The X-Men haven’t even officially started their latest crossover event, The Age of Revelation, but Marvel is already giving teasers towards the NEXT era of the X-Men titles, which is mysteriously titled “The Shadows of Tomorrow.”
Marvel has released five teasers for X-Men series post-Age of Revelation, with three of the titles being returning titles, and the other two being brand-new solo series.
What are the five series that Marvel has released teasers for?
One of the most important revelations from these teasers is the confirmation that Marvel WILL be returning to the current numbering on its returning titles when the Age of Revelation ends. That was what happened when Marvel did a similar event back in 1994/95 with the Age of Apocalypse, but the comic book marketplace is obviously a good deal different now than it was then, and while starting over from #1 would have been unheard of then, it’s quite common now, so it’s notable that Uncanny X-Men, X-Men, and Wolverine will all continue their current numbering.
The two new titles announced are Cyclops receiving his first solo series in years (his last solo series introduced not one, but TWO future Marvel artistic superstars, Russell Dauterman and Javier Gárron), and a new Deadpool series that appears to be more tied in with the overall X-Men comic book line (for years, Deadpool’s comic book series has pretty much been its own thing, distinct from the X-Men line of books), and also suggesting a more serious vibe, titled Wade Wilson: Deadpool.
How does Shadows of Tomorrow connect to the Age of Revelation?
Marvel’s initial tease for the finale of the Age of Revelation crossover event, which is set ten years in the future, in a world where Revelation (the former X-Man, Doug Ramsey, who had become the heir to Apocalypse) has conquered the planet, suggests that as THAT storyline is wrapped up, its impact will be felt on the titles back in the present. As X-Men line editor Tom Brevoort noted, “Going into January and beyond, we’re kind of in the shadow of tomorrow, where the events going forward will all kind of live in the umbra of these events that we have just witnessed. We’ve just seen things that have happened to all these characters 10 years down the line.” He continued to explain, “As far as we’re approaching this, these are all legitimate futures. This isn’t a What If world. These things exist, as far as even the present-day characters are concerned. So, you’ll see a certain amount of reflectivity in what happens.”
That, then, appears to be the focus of the “Shadows of Tomorrow” linewide approach beginning in the new year. The question now for the X-Men titles NOT listed above, is how many of them make it back post-Age of Revelation, and what other new titles might be launching for the event, as well.
Marvel promises to reveal more details at next month’s X-Men panel at New York Comic Con.
Source: Marvel