If you click on a link and make a purchase we may receive a small commission. Read our editorial policy.
A frank explanation of why Marvel's X-Men is being revamped (and why the Krakoan era must end) from the man in charge
Marvel explains why X-Men's Krakoan era is ending after five years, and why it'd be foolish not to revamp the franchise
Popverse's top stories of the day
- Comic creators come together to explain and expose Project 2025's radical plan to reshape American politics if Donald Trump wins re-election
- Triforce Cosplay arrives at New York Comic Con with one mission: to give fans what they want
- DC launches a new webcomic vertical (literally) with DC GO!
Evolution is in the bedrock of Marvel's X-Men comics line, and that can be painful - especially if you love what it was and see what it evolves into as replacing everything you liked about it. That's arguably what is happening right now for X-Men fans, as the five-year 'Krakoan Era' is being cast aside for a linewide revamp called 'From the Ashes.'
It all begins May 4 with the Free Comic Book Day special BLood Hunt / X-Men #1 and, as that day draws closer, the countdown among fans of the current era to say goodbye to what they've loved for the past five years and say hello to an uncertain future that is potentially a nostalgic rewind to the past.
Heading up this X-Men relaunch is Marvel's longtime executive editor/senior VP of publishing Tom Brevoort, and he has become the de facto face of the change. No stranger to massive revamps, Brevoort recently spoke directly to those fans disappointed by the decision to end the five-year X-Men era conceived by Jonathan Hickman and others known as the Krakoan Age in favor of a more 'back-to-basics' approach to the franchise.
"We’re going to do a bunch of good comics, Xavi," Brevoort says in response to a fan on his Substack asking what Krakoan fans can look forward to in the revamp. "That’s the only way to attract and enthrall any readers, new or established. We’re going to make you want to read them by making you want to read them."
In answering another fan's question, Brevoort points out the cyclical nature of comics - and of fictional entertainment in general.
"Here’s the thing: in comics especially, things change, all the time," writes Brevoort on his Substack. "We move forward, we evolve situations, we play out storylines and then we do other storylines. Nothing really remains all that static for all that long, even if there is often a magnetic pull back towards some platonic ideal as to what each character is all about."
Brevoort, who worked extensively with the Krakoan Era architect Jonathan Hickman on various projects at Marvel including Avengers and Secret Wars, says that its foolish for them to consider aping to replicate what Hickman did, especially following Hickman's decision to exit the X-Men books in 2021.
"Nobody else on Earth thinks the way Hickman does, and it would be a fool’s game to even attempt it. You’re not going to outdo him that way," says the longtime Marvel editor. "Instead, we’re going to do our own thing, and count on the talent and inventiveness and commitment of our creative teams to see us through."
While Brevoort is a proponent of the change, and was part of one of Marvel's biggest ever with the transition From classic Avengers storylines to modern-day storytelling with 'Avengers: Disasssembled' in 2004.
"And I for sure understand that this is a difficult time of transition for the readers who absolutely love the Krakoa era," says Brevoort. "But to quote the Doctor (or Stephen Moffat, take your pick), 'Everything ends, and it’s always sad. But everything begins again, too, and that’s always happy. Be happy. I’ll look after everything else.'"
From one franchise about regeneration to another, its seemingly apropos - as is fandoms circling around specific eras (and Doctors) and decrying the ending of one to set about the beginning of another.
"So were Jonathan’s plans ambitious and ostentatious? Absolutely, I’d expect no less from him. Are ours? Also yes, but in a different way," says Brevoort.
Keep up to date on Popverse's Marvel coverage, with these highlights:
- Which Secret Wars comic the Russos are basing Avengers 6 off of
- How Marvel Studios is now working "much more closely" to sell Marvel comics
- Where Marvel sees its future audience (and it's not at Marvel, yet!)
- Overgrown children of the atom: Marvel's X-Men can't evolve past their '90s commercial peak
- The biggest outstanding questions of the Marvel Studios' movies & TV shows
- Marvel's accidental closure on the Kang storyline
- Phil Coulson is the heart of the MCU (and it's time it starts beating again)
- Captain America: Brave New World provides an unexpected punchline to a Marvel Studios joke Kevin Feige made in 2014.
- Robert Downey Jr. is entering his villain era
Follow Popverse for upcoming event coverage and news
Find out how we conduct our review by reading our review policy
Let Popverse be your tour guide through the wilderness of pop culture
Sign in and let us help you find your new favorite thing.
Comments
Want to join the discussion? Please activate your account first.
Visit Reedpop ID if you need to resend the confirmation email.