Release: August 2026 | Writer: Jed McKay | Artist: Netho Diaz & Sean Parsons| Colorists: Arthur Hesli | Letterer: Clayton Cowles
3K vs the X-Men once again! Who will come out victorious and what is 3K's real motive?
*SPOILER WARNING AHEAD!*
THE KEY TO A NEW WORLD:
The Chairman meets with Magneto in Merle, Alaska. He wants to lay out his plans to Magneto front and center due to Magneto's importance. He needs the information stored in Magneto's blood to complete his form of the X-Virus.
The X-Virus was a deadly genocide-level weapon that killed all humans, leaving the world in disarray as mutants took over certain states and battled with each other.
The Chairman lived that reality as Beast and knows that mutants, as the superior breed of man, deserve to thrive.
Magneto does not agree. Even when the Chairman spews back Magneto's previous viewpoints on humanity. He holds his ground.
A promise to be fixed is given. The Chairman wants to bring Magneto to the powerful God-like mutant he knows that he can be and he can do that by obtaining his blood and creating this X-Virus. Magneto says no to this and denies Chairman of his plan coming to fruition.
While all of this is happening, what are the X-Men dealing with at their HQ?
3K vs X-MEN!
3K have ambushed the X-Men where they should feel the most safe. Magneto's clone Joseph, Timebomb, Psychovore Constellation and Galatea have arrived.
Even though they dislike the X-Men they seem to dislike Joseph more. Seeing him as a greedy child basically and promises to put an end to him after they try to take out the X-Men.
The key word in that is "try" because the X-Men throw everything at them. Even when Quentin is taken out of the fight, they continue to get the upper-hand on 3K.
When Cyclops has the winning blow on Joseph, Joseph confirms that this was just a distraction for a bigger plan that they have and they are all extracted out of the X-Men's headquarters. The X-Men try to decipher what that bigger plan may be. And that's when they realize they can't find Magneto.
Upon arriving where Magik brought him in town, we see a bloodied and unconscious Magneto on the ground. He's on death's door and the X-Men now need to conjure up a plan to get to 3K and stop whatever 3K is planning. Which Cyclops correctly guesses is the X-Virus. Which Cyclops also saw first-hand how deadly it is during the Age of Revelation.
He promises to not allow a genocide to happen at the hands of a mutant. And they need to go to Philadelphia to put a permanent end to 3K. How you ask? Well they have Schwarzchild locked in a cell ready for Psylocke and Quentin to pick through his brain.
CONCLUSION
X-Men is as fun as comics get.
Action, drama, beautiful art, phenomenal storytelling this book has it all. X-Men has been a constantly strong title for Marvel when some other series may be lacking. Characters have their own voices, and for the most part, every character keeps their personalities consistent throughout this title. Every idea so far has been a success in my opinion and has been weaved together tremendously since this recent run of the title began.
Chairman and Beast truly do feel like two completely different beings. Meanwhile having a team like 3K is a great idea for anytime you want to pull them for a big fight in the future. I'm really intrigued to see where Joseph goes as a character just as much as what's going on with the actual Magneto. Luckily, DNX is going to reveal to us what happens with that fella very soon.