It doesn’t get any better than this! Thanks Kwan for helping to make this happen. An absolutely fantastic addition to my X-collection. And Inferno #1 is out today! As you might know, this piece was also used as an intriguing teaser ad with the addition of the words “TRUST NO ONE” (see Additional Images). Love it! We can see Moira MacTaggert, fierce and determined, with dead mutants all around her, the scene echoing RB Silva’s Powers of X #6 cover (see my HOXPOX gallery) featuring Moira walking amongst many more dead mutants. What has happened? Well, there’s been plenty of speculation on social media but we shall see! For now, I can say that I am delighted to have this cover in my collection. An incredibly beautifully drawn piece, every character is absolutely exquisite – dead or alive!
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“THIS FALL: INFERNO” -- This was how it all began back in May 2021, a dramatic teaser ad (see Additional Images) appearing at the end of X-Men #20 (bought complete by another CAF member!), the ad revealed after the final page and after we had learnt the latest developments in the Mystique/Destiny/Moira story line which began in HOXPOX and continued in X-Men #6 and #20. (Not read them yet? Read them now!) Then on 4 June came Marvel’s first press release, announcing, “The X-Men's World Goes Up in Flames in Jonathan Hickman's 'Inferno'”, with a first look at awesome artwork by Mark Brooks which was used as another teaser ad (which became a wraparound variant cover for Inferno #1) - and the original art is owned and was recently shared by another CAF member!
The press release continued: ““There will be an island—not the first, but the last…” Destiny’s foreboding words have stuck with Mystique—and fans—since the very beginning of the age of Krakoa. Now, a day of reckoning is upon mutantkind’s leaders, and the shocking payoff to seeds planted in HOUSE OF X and POWERS OF X arrives in mastermind writer Jonathan Hickman’s brand-new X-Men series: INFERNO! Promises were made and broken. The rulers of Krakoa have been playing a dangerous game with a dangerous woman, and they are about to see how badly that can burn them. Having been denied her wishes yet again, Mystique is ready to follow through on her promise to burn the nation of Krakoa to the ground. Mutantkind’s bright future is threatened like never before as Hickman brings his game-changing plans to a head. Fans can expect more revelations from the lives of Moira MacTaggert, Nimrod’s revenge, vicious power plays, and more in this pivotal chapter in X-Men history. Throughout this four-issue limited series, Hickman will be joined by an incredible line-up of artists beginning with acclaimed illustrator Valerio Schiti. Known for masterfully depicting large-scale action alongside intense human drama, the S.W.O.R.D. and EMPYRE artist is perfect for bringing this heart-breaking saga to life. "I’m very excited that we’re finally getting to share with everyone the follow-up to HOUSE OF X/POWERS OF X,” Hickman said. “The story is 160 pages over four issues drawn exquisitely by Valerio Schiti, R.B. Silva and Stefano Caselli. I cannot wait for people to read it.” In what is now an X-Men tradition, superstar artist Mark Brooks has delivered another stunning piece of teaser artwork for this latest X-Men milestone. An homage to his earlier HOUSE OF X/POWERS OF X piece, it depicts all the major players of Krakoa as they brace themselves for their biggest shakeup yet. Check it out [see Additional Images] and be there in September when the biggest secrets of Jonathan Hickman’s X-Men run burn away in INFERNO #1.”
In August, alongside homage teaser ads by RB Silva, Marvel continued the build-up, announcing, “No mutant can be trusted in Jonathan Hickman’s upcoming X-Men epic, INFERNO, on sale in September! The X-Men’s world is about to go up in flames! Alliances will be broken, secrets will be revealed, and the once bright future of mutantkind will be threatened like never before in writer Jonathan Hickman’s upcoming limited series, INFERNO. The next chapter in the mastermind writer’s grand vision for the X-Men, INFERNO promises to be a high-stakes mutant drama that will provide the startling payoff to seeds planted in House of X and Powers of X, and fans can see what’s to come in new teasers by acclaimed Powers of X artist R.B. Silva. An homage to the original house ads for 1989’s milestone X-Men crossover Inferno, Silva’s artwork presents all the major players of the upcoming saga and teases the day of reckoning that will soon be upon them.”
Finally, earlier this month Marvel revealed an Inferno movie-style trailer, the camera panning over this cover, first on the dead mutants and then on Moira. Awesome!
And yet another yellow brick to the road of your x-traordinary collection! Congrats! This cover truly makes you want to launch ahead and grab every issue to unearth what becomes of our favorite and not so favorite mutants!
This will always be memorable and special as part of the epic Hickman storyline! It may even get burned into our subconsciousness over the years if this story resonates over time. This cover image is full of intrigue and it makes sense that this book is the hottest new release.
Inferno was such a satisfying conclusion to the Hickman era and this cover perfectly captures the essence of that conclusion. Congrats on owning such an epic piece of X-History.
