For months, X-Men fans have been speculating about an upcoming twist that would reinvent the franchise for years to come. If true, the fan theory would have represented Marvel’s biggest move yet to promote synergy between the comics and MCU, and opened up unprecedented potential for storytelling. Sadly, it’s now clear this fan theory won’t come to be.
What Was the X-Men Fan Theory?
Fans Believed the X-Men Were Getting Their Own Universe
Launching October 1, Marvel’s new Age of Revelation event has thrown Cyclops forward ten years in Marvel’s timeline. Scott Summers has discovered a world ruled by the villainous Revelation, who can control others with his hypnotic voice and unleashed a virus to kill off the majority of humans in America.
Considering this inventive and expansive new setting, the X-Men’s upcoming cameo in the MCU (followed, most likely, by the Marvel Cinematic Universe launching its own adaptations of the franchise), and writer Jed MacKay’s warning that Age of Revelation wouldn’t have a clean, happy ending, fans drew the exciting conclusion that the X-Men would be split off from Marvel’s main universe, receiving their own continuity (and likely rejoining Earth-616 around the time of the MCU’s Doomsday/Secret Wars.) Sadly, it’s now pretty clear that isn’t true.
The X-Men Aren’t Getting Their Own Reality
Marvel’s ‘Shadows of Tomorrow’ Revelation Includes Hidden Evidence
Fresh out of New York Comic Con, the Marvel Comics: X-Men panel just unveiled ‘Shadows of Tomorrow.’ This new era of X-Men comics follows on from Age of Revelation, with some series resuming their numbering from before the event, and other new series launching in its aftermath. From the reveals so far, it’s pretty clear very little has changed in terms of reality itself, but it’s Wolverine who really gave the game away.
Solicit information for Wolverine #14 reveals that Logan will be teaming-up with mercenary hero Silver Sable – a Spider-Man character who has interacted with the X-Men in the past, including a short-lived romance with Wolverine’s best friend, Kurt Wagner’s Nightcrawler.
|
WOLVERINE #14 |
|
|---|---|
|
|
|
Release Date: |
January 7, 2026 |
|
Writer: |
SALADIN AHMED |
|
Artists: |
MARTÍN CÓCCOLO |
|
Cover Artist: |
DAN PANOSIAN |
|
WOLVERINE ENCOUNTERS SILVER SABLE! The flagship series returns as Wolverine crosses paths with Silver Sable in a mission to save a cadre of Morlocks. But are they on the same side? And who’s got Logan in their sights? The all-new era starts now! |
|
The inclusion of Silver Sable seemingly confirms that the X-Men won’t be separated from the mainstream Earth-616. If so, Silver Sable should no longer be able to appear in X-Men comics. By itself, it’s no guarantee, but other new information points to the same conclusion – for example, Uncanny X-Men #22 will feature the villain Mutina – a character introduced as the result of a new horror movie that makes no sense in a mutant-centric world.
|
UNCANNY X-MEN #22 |
|
|---|---|
|
|
|
Release Date: |
January 14, 2026 |
|
Writer: |
GAIL SIMONE |
|
Artists: |
DAVID MARQUEZ |
|
Cover Artist: |
DAVID MARQUEZ |
|
MEAN GIRL MUTINA! A festive event is interrupted by the daughter of darkness herself, Mutina. And she has an unimaginable favor to ask the Uncanny X-Men and woe betide them all if they refuse! It’s murderous mutants and cake and blades and you will look very differently at one of the core X-Men after this bloody issue! |
|
Other details (like Cyclops attacking Doug Ramsey in X-Men #23) show that the X-Men definitely aren’t going to remain in the Age of Revelation, making it even less probable that the event will end with them getting their own reality.
What Does It Mean That This X-Men Fan Theory Isn’t Coming True?
Ultimately, it seems fans expected too much from Age of Revelation and its fallout. While there will clearly be consequences for many characters, Marvel seemingly has no intent of unleashing a reboot as wide-ranging as 2019-2024’s Krakoan Era. That’s a shame, because giving the X-Men their own world would have opened up narrative possibilities they’ve never had, particularly in terms of changing the stakes and setting of their unwinnable fight against oppression, which – even after 62 years – is back where it started.
When the Krakoan Era ended, fans feared that X-Men would return to an ultimately formulaic model. In Age of Revelation, many saw hope for a seismic shift in how Marvel tells its mutant stories, however NYCC has essentially quashed any sense that Marvel has ambitions to evolve the X-Men franchise.
- Movie(s)
-
X-Men (2000), X2, X-Men: The Last Stand (2006), X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009), X-Men: First Class (2011), The Wolverine (2013), X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014), Deadpool (2016), X-Men: Apocalypse (2016), Logan (2017), Deadpool 2 (2018), Dark Phoenix (2019), The New Mutants, Deadpool & Wolverine (2024)
- First Film
-
X-Men (2000)
- TV Show(s)
-
X-Men: Pryde of the X-Men, X-Men (1992), X-Men: Evolution (2000), Wolverine and the X-Men (2008), Marvel Anime: Wolverine, Marvel Anime: X-Men, Legion (2017), The Gifted (2017), X-Men ’97 (2024)
- Video Game(s)
-
X-Men: Children of the Atom (1994), Marvel Super Heroes (1995), X-Men vs. Street Fighter (1996), Marvel Super Heroes vs. Street Fighter (1997), Marvel vs. Capcom (1998), X-Men: Mutant Academy (2000), Marvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes (2000), X-Men: Mutant Academy 2 (2001), X-Men: Next Dimension (2002), Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds (2011), Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 (2011), X-Men Legends (2005), X-Men Legends 2: Rise of Apocalypse (2005), X2: Wolverine’s Revenge (2003), X-Men (1993), X-Men 2: Clone Wars (1995), X-Men: Mutant Apocalypse (1994)
- Character(s)
-
Professor X, Cyclops, Iceman, Beast, Angel, Phoenix, Wolverine, Gambit, Rogue, Storm, Jubilee, Morph, Nightcrawler, Havok, Banshee, Colossus, Magneto, Psylocke, Juggernaut, Cable, X-23
- Comic Release Date
-
213035,212968
