‘Uncanny X-Men’ #1 Gets A Second Printing, Spotlights The New Kids

This week’s return of Uncanny X-Men is already making a huge impact, selling out across the entire comics industry. Now, the issue is returning with a second printing, giving us a good luck at Rogue and company’s young new charges.

*Spoilers for Uncanny X-Men below!*

Despite some other faults, the issue had a strong sense of creeping horror. Between a shadowy monster and prophetic promises of the Endling, there’s something horrific brewing in the series. Now any fan that missed the first printing gets a second chance with two covers. The first is the Uncanny X-Men section of Ryan Stegman’s promotional image. 

But the second puts that horror on display subtly in a hero shot of the four new mutants, who we learn more about in some faux trading cards that came with the cover reveal. Where the last similar reveal gave us a trio that definitely felt pretty superheroic, this quartet has the potential to turn into something frightening. From the sounds of it, they could go either way.

First, we get Calico, a stereotypical rich horse girl from what we saw on the final page. However on the cover, she’s wearing fiery armor and riding a flaming steed, evoking a biblical horseman of the apocalypse. Meanwhile, Jitter appears to be the most superheroic at a glance, but is being followed by a trio of faceless specter-like echoes of herself.

Deathdream is an actual monster, surrounded with his billowing cape and glowing red eyes in the shadows of it. And lastly, we get Ransom, who seems to appear fairly normal, but slowly transitions into an inky void.

We only know a little about each of this quartet so far (basically only what’s in this point), but from this cover, clearly we’re meant to fear them. Instantly, I’m interested in Jitter’s powerset, and Ransom absolutely has some potential for something more. The plot point not being highlighted is also what the deal is with these new mutant activations- between these four, the trio from Exceptional X-Men and the antagonists from X-Men, we’re looking at a lot of new mutants in a short period of time.

Regardless, their first appearance gave us something to look forward to. These kids could be a lot of fun to see grow up. Or just maybe, without Rogue’s help, they will end us all.

Uncanny X-Men #1 is available now from Marvel Comics. The second printing will be available on September 11, 2024.