The X-Men franchise, at its core, has always been about trying to make a better world for the next generation of mutants. Expatriate X-Men #1 shows what happens when that generation inherits a world that forces them to harden their hearts, especially when that world is the Age of Revelation. Young mutants like Ms. Marvel, Bronze, and Melee – alongside new member Rift – struggle to survive on the border between what’s left of the United States and the Revelation Territories, taking guidance from an unlikely mentor in Mystique.
Bronze and Melee both made their debut in the highly underrated Extraordinary X-Men, which featured them taking guidance from Kitty Pryde and Emma Frost (the former having joined the X-Men when she was a teenager, the latter teaching different generations of young mutants.) Extraordinary X-Men writer Eve L. Ewing shows a different side to both; the usually excitable Bronze has become a skilled soldier, while Melee struggles to lead a whole fleet of ships. Ms. Marvel, who was part of another young mutant-focused book in NYX, makes the perfect foil as her desire to do good – which hasn’t wavered, even in this hellish timeline – clashes with the more pragmatic approach of her teammates.
Then there’s the Mystique of it all. Anyone who knows Raven Darkholme knows that she’s usually working in her own interest, and that there’s no one she won’t betray or outright kill to fulfill said interest. Kitty and Emma had their own hangups, but they weren’t as dangerous as Mystique, and it’s just one of the different dynamics that Ewing brings into play. Whether it’s Melee commanding her makeshift fleet or the others using Rift’s space-time power to pull off multiple versions of the same mission, the tension between characters is palpable, and threatens to boil over in future issues.
Marvel
Ms. Marvel isn’t the only NYX connection that Expatriate X-Men #1 has. Series artist Francesco Motarino boards this issue and, in the process, gives each of the teen mutants a post-apocalyptic makeover. Bronze’s metallic body has grown more lethal-looking spikes, Ms. Marvel’s signature scarf has transformed into a flowing cloak – not to mention the fact that she’s wearing more armor – and Melee’s suit bears a more regal look, befitting her position as Captain. As for Mystique, while her hair is shorter and her uniform more tattered, she still bears her classic blue skin and sinister expression.
Raul Angulo paints the scene in dark grey and dark blue, adding a sense of foreboding to Motarino’s artwork. The only pops of brightness come from the teenage mutants’ uniforms, and the bright blue sky that greets them once they teleport onto Melee’s ship. Angulo’s work highlights the darker undertones of the Age of Revelation, showing just how far-reaching Revelation’s reign truly is.
Expatriate X-Men #1 turns its attention to the next generation of X-Men, showcasing how this dark future affects them. I’m intrigued to see how Ewing and Motarino continue to flesh out this teenage wasteland, especially with the major reveal at the end of the comic.
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