X-Men Monday #323 – Steve Orlando Talks ‘THE END 2099’ and ‘Sorcerer Supreme’

Welcome, X-Fans, to another uncanny edition of X-Men Monday at AIPT!

Following Steve Orlando‘s time on Krakoa, much of his Marvel work has focused on the further adventures of the Scarlet Witch. But ever prolific, Steve also made time to continue developing the 2099 universe — which he’s now, apparently, bringing to its conclusion in the aptly titled THE END 2099. And lucky for you, X-Fans, Steve hasn’t left his interest in Marvel’s merry mutants in the White Hot Room!

On sale December 10, 2025, THE END 2099 #1 kicks off a 5-issue limited series that promises to smash Spider-Man 2099, Red Hulk 2099, and other future characters into heroes and villains from throughout the multiverse — including Chris Claremont/John Byrne-era Cyclops and Marvel Girl and Age of Apocalypse Weapon X. Did I mention there’s a Knull-infected Galactus in the mix as well?

There’s a lot going on in THE END 2099. Good thing Steve’s back to break it all down for us — and talk a bit about his upcoming Sorcerer Supreme series! Let’s see what he has to say.

AIPT: Welcome back to X-Men Monday, Steve! So, while the main cover of THE END 2099 #1 features two future Spider-Men, it’s also got classic Cyclops and Marvel Girl, as well as Weapon X from the Age of Apocalypse. Could you share your elevator pitch for this mini-series and why X-Fans shouldn’t skip it?

Steve Orlando: THE END 2099 is about heroism at its core — who can make the hard choices, who can make the harder choices, and who will risk everything to make the hardest choice of all. Earth-2099 is beset by Abyssus, a cruel union of Knull and Galactus. Only through trickery can the Mephisto of 2099 avert the destruction of his reality with his greatest weapon — a deal. Mephisto bets the survival of Earth-2099 on whether or not its heroes can overcome Abyssus’s own army pulled from across the Multiverse. And the catch? If Abyssus’s army loses, each of their realities will be consumed. It’s impossible stakes, with the Spiders at the center fighting to find a way to save everyone — to find a way for only Abyssus himself to lose.

As for the mutants? Our cast spans all of 2099, of course — but the mutants are chief among the champions. And we’ll see classics from across the multiverse, too! We’ll witness the X-Men of 2099, some of my favorite mutants ever, fighting both behind the scenes and on the front lines. Cyclops and Phoenix 2099 will face off against the Cyclops and Phoenix of the John Byrne era! The Logan of 2099 will face off with the Wolverine of the Age of Apocalypse! Krystalin and Bloodhawk will hit the battlefield, as well! Oasis X, home to 2099’s mutants, will be the best defense against Abyssus’s initial attack — and if the world survives, tomorrow will hinge on mutant technology.

AIPT: Yup, sounds like X-Fans need to read it! Now, X-Fan Dusklight was curious about your inclusion of Chris Claremont/John Byrne-era Cyclops and Marvel Girl. What led you to pick these specific versions of Scott and Jean, and what can you tease about their adventures in this mini-series?

Steve: It’s always all about character — this is a moment when Cyclops and Jean are already at an emotional breaking point, preparing to fight for survival. This makes them unusually attuned to Abyssus’s call to war — and it makes them all the more passionate on the battlefield. For them, it’s a leap from one battle into another. They’re frayed, yes. But they’re also bold as ever — willing to stop at nothing to save their world. Of course, for me, their showdown with 2099’s Cyclops and Phoenix is one of my favorite moments.

AIPT: You’ve also got a set of Logans in the form of Weapon X and Nova 2099. X-Fan Bruno wonders if Nova 2099 will have an important role in THE END 2099.

Steve: Well, of course! He wouldn’t be in the book if he didn’t. Nova will do far more than face off with the Wolverine of the Age of Apocalypse. When the time comes for an impossible mission into the Negative Zone for a last Hail Mary shot at saving not just one reality, but all of them, there’s no one better than Logan, the last Nova of 2099, to lead the charge.

AIPT: While the Scarlet Witch isn’t really an X-Men character these days, she certainly left an impact on mutantkind during House of M. X-Fan Maria Callasantos is intrigued by House of M Wanda’s inclusion in this story and wonders how writing this version of Wanda differs from how you’ve been writing the character in recent years.

Steve: The Wanda from House of M is the same person she is today, of course, at a base level. But she’s not at the same place on her personal evolution track. She’s created a paradise for mutants back in her home reality! And her perspective on defending it — and how best to defend it — is certainly different from the Wanda of today. Drawn from this moment in her life, Wanda is easily one of the fiercest on the battlefield — you do not want to cross her.

AIPT: X-Fan Mario B says, this being the end of your 2099 saga (no pun intended), how has your overall experience as the architect of the modern 2099 era been these past few years?

Steve: No pun intended, but also no certainty implied! Sometimes, the end is a beginning. While this may be the end of an era, that doesn’t make it the end of 2099. In comics, even the end of the world isn’t the end! Just ask Thor about Ragnarok or Promethea about the apocalypse. But it’s still a time of reflection — and the answer is I’ve been incredibly lucky. As someone who picked up the 2099 launch books day and date, right in the strike zone to meet this new generation of Marvel heroes, it was an honor to celebrate 2099’s 30th Anniversary.

And from there? To have the chance to not just celebrate what came before but create so much new over the course of six stories has been beyond belief. I didn’t get into comics to look back; I got into comics to build up. And with 2099, that’s not just a philosophy, it’s an imperative. 2099 is the future — it has to be about looking ahead, about exploring, about filling in new parts of the map. To be able to do so with such an incredible cadre of artistic collaborators is something I never dreamed of. When I think of what we’ve done with 2099, when I go back and read these tales, I’m immensely proud — I read them with joy. And for folks to be able to discover these characters alongside me? That’s as good as it gets.

AIPT: X-Fan Duck with a hat asks if we might see Cerebra’s return to 2099 following her resurrection/displacement in the present during your run on Marauders.

Steve: Honestly, I wouldn’t think so — at least not anytime soon! To me, that’s a step backwards. Characters like Rachel Summers, Cable, and Bishop might visit their home timelines occasionally, but they live in Marvel’s present. With Cerebra, the idea is the same — to honor that tradition of storytelling across the X-titles and also to bring 2099’s unique perspective to the present. Cerebra is a historic character, one of, if not the first, mutant of an Indian background as far as debut date, even though she’s from the future. So wherever she is, and whenever she shows up — she deserves to be celebrated.

AIPT: X-Fan Luna loves what you’ve made with 2099, and while excited to read THE END 2099, Luna can’t help but be bummed out that many of the characters introduced in the anthology format of this era didn’t get to do their own thing. Is there a character or group of characters that you would’ve liked to see developed in their own runs had there been a spin-off of the line?

Steve: Oh, there absolutely is! The quick answer is — all of them. And that might seem like a cop out, but these characters were built with origins and setups to last and stand on their own. But within that, there are definitely specifics too. I loved working on Blade 2099 — and even though he’s shown up since his debut, I would love to be able to work a solo series with him. Science fiction is one of my favorite things ever, and I could tell the stories of the Red Hulk 2099 for years if I had the chance. The same goes for Star Lord 2099 — stellar security! I would love to explore Spider-Woman 2099 and the tortured renaissance of the Araneons, her people.

And most of all, perhaps obviously, I would drop everything for the X-Men of 2099. The omnibus sits in a place of prominence in my office, and it’s one of my favorite runs ever. Be them characters we built or classic X-Men 2099 faces, I would show up for them in a second and never stop writing their adventures, if I could.

AIPT: I’ve also got that omnibus on my shelf. One last THE END 2099 question about the series’ visuals. The preview pages we’ve seen so far from artist Ibraim Roberson seem like a feast for long-time Marvel Zombies. How was it collaborating with him on THE END 2099?

Steve: Ibraim is an absolute assassin on the page — there’s no other way to say it. This is an extremely taxing, extremely challenging book. And despite that, he doesn’t just overcome — he overdelivers. Having him on Conquest 2099 along with Jose Luis meant our space opera epic was going to be every bit the blockbuster it deserved to be. And here? Ibraim infuses every page with atmosphere and energy. But he doesn’t skimp on the emotion! When you see the terror wrought by Zombie Sentry, you’ll see what I mean. But the power he gives Strange 2099 is perhaps the most exciting new stuff he’s done of all!

AIPT: As we wrap up, we also received quite a few questions about your highly anticipated Sorcerer Supreme series, so let’s do a quick pivot! X-Fan Matin wonders how you’d describe Wanda’s mindset carrying the mantle of Sorcerer Supreme. Not in terms of plot details, but in terms of her growth, responsibilities, and how differently she approaches the role compared to previous Sorcerers Supreme. Matin really appreciates the work and thought you’re putting into this series, can’t wait to read it, and hope you continue writing her beyond 2026!

Steve: Becoming Sorcerer Supreme isn’t something Wanda chooses, per se — it’s something she’s asked to do. And as always, she’s asked due to who and what she is — her understanding of reality is unlike anyone else’s. Her view even of magical artifacts is unique — so, when the vestments of the Sorcerer Supreme call out for aid, Wanda doesn’t know if she’s the only one who hears them. But she knows she’s the only one who’s answering. When they ask for her protection — she gives it. Without agenda. Without reward. Wanda is someone who will sacrifice anything for almost anyone — just because they’ve asked for help. It’s disarmingly simple.

And that also feeds into her approach when it comes to her service as Sorcerer Supreme. Wanda doesn’t specifically go out to start trouble or anger others. But she would never let a rule, tradition, or norm stop her from helping someone she’s vowed to ask. She respects the ways of the Sorcerer Supreme, but she does not place them above helping those who need her. That’s why she refuses to cede the vestments to the Vishanti when they demand them back — she views them as beings who’ve asked for her protection.

And that protection doesn’t come with conditions. Since moving to Lotkill, Wanda has tried to ground herself in a humanistic point of view — as she said to Agatha Harkness as they walked Lotkill, everyone in that town wants the same thing, even her. The details change. For Wanda, the details are cosmic. But for her, it’s always going to come down to what can she, and in this case what can magic, do for people.

As she says in issue one, there comes a time when guarding something is akin to caging it. There’s a viewpoint that rules, traditions, even the costs of magic are all different words for barriers to entry. She believes magic can do more for people’s lives — and that, above all, is her north star as Sorcerer Supreme. And as often happens with Wanda — that kind of thinking might just end up getting her into trouble.

AIPT: Finally, to bring it back to X-Men, it looks like both Madelyne Pryor — and potentially Somnus — will show up in the pages of Sorcerer Supreme. Anything you can tease regarding these two mutants and their interactions with Wanda?

Steve: Sure! With Somnus — there are more reasons to be in Wanda’s cabinet than magical knowledge. That’s a very reductive way of thinking — Wanda wants people in there for much more than what they can do, but how they see the world and how they know her. Somnus is older than Wanda, he’s lived in the closet in a variety of ways — he sees the world with both the wisdom of age and the exuberance of youth.

And he’s king of a world where anything’s possible — his domain, the dreamscape, is somewhere possibility flourishes. That’s a place, and a power, Wanda respects. And Somnus will come to the forefront when his realm is beset by the Night Terrors — the spawn of Nightmare and Nemesis, an ancient power, the first nightmare ever dreamt. 

As for Madelyne Pryor — her conflict with Wanda will hinge on the perilous ways of Limbo. Wanda and Madelyne have worked together before, with the world on the line. But that doesn’t automatically make them friends. After all, Doom himself has worked alongside the Avengers when the stakes fit. Wanda respects Madelyne and vice versa — enough so that when they crash against each other as dueling Sorcerers Supreme, they hold nothing back. Pryor brings out an edge to Wanda that we haven’t seen in a long time — but even that may not be enough to overcome the Sorcerer Supreme of Limbo.

AIPT: Thanks for fielding those two Sorcerer Supreme questions and stopping by X-Men Monday, Steve! 

X-Fans, remember to pick up Sorcerer Supreme #1 when it goes on sale December 31, 2025. And this Wednesday, December 10, 2025, you can pick up THE END 2099 #1! Here are the preview pages in case you missed them.

Looking ahead, here’s an eXclusive look at a few unfinished pages for THE END 2099 #2, on sale January 28, 2026.

And finally, an eXclusive look at the cover and solicitation for THE END 2099 #4!

THE END 2099 #4 (OF 5)

Written by STEVE ORLANDO
Art by IBRAIM ROBERSON
Cover by DAVID MARQUEZ

THE HEROES OF 2099 FACE ABSOLUTE ANNIHILATION IN THE NEGATIVE ZONE!

• A desperate bid for a weapon strong enough to bring down ABYSSUS has sent NOVA 2099, SPIDER-MAN 2099 and RED HULK 2099 on a forsaken mission into the NEGATIVE ZONE, where they’ll have to dodge death around every corner!
• But as the war on VIADROME continues to escalate and KNULL’S symbiote seeds take hold, will there even be anyone left to save as the casualties continue to climb?
• It’s SPIDER VS. SPIDER VS. SPIDER VS. SPIDER as this twisted game of survival reaches its zenith in this shock-filled penultimate issue!

On Sale 3/11

Until next time, X-Fans, stay eXceptional!