Comic Books

X-Men Monday #332 – Gene Luen Yang Talks ‘Jubilee: Deadly Reunion’

Plus, an eXclusive look at ‘Jubilee: Deadly Reunion’!

March 9, 2026

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

In the modern X-Men era, it seems like X-Fans just have to be patient, and their favorite mutant will eventually get the solo treatment. I mean, just look at Dazzler, Mystique, Cyclops, and, most recently, Dani Moonstar! On April 29, 2026, it’ll be Jubilation Lee’s turn when Jubilee: Deadly Reunion drops.

The Marvel Voices one-shot, created to celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month (which runs through May), will be written by Gene Luen Yang and illustrated by Michael YG and promises to reunite the Uncanny X-Woman with her long-lost cousin.

Curious to learn more? Lucky for you, Gene is here to reveal more information and provide his personal Jubilee takes. Let’s see what he has to say.

Courtesy of Marvel Comics

AIPT: Welcome to X-Men Monday, Gene! Before we dig into Jubilee: Deadly Reunion, I’d love to know what your first X-Men eXperience was as a fan.

Gene Luen Yang: I grew up in the ‘80s, when the X-Men were the hottest thing in every local comic shop in America. When I was in sixth grade, I bought a reprint of Giant-Size X-Men #1 from a friend at school. I remember being blown away. The characters were unlike anything I’d ever encountered. Then, when I got into high school, I began collecting X-Men comics in earnest. I think my first issues were from the “Inferno” event with Mr. Sinister. I admit that I didn’t always understand them. Chris Claremont’s stories were always incredibly complex and intricately plotted, but I always loved them. The X-Men are just plain cool.

Courtesy of Marvel Comics

AIPT: How did the opportunity to write this Marvel Voices one-shot, in celebration of Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, come about?

Gene: I had the privilege of writing 24 issues of Shang-Chi under the guidance of superstar Marvel editor Darren Shan. Last year, he texted me to ask if I’d be willing to write a Jubilee story. She’s a character on my comics-writing bucket list, so I had to say yes.

AIPT: For those who are just reading about Jubilee: Deadly Reunion for the first time, what’s your elevator pitch for this one-shot?

Gene: We all have family problems, right? And Jubilee is no exception. A long-lost cousin shows up out of nowhere to complicate her life. Together, they go to San Francisco Chinatown, where Jubilee confronts not just a conniving supervillain but also her own past.

Courtesy of Marvel Comics

AIPT: As a writer, what aspects of Jubilee’s character do you find most interesting?

Gene: Jubilee was, and is, one of the most prominent Asian American characters in comics. She doesn’t slot easily into stereotypes. To me, as a young comic book nerd, Jubilee felt less like an Asian sidekick or comic relief character that I might see on TV and more like somebody I would’ve hung out with at school.

I also like that Jubilee has a complicated past, especially when it comes to her family. She’s a really positive character. She dresses in bright colors, she’s always friendly, and she loves to joke around. Underneath all that, though, is real tragedy. She suffered unimaginable loss at a young age. That seeming contradiction — the happy exterior and the tragic interior — makes for a deep character.

Courtesy of Marvel Comics

AIPT: X-Fan Kevin wants to know what we can expect from your take on Jubilee.

Gene: Many Asian Americans feel a certain amount of separation between ourselves and our cultural heritage. Sometimes, by confronting that gap, we learn something about who we are. That’s exactly what Jubilee is going to do in Deadly Reunion. She’s going to visit San Francisco Chinatown, a place that seems like it ought to be comfortable for her, but isn’t.

AIPT: X-Fan Ben wonders if it’s difficult to write a solo story for a character like Jubilee, who has almost always been depicted as a sidekick or a member of a team. How do you navigate that challenge?

Gene: In my opinion, Jubilee has been a sidekick for way too long. It’s about time she steps into the spotlight. To be honest, writing a solo story didn’t really feel like a challenge for me because I’ve never really thought of her as just a sidekick. Don’t get me wrong. She works great when she’s paired up with someone like Wolverine, but Jubilee has enough depth to carry a story on her own.

Courtesy of Marvel Comics

In Deadly Reunion, she’s again paired up with another character, her cousin Eason Cheung, but he’s her foil. She’s the main focus.

AIPT: X-Fan Feral Forever says that while many people always want power feats from Jubilee, they’d love to see more of her gymnastics background highlighted. Feral Forever feels like it’s generally left as an afterthought. Is it possible we’ll see any of Jubilee’s hand-to-hand or gymnastic moves in this one-shot?

Gene: I love Jubilee‘s superpower. It’s powerful and brilliant and works great on the page. That said, Jubilee will definitely get to show off her gymnastics moves in the one-shot, and this is less because of me and more because of artist Michael YG. The poses he chooses for her, especially during the fight scenes, are incredibly dynamic and really bring out her athletic side.

Courtesy of Marvel Comics

AIPT: Well, on that note, how was it collaborating with Michael YG, and what types of visuals can readers expect from this one-shot?

Gene: I had the pleasure of working with Michael YG at the very end of my Shang-Chi run. Michael is an incredibly dynamic artist. His panels flow easily from one to the next. I absolutely love the way he draws both Jubilee and Eason. Michael was great on Shang-Chi. He’s even better now. If you’re not yet a fan of Michael YG, you will be after reading this issue.

Courtesy of Marvel Comics

AIPT: X-Fan Jason is curious to learn what it’s like to introduce a never-before-seen relative to Jubilee lore. And what can you tease about this character?

Gene: Eason Cheung is Jubilee’s cousin, and she hasn’t seen him since she was a little kid. Back then, he was an awkward teenager, but now he’s handsome and suave — a mysterious agent working for a mysterious organization, on a mysterious mission.

AIPT: Finally, X-Fans Kevin and William R. are both wondering if Jubilee: Deadly Reunion opens the door to more solo Jubilee action. If the opportunity arose, would you be interested in telling more Jubilee stories?

Gene: Jubilee absolutely deserves her own solo series! Like I said, the X-Men are just plain cool, and she’s one of the team’s coolest. I’d love the chance to write her again.

AIPT: Right now, every Jubilee fan has their fingers crossed. But on that note, Gene, thanks for stopping by X-Men Monday!

Remember, X-Fans, Jubilee: Deadly Reunion goes on sale April 29, 2026. Here’s an eXclusive look at three of Michael YG’s unfinished pages, featuring the Uncanny X-Men.