When the news broke that the Krakoan era of comics would be ending with X-Men #35, a huge segment of X-Men fans were disappointed and heartbroken. Many of these fans fully embraced Krakoa and the bold new vision that the swath of titles represented. Emerging primarily during the COVID-19 pandemic, Krakoa represented hope, community, and harmony during tremendous uncertainty. A beloved era that had a profound impact on new and old fans alike was being taken away, and without knowing what would be replacing Krakoa, many of these fans were apprehensive about the possible future direction that the X-books would be moving forward. While the announcement of “From the Ashes” gave fans some indication of what the future would look like for the franchise, the announcement did little to quell the doubts that some fans felt about moving on too quickly from the abundance of optimism that Krakoa represented.
NYX in many ways is the “From the Ashes” title that deals with the loss of Krakoa the most, as we see mutants reintegrate themselves back into a world that hates and fears them. After the events of the mutants’ war with the terrorist group Orchis, anti-mutant sentiment is on the rise again, and mutants are left in a vulnerable and precarious position as they try to live their lives without interference and conflict. Unfortunately avoiding anti-mutant bigotry and adversity is impossible for those born with an x-gene. While Krakoa had its systemic issues, such as corruption within The Quiet Council, the mutant island nation promised a haven from prejudice, discrimination, and outward violence towards mutants. Returning to the “real” world meant putting mutants at risk once again of the same anti-mutant sentiments and violence that had plagued the mutant community for several decades.
At its core, NYX was about creating a community to cope with loss, and create spaces of solidarity and safety for all mutants. While Krakoa represented the possibility of creating a world in which mutants could thrive together in harmony, NYX was about building community during a mutant diaspora, one in which mutants are more divided than ever, without a uniting vision or shared dream to guide them forward in the next chapter in the history of mutantkind. Despite a lack of a coherent vision for mutantkind, we see mutant culture and identity outwardly celebrated in NYX. In NYX #3, we see the mutant community of NYC come together to mourn the death of a mutant named Shay who was killed in a hate crime. In this same issue, we see mutants defending themselves and their home from an attack by the Purifiers. Refusing to hide, Anole and the Morlocks proudly march through the streets of NYC as they pay tribute to their fallen mutant brother. Ultimately, NYX gave us a glimpse of what a thriving mutant culture could look like post-Krakoa.
The NYX team prepare to make their final stand against Mojo. Image Courtesy of Marvel Comics.
In NYX #10, we see the mutants of NYC unite against a common threat, the diabolically nefarious Mojo, who is threatening to tear asunder the haven that they have been working tirelessly to create. To defeat Mojo and free the city from his oppressive presence the mutants of NYX will need to draw upon each other’s spirit and strength, and create a contingent of mutants to resist and overcome Mojo’s will. Here we see the power of solidarity and what a community can accomplish when they come together and support and uplift each other. As demonstrated in Rise of the Powers of X #5, nothing is more unstoppable than the power of a mutant circuit.
One of the central themes present in this issue is the question of whether one should hide or suppress who they are for the benefit of others at the detriment of their well-being. As David says to Kamala when discussing whether she should reveal to her family that she is a mutant and Ms. Marvel, “I know you’re worried about what your secret will do to your family…but have you thought about what keeping that secret has done to you?” Throughout NYX, as well as Ms. Marvel: The New Mutant and Ms. Marvel: Mutant Menace by Iman Vellani and Sabir Pirzada, we have seen the difficulties that Kamala has experienced while navigating the world as an Inhuman, a Muslim American, a mutant, and her secret identity as the superhero Ms. Marvel. While Kamala can be her most authentic self with her mutant friends in NYC, at home with her family she must hide her identity as a mutant and Ms. Marvel. The issue does not resolve these tensions in Kamala’s life, however we do see Kamala make decisive actions in this issue that reminds readers that Kamala is not ashamed of who she is, nor will she ever allow herself to be compromised in any way to make others comfortable. It sends an important message that mutants should never be compliant with those who are actively trying to erase them.
While we do not know what the future has in store for Kamala in terms of whether she can reconcile the disparate aspects of her varied identities, Kamala’s adventures will continue in a series of special one-shots celebrating the 50th anniversary of the first appearance of the all-new, all-different X-Men team, kicking off with the release of Giant Size X-Men #1 in May, which stars Kamala Khan in a prominent role as we see Ms. Marvel traveling through various milestone moments in the vast publication history of the X-Men. Meanwhile, fans of Laura Kinney can see her in various titles, such as the ongoing series Laura Kinney: The Wolverine by Erica Schultz, as well as the upcoming New Thunderbolts* series by Sam Humphries. At this time we have no clear idea where Sophie, Kiden, Anole, Synch, and Prodigy will appear next in the comics.
Much like Geoffrey Thorne did with X-Force #10, Jackson Lanzing and Collin Kelly had a seemingly impossible task ahead of them for NYX #10: delivering a satisfying ending that not only feels consistent with the overall content of the book as a whole, but also leaves fans walking away from the book with the knowledge that the series met or exceeded their expectations for the title. With the tenth issue, NYX coalesces with a satisfying ending that is a fitting and appropriate culmination of all of the thematic elements and grand moments that made NYX work so well as a title. Full of heart and warmth, this epic conclusion of thoughtful and impactful storytelling is deeply gratifying and richly rewarding to both readers of NYX and the Krakoan era.
While dedicated and devoted fans of NYX are sure to mourn the loss of this title the way some fans mourned the loss of Krakoa, fans can celebrate the bold ideas present in all ten issues of NYX. Perhaps the NYX cast will appear again in the upcoming X-Men: Hellfire Vigil #1, which promises a “mutantkind gathering to reflect on the loss of the mutant nation Krakoa”, however very little has been revealed about who will appear in the one-shot, or whether the events of NYX will be revisited in the issue. Overall, NYX #10 is an enjoyable ending that delivers an exciting and heartwarming conclusion to one of the standout titles in the entire X-Men relaunch and is guaranteed to be one of the more memorable moments in the entirety of the “From the Ashes” era.
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