Uncanny X-Men
Phew. Managed to keep this secret until it was announced. Any time anything big happens, I walk around in an existential torment for ages that I’m going to let it slip. Secret-keeping pro-tip: JUST DON’T TELL ANYONE.
Probably best to cut and paste the press-release.
The newly-exclusive Marvel creator partners with Matt Fraction as the new co-writer of Uncanny X-Men
Marvel is proud to announce that newly-exclusive writer Kieron Gillen (Thor, Generation Hope) will join Eisner-winning, superstar writer Matt Fraction as co-writer on Uncanny X-Men! Beginning with Uncanny X-Men #531, Fraction and Gillen pit the X-Men against what may be their greatest threat yet—the loss of their powers at the hands of the Sublime Corporation, as the malevolent force puts into action its master plan!
“For the last thirty years, Uncanny X-Men has been superhero comics’ truest reflection of the age. That’s what I have to live up to and take it into the future, trying to write the definitive twenty-teen take on the X-Men,” explained Gillen. “Any less is underselling what the book deserves. Co-writing with Matt seems a worryingly natural development, as we were friends, then were working together creating the five lights for Generation Hope. The exclusive is the proverbial gravy. In the words of Ms. Knowles:’ They liked it. They put a ring on it.’”
Fraction added, “As a writer? This feels like Kieron and I have already been working on the book for several months anyway, what with the ‘Five Lights’ story and cueing up what he needed for Generation Hope, so this is a perfectly natural extension of that. As a reader? There’s literally no one else in the world I want to read writing X-Men more than Kieron. He’s great. He’s dangerously great. And he’s dying… Dying TO ENTERTAIN YOU.”
A bold new era for the X-Men begins in December as Matt Fraction and Kieron Gillen join forces in Uncanny X-Men #531!
UNCANNY X-MEN #531
Written by MATT FRACTION & KIERON GILLEN
Penciled by GREG LAND
Cover by GREG LAND
Rated T+ .$3.99
ON-SALE IN DECEMBER
The cover of the issue is over at CBR, which is really neat. Also, pleased I managed to get a Beyonce reference into a press release, which also adds a fun meta-referential end to my Thor run. I’m incorrigible.
As you can imagine, there’s much more to say, but it will keep. In short: Wot The Press Release Sez, Obv.
Holy crap! Very, very proud of you mate…sniff…let’s hope you can work in such classic lines as ” Jam on bread, not on head!”
By LEIGH GALLAGHER on 09.13.10 5:09 pm
Double congratuloads, K^G!
And Super-Mark-Kings to the appearance of the original (and best) X-Men costumes – or, as I like to call them, The Terrorist Finger-Painters Army uniforms.
//\Oo/\\
By Matthew Craig on 09.13.10 5:37 pm
Exclusive! so you’re on contract with Marvel now? You’ll still be doing those two Avatar series though right?
And congratulations!
By Winterborn on 09.13.10 5:56 pm
Many congratulations, it is always great to hear you have new work coming out, especially on an ongoing title. Is there any chance of some throwbacks to SWORD. Miss that title so much.
By Leo Sutherland on 09.13.10 10:41 pm
Now all that’s left is the inevitable announcement of more Phonogram via Icon.
By Jacob on 09.13.10 11:55 pm
AWESOME. AWESOME. I knew I should have had you sign my clothes before you got too famous. Congratulations. That is fantastic. Am SO hugely, enormously pleased for you.
By Tamsin on 09.14.10 9:07 am
@ Jacob: I wish for that so much.
Fantastic news, Kieron!
By Matthew on 09.14.10 1:53 pm
It seems like just yesterday there was this then-bemulleted fellow starting out on PC Gamer UK, and now you’re on the flagship X-Men comic. Congratulations!
P.S.: Squeeze in a shot of the team on the Quitely x-leather in a single panel and I’ll buy 10 copies.
By Luis on 09.15.10 12:33 am
Like Luis, I’m left thinking about your PCG-UK and how you’ve done so much in such a short period of time. Congrats mate!
On the exclusive thing, does it also restrict you from more “freelance” work like Phonogram? Would be a shame if you didn’t have an outlet for your more batshit scripts.
By Mo on 09.15.10 1:04 am
Hey like these guys i’ve been reading you since your days as a full-time writer at PCG UK – you were always my favourite. My fondest memory is of your Thief: Deadly Shadows review in the first issue after the magazine was revamped, and you described playing the game set up on a monitor with friends round. Great, original review.
Coincidentally I believe you’re from Stafford – as am I!
Congratulations Kieron, this is a great achievement
By Foxinabox on 09.30.10 9:38 pm
Hey like these guys i’ve been reading you since your days as a full-time writer at PCG UK – you were always my favourite. My fondest memory is of your Thief: Deadly Shadows review in the first issue after the magazine was revamped, and you described playing the game set up on a monitor with friends round. Great, original review.
Coincidentally I believe you’re from Stafford – as am I!
Congratulations Kieron, this is a great achievement
By Foxinabox on 09.30.10 9:38 pm