X-Men Monday #334 – Steve Orlando Talks ‘X-Men Infinity Comic’

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

This past January, Marvel Unlimited‘s scrolling X-offering mutated once again, from the X-Men: Age of Revelation Infinity Comic to X-Men Infinity Comic. While past series were very much tied to modern X-Men continuity, X-Men Infinity Comic seemingly marked a shift in direction — instead choosing to focus on the iconic ’90s era. They’re all-new stories, just set in the past, akin to Marvel’s ongoing retro series.

Obviously, X-Fans had questions. Fortunately, the new series’ writer Steve Orlando is no stranger to fielding them and agreed to return to X-Men Monday to do just that. Let’s see what he has to say about X-Men Infinity Comic‘s origins, its value to readers, and what comes next.

AIPT: Welcome back to X-Men Monday, Steve! I feel like X-Men Infinity Comic came out of nowhere. Obviously, you’re no stranger to Marvel Unlimited-exclusive series, but I’d love to learn how this particular title came together.

Steve Orlando: The offer was given! After the extensive vertical work I’d done across X-Men Green, X-Men Unlimited, and Astonishing Avengers, I think my name likely came up as someone who really enjoys the format — and I do! It recalls comic strips and the humble origins of the format, and that’s something I’m happy to celebrate.

AIPT: While X-Men Infinity Comic is clearly meant to be evergreen, X-Fans Feral Forever, Joey Dunn, and Midnighter all want to understand this series’ continuity. Midnighter, for instance, thinks these stories take place within the X-Men: The Animated Series and X-Men ‘97 universe. What can you share?

Steve: It’s in-continuity, and meant to be evergreen, just as you said! The story takes place in the X-Men’s past, not the X-Men ’97 universe, though within the era of comics that inspired them — anything beyond that would work against the push for doing welcoming, evergreen storytelling. The stories are in-continuity, told in a way that anyone can pick them up and recognize the characters.

AIPT: While on the topic of continuity, X-Fan Feral Lives asks if Infinity Comics afford writers like yourself more, less, the same amount, or a different kind of creative freedom. In Feral Lives’ opinion, they sometimes seem to present a looser interpretation of canon than the floppies.

Steve: In my experience, and folks could have had different experiences, of course — it’s about the same as if the project wasn’t an Infinity Comic. We’ve got rules, we’ve got to make things fit and work — however, the KINDS of stories we do in Infinity offer opportunities to tell stories that wouldn’t always hit in the traditional print format. In that way, I’d say we do get to explore a bit more — but no more or less than if the same story were going to appear in print. WOULD it, though? That’s a different question.

AIPT: This isn’t your first time writing the X-Men — and given how prolific you are, you never seem to be short on ideas. But with this series, are there any major differences in how you’re approaching coming up with and crafting X-Men stories?

Steve: So, the treat is actually what we talked about above — the push to tell evergreen stories, featuring the iconic versions of the characters and their voices. Yes, I’ve worked with X-Men, but in times past we were entrenched in the Krakoan moment, pushing the characters in provocative, bold directions — and that was a blast! Here, we’re adding to the tapestry again — but at a moment I’ve never been lucky enough to work with the characters. These are the X-Men at their core, primal characterization — and in most cases, with this cast, it’s a chance I thought I’d never get.

AIPT: What made you want to kick off this series with a 10-part Omega Red epic?

Steve: The Omega Red arc was a chance to dig into a character I’ve loved for a long time — not only is he one of the iconic designs of the ‘90s, but to me, he’s also one of the characters most emblematic of the Post-Soviet era. Having lived in Russia when I was younger, I’ve always had an affection for Marvel’s Russian heroes and villains. This arc was a chance to analyze what fuels Omega Red and to analyze how hate works. His toxicity ruins everything around him — even his supposed allies.

His disdain is so pure — and the inversion of Xavier’s core drive symbolizes that. He turns a utopian mind into a dystopian weapon. There’s something tragic to Omega Red — something I’ve always wanted to explore. And this arc was the chance — his pain is something he holds onto in unique, tortured ways. With this arc, we get a look at his cruel, wounded worldview — and how it so diametrically opposes the X-Men’s mission.

AIPT: Understandably, there will always be a contingent of X-Fans who want to leave the ‘90s and the mansion behind and continue to push forward into new and exciting territory. And then, some X-Fans want the exact opposite. As the writer of X-Men Infinity Comic, what do you see as the value in telling new stories with arguably the most recognizable iteration of the X-Men?

Steve: Por que no los dos? I think one of the grand advantages of the Infinity format is we do get to do a bit of it all — and offer a bit of it all. We can welcome in folks who haven’t met the characters in a while — and then they can discover all the incredible stuff the mutants have been up to in the interim. We can reward folks looking for a bit of comfort food — and if they don’t have the appetite, we’ve got books on deck pushing the envelope, right behind.

The value to me is ultimately that we can do it all — but to answer this specific question, it’s also that each time we do, we’re offering a brand new doorway for folks. And once they open it — all the amazing mutant stories that grew from this iteration aren’t just waiting, they’re getting bigger all the time.

AIPT: What can you share about the series’ next arc (or even arcs)? On a recent appearance on the AIPT Comics Podcast, you alluded to it spanning from ancient Egypt to Mother Askani’s time period. But you’ve also teased a Domino-focused story with artist Phillip Sevy. What can you share?

Steve: I can say that’s the same story :-).

The next arc is a love letter to multiple eras of the X-Men. We’ll start in Ancient Egypt, where Mother Askani witnesses the birth of a monster even its creator, Apocalypse, can’t control. From his ego comes a machine built to test the mutant species as it climbs up through history — and the moment Mother Askani sees it, she starts thinking about how to stop it. This is a story about the most powerful mutants in the world coming face to face with an unstoppable force — an ally and enemy in one, made to test the mettle of the species. We’ll see a unique batch of X-Men, we’ll see Moonstar (who can never appear enough), we’ll see the classic X-Force and X-Factor… and in the future, a team assembled to finally answer the riddle of the beast.

AIPT: X-Fans Crampon and Pepperridge Farm both asked if there’ll be a Cyclops and Jean Grey story coming up (see, this is what happens when you write them in The End: 2099!). But beyond Jott, what other characters from X-history might we see appearing in upcoming issues?

Steve: So! Cyclops and Jean will definitely appear in the next arc as part of the X-Men — wearing those classic looks! I’ll never be happier than Krakoa established the idea that mutants can wear different uniforms from different eras, just like we wear different outfits.

So you’ll see them, you’ll see Beast. Hell, you’ll briefly see some real deep cuts, of course — like one of the First X-Men cast members. But we’ll also have a quick Blink appearance — and all the teams we talked about above.

AIPT: Artist Alan Robinson did a great job illustrating the first arc. When writing for the Infinity Comic format, does your approach to collaborating with the story’s artist change in any way?

Steve: As a writer, I always try to give collaborators the space to do what they do best — bring a script to life as only they can. So, I am always someone who considers a script the opening of a conversation. That never changes. But how we both tell the story does — since these are essentially vertical comic strips, we have a new set of rules for what we can and can’t do. But within the constraints of not being able to lean on page layout or splashes, we get some really incredible use of perspective and panel staging. For that, as I said, I try to always leave room for a master like Alan to do his work.

AIPT: Finally, we can’t seem to do an X-Men Monday interview without at least one Wanda-focused question slipping through. Hex-Fan Ashton says, “I know this is about X-Men, but I just thought I’d ask a question fans would love to hear more about, please: Sorcerer Supreme‘s second arc. What can fans expect in this series’ next arc?

Steve: It’ll be out soon! And to quote David Lynch, when asked if he cared to elaborate — “no.”

AIPT: And on that very succinct note — Steve, thanks for stopping by X-Men Monday! 

Remember, X-Fans, new issues of X-Men Infinity Comic drop every Monday, only on Marvel Unlimited. Here’s an eXclusive look at scenes from upcoming issues, courtesy of Phillip Sevy and our friends at Marvel!

Next X-Men Monday – April 6, 2026

In the next edition of X-Men Monday, writer Ashley Allen returns to discuss her current Magik & Colossus limited series!

Until next time, X-Fans, stay eXceptional!