There’s a lot of great conversations happening in this thread. None of us can complain that Hickman’s run has been boring. I love the diversity of opinion throughout this thread, from opinion on the story to the sales and business implications.
This is an interesting question. Is Duggan Head of X? I don’t think so.
That’s an explanation for sure.
I assume Hickman is still Head of X, but it’s interesting that what’s being sold as the new flagship title is not being written by the head writer. I keep reading speculation that Hickman will write Uncanny X-Men, and Marvel has shown us that in September they are launching a new Hickman X title.
I think what we’re seeing are gimmicks, a “relaunch” within the relaunch to goose sales, following disappointing sales (to Marvel, not actually bad sales on most X titles as measured and valued industry wide).
I’m still sticking with Hickman’s X plans for the time being. No one can say Hickman’s run has been boring. To me, it’s been way more interesting than his Avengers and Secret Wars, even though I don’t agree with the radical change in Xavier’s goals and depictions of some characters.
This is my biggest complaint, too. I hope Hickman has something up his sleeve coming to address this.
I think the mutant genocides are such a weird point Hickman has focused on for mutant nationhood.
It’s not Hickman’s fault, but instead previous writers’ fault.
The slaughter at Genosha was caused by Xavier’s evil, unborn twin, not by oppressive humans.
The “no more mutants” — which depowered mutants, it was not a genocide — was caused by Scarlet Witch, a mutant, Magneto’s daughter.
(Don’t give me that crud about how she’s not a mutant or Magneto’s daughter. We’re a retcon away from her being a mutant and a reveal away to show Magneto is her dad.)
Heck, Omega WAS an X-man (X-woman), not just a Sentinel.
Sentinels, which Hickman is continuing the depiction of Sentinels as transhumanist AI and an intelligent enemy unto themselves, have been repeatedly created and run by mutantkind, from Larry Trask to Krakoan Quiet Council member Robert Shaw.
When closely examined, the idea that mutants need Krakoa to defend from human genocides kinda falls apart.
I think Hickman should have concentrated on general prejudice against mutants rather than holding up House of M events and the Genoshan genocide as reasons to found Krakoa.
I hope this is the case, too.
Interesting point. You’re 110% right.
This is the nut of the problem with Hickman’s run. The embrace of Krakoan nationalism, the bizarre methods of reproduction by the mutant nation, Krakoa’s embrace of Hellish demons and mutant terrorists, and governance by would-be conquerors of mankind do not make me think of the Krakoans and X-Men as good guys at all. The future they offer is no better than that offered by Orchis, Omega, the Librarian, Nimrod the Lesser, Nimrod the Greater and the Titans controlling the Phalanx and Technarchy.
It’s a real problem with Hickman’s run so far and I hope he has some surprises in store.