C2E2: X-Men: Battle of the Atom

As the X-Men franchise prepares to celebrate its 50th anniversary this year, Marvel has big plans involving all of the ongoing X-Men series.

According to Marvel PR, “Masterminded by writers Brian Michael Bendis, Jason Aaron and Brian Wood, the event springs directly out of the current status quo, as established by Brian Michael Bendis and Stuart Immonen in ALL-NEW X-MEN. In Battle of the Atom, the mutants of the past—currently sheltered within the walls of the Jean Grey and Xavier Schools—will be targeted by a mysterious new team: the Future X-Men! Their only goal: send the original crew back to the past by any means necessary.”

As previously mentioned in other C2E2 posts at Major Spoilers, the time altering ramifications of this story are going to ripple through the Marvel Universe, and may even be the build-up to something bigger Marvel has up its sleeve.

“People now know that they should have no idea what to expect from ALL-NEW X-MEN,” said Brian Michael Bendis referring to the shocking twist of fate that led the original five X-Men to the present. “They really have no idea what to expect from an event like this—except there will be slapping. Everybody knows there will be slapping.” Mr. Bendis, Jason Aaron, and Brian Wood are the writers of the series.

X-Men: Battle of the Atom kicks off in September with X-Men: Battle of the Atom #1 by Mr. Bendis and artist Frank Cho. The series continues in Uncanny X-Men: All New X-Men, Wolverine & the X-Men, and X-Men. The arc then wraps in October in X-Men: Battle of the Atom #2 by Mr. Aaron, and an artist who is yet to be announced.