X-Men #1 starts off with an incredible action sequence led by Storm and Cyclops. They rescue a group of mutants Orchis wants to experiment on, and bring them home. And that’s what the rest of our time with the X-Men focuses on for this issue: home. Specifically, the House of Summers, which has an incredible view of Earth, being that it’s on the moon. After the ominous tones of House of X and Powers of X, Jonathan Hickman truly makes us feel at home with X-Men #1, and it’s just what we needed.
Home, home on the moon…(Image: X-Men #1, Marvel Comics)
Hickman Swings from Serious to Heartwarming in X-Men #1
One of the biggest criticisms Hickman usually gets is that there’s no humor or emotion, but that is not a problem in X-Men #1. This is actually the most fun the X-Men have been since Jason Aaron’s Wolverine and the X-Men. For instance, young Cable and Raza comparing guns leads to this Claremont-inspired familyism:
He’s young, but isn’t Cable still like 18? Can’t he make his own choices? (Image: X-Men #1, MarvelComics)
But the best bit of humor is definitely Vulcan and Wolverine cooking steaks:
No!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! (Image: X-Men #1, Marvel Comics)
But there’s a lot more to the issue than just an action sequence and some humorous moments.
X-Men #1 Highlights Romances Blossoming on Krakoa
There are two interesting moments that hint at characters pairing up. Well, one moment and one blueprint. First, there’s a short scene between Rachel Summers, still going by Prestige, and Hepzibah of the Starjammers:
This is a family site. This is a Family site. This is a Family site…(Image: X-Men #1, Marvel Comics)
But the other moment is from one of the now beloved Hickman Documents, which he continued right into X-Men #1. And this…well, let’s see if you can spot it, and why people are freaking out:
Look really closely. (Image: X-Men #1, Marvel Comics)
See it? Well, the internet has. Jean, Cyclops, and Wolverine aren’t just living side-by-side…their rooms connect with open doorways. After decades of a love triangle and a feud, and one of Marvel’s best bromances, and then another feud, and then deaths, and then resurrections…are these three finally just diving into a polyamorous relationship? It does makes this moment from House of X #6 worthy of revisiting:
So, they are pretty touchy-feely, right? (Image: House of X #6, Marvel Comics)
Hickman Makes Magneto the X-Men Messiah He Always Wanted to Be
When the X-Men return from their mission, Cyclops and Storm are welcomed back gracefully, but when Magneto steps through the gateway? Mutants flock to him. This is the most Jesus-like we’ve seen Magneto, but it doesn’t look like it will end as badly for the Master of Magnetism as it did for the Son of Man. At first it’s a little off-putting, but it becomes kind of endearing too, as he talks to a young mutant who wants to fight humans. Magneto is finally living the life he’s always wanted to live.
Messiah of Magnetism. (Image: X-Men #1, Marvel Comics)
This is a damn good start for the new era of mutant books. Hickman doesn’t simply knock it out of the park with X-Men #1, he lets us rediscover the X-Men in a bold way.
Grade: How have Wolverine, Jean, and Cyclops not explore a polyamorous triad before?
(Featured Image: X-Men #1 cover, Marvel Comics)