X-Men Comics in 2025: A Mutant Mess with Glimmers of Hope

Hey there, True Believers! Today, we’re plunging headfirst into the wild, chaotic, and occasionally brilliant world of the X-Men as it stands today, February 20, 2025.

If you’ve been keeping up with the X-Universe lately, you know it’s been a rollercoaster—sometimes exhilarating, sometimes nauseating, and always impossible to look away from. The mutants have been through the wringer over the past few years, and with the “From the Ashes” era in full swing, I’ve got thoughts. A lot of them. So, grab a snack, settle in, and let’s unpack the current state of X-Men comics—where they’re stumbling, where they’re shining, and what it all means for the future of Marvel’s Merry Mutants.

The Post-Krakoa Fallout: A New Era or a Step Back?

Let’s start with the elephant in the room: Krakoa is gone, and I’m still not over it. The Krakoan Age, kicked off by Jonathan Hickman back in 2019 with House of X and Powers of X, was a seismic shift for the X-Men. It gave us a bold, ambitious vision—mutants as a sovereign nation, a culture unto themselves, and a narrative that dared to break from decades of rinse-and-repeat “hated and feared” storylines. For a while, it felt like the X-Men were finally evolving, both figuratively and literally, into something new. But as of mid-2024, with the “Fall of X” wrapping up and the “From the Ashes” relaunch taking over, that era’s officially ash. And I’ve got mixed feelings about what’s replaced it.

The premise of “From the Ashes” is simple: Krakoa’s fallen, the mutants are scattered, and the X-Men are back to being fragmented teams fighting for survival in a world that still kinda hates them. It’s a deliberate pivot, helmed by new X-editor extraordinaire Tom Brevoort, who’s made it clear he wants to cater to every flavor of X-fan—old-school purists, Krakoa converts, and newbies alike. On paper, that sounds great. In execution? Well, it’s a bit of a mess so far, and I’m not entirely sold on the direction.

The big three flagship titles—X-Men by Jed MacKay and Ryan Stegman, Uncanny X-Men by Gail Simone and David Marquez, and Exceptional X-Men by Eve L. Ewing and Carmen Carnero—launched in July 2024, and they’re the backbone of this new era. Each book’s got its own vibe, which I’ll dig into shortly, but the overarching vibe feels… familiar. Too familiar. After years of Krakoa’s bold experimentation, we’re back to mutants on the run, hiding out in Alaska or New Orleans or wherever, battling Sentinels and bigots. It’s not a reboot, per se—Krakoa’s legacy lingers like a ghost—but it’s hard not to feel like we’ve taken two steps back into the ’90s, complete with nostalgia bait and a fractured status quo that’s starting to wear thin.

The Big Three: Hits and Misses

Let’s break down the main titles, because they’re where the rubber meets the road. First up, X-Men. Jed MacKay’s steering the ship with Cyclops leading a ragtag crew—Beast, Magneto, Psylocke, Kid Omega, Temper, Magik, and Juggernaut—out of a new base in Alaska. The art by Ryan Stegman is kinetic and gorgeous, and MacKay’s got a knack for snappy dialogue and big, bombastic action. The premise is mutant defiance in a post-Krakoa world, and there’s a scrappy, underdog energy I can get behind. But here’s my beef: it’s too safe. Cyclops is brooding, Magneto’s morally gray, and the team’s fighting shadowy new threats that feel like Orchis lite. It’s fun, don’t get me wrong—I tore through the first few issues—but it’s missing that spark of originality that made Krakoa so electrifying. It’s like Marvel said, “Let’s do the classics, but with a twist,” and forgot the twist.

Then there’s Uncanny X-Men, where Gail Simone’s finally getting her shot at an ongoing X-title, paired with David Marquez’s jaw-dropping pencils. Rogue’s the reluctant leader here, rallying Gambit, Wolverine, Jubilee, and Nightcrawler in New Orleans. I’ll give props where they’re due: Simone’s love for these characters shines through. Her Rogue is a badass with heart, and the team dynamics are warm and lived-in, like a mutant family reunion. The book’s got a grounded, street-level feel that contrasts nicely with the cosmic stakes of other titles. But—and it’s a big but—the pacing’s been sluggish. Seven issues in, and we’re still setting up the “malignant power” hunting mutants. I get it, Simone’s building to something, but after Krakoa’s relentless momentum, this feels like it’s dragging its feet. Still, the character work’s a highlight, and I’m rooting for it to find its groove.

Finally, Exceptional X-Men from Eve L. Ewing and Carmen Carnero. This one’s the wildcard, focusing on a younger squad—Bronze, Axo, and Melee—mentored by Kate Pryde and Emma Frost. It’s got a fresh, teen-drama vibe that’s clearly gunning for new readers, and I respect the hustle. Ewing’s voice is sharp and modern, and Carnero’s art brings a dynamic flair to every page. The problem? It feels disconnected from the broader X-Universe. While X-Men and Uncanny wrestle with Krakoa’s fallout, Exceptional is off in its own bubble, training the next generation. It’s not bad—honestly, it’s one of the stronger debuts—but it’s hard to shake the sense that it’s a side dish, not part of the main course.

The Solo Acts and Spinoffs: A Mixed Bag

Beyond the big three, the X-Universe is sprawling with solo books and spinoffs, and it’s a mixed bag of brilliance and bafflement. Wolverine by Saladin Ahmed and Martín Morazzo is a standout—Logan’s on his own, claws out, facing Omega Red’s creepy descendants and a mysterious new foe tied to his past. It’s gritty, introspective, and doesn’t pull punches, which is exactly what a Wolverine book should be. Ahmed’s take is less quippy than recent runs, leaning into Logan’s loner roots, and Morazzo’s art is hauntingly perfect. If you’re only picking up one X-title, this might be it.

Phoenix, with Stephanie Phillips and Alessandro Miracolo, takes Jean Grey cosmic, and I’m here for it. Jean’s fully embraced the Phoenix Force, zipping around space saving lives and wrestling with her power’s darker side. It’s a bold swing, and Phillips nails Jean’s inner conflict while tossing her into wild sci-fi scraps—Thanos and the Galactic Council, anyone? It’s not perfect—the stakes feel a bit detached from Earth’s mutant struggles—but it’s a refreshing change of pace.

On the flip side, Dazzler by Jason Loo and Rafael Loureiro wrapped its four-issue mini in December 2024, and I’m still scratching my head. Alison Blaire’s world tour was a cool concept—mutant pop star under siege!—but the execution was flat. The villains were forgettable, and the big reveal about a traitor in her band fell short of the emotional punch it aimed for. It’s a shame, because Dazzler deserves better than a half-baked spotlight.

Storm by Murewa Ayodele and Lucas Werneck is another gem, though. Ororo’s out there protecting the universe from gods and machines, and it’s glorious. The art’s stunning—Werneck’s Storm is a queen—and Ayodele’s giving her the epic scope she’s long deserved. Plus, Storm: Lifedream, an anthology celebrating her 50-year legacy, just dropped, and it’s a love letter to one of Marvel’s best. If you’re a Storm fan, you’re eating good right now.

The Bigger Picture: Where’s the Cohesion?

Here’s my biggest gripe with the current X-Universe: it’s all over the place. Brevoort’s said the lack of a unifying concept is intentional—each book’s a different flavor for a different fan—but it’s starting to feel like a weakness. Krakoa gave us a throughline, a shared purpose that tied everything together, even when it got messy. Now? X-Men is fighting in Alaska, Uncanny is chilling in New Orleans, Phoenix is in space, and Exceptional is training kids in Chicago. It’s not a team—it’s a diaspora. And while I get the appeal of variety, it’s hard to invest in a grand narrative when there isn’t one.

The “Raid on Greymalkin” crossover between X-Men and Uncanny—which started in late 2024—tried to bridge that gap, pitting Cyclops and Rogue’s teams against each other over a mutant prison. It’s a solid “Civil War”-style dust-up, and the art’s been a treat, but it’s not enough to glue this era together. Word on the street (and by street, I mean Bleeding Cool and Marvel’s teasers) is that a big X-event’s coming in October 2025—something called “XVX: X-Men vs. X-Men”—and I’m cautiously optimistic. If it’s a mutant throwdown with real stakes, it could be the shot in the arm this era needs. But if it’s just another cash-grab crossover, I’ll be rolling my eyes harder than Logan at a team meeting.

The Good Stuff: What’s Working

Okay, I’ve been griping a lot, but there’s plenty to love. The creative teams are top-notch—Simone, MacKay, Ewing, Ahmed, Phillips, Ayodele—it’s a murderer’s row of talent. The art across the board is phenomenal; Stegman, Marquez, Carnero, Morazzo, Miracolo, Werneck—they’re all bringing their A-game. And the character focus is a big win. After Krakoa’s sprawling ensemble, it’s nice to zoom in on Rogue, Jean, Storm, and Logan with real depth. The solo books, especially, feel like they’re carving out new territory, even if the team titles are playing it safer.

I also dig how “From the Ashes” isn’t erasing Krakoa. It’s not a clean slate—mutants are still reeling, and that trauma’s woven into the stories. Whether it’s Emma Frost mentoring kids in Exceptional or Beast’s lingering guilt in X-Men, the past matters. It’s a smart move, honoring what came before while (hopefully) building toward something new.

The MCU Shadow and the Future

Let’s talk about the elephant in the multiverse: the MCU. With the X-Men finally joining the cinematic fold—Deadpool & Wolverine killed it last summer, and X-Men ’97 is still a banger on Disney+—you can feel Marvel Comics aligning the stars. The “From the Ashes” push for accessibility, the return to classic team dynamics, the focus on big names like Cyclops and Wolverine—it’s all screaming “MCU synergy.” And I’m torn. On one hand, I want new fans to jump in and love these characters like I do. On the other, I’m wary of the comics bending too far to match the movies. Krakoa proved the X-Men can thrive without pandering—here’s hoping “XVX” and whatever’s next don’t trade that edge for mass appeal.

So, where’s the X-Universe headed? The Timeslide #1 one-shot from December 2024 teased some wild 2025 stuff—Bishop and Cable time-hopping, a “3K Gene Bomb” from Cassandra Nova’s crew, and that “XVX” slugfest. It’s got potential to shake things up, but I’m keeping my expectations in check. The X-Men deserve a bold future, not a retread of past glories.

Final Thoughts: A Mutant Midlife Crisis?

As I sit here typing this on February 20, 2025, I can’t help but see the X-Men in a bit of a midlife crisis. “From the Ashes” is a solid relaunch with flashes of greatness—Wolverine, Phoenix, and Storm are must-reads, and the big three have their moments—but it’s not hitting the highs of Krakoa yet. The lack of cohesion, the safe bets, the nostalgia lean—it’s all holding it back from true excellence. But it’s early days, and there’s promise simmering beneath the surface. If Marvel can lean into the weird, embrace the chaos, and give us a real unifying vision, the X-Men could soar again.

What do you think, X-fanatics? Are you vibing with “From the Ashes,” or are you missing Krakoa too? Drop your thoughts below—I’m dying to hear ’em.