The mutant heroes of the X-Men are undergoing a surprise genre shift, as Marvel confirms an ongoing transformation for their adventures. Here’s everything you need to know, and how long the change is likely to last.
Superheroes are famously genre-fluid, with even A-list characters varying between sci-fi, fantasy, crime and kitchen sink stories. However, the X-Men are particularly malleable, partly thanks to their huge cast of characters. Even just in their membership, the X-Men boast mystics, aliens, robots and reality-warpers.
It’s thanks to one of the latter that the X-Men have just made the move into the ‘Isekai’ or ‘Portal Fantasy’ genre, with several major characters stranded in a ‘Sword and Sorcery’ world reminiscent of classic Dungeons and Dragons.
X-Men Embraces ‘Portal Fantasy’ for New Arc
In the recent X-Men United #4 (Eve L. Ewing, Tiago Palma, Brian Reber and Joe Sabino), the leaders of new mutant school Graymatter Lane go on a team-building retreat. Iceman and reality-warper Ben Liu concoct a fantasy world where the teaching staff are reimagined as rangers, bards and more. After bartering in a fantasy market and defeating a Cave Monster, the team realize they’re trapped in this new reality.
‘Portal fantasy’ is a subgenre of fantasy defined by the characters traveling to and becoming trapped in an alternate world. This type of story is ancient, but has received increased awareness since 2012’s Sword Art Online anime popularized a more formal perception of what makes for an ‘Isekai’ story.
A preview for X-Men United #5 confirms the X-Men’s adventures in this fantasy world will continue, with mutant student Deathdream passing through a literal portal.
While the X-Men’s new fantasy world appears to be a combination of telepathic vision and warped reality, solicit information for the next issue suggests this world has been hijacked by ultra-powerful telepath the Shadow King, aka Professor X’s old nemesis Amahl Farouk.
Farouk was last seen embarking on a mission of redemption during X-Men‘s Krakoan era, having finally been freed from the control of the cosmic force of evil known as the Shadow King. Sadly, it seems he’s back to his villain role, and trapping the X-Men in a stereotypical fantasy world – all but Deathdream, who will return to the real world to try and get help.
How Long Will X-Men’s Isekai Era Last?
It’s clear that X-Men United #5 will continue this Isekai arc. The summary for issue #6 states “A malevolent spirit has entered Graymatter Lane, turning friends into foes and allies into enemies,” while issue #7’s summary reads “As things are still a mess in their own backyard, the X-Men are called upon to be guns for hire once again.”
This suggests the fantasy world will continue to be a story element for the next couple of issues, with Marvel’s preview of X-Men United #5 implying the other teachers have been sucked into the same realm and will appear in their own fantasy guises.
However, it’s arguable that – since Graymatter Lane exists on a psychic plane – the entirety of X-Men United is at least partially a Portal Fantasy story. Detractors would argue that since the teachers and students can leave, it doesn’t quite meet the standard, but it’s worth remembering that the real world is intensely hostile to mutants, and Graymatter Lane is the one reliable safe haven for young mutants.
X-Men’s Isekai Move Comes with Some Awesome Costumes
Along with X-Men’s journey into a fantasy world, some of the franchise’s most iconic heroes have undergone awesome transformations. New costumes include a bard-esque redesign for Emma Frost and a hooded, bow-wielding Cyclops. Notably, Iceman imagines himself as a wizard – a seeming reference to his potential future transformation into the mage-like Ice Master.
Meanwhile, Cyclops can now unleash his optic blasts via a special bow, giving him even more control over his powers. Hopefully, as this Isekai X-Men arc continues, other iconic characters will get fantasy twists on their powers/costumes.
X-Men United #4 is available now from Marvel Comics, with #5 coming July 1.
- Movie(s)
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X-Men (2000), X2, X-Men: The Last Stand (2006), X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009), X-Men: First Class (2011), The Wolverine (2013), X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014), Deadpool (2016), X-Men: Apocalypse (2016), Logan (2017), Deadpool 2 (2018), Dark Phoenix (2019), The New Mutants, Deadpool & Wolverine (2024)
- TV Show(s)
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X-Men: Pryde of the X-Men, X-Men (1992), X-Men: Evolution (2000), Wolverine and the X-Men (2008), Marvel Anime: Wolverine, Marvel Anime: X-Men, Legion (2017), The Gifted (2017), X-Men ’97 (2024)
- Video Game(s)
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X-Men: Children of the Atom (1994), Marvel Super Heroes (1995), X-Men vs. Street Fighter (1996), Marvel Super Heroes vs. Street Fighter (1997), Marvel vs. Capcom (1998), X-Men: Mutant Academy (2000), Marvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes (2000), X-Men: Mutant Academy 2 (2001), X-Men: Next Dimension (2002), Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds (2011), Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 (2011), X-Men Legends (2005), X-Men Legends 2: Rise of Apocalypse (2005), X2: Wolverine’s Revenge (2003), X-Men (1993), X-Men 2: Clone Wars (1995), X-Men: Mutant Apocalypse (1994)
- First Film
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X-Men (2000)
- Character(s)
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Professor X, Cyclops, Iceman, Beast, Angel, Phoenix, Wolverine, Gambit, Rogue, Storm, Jubilee, Morph, Nightcrawler, Havok, Banshee, Colossus, Magneto, Psylocke, Juggernaut, Cable, X-23
- Comic Release Date
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213035,212968