It's Finally Time: The Dark X-Men Are Ready to Rise Again
There are many different iterations of the X-Men, but it has been a while since fans have seen the "Dark X-Men"; now, though Marvel has teased the return of the team, though exactly how, and exactly when the team will make a comeback, and what their roster will look like this time, all remain to be determined.
In Sentinels #5 – written by Alex Paknadel with art by Justin Mason – the precognitive Lawrence Traskpredicts that “in the future, the Dark X-Men will rise,” signaling that a new version of that team is on the way.
The original Dark X-Men debuted as part of Dark Reign, the Marvel status quo where Norman Osborn took over the United States. That team was Osborn’s answer to the regular X-Men, consisting of a combination of anti-heroes, supervillains and press-ganged mutant misfits. The original team didn’t last beyond Osborn’s tenure in Dark Reign, though the name has been used since.
Marvel Confirms That There Is A new Version Of The Dark X-Men Coming
Sentinels #5 – Written By Alex Paknadel; Art By Justin Mason; Color By Federico Blee; Lettering By Travis Lanham
There is already one candidate that could qualify as the ‘Dark X-Men’ out there; Marvel’s preview for X-Men #16 – written by Jed Mackay with art by Netho Diaz – has revealed the ‘3K X-Men’, a team put together by the mysterious villains known as 3K, who have found a way to artificially create mutants. Maybe this is the Dark X-Men team that Lawrence is referring to. If so, it’d be a little bit of a letdown just to have the title taken by a team that seems custom-made to fight the current X-Men, but not much more than that.
Maybe Doom will mirror Osborn even further by creating his own team of Dark X-Men.
Alternatively, this could also be closer to the classic Dark X-Men. Marvel's current One World Under Doom event features Doctor Doom taking over the whole world, in a move that feels very reminiscent of Dark Reign. Maybe Doom will mirror Osborn even further by creating his own team of Dark X-Men. Doom did have his own mutant team during the Fall of X status quo, so it is not out of the question. The only thing that makes this less likely is that One World Under Doom can only last so long, and no Doom team has been announced.
X-Men Fans Are On The Edge Of Their Seats Waiting For More "Dark X-Men" News
A New Incarnation Is Coming, But Readers Don't Know Who Yet
The other question is whether this new Dark X-Men team will be important enough to get their own title. The current lineup of X-Books are already cutting their first titles with the conclusion of X-Factor, X-Force, and NYX, all l so there is room for some new announcements. However, if this just turns out to be the 3K team, then there is less chance they’ll get their own book. Dark X-Men could be a big series, or it could just be a cool name within another X-Men book; readers will just have to wait and see.
Marvel's Perfect DARK X-MEN Team Unite in Genius Team Cosplay
Three of the darkest X-Men collide in a group cosplay that showcases a team that would be nigh-unstoppable, if occasionally a little immoral.
Sentinels #5 is available now from Marvel Comics.
- Movie(s)
- 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)
- First Film
- X-Men (2000)
- TV Show(s)
- 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)
- Character(s)
- Professor X, Cyclops, Iceman, Beast, Angel, Phoenix, Wolverine, Gambit, Rogue, Storm, Jubilee, Morph, Nightcrawler, Havok, Banshee, Colossus, Magneto, Psylocke, Juggernaut, Cable, X-23
- Video Game(s)
- 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)
- Comic Release Date
- 213035,212968
The X-Men franchise, created by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby, centers on mutants with extraordinary abilities. Led by the powerful telepath Professor Charles Xavier, they battle discrimination and villainous mutants threatening humanity. The series explores themes of diversity and acceptance through a blend of action, drama, and complex characters, spanning comics, animated series, and blockbuster films.
