X-Men United #2
(W) Eve L. Ewing (A) Tiago Palma
X-MEN DIVIDED! Mutantdom’s newest institute of higher learning has barely welcomed its first students, and things are already going down in flames. Meanwhile, an elite team of mutants has to travel through time on a mission alongside none other than CAPTAIN AMERICA!
This September, Alex Ross reimagines the Marvel Universe in Marvel Dimensions, an all-new graphic novel from Marvel and Abrams ComicArts as part of their Marvel Arts line, releasing September 1, 2026. Written and illustrated by Ross, the upcoming graphic novel follows the incomparable artist’s acclaimed work on Fantastic Four: Full Circle with an expansive, reality-shattering saga that includes beautifully painted depictions of Marvel heroes’ iconic origins and early stories. Starting in June, eighteen pieces of artwork from Marvel Dimensions will appear as stunning Variant Covers across select Marvel Comics titles.
Like Alex Ross’ hit Timeless Variant Covers, the new Variant Covers from Marvel Dimensions showcase Marvel heroes as the mythic legends they are! The collection includes classic group shots of the Fantastic Four, Avengers, and X-Men, as well as heroic character portraits, each realistically and dramatically captured by Ross’ singular and award-winning talent!
Preorder the Variant Covers from Marvel Dimensions at your local comic shop today and look for Marvel Dimensions in stores this September.
WELCOME TO GRAYMATTER LANE, LEARN TO SURVIVE THE EXPERIENCE! “Build a school,” Charles Xavier told them, and the X-Men have done so – but in a manner nobody saw coming! Welcome to Graymatter Lane, a place where mutants anywhere in the world can come together in unity to teach one another the skills needed for their survival! With instructors including Wolverine, Beast, Prodigy, Magneto and more, and a campus unlike any before seen, it’s the crossroads of the X-Universe as a student body from across the globe works to take mutantkind to the next step in their evolution – and to cope with a brewing threat to all of their number! X-Men United #1 delivers an ok school experience but the clash between leadership is the interesting aspect.
Written by Eve L. Ewing, X-Men United #1 brings back the proper school aspect to the X-Men. With a twist on the actual “school,” the comic introduces the initial class and the teachers for an experience that has some potential but overall doesn’t quite excite. Where the comic does shine is the clear lines drawn as to whether a school should exist at all?
There’s some divisions between the leadership of the X-Men with Cyclops on one side and on the other, quite a few who want to continue Charles Xavier’s concept of a school. Cyclops has been shaped and shifted over the years going from the one you’d expect to follow Xavier’s “dream” without question to a leader who’s grizzled and a bit more militant. There’s teases here that this will be the conflict that defines the current arc of X-Men stories, and there’s potential for something interesting and transformative by the time it’s done.
For the most part, X-Men United #1 is an introduction issue. We get a lot of detail on the school with a focus on its security, which you know means it’s not secure. There’s also a new generation of mutants that don’t really stand out. And that’s where the issue drags. The characters, beyond their powers, aren’t really given much as far as a backstory which just makes them background characters and keeps the teachers in the forefront. It’s a class that’s set up to be forgettable. Add in with the opportunity to really pull from the massive amount of characters, the one that are in the comic feel rather standard.
The art of X-Men United #1 is decent. Tiago Palma packs in a lot and the school opens itself up for some interesting visuals. But, beyond a few pages and panels, those visuals never quite hit their potential. With color by Brian Reber and lettering by Joe Sabino, the comic looks nice but not all that exciting. It’s fine but not defining.
X-Men United #1 isn’t a bad debut but it’s also not exciting. It shows off some nice concepts and has potential to be something interesting but beyond the final page, there’s little that’s really memorable. With a mutant class that doesn’t really stand out, it’s focus is the teachers more so than the students. It needs to really define itself and stand out from what has come before and in this debut, it falls short.
Story: Eve L. Ewing Art: Tiago Palma
Color: Brian Reber Letterer: Joe Sabino
Story: 7.5 Art: 7.5 Overall: 7.5 Recommendation: Read
Marvel provided Graphic Policy with a FREE copy for review
Purchase: Zeus Comics – Kindle
X-Men United #1
(W) Eve L. Ewing (A) Tiago Palma
WELCOME TO GRAYMATTER LANE, LEARN TO SURVIVE THE EXPERIENCE!
“Build a school,” Charles Xavier told them, and the X-Men have done so — but in a manner nobody saw coming! Welcome to Graymatter Lane, a place where mutants anywhere in the world can come together in unity to teach one another the skills needed for their survival! With instructors including Wolverine, Beast, Prodigy, Magneto and more, and a campus unlike any before seen, it’s the crossroads of the X-Universe as a student body from across the globe works to take mutantkind to the next step in their evolution — and to cope with a brewing threat to all of their number!
Last month, the first wave of David Nakayama’s Color Block Variant Covers arrived in comic shops, standing out on stands with dramatic, eye-catching depictions of heroes in Red! The hit program continues this April, moving on to new White Color Block Variant Covers spotlighting the likes of Captain Marvel, Mystique, Wolverine and more.
One of the industry’s most popular cover artists, Nakayama’s talent has graced nearly every corner of the Marvel Universe. Now, see his colorful take on various Marvel icons in a way that showcases his unique and exuberant style!
Each cover primarily utilizes a single color, reflected in both the character depicted and the background, creating a striking visual. The epic collection comes in three waves. Following last month’s Red Color Block Variant Covers, White Color Block Variant Covers arrive in April with Blue Color Block Variant Covers coming in June. Each Color Block Variant Cover will also be available as a virgin variant cover, ensuring Nakayama’s clean compositions can be enjoyed to the fullest!
Check out five new Color Block Variant Covers and preorder them at your local comic shop today!
This March, the X-Men come together to build a new way for mutantkind to thrive in X-Men United! The previously-teased series, part of the line’s upcoming Shadows of Tomorrow era, will be by written by Eve L. Ewing, following her acclaimed work on Exceptional X-Men, and drawn by Tiago Palma, the rising star who made his Marvel Comics debut earlier this year in New Avengers.
The ambitious series unites the entire X-tapestry—from different generations, factions, and eras—under one, eXciting initiative, turning the classic concept of a school for mutants on its head with the introduction of Graymatter Lane! Founded by Emma Frost and with faculty including Wolverine, Magneto, Beast, Rogue and Storm and guest instructors from throughout the Marvel Universe, Graymatter Lane is more than simply an academy—it’s the central hub for mutant interaction across the world and beyond! This venture represents a bold undertaking that requires all hands on deck, but not all of the X-Men are ready to embrace the idea of another mutant institute for higher learning!
WELCOME TO GRAYMATTER LANE… LEARN TO SURVIVE THE EXPERIENCE!
“Build a school,” Charles Xavier told them, and the X-Men have done so—but in a manner nobody saw coming! Welcome to Graymatter Lane, a place where mutants anywhere in the world can come together in unity to teach one another the skills needed for their survival! With the greatest of the X-Men as teachers and a campus unlike any before seen, it’s the crossroads of the X-Universe as a student body from across the globe works to take mutantkind to the next step in their evolution—and to cope with a brewing threat to all of their number!
X-Men United #1 will feature connecting covers by Stefano Caselli, the very piece used at New York Comic Con to announce the X-Men’s exciting Shadows of Tomorrow era! It arrives to shelves March 11, 2026!
