Marvel introduces a brand-new X-Men team, composed of characters who venture into a corner of mutant lore other hero squads haven’t dared to enter. Charles Xavier’s original X-Men provided the foundation for an entire system of mutant teams, each capable of approaching Xavier’s dream from a different angle. Xavier’s initial concept centered on a small group of mutants who could demonstrate the values of mutantkind. As the mutant population expanded, different squads could specialize in different types of mission, including rescue, mutant defense, diplomacy, covert operations, and direct resistance against oppression.
The X-Men have gradually pushed into nearly every one of those directions. Their stories have taken mutants into cosmic conflicts involving extraterrestrial empires like the Shi’ar and alien threats like the Brood. Other teams have crossed directly into Avengers territory, leading to team-ups like the Uncanny Avengers, and others like X-Force and X-Factor have dabbled in espionage, time travel, and black ops missions. This range allows different X-Men teams to answer different versions of the same central question, whether mutants should assimilate into human society or build an entirely separate future.
There’s one major frontier, however, that the X-Men have barely explored in comparison to the rest: the supernatural. Individual mutants have encountered demons, vampires, mystical artifacts, and occult forces, but Marvel has yet to build a full collection of X-Men characters and stories built around supernatural threats.
Marvel Introduces The X-Orcists, The X-Men’s Supernatural Team
X-Orcists #1; Written By Ashley Allen; Art By Germán Peralta; Cover By Ben Harvey
This November, Illyana Rasputin a.k.a. Magik is assembling her own X-Men team to venture into the dark depths of the Marvel Universe. Magik recruits her surrogate brother Juggernaut and her supernatural colleague Madelyne Pryor, who’s the current ruler of the Limbo dimension, to create the X-Orcists and protect Limbo from a new demonic threat. Although Marvel has only confirmed three members of the X-Orcists so far, other mystical and non-mystical heroes are likely to join Magik, Juggernaut, and Madelyne Pryor soon.
Typically, the X-Men have leaned far more toward science fiction than outright fantasy, even when their stories occasionally venture into mystical territory. Mutants derive their abilities from genetics, and many of them are enhanced by cosmic phenomena, while many of the team’s major conflicts involve scientific experimentation and advanced technology. Mysticism has always had a place in the franchise through characters like Magik and Madelyne Pryor, but it’s usually treated as a small part of a much larger science-fiction environment. The X-Orcists now reverse the balance with a fully mystical team and a few sci-fi elements sprinkled throughout.
The X-Orcists Might Soon Recruit More X-Men And Non-Mutant Heroes
Magik’s X-Orcists Initiative Could Be The Start Of A New X-Men Era
The X-Orcists roster could expand their supernatural concept in several directions with the addition of new members. Nightcrawler would be an obvious choice due to his religious faith and his long history with supernatural forces. Pixie could contribute her own magical heritage, soul dagger, and fairy-like abilities, and Storm has strong potential thanks to her ties to ancient African spiritual traditions and mythical gods. Other possibilities include Dani Moonstar, whose connection to Asgard gives her experience with death and the supernatural; and Gambit, whose ties to the New Orleans underworld and his newfound connection to the Eye of Agamotto might find some resolution in the pages of X-Orcists.
More importantly, the rise in popularity of The Uncanny X-Men‘s recently introduced team of Outliers could graduate from the X-Men to become full-time X-Orcists. The young heroes Deathdream, Calico, Jitter, and Ransom have more than enough experience fighting supernatural threats like Agatha’s legion of monsters and Shuvarak. There’s also the possibility of the X-Orcists eventually crossing paths with another team of recently assembled supernatural heroes, Clea and Blade’s new Midnight Sons, who have welcomed Daredevil into their ranks to fight the Mansion Ravenous.
Which X-Men character would you like to see join the X-Orcists?
X-Orcists #1 is available November 18 from Marvel Comics
- Movie(s)
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X-Men (2000), X2, X-Men: The Last Stand (2006), X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009), X-Men: First Class (2011), The Wolverine (2013), X-Men: Days of Future Past (2014), Deadpool (2016), X-Men: Apocalypse (2016), Logan (2017), Deadpool 2 (2018), Dark Phoenix (2019), The New Mutants, Deadpool & Wolverine (2024)
- TV Show(s)
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X-Men: Pryde of the X-Men, X-Men (1992), X-Men: Evolution (2000), Wolverine and the X-Men (2008), Marvel Anime: Wolverine, Marvel Anime: X-Men, Legion (2017), The Gifted (2017), X-Men ’97 (2024)
- Video Game(s)
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X-Men: Children of the Atom (1994), Marvel Super Heroes (1995), X-Men vs. Street Fighter (1996), Marvel Super Heroes vs. Street Fighter (1997), Marvel vs. Capcom (1998), X-Men: Mutant Academy (2000), Marvel vs. Capcom 2: New Age of Heroes (2000), X-Men: Mutant Academy 2 (2001), X-Men: Next Dimension (2002), Marvel vs. Capcom 3: Fate of Two Worlds (2011), Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3 (2011), X-Men Legends (2005), X-Men Legends 2: Rise of Apocalypse (2005), X2: Wolverine’s Revenge (2003), X-Men (1993), X-Men 2: Clone Wars (1995), X-Men: Mutant Apocalypse (1994)
- First Film
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X-Men (2000)
- Character(s)
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Professor X, Cyclops, Iceman, Beast, Angel, Phoenix, Wolverine, Gambit, Rogue, Storm, Jubilee, Morph, Nightcrawler, Havok, Banshee, Colossus, Magneto, Psylocke, Juggernaut, Cable, X-23
- Comic Release Date
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213035,212968