Uncanny X-Men is the most important title in the history of the X-Men. While X-Men kicked off the tale of the mutant superheroes, that title would become Uncanny X-Men with issue 142. Uncanny X-Men made the mutant superhero team into the bestselling superheroes ever, with writer Chris Claremont working with many of the best comic artists ever - Dave Cockrum, John Byrne, John Romita Jr., Paul Smith, Marc Silvestri, Jim Lee, and more - creating a comic that took its cast and made them into superstars. Since then, every comic holding the title Uncanny X-Men has had high reader expectations connected to it.

There was no Uncanny X-Men in the Krakoa Era, which is slated to end with X-Men #700. Marvel has announced a new X-Men publishing initiative - From The Ashes - and a new volume of Uncanny X-Men. The end of the Krakoa Era has presented all manner of new problems for the team. Uncanny X-Men promises to take readers on a new but very familiar journey, with a team of X-Men favorites ready to excite everyone again.

Uncanny X-Men Mixes Familiar X-Men Nostalgia With All-New Aspects

A book of Uncanny X-Men's caliber and importance needs a solid creative team, and this new launch has that in spades. Writer Gail Simone isn't the first name that anyone would think of for an A-list book - her work has mostly been on B and C-list titles like Batgirl, Secret Six, Birds of Prey, and Domino, with her run on Wonder Woman being the closest she ever came to the top of the card -. Still, she has shown a grasp of character that is perfect for a book like Uncanny X-Men, which has always revolved around the characters and their lives as much as the action.

Simone is joined by David Marquez, whose work with Brian Michael Bendis on titles like Invincible Iron Man, Civil War II, The Defenders, Miles Morales: The Ultimate Spider-Man, and more - as well as works at DC like Batman/Superman - have gained him a legion of fans. The two have joined the X-Men at an interesting time. The Krakoa Era's ending has changed how humans look at mutants, with the X-Mansion transformed into a prison. Xavier's dream is all but dead, but Rogue isn't going to let that stand. As a mysterious threat begins hunting mutants, Rogue gathers a team of X-Men to stop it and show that the world still needs protection from those they fear and hate.

Uncanny X-Men #1 drops on August 7th, 2024. Marvel has announced that the book will ship eighteen issues in its first year, which means that Marquez probably won't draw every issue, although that also depends on how long he's been working on the book before publication. Simone has talked about how excited she is to be working on Uncanny X-Men in interviews, how she's always jotting down ideas, and what a joy it is working with Marquez, who is adding his ideas and making every page better.

The team will be based out of New Orleans, giving the book a Southern Gothic flavor, according to Simone. Uncanny X-Men will debut four new mutants, joining a roster of X-Men consisting of Rogue, Gambit, Wolverine, Nightcrawler, and Jubilee. Simone and Marquez gave readers a taste of what they're doing with the Blood Hunt/Uncanny X-Men Free Comic Book Day issue. The story was a bit generic, feeling like it could have taken place in 1997 with very little modification, but it showed that Simone had a handle on the character of Jubilee and that Marquez's art was fantastic. However, what really makes the book interesting is the cast and where they've been throughout the Krakoa Era.

Uncanny X-Men's Cast Is A Blast Of Claremont Goodness In Modern Form

Rogue Is An Accomplished Team Leader And A Superhero Through And Through

Looking at the main roster of Uncanny X-Men reveals a team that is definitely motivated by nostalgia. It's basically the Claremont All-Stars, consisting of five fan-favorite characters - Rogue, Gambit, Wolverine, Nightcrawler, and Jubilee. Rogue is the team leader who has brought the group together. Rogue fighting for Xavier's dream in a world gone rabid against mutants makes a lot of sense. Rogue is the consummate X-Man, having learned to control her powers through the school's teachings. Rogue was raised by Mystique and Destiny, and joining the X-Men gave her a second chance at life. he's definitely used it very well.

She's led several teams of X-Men, became an Avenger, even leading an Avengers team, and has married Gambit. Rogue completely devoted herself to the dream, and the changes wrought on the mutant community by Krakoa haven't really sat well with her. Rogue in the Krakoa Era hasn't been as important as before; she was a member of the cast of Excalibur but was frozen by Otherworld magic for a decent amount of the era. She next joined the X-Men at the Hellfire Gala, appearing in X-Men (Vol. 6) #1-12, but her place in the team was only important when they fought Luminous and the High Evolutionary. She and Gambit went on their own adventure, and then she rejoined the Avengers Unity Squad for Fall Of X to battle Hydra Supreme Cap. Her last job as an Avenger before founding a team meant to protect a world that hates and fears mutants makes perfect sense; Rogue is a superhero through and through, she's going to do superhero stuff no matter what.

Gambit's History With New Orleans Is Sure To Play An Important Role In the Series

Gambit is the next member of the team, and his main importance comes from two sources - his relationship with Rogue and his history with New Orleans. Gambit has often been a controversial X-Man, but he's also led his own X-Men team before. In fact, the first X-Men team he ever led, which was in writer Chris Claremont's second Uncanny X-Men run, which ran from issue 381 to 389, shares a lot with the current team. It was also a small but powerful team filled with veteran X-Men that struck out independently. Gambit was born and raised in New Orleans, and his relationship with the city's Thieves Guild dominated his early life. With the team setting up their headquarters in the city, this is a perfect time to remind readers of Gambit's past.

It would be strange for Simone not to use the Thieves Guild at some point in the book, as Gambit hasn't really gotten into any shenanigans with them in ages. Regarding the Krakoa Era, Gambit was mostly marooned with the Otherworld contingent of heroes in Excalibur and Knights Of X, barely playing any role in either book. He and Rogue had a short series, and then he showed up in Dark X-Men, helping Madelyne Pryor's team of X-Men bring mutants into the protection of the Limbo embassy. Most Gambit fans agree that this was the best part of the Krakoa Era for him, so fans are particularly excited for Simone to get her hands on the character.

Wolverine's Time in Krakoa Refocused His Commitment To Xavier's Dream

Wolverine is the best there is at what he does, and it honestly doesn't feel like the X-Men without him around. Wolverine's had many challenges in the Krakoa Era. He was the field leader of X-Force, taking out threats before they could attack the nation. He went on a time-traveling mission to save Professor Xavier, ensuring the existence of Krakoa, and defeated Omega Wolverine, a Phalanx assimilated Wolverine from Moira MacTaggert's sixth life. Friction over the direction of X-Force led to Beast murdering him in secret and having him resurrected in a feral state to use as a weapon. He healed and went after Beast, who left Krakoa with an army of clones of himself and Wolverine, eventually leading X-Force to stop Beast.

Wolverine left Krakoa at this point, causing him to miss the massacre at the Hellfire Gala. Wolverine was out for revenge against Orchis, teaming with Hulk, Captain America, Black Panther, and Spider-Man before the return of Sabretooth pulled him into a war against his eternal foe and an army of multiversal Sabretooth duplicates. Wolverine was always Xavier's most loyal soldier, and he saw the rot of Krakoa firsthand in Beast's behavior. A team devoted to proving Xavier's dream can work is just the place for Wolverine. It also helps that he's had close relationships with Nightcrawler, Jubilee, and Rogue over the years. Wolverine hasn't really gotten a chance to be much of a superhero since his return to life, and he's seen what happens when the X-Men abandon Xavier's dream. The dreamer may have gone rotten, but Wolverine's willing to fight to prove the dream isn't dead.

Nightcrawler's Search For His own Path Led Him Back To Xavier's Dream As Well

Nightcrawler rose to his highest position during the Krakoa Era, joining the Quiet Council and helping govern the island. Nightcrawler worked with Legion and saved Krakoa from the threat of Onslaught. Nightcrawler again showed he was a great X-Man in the battle against the Progenitor in A.X.E. Judgment Day, using his teleporting powers to put the final pieces in place to defeat the Celestial. Nightcrawler and Legion would create a psychic paradise for the mutants on Arakko and found the Legionaries. Still, the manipulations of Mother Righteous hit the group like a ton of bricks. Nightcrawler was transformed into a demon but was restored to normal just in time for the massacre at the Hellfire Gala.

Nightcrawler took on the identity of the Uncanny Spider-Man, battling Vulture and Rhino, who were working with Orchis, and seducing the mercenary Silver Sable. Nightcrawler learned the truth about his parentage - that Mystique had turned into a man to get Destiny pregnant because of visions Destiny had that foresaw him saving the world from the predations of Azazel and the Nephilim. Nightcrawler also witnessed the effect Krakoa had firsthand on Xavier and the Quiet Council, watching as villains like Mister Sinister and Sebastian Shaw used the ideals of Krakoa against the nation. He saw the things that Xavier excused and more than anyone would want a return to the way things were. Nightcrawler has always lived the dream, and that's almost certainly why he joined the team that was still devoted to it.

Jubilee Is Ready For A Return To Prominence As A Member Of The X-Men

Jubilee played a very small role in the Krakoa Era. In Excalibur, she was pulled into the vortex of Otherworld shenanigans as her adopted son Shogo was turned into a dragon. Much like everyone else in that corner of the Krakoa Era, she was overshadowed by Captain Britain. Her only real meaty role as a citizen of Krakoa was in X-Terminators when she teamed with Boom-Boom, Dazzler, and Wolverine II to battle vampires.

Jubilee was the main character of the Uncanny X-Men portion of the Free Comic Book Day special, where she tried to return to the X-Mansion but was driven off by guards before beating on some bigots at a diner down the road. Jubilee seems to want a return to a simpler time and sees her time fighting for Xavier's dream as the time when her life had the most meaning. After seeing how the bigots treated the young mutant waitress, she decided to join the team. Jubilee hasn't been that important of a character since her heyday in the '90s; hopefully, Uncanny X-Men can change that.

Uncanny X-Men Is All About Bringing Back The Dream