The X-Men are about to become very important. Marvel just announced another title in their “ResurrXion” line of comics, this time focusing on the Weapon X program, which gave fans such heroes as Wolverine, Deadpool, and X-23. Along with the announcement of an Iceman solo comic, Marvel appears to be bringing back X-Men in a big way. Is this a sign that Marvel is bringing back the X-Men in more ways than one?
There were mutterings in the comic book community that Marvel was quietly phasing out the X-Men in favor of the Inhumans. Mutants, after all, were being literally sterilized and eradicated by the very same power source, the Terrigen Mist, that creates new Inhumans. The reason behind the idea stemmed from the fact that because Marvel didn’t have the rights to the X-Men films, they would push forward the Inhumans — a race of superpowered people Marvel did still have the rights to — as a sort of replacement.
Of course, that’s unfair to the colorful cast of Inhumans who decidedly are not X-Men knockoffs. Unfortunately, there was some precedent to think that Marvel would sacrifice their comic books because of their often unfortunate movie franchises. (Where are you Fantastic Four comic books?).
Now the whole X-Men vs. Inhumans thing looks to be one meta narrative as Marvel plans on unveiling their huge event series Inhumans vs. X-Men, followed up by “ResurrXion” which will see the return of all your favorite mutants.
This sudden interest in bringing back the X-Men from a literal extinction is turning some heads about the future of X-Men with Marvel, both in comics and films. At a recent New York Comic Con panel for FX’s mutant-focused TV show Legion, Marvel Television president Jeph Loeb was present, revealing how excited Marvel was in tying Legion to one of Marvel’s own shows like Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.
Will there be an X-Men/Avengers crossover similar to how the company brought Spider-Man into the Marvel Cinematic Universe after a deal with Sony Pictures? Only time will tell.
