"Dawn of X" is a 2019 relaunch of the X-Men line of comic books published by Marvel Comics in the wake of the twin miniseries House of X and Powers of X and is the first phase of the Krakoan Age. This initiative culminated in the crossover event X of Swords, which was followed by a sequel relaunch named "Reign of X" in December 2020.
The story focuses on various groups of mutants living on the small island named Krakoa, which has become recognized as a sovereign nation and has increasingly grown in size.
Publication history
After Jonathan Hickman completed his run on Avengers and New Avengers with the 2015 crossover "Secret Wars", he stepped away from Marvel Comics for a time. His return was announced in March 2019. It was then revealed that he would write two interlocking miniseries called House of X and Powers of X (HOX/POX), with penciling by Pepe Larraz and R. B. Silva respectively. This miniseries also marked a company-wide relaunch of the X-Men.
The Dawn of X initiative was announced at "The Next Big Thing" panel as San Diego Comic-Con 2019. It intended to tell the story of mutantkind in a new status quo established by Hickman after the HOX/POX (July – October 2019) event concluded, with all creative teams working closely under Hickman's supervision; the X-Men brand and its place in the Marvel Universe was redefined.
Titles Prelude series Title Issues Writer Artist Colorist Debut date Conclusion date House of X #1–6 Jonathan Hickman Pepe Larraz Marte Gracia July 24, 2019 October 2, 2019 Powers of X R. B. Silva July 31, 2019 October 9, 2019
Ongoing series Title Issues Writer(s) Artist(s) Colourist(s) Debut date Conclusion date X-Men (vol. 5) #1–15 Jonathan Hickman Leinil Francis YuR.B. SilvaMatteo BuffagniMahmud Asrar Sunny GhoMarte Gracia October 16, 2019 November 25, 2020 Marauders Gerry DugganVita AyalaBenjamin Percy Matteo LolliMichele BandiniLucas WerneckMario Del PenninoStefano Caselli Federico BleeErick ArciniegaEdgar Delgado October 23, 2019 November 11, 2020 Excalibur (vol. 4) Tini Howard Marcus ToWilton SantosR. B. SilvaPhil NotoMahmud Asrar Erick ArciniegaNolan WoodardPhil NotoSunny GhoRachelle Rosenberg October 30, 2019 November 25, 2020 New Mutants (vol. 4)#1–13 Jonathan HickmanEd Brisson Rod ReisFlavianoMarco Failla Rod ReisCarlos Lopez November 6, 2019 October 14, 2020 X-Force (vol. 6)#1–14 Benjamin Percy Joshua CassaraStephen SegoviaJan BazalduaViktor Bogdanovic Dean WhiteGuru-eFXMatt Wilson November 18, 2020 Fallen Angels (vol. 2) #1–6 Bryan Edward Hill Szymon Kudranski Frank D'Armata November 13, 2019 January 29, 2020 Wolverine (vol. 7) #1–7 Benjamin Percy Adam KubertViktor BogdanovicJoshua Cassara Frank MartinMatt WilsonGuru-eFX February 19, 2020 November 11, 2020Cable (vol. 4)#1–6 Gerry Duggan Phil Noto March 11, 2020 November 18, 2020Hellions Zeb Wells Stephen SegoviaCarmen Carnero David Curiel March 25, 2020 X-Factor (vol. 4) #1–4 Leah Williams David BaldeónCarlos Gomez Israel Silva September 30, 2020
Limited series Title Issues Writer(s) Artist(s) Colorist(s) Debut date Conclusion dateX-Men/Fantastic Four#1–4Chip ZdarskyTerry DodsonKarl StoryRachel DodsonDexter VinesMike GettyLaura MartinPete PantazisAndrew CrossleyFebruary 5th, 2020July 22nd, 2020 Empyre: X-Men #1–4 Jonathan HickmanTini HowardGerry DugganBenjamin PercyLeah WilliamsVita AyalaEd BrissonZeb Wells Matteo BuffagniLucas WerneckAndrea BroccardoJorge Molina Nolan Woodard Juggernaut #1–5 Fabian Nicieza Ron Garney Matt Milla
One-shots Giant-Size X-Men
Title Writer Artist Colorist Release date Giant-Size X-Men: Jean Grey and Emma Frost Jonathan Hickman Russell Dauterman Matt Wilson February 26, 2020 Giant-Size X-Men: Nightcrawler Alan Davis Carlos Lopez March 25, 2020 Giant-Size X-Men: Magneto Ramon Perez David Curiel Giant-Size X-Men: FantomexRod Reis Giant-Size X-Men: Storm Russell Dauterman Matt Wilson Giant-Size X-Men: Tribute to Wein & Cockrum Len Wein Various
X of Swords
Title Writer Artist Colorist Release date X of Swords Handbook colspan="3" X of Swords: Creation Jonathan HickmanTini Howard Pepe Larraz Marte Gracia X of Swords: Stasis Pepe LarrazMahmud Asrar X of Swords: Destruction Pepe Larraz
Other Title Writer Artist Colorist Release date Free Comic Book Day: X-Men Jonathan Hickman Pepe Larraz Marte Gracia July 15, 2020
Release order
House of X #1 Powers of X #1 House of X #2 Powers of X #2 Powers of X #3 House of X #3 House of X #4 Powers of X #4 House of X #5 Powers of X #5 House of X #6 Powers of X #6 X-Men #1 Marauders #1 Excalibur #1 New Mutants #1 X-Force #1 Fallen Angels #1 X-Men #2 Excalibur #2 Marauders #2 New Mutants #2 X-Force #2 Fallen Angels #2 X-Men #3 Marauders #3 Excalibur #3 New Mutants #3 X-Force #3 Fallen Angels #3 Marauders #4 Excalibur #4 New Mutants #4 X-Force #4 Fallen Angels #4 X-Men #4 Marauders #5 Excalibur #5 New Mutants #5 X-Force #5 Fallen Angels #5 Marauders #6 Excalibur #6 X-Men #5 Fallen Angels #6 New Mutants #6 X-Force #6 Marauders #7 Excalibur #7 X-Force #7 X-Men #6 Marauders #8 New Mutants #7 Wolverine #1 Giant-Size X-Men: Jean Grey and Emma Frost #1 New Mutants #8 X-Force #8 X-Men #7 Excalibur #8 Marauders #9 Cable #1 New Mutants #9 X-Men #8 Excalibur #9 X-Force #9 Giant-Size X-Men: Nightcrawler #1 Hellions #1 Wolverine #2 X-Men #9 Marauders #10 Excalibur #10 New Mutants #10 X-Force #10 Free Comic Book Day: X-Men #1 Giant-Size X-Men: Magneto #1 New Mutants #11 Wolverine #3 Hellions #2 Empyre: X-Men #1 X-Factor #1 Cable #2 X-Men #10 Giant-Size X-Men: Fantomex #1 Empyre: X-Men #2 Empyre: X-Men #3 Marauders #11 X-Force #11 Empyre: X-Men #4 Excalibur #11 Wolverine #4 Cable #3 Hellions #3 X-Factor #2 X-Men #11 Cable #4 New Mutants #12 Wolverine #5 X-Force #12 X-Factor #3 Marauders #12 Hellions #4 Excalibur #12 Giant Size X-Men: Storm #1 X-Men #12 Juggernaut #1 X of Swords: Creation #1 X-Factor #4 Wolverine #6 X-Force #13 Marauders #13 Hellions #5 New Mutants #13 Cable #5 Excalibur #13 X-Men #13 X of Swords: Stasis #1 X-Men #14 Marauders #14 Marauders #15 Excalibur #14 Wolverine #7 X-Force #14 Hellions #6 Cable #6 X-Men #15 Excalibur #15 X of Swords: Destruction #1
Premise Mutants are offered asylum on the island of Krakoa, ruled by a council formed by Professor X, Magneto, and Apocalypse, among others. While several factions deal with their own issues, Moira MacTaggert warns them all about an incoming threat that may doom mutantkind and potentially the world.
Storylines Title Cast Plot X-Men Full cast list here The lead title and the primary 'anchor' of the initiative, described as a hub where all characters can freely enter and exit at any time. The lineup fluidly changes, with Cyclops being the primary constant. Marauders Full cast list here Seafaring group of rescuers who free mutants that are being prevented from entering Krakoa by their nation's government. Excalibur Full cast list here This series focuses more heavily on the mystical and fantastical side of the Marvel Universe, with a new kind of "mutant magic" being learned. New Mutants Full cast list here This relaunch of the New Mutants sees the team taking a more science fiction direction, with part of the team going into deep space, as opposed to their traditional horror roots in previous runs. X-Force Full cast list here The "Mutant C.I.A." branch of Krakoa, an intelligence agency and strike team meant to keep up with any and all possible threats to the nation and its people. Fallen Angels Full cast list here The outsiders of Krakoa, who don't belong in paradise, due to their anti-heroic pasts. Wolverine Wolverine Solo title focusing on James "Logan" Howlett, aka Wolverine, as he deals with being haunted by his old past in his new home. Giant-Size X-Men Varies Collection of one-shots focusing on different characters. The five one-shots focus on Jean Grey, Emma Frost, Magneto, Nightcrawler, Fantomex, and Storm. Cable Kid Cable First title focusing on the younger version of Cable, who is at the center of Krakoa's teenage revolution. Hellions Full cast list here Mister Sinister's new team, dedicated to turning Krakoa's worst criminals into productive members of society. X-Factor Full cast list here Investigation team dedicated to tracking deceased mutants in the world of murder and missing persons for The Five to resurrect. X-Men/Fantastic Four Fantastic Four, Franklin Richards, Professor X, Kate Pryde, Doctor Doom, X-MenThe X-Men of Krakoa and the Fantastic Four disagree over how to handle Franklin Richards's mutant identity while rescuing him from Doctor Doom. Juggernaut Juggernaut, D-Cel Juggernaut, a former member of the X-Men, is not allowed on Krakoa as he is not a mutant. He teams up with new non-mutant hero D-Cel to find himself in the face of rejection.X of Swords Varies Ten mutants will raise their swords when Krakoa faces a threat from the unknown.
Reading order
Issues marked in bold are marked as red/important in the issue list found in the back of each comic.
House of X #1 Powers of X #1 House of X #2 Powers of X #2 Powers of X #3 House of X #3 House of X #4 Powers of X #4 House of X #5 Powers of X #5 House of X #6 Powers of X #6 X-Men #1 Marauders #1 Excalibur #1 New Mutants #1–2, 5, 7 New Mutants #3–4, 6 X-Force #1 Fallen Angels #1–6 X-Men #2–3 Incoming! #1 Wolverine #1.A–3 Marauders #2–6 X-Force #2–3 Excalibur #2–6 X-Force #4–5 X-Men #4–6 X-Force #6 Marauders #7–10 X-Force #7–8 Giant-Size X-Men: Jean Grey and Emma Frost #1 Excalibur #7–8 New Mutants #8 Cable #1–4 Wolverine #4-5 New Mutants #9–12 X-Men #7–9 X-Force #9–10 Giant-Size X-Men: Nightcrawler #1 Hellions #1–4 Giant-Size X-Men: Magneto #1 Empyre: X-Men #1–4 X-Men #10–11 X-Factor #1–3 Giant-Size X-Men: Fantomex #1 Marauders #11–12 X-Force #11–12 Giant-Size X-Men: Storm #1 Excalibur #9–12 X-Men #12 X of Swords: Creation #1 X-Factor #4 Wolverine #6 X-Force #13 Marauders #13 Hellions #5 New Mutants #13 Cable #5 Excalibur #13 X-Men #13 X of Swords: Stasis #1 X-Men #14 Marauders #14–15 Excalibur #14 Wolverine #7 X-Force #14 Hellions #6 Cable #6 X-Men #15 Excalibur #15 X of Swords: Destruction #1
Collected editions