Marvel has plotted their narrative course for 2023. There are some standout stories sure to be produced, but one title that has intrigued fans of the X-Men the most is Fall of X. The cataclysmic event is sure to be history-making, but the comic book company are keeping their cards close to their chest.
A lot can happen in the Marvel Universe before eventually reaching Fall of X, which signifies the depth needed for this story to be fully unveiled. Regardless, there are still some details to mull over as the picture becomes clearer, with a lot of intriguing aspects to get excited about! Mutantkind is sure to never be the same again.
10 Release Dates And Production Team
Marvel has set out a detailed schedule of what to expect from this year's comic book runs. While events like Sins of Sinister have already taken place and Summer of Symbiotes are staples of the upcoming calendar, Fall of X is firmly slated as an exciting Summer edition.
The specific release date is yet to be confirmed, but it's likely to take place towards the end of summer, as one of the final events of the year. A creative team has also not been confirmed, but long-time X-Men writer Gerry Duggan appears to be on board.
9 Hellfire Gala
One of the harsh realities of working with X-Men is that they always like maintaining their control. One way they have exerted their influence on the Marvel Universe is via the annual Hellfire Gala. The ceremony sees new members of the X-Men crowned, while Marvel's most important figures assemble on Krakoa.
In one interview, writer Gerry Duggan confirmed that Fall of X will be taking place around the same time as the Hellfire Gala. Thus, the fallout of the event is sure to play a pivotal role in the narrative. This may well be the final Gala to date, with the event acting as a potential time stamp, marking the collapse of mutant authority.
8 Fallout From Recent Stories
Destiny of X was the first story to truly kick off a new era for mutantkind. However, narratives like A.X.E.: Judgment Day and Sins of Sinister, have ensured that the cracks in Krakoa have begun to form. The Krakoan Council in particular is rapidly falling apart.
Fall of X will therefore be hugely influenced by these major arcs in recentX-Men adjacent comic runs. It's important for readers to go back and enjoy those past stories, as the arc for Fall of X will have been structurally forged from the beats of those vital narratives. Sins of Sinister in particular, is a major setup for the event.
7 Could Be Referring To Professor X
Fall of X is a carefully crafted title that plays off of the classic story The Fall of the Mutants, alongside paying homage to the Density of X launch point. Right now, it is unclear what the X in the title is referring to. The assumption for the most part is that it links to the X-Men in general.
But recent Marvel events have changed some major characters for the worst. The shadowy dealing of Professor X has been such a focus of recent X-Men comics that it stands to reason that the Fall of X title is actually referring to the leader himself and his many sins. Arcs including Moira MacTaggert's narrative only support that further.
6 A War For Krakoa
Marvel has begun previewing upcoming comics that will be instrumental in the construction of Fall of X. One such tease saw the attention placed on an Invincible Iron Man issue, which details an upcoming war for mutantkind. This war that is referred to, is a direct reference to Fall of X and may well be one of the X-Men's most desperate fights.
This preview provides further clues as to what will take place. A war for Krakoa is going to be the key for the narrative, but who that war is being fought by is unclear. Some signs point to it being an internal struggle of the Council themselves, but Sins of Sinister have also portrayed the mutants as a galactic threat. What's more, humankind is another threat due to A.X.E. that may spell the X-Men's downfall.
5 Changing The Status Quo
Regardless of who wins the war, Marvel has promised one thing for Fall of X. That nothing will be the same again. The status quo rarely changes for the long term in the comic book world, but Destiny of X demonstrated that Marvel was committed to moving mutants in a new direction.
This story will be the end of that chapter. It could see the destruction of Krakoa or a new regime in charge. Regardless of how the mutants fall, what comes next is even more interesting. This story has been so long-running that it's hard to imagine the mutant empire not existing in its current state. That's an exciting hook for readers, to watch something genuinely epic and universe-changing, take place.
4 Orchis' Involvement
One of the X-Men's key enemies from recent arcs was Orchis, a human organization dedicated to the destruction of the mutants. They have posed as a significant threat on numerous occasions, and influencers like Abigail Brand have been playing both sides of the conflict.
As part of the Invincible Iron Man preview, a war with Orchis is directly mentioned. The group's plots are going to finally come to light in Fall of X, and they may be one of those parties involved in the final battle for Krakoa. Regardless of the size of their role, it's clear that Orchis will be instrumental in the story and potentially that final downfall.
3 Cross Into Every X-Book
Occasionally a crossover event will skip certain titles. That's natural considering how many plates are being spun at once. After all, a Spider-Man event might not take into account a web-head miniseries set in a slightly different era. The X-Men events of the past have proven that's not the case for this run.
From Destiny of X to A.X.E. every comic title from the mutant line has been unequivocally linked to the stories playing out. No one can escape Fall of X, and so whichever run readers are enjoying from these X-Men spinoffs, they are going to be linked in some way. The crossover event will be huge and touch on titles linked to the Marauders, X-Men Red, and X-Force.
2 Influencing Outside Titles
The Invincible Iron Man arc ensures that it won't just be X-Men titles impacted by the conflicts of Fall of X. With links to the Hellfire Gala that has a habit of turning up in alternative comic runs, it's no surprise that adjacent Marvel books will also have a part to play in the mutant warfare.
The recent mutant stories have been so entrenched in the wider universe, that Fall of X couldn't be told without an outside perspective. So many X-Men hate one another that the size of those potential battles will fall into additional stories. Wakanda's mutant links and the Avengers' uneasy alliance with the X-Men would suggest at least two other comic runs that will be organically involved.
1 MCU Implications
Mutants are going through a regeneration right around the time that they are being introduced to the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It has become a tradition that the characters on the page are reframed to match what's happening on the big screen. A recent focus on the Eternals is evidence of that, alongside the introduction of Shang-Chi's Ten Rings, in the form that they appear in the MCU.
Whatever structure the X-Men takes after Fall of X will probably be closer to what is being created on the big screen than many might expect. The truth is, if the mutants are to be popular in the MCU, audiences will turn to the comics for further reading. There must be a link there so that there is a level of continuity for newcomers. Right now, Krakoa's sprawling narrative probably needs cutting back for that purpose.