping up their efforts to take down Krakoa, and X-Force’s continued unethical meddling in the affairs of foreign powers. Additionally, the event showcased an array of absolutely gorgeous outfits for the mutants of Krakoa, designed by many Marvel artists, and created in-universe by the mutant fashion powerhouse Jumbo Carnation.
Related: X-Force Have the Worst New Costumes of the X-Men’s Hellfire Gala
This year’s X-Men: Hellfire Gala #1 – written by X-Men X-Pert Gerry Duggan with art by Russell Dauterman, Matteo Lolli, C.F. Villa, and Kris Anka – has been building for months now, and it is clear that the dramatic and talented Emma Frost, White Queen of the Hellfire Trading Company, has some massive things planned for the event. Marvel has revealed that this years gala will include “radical transformation” to the entirety of the Marvel Universe, and that just like last year the event is open to many heroes, not just mutants. The Gala will also feature the reveal of the new X-Men team roster, including the winner of the fan-vote, which includes some amazing nominees. Read on for the full run down of the event by Marvel as well as Russell Dauterman’s beautiful cover for the one-shot featuring Emma Frost, Scott Summers, Laura Kinney, Illyana Rasputina, and Everett Thomas.
“Superstar creators Gerry Duggan, Russell Dauterman, Matteo Lolli, C.F. Villa, and Kris Anka will deliver 72 pages loaded with high-stakes drama, shocking character developments, and of course, showstopping Super Hero fashion.
At last year’s gala, mutants changed the face of the solar system, terraforming Mars and claiming it for mutantkind. This time around, they’ll once again set out to bring radical transformation to the Marvel Universe and are inviting every super hero on the planet to witness it. And when an uninvited guest crashes the party, the chaos that ensues will cause cracks in the very foundation of Krakoa and lead directly into the biggest Marvel story of the year: Kieron Gillen and Valerio Schiti’s JUDGMENT DAY!
All that, plus the reveal of the new X-Men lineup and the winner of the mega-popular X-Men fan vote. The seeds for what’s to come in the X-Men franchise over the next few years are planted right here!”
The writer of the event Gerry Duggan goes on to say:
“Last summer your host Emma Frost invited you to celebrate Krakoa with some fireworks. This year, it’s about celebrating mutantdom’s friendship with humanity,” Duggan explained. “Once again, we have a murderer’s row of talent crafting a one-shot with revelations that will chart the biggest stories in the Marvel Universe. All that, and meet a new team of X-Men.”
Marvel has revealed that the event will feature “exposed secrets” and “heartbreaking betrayal.” With Scott and Emma on the cover, one has to wonder if the White Queen will somehow betray Cyclops, even though their romantic relationship has not been featured in a while. The biggest hint about the main drama of the Hellfire Gala comes from Marvel’s mention of an uninvited guest and A.X.E. Judgement Day, a massive crossover event coming this summer from Kieron Gillen and Valerio Schiti. It sounds like one of the Eternals could be crashing the party to reveal the big mutant secret they just discovered. Apparently, the mutants are actually a shoot-off of the Deviants, the race of primordial beings the Eternals are tasked with slaughtering, which will prompt the Eternals (now led by Thanos) to attack Krakoa, leading to the Avengers needing to pick sides and intervene.
It really does sound like Marvel has a lot planned for this event. As opposed to other big comic book events the Hellfire Gala is extra fun because it includes totally new creative looks for fan favorite characters, and this year apparently the Avengers will be dressing up as well, instead of just the mutants. Make sure to pick up X-Men: Hellfire Gala #1 when it debuts on June 29 to see what Emma Frost and Krakoa have cooking for the Marvel Comics universe, and the reveal of the new fan chosen X-Men team member.
More: X-Men’s Magik Gets the Hellfire Gala Outfit She Deserved in Fan Art
