Marvel's Uncanny X-Men #6 Brings The Superhero Team Back To School [Exclusive Preview]

Gail Simone and David Marquez's "Uncanny X-Men" has brought the marvelous mutants to Louisiana. After the end of the X-Men's Krakoa era, Rogue, Gambit, Wolverine, Nightcrawler, and Jubilee have regrouped in the bayou. There, they've come across a group of young mutant runaways known as the Outliers, including:

• Calico/Becca Simon-Pinette, who has a psychic bond with her horse Ember.

• Jitter/Sofia Young, who can "hyper-focus" and perfect one skill for a single minute.

• Ransom/Valentin Correa, who has a black hole in place of his heart.

• Deathdream/Hotoru, who can summon spirits of the dead.

The first arc of this relaunched "Uncanny X-Men" — "Red Wave" — featured the X-Men protecting the Outliers from a monstrous mutant hunter, the Hag. In the fifth issue, Rogue managed to overcome the Hag (with a little help from a surprise guest). Now that the danger has passed, it looks like it's time for the school season to begin.

Marvel has shared an exclusive preview of "Uncanny X-Men" #6 with /Film, including interior pages drawn by guest artist Javier Garrón. Based on Marquez's cover (see below), it's school time for the Outliers. In "Uncanny X-Men" #3, Nightcrawler led the heroes on a game of capture the flag — the best way to test mutant powers and teamwork without the Danger Room. Further training was interrupted by the Hag, but now it's back on schedule.

Each of these X-Men were once loners in need: Rogue was part of the Brotherhood of Evil Mutants. Gambit was a member of the Thieves Guild. Wolverine was an amnesiac black ops agent. Nightcrawler was a pariah, spurned for his demonic appearance. Jubilee was a homeless mallrat who stumbled into becoming a superhero. Each of them then found their place, and family, by joining the X-Men during a time of need. That's why it makes sense that they'll have to work together to keep Professor X's mission alive and mentor a new generation of Outliers.

Marvel Comics

The issue begins with a recap page, catching new readers up on the last five issues of "Uncanny X-Men." As in those prior issues, the recap page uses a standardized format seen across the other ongoing "From The Ashes" X-Men titles.

Marvel Comics

While the cover suggests all the Outliers will be stars, the preview pages are focusing on Calico. She's previously said the other Outliers are her only friends and in a one-page flashback, we see why. Apparently raised in a wealthy family (she is a horse girl), Becca had a controlling mother who kept her from befriending any "lower-class" girls.

Marvel Comics

The comic then jumps back to the present day with a line-up shot of the X-Men. Rogue is again the narrator (indicated by her trademark green text boxes) and Wolverine is still wearing a blindfold after the Hag skewered his eyes in issue #4. It seems that Calico isn't keen on going to school, and when the X-Men try to calmly talk her down, she has Ember back kick Wolverine. Even with his unbreakable adamantium skeleton, a horse kick can't be a fun experience.

Marvel Comics

Garrón's art is in-keeping with the style Marquez set. It helps that the issue still has the same colorist, Matt Wilson, so the palette is unchanged. The main difference is Garrón's line art hues a bit more cartoony, especially the characters' larger facial features. Marquez (who will be back in issue #7) makes his character look softer than Garrón does. (Compare Marquez's big-eyed, full-lipped Rogue to Garrón's stone-faced Gambit below.) 

Marvel Comics

Back in issue #5, it was revealed that Rogue is taking speech therapy to tone down her Mississippi drawl. Note how, in her green text box above, "I" is now written as it's spelled instead of the "Ah" previously used to indicate her strong accent. This seems to be part of a subtle trend in Simone's handling of the X-Men; they're becoming more assimilationist. During this run, they've generally been calling themselves by their birth names — Anna Marie, Remy, Logan, Kurt, and Jubilation — instead of their mutant ones.

Based on other previews, it seems that "Uncanny X-Men" #6 will be a transitionary issue. Issue #7 is set to be part of a new arc called "Raid on Graymalkin." (Graymalkin being the mutant prison that was built out of the ruined Xavier's School for Gifted Youngsters.)

"Raid on Graymalkin" will be a four-part crossover between "Uncanny X-Men" and Jed MacKay/Ryan Stegman's "X-Men" (starring Cyclops and Magneto). It'll unfold like this:

1. "X-Men" #8 — Part 1

2. "Uncanny X-Men" #7 — Part 2

3. "X-Men" #9 — Part 3

4. "Uncanny X-Men" #8 — Part 4

After that, "Uncanny X-Men" issue #9 will pick back up with the Outliers' coming of age story. The trouble doesn't end there though — back in issue #1, it was prophesied that one of the Outliers is "The Endling" and will spell doom for mutantkind. At this point, it could still be any of four; perhaps issue #6 will drop more hints or further develop the Outliers so the eventual reveal is all the more upsetting.

"Uncanny X-Men" #6 releases on November 27, 2024. "Uncanny X-Men" issues #1-5 are currently available in print and digital.