House of X - 01 Or How the mutants got their groove back *spoilers*

[Steroid]

Loved the issue and the new status quo for the X-Men. Hickman has opened up a world of possibilities and I have to say absolutely delivered on the hype. 10/10 for me for sure.

[Knives]

Seriously 10/10.

It is possible that we will finally have a change in the status quo for a while before we go back to the extinction stories.

The biggest break for sure is the change in attitude of Xavier and the X-men. In other words the dream of coexistence has not died but is in the background.

And honestly it could not be any different after all that mutants have spent in recent years being almost extinct on numerous occasions is it natural to prioritize their survival than a dream that seems impossible in the current situation.

And honestly it is something that is reflected in real life with issues involving immigration and an increase in conservative values and protectionism ideals.

Some may find this an offense to the original X-men premise but I would say it is a logical step. Creating a culture, a country and a language as well as having recognition from other countries is absolutely necessary for a people to exist.

Of course this leads to other problems that we know well after all mankind is already preparing for the supposed inevitable war with the mutants after Xavier's message. And of course they make the same mistake that make stories like Days of Future Past possible.

I can understand why Xavier and the X-men need villains or antiheroes to do the dirty work so they may have a plausible denial but inevitably we know that one day they will regret this. One of these villains will stab them in the back for sure putting the whole plan at risk .

My biggest problem is with the prediction that humans were extinct in 20 years that doesn't seem right at all. At best it would take a few hundred years.


It's a new start and for now it sounds great guys.

[stormstan]

I loved it! I definitely see Krakoa not being what it is supposed to be especially with a tumor in it. Can’t wait for power of x!

[Anduinel]

I think this new status quo will be around for a while. Mutants still fighting for their rights but now from a much stronger position of strength

Yes, exactly. And for once it seems like we're getting the notion of a mutant nation from someone who's put thought into the very basics of what that would need to actually succeed: the ability to defend themselves and product to export. And in this case, highly desirable exports. That alone is going to turn things on their ear a bit.

There was a poster in the discussion thread who mused that the X-Men were almost coming across as bullies, and I disagree with that. What we're seeing is the X-Men operating from a never-before-seen position where they have enough support that they no longer need to indulge in appeasement politics. There's no more mutants having to stand by while non-mutants decide if they have a right to exist. No more mutant rights being legislated away. No more "we're just like you, please don't throw us in camps". No more treating a mutant's right to simply live as a subject of debate. They're able to negotiate from equal ground for a change. It'll be interesting to see how that new status quo is received, in-universe and by the audience.

I think House of X and Powers of X will be mainly world building, feels like several protagonists and a lot of cameos. Then the individual series will play in the sandbox constructed here. At any rate they do cover a lot of ground here.
I expect the trade will be awesome to read.

That's what I'm thinking, and why I'm more interested in Waves 1 and 2 than in HoX/PoX. I want to see some creative teams go nuts with the new story premises they've been handed.

[Punch Dimension.]

An obvious 10/10. Absolutely delivered on the hype. His Magneto is perfect and the last line gave me chills.

[davetvs]

I absolutely loved this. Especially after the trash that was the last few major X-runs. So excited to watch it all unfold.

[Jesse-James]

The first story of the all new X-men was their fight against Krakoa. And it is in Krakoa that this new era opens. And it is a new era, if Marvel has the intention to back what Hickman is doing when he leaves.

We open with Xavier, his portable cerebro helmet on, in a vegetal chamber. Several people emerge from pods the plant is generating. “To me my X-men” says Xavier. These are dead mutants, and Krakoa has grown them new bodies. It is not clear if Xavier is giving them their memories back, or if Krakoa had them stored somehow. This is not explained, but it opens a lot of incredible questions. What is Krakoa? Could it have always been a manifestation of the mutant communal mind? A mutant collective unconcious, if you will?. This actually has old roots in the Marvel Universe, what with the Uni mind.

Then we start a sequence. Colossus picks up a flower in Krakoa, Storm carries it to Westchester. Nightcrawler plants it in the Moon, Armor in Mars, Kitty in Washington, Beast in the Savage land… and the Cuckoos, the full ensemble, with Esme and Sophie back, in Jerusalem.

The flowers are one of several boons Krakoa has offered to mutantkind, as a chart helpfully explains us. They can be used to grow “habitats” which act as embassies around the world, and gateways that link two places. Being a mutant or being with one of them is required for the portals to work, as Krakoa is sentient and can tell the difference. The network hub is in the original location of the island who walks, in the middle of the Pacific. And it is here where the new mutant nation has settled.

Back in Jerusalem the Cuckoos greet several UN representatives and ambassadors. Hate writing that word. They are here to discuss the offer Xavier has made to humanity in the name of mutantkind. Two miracle drugs, produced also from Krakoa. One extends the human lifespan for five years, the other is a mutant antibiotic. What he asked in return, was amnesty for all mutants and the other nations to recognize them as one. The world is divided on the issue, as it is an offer each country must accept or refuse on its own. The group expects to see Xavier, but Magneto is there instead in his new rol as an ambassador.

We switch to Westchester, where Jean Grey and Banshee are moving a new group of mutants to Krakoa. Which feels like home. Wolverine is playing with some random kids, and Jean tears up a bit when Xavier welcomes her home. Watching them all we find Cypher, with an unexplained Warlock arm, and Sage. We are told Cypher has created a language with Krakoa.

Of course, humanity is not watching this sitting on its collective hands. We learn of the existence of the Orchid Protocol. An initiative funded with the black funds of countries around the world, and where each big spy group has a finger (STRIKE, SHIELD, AIM…). They were watching mutant activity with three points of concern: Population, Finances and Territory. They did not expect mutantkind to recover after Genosha, but the number of active mutants has being growing exponentially since. Xavier buying a big pharma company and the apparition of Krakoa Island nation has scared them into action. They have a nasty surprise waiting for the X-men orbiting around the sun, and they seem to have Karima Shapandar under their thrall.

We switch again to Mystique, Creed and Toad (who is now a hacker!) stealing something from the Damage Control offices. It is there where all the recovered technology from Stark and Richard is stored. The implication is that they are acting on behalf of Krakoa, and Sabretooth has no trouble with killing some guards along the way. When they are on they way out, they are intercepted by the fantastic four. A brief fight ensues, and the mutants flee to the Washington gateway to Krakoa -As Richards expected, which is subtly disquieting-. There Mystique and Toad flee through the portal, but Creed cannot go thought. At first it seems Krakoa rejected him, but it is actually the invisible woman. Out of the Gateway comes Cyclops, and he chats casually with the four before demanding Sabretooth back, eluding to the Amnesty.

This is a bit weird, because the Amnesty is not yet in place, and even if it were, an Amnesty does not mean carte blanche forever, just the pardon of past crimes. Unless this one does, I guess.

After a bit of back and forth, Cyclops agrees to leave Sabes to them. He will retrieve him later, by other means. He leaves, not without making two statements. One, mutants are done with being hated and feared. Enough is enough, and now they have their own home and their own terms. Two, Franklin is welcome whenever he decides to join is (mutant) family in Krakoa. His human family is conflicted and concerned.

We close with Magneto, Mindee and the UN group. This sequence is great through all the comic. Magneto explains them that mutants are creating their own culture, with their own language telepathically imprinted on them. Humans are not welcome in Krakoa. Mindee discovers that all the “ambassadors” are actually spies from one interest or the other. A brief confrontation with one of them ensues, but Magneto expected something like that. The comic closes with Magneto message for humanity, delivered in Jerusalem for extra resonance. “You have new gods now”.

The art on this is stellar. The artist has a blast with Magneto, which feels like a force of nature. It all feels believable, and real. Even the big ass space station orbiting the sun.

But! Of course the important stuff here are all the changes. Right of the bat.

Can mutants even die anymore? If Krakoa is storing their minds when they “die” they could come back from anything. This reminds me a bit to the Cylons in Battlestar Galactica. Hopefully there will be some limits to this. In BSG the Cylons had to be close to one of their “Relays” (space stations that acted like the cloud, but for minds) for it to work. But given that Vulcan, who died in Shi’ar space is also back, that does not seem to be problem here.

The boons of Krakoa. Among the flowers of Krakoa there is one that produces “no place”. Somewhere outside the conscience of the island, a tumor in Krakoa. Ominous. If Krakoa reflects the mutant mind, what does this mean?

A new classification for Omegas that finally makes sense.

The mutants are now a force to reckon with in the planet. This can work as a setting, as Black Panther has been doing this for years with Wakanda.

An idea present with Morrison comes back: Science expects mutants to replace humanity within twenty years. This feels a bit like the time in Ultimate X-men were the mutants were building their own homeland. But this feels bigger and bolder than both. Mutants are no longer worried with or about humans, and are trying to see how far they can go.

I am tired of writing and this is already a mega review! Is this new era here to stay? Will Marvel burn Krakoa in ten years? Who knows! But this looks like is going to be an amazing run. We will have to pray to our mutant gods.
(Sorry about the probably numerous grammatical faults.)

Ops, thanks mod, I should have definetly added the spoilers thing.

Summarizing characters who appeared;
Krakoa, Xavier, Colossus, Storm, Nightcrawler, Armor, Kitty, Beast, Cuckoos (5 as 1), Jean, Cyclops, Wolverine, Banshee, Sage, Cypher, Mystique, Sabretooth, Toad, Omega Sentinel (we think) and Magneto. Did I miss anyone?

[KusaSan_Snd]

Great Issue indeed. I do think it's important to add that

spoilers:

At the beggining, it's Jean and Cyclops who is seen emerging from the pod. It's quite important since it implied that it's a sort of reboot for them and the mutants. And it's probably linked to Xavier and Krakoa

end of spoilers

[pandafarmer]

We open with Xavier, his portable cerebro helmet on, in a vegetal chamber. Several people emerge from pods the plant is generating. “To me my X-men” says Xavier. These are dead mutants, and Krakoa has grown them new bodies. It is not clear if Xavier is giving them their memories back, or if Krakoa had them stored somehow. This is not explained, but it opens a lot of incredible questions. What is Krakoa? Could it have always been a manifestation of the mutant communal mind? A mutant collective unconcious, if you will?. This actually has old roots in the Marvel Universe, what with the Uni mind.

I would argue that this isn't 100% clear that these are "dead mutants" in the pods. It's also been speculated that every mutant has to go through the "rebirthing" process in order to be able to access Krakoa possibly. The resemblance to Scott and Jean here is noticeable. Also would help give a root to how Krakoa "knows" who is all going through the portals, it's bonded with each mutant in some way.

[KusaSan_Snd]

I would argue that this isn't 100% clear that these are "dead mutants" in the pods. It's also been speculated that every mutant has to go through the "rebirthing" process in order to be able to access Krakoa possibly. The resemblance to Scott and Jean here is noticeable. Also would help give a root to how Krakoa "knows" who is all going through the portals, it's bonded with each mutant in some way.

It is Scott and Jean. Don't forget that just after that you have whole page about Collossus and other planting flower and writing such as "Five mioth ago etc..."which heavly implied that the first page was at the very beginning of the birth of XavieRoa (and the fact that Xavier is all alone in the first page)

[pandafarmer]

That is what I am thinking. Single issues will be frustrating. I know something probably is going to change the way this book is read, not just because Hickman advertised the two series that way, but because so much of this story is intentionally out of place that something else has to be going on. I suspect that as an overall story I will likely rate it higher than I do most individual issues.

That's just how Hickman works. There is something to be said for big reveals, but there will be plenty of head scratching and "WTF" moments until that happens.

[Mister Mets]

So has the metaphor for mutants changed from minority groups to Silicon Valley billionaires?

[raidensix]

A few thoughts:
- Curious as to Charles and Scott's reunion.
- Why did Xavier copy Maker's style with wearing a helmet
- Who are those goo-people? Is Charles hiding another big secret?

[chief12d]

10/10. Great setup, he got all the voices right and the art was sublime.

I wonder how T'Challa will feel about this. Mutants are doing what Wakanda has been doing with the possibility of doing it even better given their powers and their resources.

Funny enough, back in the 70's T'Challa invented something rather similar to the Krakoa network, the Techno-Organic Jungle. Not much was done with it, but theoretically speaking I think Wakanda and quite a few other superpowered nations could have thought this up and seen a huge jump in their power. But as far as T'Challa's concerned about the rise of mutants, it probably depends on the scope of what the X-Men's goals are. It's clear that they're pining for as many mutants as possible, seeing as they're apparently aiming for Franklin. Does their mandate also extend to sovereign nations, especially secretive ones like Wakanda, Atlantis, and Latveria?

There's a potential conflict down the road waiting to happen. Especially given that Storm and T'Challa are dating again so it'll be interesting to see how the writers reconcile that (if at all). It's another great way of connecting to the broader MU and seeing the fallout of the Krakoa's growth. What's also really interesting is to see how long this lasts. There seems to be some sort of tumor in Krakoa so will it potentially be activated by the end of HOX/POX? Lots of cool ideas were floated and this is definitely a new evolution for the X-Men.

[hawkeyefan]

I agree with the general consensus that this was really good. It was definitely almost pure worldbuilding and set up, but what characterization there was seemed fitting. Magneto was imperious and arrogant, Cyclops was devoted, Jean was nurturing, the FF were concerned. It all fit and I’m looking forward to where things are headed.

The highlights for me:

- Cyclops’s dialogue with the FF was great. Seemed very fitting, and his comment about Franklin was great.

- The pharmaceutical angle, and Xavier’s offer to the world. I like that there’s an actual diplomatic plan of some kind rather than just “we’re our own country”. It gives them strong leverage as they mention in the issue.

- I like the flipped situation. Mankind is now confirmed (if the info we saw is reliable) to be endangered due to this plan of Xavier’s. It’s taken the idea of extinction that’s been beat to death in the X-Books for the past 15 years or so and flips it. It’s hard not to understand the Human POV presented by the Orchis characters given that not long ago the mutants were in that position and were portrayed as protagonists. There doesn’t seem to be an easy answer here.

- The fact that Xavier is willing to have Magneto speak on his behalf seems very telling in and of itself. That’s the face you want to present? The results were great though. The closing speech by Magneto was fantastic.

- So amnesty no matter what? And sending killers like Mystique and Creed to steal information seems questionable. In one way, I could see it if it was a matter of plausible deniability. But when Creed’s caught by the FF, Cyclops immediately arrives to negotiate. So were Mystique and the others simply seeking asylum or were they acting on behalf of Xavier and Krakoa? Seems the latter is more likely. The acceptance and inclusion of all mutants no matter their history or actions is a really gray area that evokes ideas about covert military action employed by nations in the real world.

- All the things that are merely hinted at, and all the possible implications of what we’ve seen. What exactly is going on in the opening scene? When does that take place? We have some ideas, but I’m anxious to know for sure.

- Orchis seems an interesting potential foe. We don’t get a strong sense of the individuals, but they all at least seem to come from different organizations, so I think we can expect a more nuanced take rather than them being some monolithic threat where every member shares the same exact views. It certainly seems that Dr. Gregor at least was sympathetic to the mutant plight at one point. Hopefully, nuanced approach continues and it doesn’t devolve into the usual “die mutie scum” crap we’ve seen again and again and again.

It’s a great start and I can’t wait to see where it goes from here. First time in a really long time that I’m excited for the X-Men, and that’s awesome.