Marvel’s Unbreakable X-Men are Staring Down the MCU’s Biggest Bad

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The following contains major spoilers for Unbreakable X-Men #1, on sale October 15 from Marvel Comics.

Marvel Comics' Unbreakable X-Men are on the verge of losing their very first fight, and no one could ever blame them if they did.

In a preview of Unbreakable X-Men #1 (by Gail Simone, Lucas Werneck, and VC's Clayton Cowles) from Marvel Comics, readers find the ragtag group of heroes still standing watch over Louisiana in The Age of Revelation. Together, Rogue, Gambit, Ransom, Temper, Dome, Spider-Girl, and Sentinel Boy are the only ones standing between the threat of Revelation and the Hellish realm known as Penumbra, not to mention the powerful Shuvahrak who created it. As mighty as these heroes might be, however, it is hard to imagine them ever overcoming the might of Galactus, especially not while the Devourer of Worlds is serving as the puppet of an even more dedicated enemy.

Unbreakable X-Men #1

Written by GAIL SIMONE
Art by LUCAS WERNECK
Letters by VC's CLAYTON COWLES
Design by JAY BOWEN
Main cover art by LUCAS WERNECK
Variant covers by JAY ANACLETO & ROMULO FAJARDO JR.; LEIRIX; MATEUS MANHANINI; RICKIE YAGAWA & TAMRA BONVILLAIN; and TERRY DODSON & RACHEL DODSON

Galactus has been one of the biggest parts of the Marvel Universe, both literally and figuratively, since he first appeared in 1965's Fantastic Four #48 by Stan Lee and Jack Kirby. In the decades since, Galactus has gone from a purely malevolent force to an exceptionally complex character whose personal history spans more than just that of the Marvel Universe as a whole. While Galactus is still very much in command of the world-ending powers that made him famous, he has taken on a generally amicable persona in more recent years compared to the imposing aura he exuded during his heyday.

Marvel Comics' Age of Revelation event is set a decade from the current present of the Marvel Universe, in a future in which Revelation, formerly known as Douglas Ramsey aka Cypher, has ushered in a darkly dystopian new era for mutantkind. With his powers, Revelation has effectively captured the minds of all who heard his call, while his legions of Choristers and Seraphim spread and infect others with his message as far as they can. While the vast majority of mutants seem to have fallen under Revelation's spell (or chose to fight alongside him of their own volition), there are still plenty of holdouts left willing to do whatever it takes to bring The Age of Revelation to an end.

Although The Age of Revelation is set in a future version of the Marvel Universe, that just so happens to be the version of it fans know best, which makes the event that much more of an ominous portent for everyone who calls Earth-616 their home. Back in September, Executive Editor and Conductor of X for Marvel Comics Tom Brevoort confirmed that whatever The Age of Revelation has in store for readers will almost assuredly come to pass in the not-so-far-off future.

"Going into January and beyond, we’re kind of in the shadow of tomorrow, where the events going forward will all kind of live in the umbra of these events that we have just witnessed," Brevoort explained. "We've just seen things that have happened to all these characters 10 years down the line. As far as we're approaching this, these are all legitimate futures. This isn't a What If world. These things exist, as far as even the present-day characters are concerned. So, you’ll see a certain amount of reflectivity in what happens."

Unbreakable X-Men #1 goes on sale October 15 from Marvel Comics.