All-New X-Men

All-New X-Men is an ongoing comic book series published by Marvel Comics that debuted in November 2012, with the launch of Marvel NOW!.^[1] The series centers on the five original X-Men, brought from the past to the present to confront their future counterparts. The series replaces Uncanny X-Men vol. 2 as the flagship book of the X-Men franchise.^[2]

Publication history

Marvel Comics announced All-New X-Men by the creative team of Brian Bendis and Stuart Immonen in July 2012.^[3] Bendis stated that the idea of having the five original members of the X-Men (Angel, Beast, Cyclops, Iceman and Jean Grey) see what has become of the X-Men came to him during a company retreat for Avengers vs. X-Men,^[4] "Avengers Vs. X-Men led to it. It was an idea that had been floating around the X-Office for a while and I’m still unclear where exactly it percolated. I’m a big fan of these kinds of stories, Pleasantville or Peggy Sue Got Married, where a character faces the truth about themselves and what their life can mean versus what it does mean."^[5] Bendis said that the five original X-Men not only come into contact with present day Cyclops's team of X-Men but with Wolverine's team of X-Men as well, "We'll have three factions, and all these characters are interacting. It's almost like a Robert Altman movie. Plus, there will also be some new characters that you haven't met before."^[6]

Following the events of the Battle of the Atom story arc, the time-displaced X-Men, led by Kitty Pryde, moved to the modern day Cyclops's New Xavier School following a disagreement with the Jean Grey School X-Men members.^[7] They would be joined a few issues later by X-23, who had just survived the events of Avengers Arena. The team then took to space in a crossover event, "The Trial of Jean Grey", with Bendis's Guardians of the Galaxy series as part of All-New Marvel NOW!.^[8] Following the crossover, the young time-displaced Cyclops will be spun off to his own solo series, Cyclops, which will have him and his father, Corsair, journey through outer space together.^[9]

Plot summary

Yesterday's X-Men

Following Cyclops's escape from prison after the war with the Avengers,^[10] he, Emma Frost, Magik and Magneto begin a crusade against mutant persecution, freeing mutants who are being held prisoner after their powers have manifested, violently striking out at the humans responsible at the same time. As the other X-Men bemoan their inability to strike back at Cyclops's actions without triggering a mutant civil war, a frustrated comment by Iceman about how the past Cyclops wouldn't tolerate his present self's actions inspires Beast to take action; he travels back in time to the early days of the Xavier Institute shortly after Professor X has taken a leave of absence and Beast's younger self was about to temporarily leave the X-Men for the first time^[11] to recruit their assistance, informing them that Cyclops must come to the future to stop himself from committing mutant genocide.^[12]

Although shocked at the news of Cyclops's future — as well as the discovery that he has killed Professor X in the future —, the young X-Men decide to help Beast, the younger version recognizing that he wouldn't do something like this unless it was necessary. After arriving in the future at the Jean Grey School of Higher Learning — during which Wolverine instinctively attacks Cyclops before Jean Grey knocks him out —, Beast collapses, and the younger version of Beast reveals that his future self is dying; his actions are the result of his desire to accomplish something good in the time he has left to live. Although shaken at the future they have witnessed as they are isolated in one of the rooms, Jean reads Wolverine's mind when he tries to send them back to their own time, noting that, while he is consciously against their presence, he is inwardly grateful to Beast for taking this chance. When they hear news of a mutant riot, young Cyclops reaffirms his dedication to Xavier's dream of peace and the five original X-Men depart in a new Blackbird, determined to confront the future Cyclops.^[13]

While talking to Magneto, the present Cyclops realises that their powers are fluctuating after their exposure to the Phoenix Force; he can contain his optical blasts without his visor, but has trouble maintaining them when they are used, and Magneto is having trouble with his own powers. They attempt to rescue Emma Frost from captivity, but she is also having trouble with her powers as her telepathy appears to be weakened even if she can still turn into her diamond form. Magik, however, has gained new abilities from her exposure to the Phoenix Force. Having set up a base in an old Weapon X facility, Cyclops and Magneto depart to rescue a new group of mutants, but are subsequently confronted by the original X-Men, with the young Cyclops challenging his future self to justify his current talk of a "revolution".^[14]

Shocked to see his younger self and Jean, Cyclops wonders if they are a psychic illusion. He realizes that they are real and lack context to the position he is in. His thoughts cause Jean's latent telepathy to activate and she hears him admit that he killed Xavier. Unable to control her telepathy and overwhelmed, she reveals that Cyclops killed Xavier and lashes out with her telekinesis; Cyclops's visor is knocked away and, unable to control his optic blasts, he levels the area, before Magik is able to extract him and Magneto. The young X-Men are confused by Magneto's willingness to flee from a fight and surprised that Cyclops attacked them. The team returns to the Jean Grey School to return to their time, disconcerted by what they've seen, but find that the present version of Beast has gone into cardiac arrest.^[15]

While the present Cyclops recruits a new mutant whose power involves gradual evolution and shapeshifting to develop the mutant powers of others in his vicinity, the temporally-relocated Jean uses her new telepathy to help the two Hanks make mental contact with each other. After Beast is convinced to tell Jean about what she will experience in the future, Hank manages to determine a means of treating his future self's condition. Out in the courtyard, Scott is uncomfortable about the harsh stares he is receiving from the other mutants, and is nearly pushed to tears when Wolverine publicly threatens to kill him unless someone steps in (to which no one does), before the two Hanks emerge from the school, the older Hank now fully cured and reverted to a more human-like appearance. Although Wolverine is in favour of the original team returning to the past where Xavier can erase their memories, Jean refuses to depart until they have saved the future, with the rest of the team agreeing with her except for Angel, who wonders where his present self is in this scenario before voting. With Kitty Pryde volunteering to take responsibility for the old team, past Scott attempts to talk to Jean, but she orders him to stay away from her.^[16]

Here to Stay

After a nightmare in which present-Cyclops and Magneto come to warn her before Wolverine tries to kill her, Jean wakes up in a panic, temporarily overwhelmed by her newly awakened telepathy, but Kitty and Storm are able to calm her using a technique she will learn in the future. They also suggest that Jean should serve as team leader of the originals during their time in the present, as Cyclops's recent actions would make the students reluctant to trust him. Uncomfortable with the stares he is receiving, Cyclops departs the school on Wolverine's motorbike to find out more about the future, resulting in a brief confrontation between him and Wolverine in the street. While Angel has an encounter with his future self, the Warren of the present being casually cheery about his past self's presence while past-Warren is confused at his future self's metallic wings, Mystique is shown reading a newspaper about past-Cyclops's presence on the streets.^[17]

While Kitty gives the other X-Men a crash-course in hand-to-hand combat, Cyclops visits a bank where he keeps a safety deposit box to collect some of his future self's belongings. When the police arrive to arrest him, believing him to be his future self, he is rescued by 'Wolverine', but it is revealed to be Mystique in disguise. Mystique tells Cyclops to be cautious and not to trust the brutal Wolverine, but reveals to an unidentified ally after leaving Cyclops that her true agenda is to sow discord among the X-Men while they prepare for another plan. Back at the school, Cyclops reveals one of the items from the safety deposit box to Jean; an invitation to their wedding.^[18]

While out flying with his future self, Warren prevents a HYDRA attack, but is discomforted by his future self's attitude, the confrontation with HYDRA ending as the Avengers show up. Although Beast manages to talk down Captain America's initial anger at the discovery of what Beast has done, his meeting with his future self prompts Warren to try and use the time machine to return to the past and leave the X-Men; however, Jean Grey erases the memories of what he had just learned.^[19]

The time displaced X-Men are later seen in the Danger Room doing an exercise on a sentinel attack. Jean is using her telepathy to read people's mind without their consent, much to the annoyance of Kitty Pryde. Jean reveals Cyclops's meeting with Mystique much to the anger of Wolverine. Meanwhile, Mystique infiltrates the Raft prison with Sabretooth and breaks Lady Mastermind out by offering her riches. To avoid the guards, Lady Mastermind creates an illusion that the guards are being attacked by Zombie Avengers. At The Jean Grey School for Higher Learning, the adult Cyclops appears with Magik, Emma Frost and Magneto proclaiming "To me, my X-Men"^[20]

Out of Their Depth

Cyclops arrives to recruit more X-Men. While Wolverine and Cyclops argue about the original X-Men's returning to their time, the Stepford Cuckoos converse with Emma concerning Jean Grey's current weak and amateurish control over her telepathic abilities. Meanwhile, Lady Mastermind, Mystique and Sabretooth rob banks under the illusion of the time-displaced X-Men and Wolverine's attacking them.^[21] Back at the Jean Grey School, the Stepford Cuckoos join Cyclops and, with much surprise and shock, the time-displaced Angel also joins him. Before being teleported away, the Stepford Cuckoos soundly defeat Jean Grey in a psychic battle for attempting to control Angel's mind. While flying in the Blackbird trying to find Mystique, the young X-Men, along with Shadowcat and Wolverine, are intercepted by the Uncanny Avengers.^[22]

The Uncanny Avengers believe that the time-displaced X-Men are responsible for the attacks on the banks. Havok and the time-displaced Cyclops are shocked to see each other, as Cyclops thought that his brother was dead. Jean Grey, using her telepathy to see that the Scarlet Witch decimated the mutant population, loses her temper and telekinetically attacks her and the Avengers. She is stopped by the Scarlet Witch, and the situation is explained to her, although she is furious and distraught. Wolverine then reveals to the time-displaced X-Men that they are going to confront Mystique.^[23]

The X-Men search for Mystique, and eventually locate her hideout, where she welcomes Madame Hydra and the new Silver Samurai, revealing to them her plan of buying Madripoor. Both groups watch Havok’s recent speech about the "M-word", and Kitty Pryde disagrees with the speech. Although Wolverine and Kitty Pryde order the time-displaced X-Men not to follow them, they go after them and, as a battle ensues, Lady Mastermind apparently causes Jean Grey to manifest the Phoenix Force, much to the shock of others. The X-Men and Brotherhood are frozen in distress as Lady Mastermind angrily persuades Jean to kill them all. While Jean proceeds to blame Mystique for causing this, Wolverine prepares to kill Jean in order to stop her from using a power that she cannot control. As Wolverine slashes Jean, it is revealed this is a psychic vision of the Phoenix that Jean somehow manifested into the minds of the Brotherhood, and that inadvertently entered the minds of Wolverine, Kitty, and the other X-Men.^[24] Later the X-Men are confronted by a mysterious group of mutants later to be revealed as the future X-Men. Led by the grandson of Charles Xavier, and an unstable non-returned Jean Grey, they speak of an apocalyptic future that occurred due the past X-Men not returning. Then as Magik and Iceman travel to the future, the true X-Men are revealed leading to the events of the ^[25]Battle of the Atom

Battle of the Atom

The story involves the X-Men of the future traveling to present time in order to force the All-New X-Men (original five X-Men) to return to their rightful time, as their presence in the current timeline will result in disastrous consequences.

All-Different

Following the events of ^[26] Battle of the Atom, Kitty Pryde takes a leave of absence from the Jean Grey School to help mentor the original 5 X-Men who have joined Cyclops's school to better help change the uncertain future. They encounter and battle the Brotherhood and Purifiers on a couple of adventures, which results in X-23 being recruited to the team. Jean Grey is then kidnapped by the Shi'ar to pay for her future self's actions as the Dark Phoenix in the Trial of Jean Grey. This led to an alliance between the X-Men and Guardians of the Galaxy and a confrontation with the Shi'ar Imperial Guard. While on trial, Jean was shown her entire future and death in a brief psychic surge. As the X-Men and Guardians attempt to rescue Jean, they are helped by the Starjammers. After making it back to Earth, another confrontation with the Imperial Guard ensues. All the pressure built up from her knowledge of her future, plus the newfound information of the death of her family and entire bloodline at the hands of the Shi'ar in the End of the Greys, causes Jean to discover a new ability. Using this new power to absorb psionic energy and combining it with her telepathy and telekinesis, Jean rebuffs Gladiator and destroys a Shi'ar Warship. Past Cyclops then leaves with his dad Corsair and the rest of the Starjammers.

The Brotherhood from the alternate future returns, with the plan of taking out Jean Grey by hijacking the Stepford Cuckoos' hive mind, and then mentally attacking the weakened remaining original X-Men. However, the X-Men are able to determine that the Brotherhood is actually being manipulated by Raze and Charles Xavier II- half-siblings who share Mystique as their parent, Raze being Wolverine's son and Charles being Xavier's- and break Xavier's control of the team, resulting in Raze escaping and the other Brotherhood members being returned to their own time.

A dimensional anomaly results in the young X-Men being sent to the Ultimate Marvel universe by accident, resulting in them joining forces with the new Spider-Man and the Ultimate X-Men to save Beast when he is captured by the local Doctor Doom.

Returning to their universe, the team are reunited with Cyclops when they are called upon to aid the Guardians of the Galaxy in retrieving the fabled Black Vortex.

Cast

Collected editions

TPBs/Marvel Premiere Edition hardcovers

Oversized hardcovers

References