X-Men Monday #297 – Jed MacKay Talks ‘X-Men’

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

It’s been almost one year since Marvel’s X-Men line evolved into the “From the Ashes” era. In that time, X-Men has produced more than a year’s worth of issues — with X-Men #17 just weeks away — and introduced us to the mysterious 3K, a bevy of new characters, such as Ben Liu, Agent Lundqvist, and Piper Cobb, and new threats to mutantkind, like R-LDS. It’s a lot — and that last sentence just scratches the surface!

With X-Men #1’s one-year anniversary fast approaching, there’s no better time to check in with series’ writer Jed MacKay to discuss those ongoing plot threads, new characters, and what comes next. Let’s see what he has to say.

AIPT: Welcome back to X-Men Monday, Jed! With 16 issues of X-Men available and many more to come, it’s safe to assume you not only survived the experience but are thriving! What has surprised you the most about the experience you may not have been expecting when you first agreed to write one of the three flagship X-Men series?

Jed MacKay: I think the thing I wasn’t expecting was the pace! With 18 issues a year, we’re moving much more quickly than I’d normally be accustomed to in a standard series, and the amount of things we can get done over the span of a year is pretty amazing. Two crossovers and a huge action story to end out the first year? No problem!

AIPT: Well, that’s an excellent segue to this week’s first X-Fan question, which comes from Harry G, who is loving the series and feels as though you’ve returned to the Claremontian style of having several ongoing plot and character threads running simultaneously. Harry G is curious to learn how you plan and structure the series with these various elements in mind.

Jed: In part, it ties back to my previous answer — having 18 issues in a year. With that amount of page space (an extra 120 pages per year), we’re afforded more opportunities to move in different ways and lay down different directions, so while the first few months saw us introducing a range of different things in this new world that the X-Men find themselves in, we’re able to start pulling on those threads, and in some cases, reeling them in completely, while leaving others to grow in order to harvest them down the line when the time is right!

AIPT: X-Fan Chamber’s Dermatologist wants to know what drew you to making mutations in adults a major topic of your run. Was this decision influenced by any past X-Men tales?

Jed: Not really — something I’ve been interested in is how, historically, the divide between mutant and human has always been pretty stark, one species vs. another. Which is weird, because almost all mutants start out as humans, are born from humans, etc. What I was interested in looking at is blurring that boundary a little bit — if humans can be made into mutants, how does that change things?

AIPT: X-Fan Batsu is curious to learn more about the creative process and inspirations for choosing the mysterious leaders of 3K.

Jed: 3K are mutantkind’s last, best hope. Krakoa ended, and with it, mutatkind’s age of ascendancy. Now? They’re scattered, disparate, and the name “X-Men” means so little that there are multiple groups calling themselves that name. The X-Men (whichever regional flavor one prefers) gave up — but 3K never did. And their X-Men are the real ones, the vanguard of the genetic war.

Or that’s how they see it, at least. In putting together the four personalities that make up this latest foray into gene-terror, I wanted different points of view to create a ruling council. The Chairman is the de-facto leader, but the Zealot (aka Cassandra Nova) and the Doctor each bring their own perspectives (and more importantly, votes). And of course, with a trio of scientifically minded characters, someone has to represent the more physical mindset — which is the Means, aka Wyre.

AIPT: Speaking of the Means, X-Fan Phil thanks you for bringing back Wyre! Phil asks, when working as a writer with a massive wealth of ‘shared sandbox’ characters, as you’ve done amazingly on your X-run so far, is there anything in particular you look for when researching who would fit the roles? (Also, MacKay Alpha Flight ongoing, please!)

Jed: I think it’s just that — who could fill a particular hole in an outline, and who would have an interesting voice or perspective to bring to it. Wyre was actually my second choice for the Means — originally, that role was going to be filled by Cyber, but when it came time to go through all the concepts for the X-books prior to launch, I found out that Saladin Ahmed had him front and center in Wolverine, and as Cyber’s a Wolverine bad guy, he obviously belonged in that book.

So I then had to do some hunting, but not that much ultimately — my affection for Alpha Flight is pretty well-known at this point, and Wyre was always one of those guys that had been rattling around the back of my head, and it just so happened he fit perfectly in the role that I was trying to recast!

AIPT: One of X-Fans Ana and Frankenstaquio’s favorite developments has been the focus on Cyclops’ mental health issues, such as Scott’s panic attack in X-Men #3. What made you want to introduce this grounded — and very relatable — challenge to Cyclops’ story, and can we expect more exploration of it in upcoming issues?

Jed: Exploring the toll that a life of high-stress leadership has taken on Cyclops is something that I’m quite interested in, so yes, it will come up again!

AIPT: You’ve introduced a lot of new characters since X-Men #1 — Ben Liu, Jennifer Starkey, Schwarzschild, and Psychovore, just to name a few. Do you have a personal favorite of the bunch?

Jed: I like Ben and Jen a lot (though I do wish I’d realized that I’d given them rhyming names before putting them to the page) as they’re new mutants, but they’re not teenagers, which I find kind of fun. These are adults who have left full-formed lives behind because of who and what they are now, and it’s going to be interesting to see how that shakes out down the line.

AIPT: This August, Marvel will release X-Men: Tooth & Claw, which collects Alex Paknadel‘s X-Men: From the Ashes #13 – 18, spotlighting Magneto and Beast. What can you share about how what Alex did on X-Men: From the Ashes and now, alongside Tim Seeley on Astonishing X-Men, influences or impacts the work you do in the pages of X-Men?

Jed: Alex and I talk pretty regularly, so early on it was pretty easy to work together and find some unexplored areas of the Alaskan X-Men he could shine a light on and see what runs under the fridge. Which is nice, as it added a texture to these characters that wasn’t limited to just one title. Actually, Beast’s project Quinjet came from Alex’s stuff, which has been a fun addition to the character (and has met a sticky end :( ).

AIPT: As we wrap up, in July’s X-Men #19, Revelation will soon make his long-awaited return. To better understand what we can expect from the all-new, all-different Doug Ramsey, X-Fan Aisling Clarke asks what challenges might Revelation face when he battles his former teammates. And X-Fan Joey asks if Revelation might be looking to create his own version of the four horsemen. Anything you can tease?

Jed: Who’s battling former teammates? Doug, Bei, and Warlock are out in the world (as we’ll see in X-Men #19), trying to figure out what exactly being the Heir of Apocalypse means — but unfortunately for them, others have already decided, and they don’t like the conclusion they’ve come to.

AIPT: Finally, as we’re discussing the X-Men, of course, we received a few romance-related questions. X-Fan neutrino says in the current Hank McCoy’s memories, he’s gotten back together with Vera Cantor. Will he try to meet with her, or Abigail Brand, or Trish Tilby? X-Fan Ezia asks if there’s a chance for romance in the future for Kid Omega. And finally, X-Fans Jack Matos and Moonstar wonder if Jean Grey might eventually visit her husband and his team. Tl;Dr — Can X-Fans look forward to any romance around the Factory?

Jed: All those things and more! We’ve got a few romantic overtures coming down the line, most notably three different ones in the X-Men: Hellfire Vigil special (including a [scandal] romance between the feuding Houses of X in Alaska and New Orleans!).

AIPT: Juicy! But on that note, thanks for taking the time to stop by X-Men Monday, Jed!

As for this week’s X-Men Monday eXclusives — I mentioned X-Men: Tooth & Claw a few questions back. Here’s artist Mike McKone’s cover, the solicitation for that one-shot, and artist Rod Reis’ variant cover.

X-MEN: TOOTH & CLAW #1

Written by ALEX PAKNADEL
Art by DIOGENES NEVES & PHILLIP SEVY  
Cover by MIKE MCKONE
Variant Cover by ROD REIS

HOW DID TWO OF MUTANTKIND’S MOST DANGEROUS VILLAINS BECOME PART OF CYCLOPS’ X-MEN?

When they met across the battlefield, Henry McCoy and Max Eisenhardt were a brilliant, jovial athlete turned super hero and a mutant revolutionary, respectively. By the time they ruled the world as leaders of Krakoa, Hank was a Beast in deed as well as name, while Magneto was a longtime ally of the X-Men shocked by the inadequacy of his fulfilled dream. Cast back into a world that hates and fears them, a pair of chance encounters will show each why that world still needs them and the X-Men! Collecting the fan-favorite X-MEN: FROM THE ASHES #13-18 for the first time in print!

On Sale 8/27

Next, here’s an eXclusive preview of X-Men #17, on sale June 4, 2025, and written by Jed MacKay, illustrated by Ryan Stegman, inked by JP Mayer, colored by Marte Gracia, and lettered by VC’s Clayton Cowles.

And finally, we jump ahead to August and eXclusively reveal Ryan Stegman’s cover and solicitation for X-Men #20!

X-MEN #20

Written by JED MACKAY
Art by NETHO DIAZ
Cover by RYAN STEGMAN

A second Iron Night brings with it consequences, and Cyclops has some explaining to do on behalf of the X-Men. But even a born leader can reach a breaking point – and Cyclops has had to do ever so much explaining recently…

On Sale 8/13

Well, now I want the summer to fly by so I can read that issue! 

In the next edition of X-Men Monday: Writer Cody Ziglar makes his X-Men Monday debut to discuss his upcoming limited series, Wolverines & Deadpools.

Until next time, X-Fans, stay exceptional!