Gail Simone is Changing the X-Men Game and it Needs to be Talked About

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From the Ashes

Marvel Comics just released the 35th issue of The Uncanny X-Men written by Gail Simone and within the timeframe of the 35 issues, Simone has been firing on all cylinders. The From the Ashes era officially kicked off in June of 2024, and ever since then, there’s been so much happening in the X-Men corner of Marvel Comics. We’ve gotten new teams, new characters, new stories, and new creators taking the reigns of these iconic characters we all grew up reading. After the fall of Krakoa, there was no clear idea what was next for the mutants of Marvel, so when we saw what was to come in the From the Ashes lineup, we all had our own thoughts and ideas as to what to expect. A few things I expected were some characters to pick up right where they were at from before the fall of Krakoa, some characters to be absent and do their own thing, and to see new teams and dynamics. Of course, change is a hard thing to go through, especially when you’ve been reading the X-Men as long as some of us. However, change is also welcomed as time goes on. These stories need to feel fresh. These characters need new stories. The Marvel World needs to keep turning. Enter The Uncanny X-Men by Gail Simone.

Starting off with a sense of security with characters we know and love, we start with Rogue, Gambit, and Wolverine. Extremely prevalent characters to the X-Men world and ones that we know will always deliver when it comes to their stories. Things felt different but still felt comfortable as we have three of our favorites back. Gail starts this on an interesting note making Rogue the new leader of this division of the X-Men. This isn’t the first time that Rogue has been the leader of a team of X-Men, but it is the time that makes the most sense. Back in X-Men Vol. 2 #103, Rogue was made team leader but she was unpredictable and erratic, which had a direct impact on the team’s wellbeing. This time around in The Uncanny X-Men, Rogue is sensible, quick on her feet, and cares fiercely for anyone on her team. Rogue’s leadership qualities shine brightly in this run, making the team feel more like a family then a group of mutants living together to fight crime. Rogue made this team her own and made the foundation built off love and respect. With the X-Men being split into two sanctions, with Cyclops running the Alaska branch while Rogue handles the Louisiana X-Men, it’s been incredible to see what a team can look like when its ran by someone with an extreme amount of love.

The New Recruits

That rings especially true when we get introduced to The Outliers. This group of kid mutants named Jitter, Deathdream, Ransom, and Calico start off on very mysterious terms. We don’t learn about their backstories until a little later, and as is the mutant way, these poor kids have been through it. What took me by surprise was how well these characters were written to the point that, despite my favorite X-Men all being in one place and on one team and in nearly every issue, The Outliers were what I looked forward to the most. These young mutants have come from such different backgrounds with different stories and come prepared with extremely different mutant powers, and I find myself hanging on to every single word written about them. They fit into the Louisiana X-Men’s team like missing puzzle pieces. Not only are they the newest members, but Simone paired each with their own mentor in the beginning. Seeing Wolverine take Ransom under his wing and see the young mutant truly depend on Wolverine for guidance and support is all the example you need to see how well Simone can write chemistry. The Outliers become an important part of the team and become New Mutants themselves.

Outside of The Outliers/New Mutants, this comic run has so many characters that come and go, and each bring something new to the story. For example, currently in the run, we have Monet St. Croix and Quicksilver watching over the Louisiana X-Men while Rogue and Gambit are on a journey to cure Gambit of his demonic possession. M and Quicksilver aren’t used to kids and have had to make changes to themselves to be able to properly communicate as Rogue would have through love and respect in order to make themselves at home in Louisiana. This has been wonderful to see as Monet and Quicksilver have always been more serious of characters, so the growth is obvious.

Heartstrings Pulled

Whether it’s raiding Graymalkin Prison to aliens invading earth during a high school dance, each arc has been widely different. Something I love so much about the different arcs is how “comic-booky” they are. They’re not based on drama, they’re not fully based on emotions, they’re based on circumstances. They’re weird with their unique stoylines and ability to never let the reader know their next move. Each arc tests the characters and changes them in ways that is imperative for the character’s growth. The ones that come to mind first when thinking of strongest arcs has to do with The Outliers and their backgrounds. Ransom’s pulled at your heartstrings immediately and allowed the reader to see the mutant in a whole new light. His anger was explained. His standoffishness made sense. And his willingness to accept support and care from Wolverine had a huge emotional impact on the story and the readers. That’s what Gail Simone does. She makes you become emotionally invested in these characters and has you hanging on to every arc.

As incredible as the writing has been, you can’t sing praises to this comic run and not mention the artists. With superstar artists like Luciano Vecchio, David Marquez, Javier Garron, Matthew Wilson, and Clayton Cowles being the most frequent artists to grace the comics with their presence, you’re basically guaranteed to have a feast for the eyes in each issue. The line work, the colors, the lettering, all of it is knocked out of the park every single issue and that’s no exaggeration. The full creative team works like a well-oiled machine that understands what each team member is asking for and delivers.

Don’t take my word for it. Check it out for yourself. As a lifelong fan of the X-Men myself, I can tell you that this feels the most like X-Men. I love seeing the expansion of these characters, their stories, and their personalities on an entirely new level. Gail Simone isn’t just changing the X-Men game, she’s expanding it. What she’s doing is providing an emotional connection with characters that are iconic and characters that are brand new. Even introducing characters you’re made to hate like Mutina, but still having the ability to make you silently root for them in the back of your mind. These are qualities that come from a writer that has a passion for these mutants. A passion that shines brightly through their excitement of a new issue or a new arc. That’s what comic books need, a writer who has passion. This doesn’t mean other writers don’t have that same passion. It just means that, for me, Gail Simone’s love for these characters take centerstage in the comic run and is clear as day to see.

If you’re a fan of the X-Men and you haven’t checked it out yet, by all means dive right in. The X-Men are here to stay and they’re only growing and thriving in this creative team’s hands.

Let us know what you think of The Uncanny X-Men in the comments!

This article was written by Megan from the Vigilante Vibes Podcast! If you liked my article, be sure to check out my comic reviews! Find me on my socials, and check out my Marvel podcast, Vigilante Vibes, by clicking here!