X-Men Monday #352 – Kieron Gillen Talks ‘Alien Vs. X-Men’ • AIPT
AIPT asked my very specific Lockheed question to Kieron Gillen! Who is promoting his upcoming Alien vs X-Men four issue miniseries, that Chris Claremont is writing a Kitty Pryde specific back up in.
I knew it was more of a question for Chris Claremont, but it is fun to learn that Lockheed was in Gillen’s script at one point.
Also, I had no idea that the first issue took place during the Astonishing X-Men V3 era, that’s super cool.
Writer Steve Orlando
Artists Stephen Segovia & Roi Mercado
Color Artist Alex Sinclair
Letterer VC’s Joe Sabino
We continue the Mojo subplot.
Yaga Dyara has been trying to kill the Rasputin bloodline for centuries.
This issue takes place right after Uncanny X-Men 231, as Colossus is upset that he just liked to his sister, Magik, that he was dead, and only his ghost visited her in Limbo.
I really do like seeing Betsy and Colossus being friends.
Yaga Dyara attacks, and the X-Men fight back.
I do like how often Colossus thinks about Illyana this issue.
Betsy goes into Colossus’ mind, and she knows just how to motivate him, that Illyana will never let him live this down.
(Also, you are welcome for the feet pics)
Colossus wins the day, and begins sculpting.
Issue ends with Havok checking on Madelyne Pryor, who didn’t do much, and is feeling bad about that.
Writer Ashley Allen
Artist Domenico Carbone
Color Artist Fer Sifuentes-Sujo
Letterer VC’s Joe Sabino
Rogue and Remy are having a date night, so Jubilee is in charge of the New Mutants. She resents being constantly placed on the sidelines, as she just can’t shake her junior X-Men status. Then an orb arrives.
Calio and Ember, and the rest of the New Mutants, are going to locate Logan.
Ember looks great here!
As Jubilee is about to enter the portal to who knows where, hint, it is the Tomb of Apocalypse, Logan shows up, so they both go in. Logan wants to remain calm, and back out, especially once he learns this is Apocalypse related. Jubilee is tried of him calling her a kid, and wants to push on. They immediately get over their heads, and Jubilee has to keep pushing herself, until she’s actually inside the tomb. There Apocalypse tells Jubilee he was looking for Gambit, but she’ll do. Issue ends with Rictor and Shatterstar showing up, so we’re building our cast.
I suppose the New Mutants are never going to find Logan.
Writer Jed MacKay
Penciler Netho Diaz
Inker Sean Parsons
Colorist Arthur Helsi
Letterer VC’s Clayton Cowles
Variant Artist Rod Reis, I had to get the Magik cover.
Krakoa Beast, the 3K Chairman, wants Magneto on his side, and he can restore Magneto’s powers to sway him.
Meanwhile, Joseph, in Magneto’s purple boots, is leading the 3K X-Men – Timebomb, Psychovore, Juice, and Galatea.
The 3K X-Men do NOT care for Joseph.
Cyclops and the Alaskan X-Men (I’m going to try to be as clear as possible with this) are immediately ready for a fight.
70s Beast and Magik are making their way back to the Factory.
I like how Chairman Beast fumbles his pitch with Magneto. Magneto is Right, we all know this. Magneto’s current state is because it is a message from the future.
Quintin Quire is taken out, so the X-Men have to fight old school.
Constellation, I’m so happy Magik name checked this guy, as I wouldn’t have known.
I do love Cyclops fighting Joseph, and saying how the 3K X-Men are still unknown to them, but he’s fought Magneto for years.
This entire attack was a distraction as Chairman Beast only needed Magneto’s DNA, and no interference, and he gets what he wants.
Magik tells her X-Men that she took Magneto to town, which Cyclops immediately knows what the goal was.
Krakoa Beast has really went to town on Magneto!
Epilogue. Scott is telling the X-Men how important it was that 3K didn’t get all of their objectives completed.
Cyclops has a plan, they are going to data mine everything Schwarzchild knows.
Up Next : DNX 1 !
Please follow along to see what I’m interested in what Marvel is putting out in November 2026.
Marvel Comics November 2026 Solicitations
Midnight X-Men 2 AIPT guessed we might get Kitty Pryde in issue one, so I’m very excited about issue two.
. . .
Midnight Spider-Man 2 sounds very interesting as well.
Predator vs Punisher 1 sounds like fun.
. . .
I still find it odd they placed Midnight in front of those titles to keep them together, yet, for this Incursions event, they go with the character names first. But also, I’m on board for X-Men Incursions. Days of Future Past Kate Pryde vs House of M, yes please! I’m going to get the regular cover.
. . .
DNX 4, I want the Vicentini cover, as Magik is more featured on that one.
. . .
DNX 5, we’re double shipping DNX now?! We must be making room for whatever kicks off 2027. I want the Camuncoli cover, as it has Magik’s head on it.
. . .
Jean Grey 1, she’s back, and joining Cyclops’ Alaska X-Men, so I should get this as I’m sure Magik will appear.
. . .
X-Men 41, Magik is back to being on the covers, and November is already starting to feel pricy. I’m going to want the regular cover as Magik is more of a focus on that one.
. . .
X-Orcists 1, with both Ashley Allen and German Peralta?! And Magik and Madelyne Pryor?! I’m getting that Russell Dauterman cover, for sure. I would want more covers of this, but I need to limit myself.
. . .
Tomb of Apocalypse 4, I saw Calico and Ember were going to be in issue one, and now I’m having regrets not preordering this series.
Generation X-23 10, it is the story’s finale, but is it the series finale?!
. . .
X-Men United 9, I guess it wasn’t the Shadow King after all (Solicitations can be so silly sometimes). Hopefully Kitty is on one of the five variant covers.
. . .
Uncanny X-Men 38, we’re back to both Graymalkin Prison, and failed Wolverine experiments.
Uncanny X-Men 39, and we’re double shipping!
Gambit Wanted 5, the final issue, and we get a cover with Jean, Logan, Scott, and Lil Ro.
Gambit Gone 3, still a weird miniseries concept for me, but if you like Gambit, this has two of them for you.
Wolverine 29, I wonder who the “friend” is?
Wolverine Paradise 2, odd to me they didn’t put Dazzler’s name in the title here.
Punisher Showdowns : Wolverine 1, another event where they put the title first, and character second. Why is Incursions different? This is the only issue of the event I was interested in.
Friendly Neighborhood Mary Jane 1, with Ashley Allen AND Phil Noto?! If I was ever going to buy a Spider-Man title, this would be it.
Spider-Woman 1, getting a new ongoing to celebrate her 50th anniversary, I like that.
Amazing Spider-Man 1004, has Logan on the cover, that’s pretty cool.
. . .
Black Cat 16, I had completely forgot to anticipate this Black Cat / X-Men crossover! Felicia and Emma Frost are a fun combination. I wonder if Kitty would be in this?
. . .
Iron Man 11, Carmen Carnero drawing Reed and Sue fighting Iron Man? That sounds fantastic.
Captain America 17, we have a young clone of Doctor Doom, named Vic, running around? Okay, Armageddon.
Marvel Meow / Strange Scales 1, printing for the first time, Marvel Meow Infinity Comics 19 – 24, and Strange Scales 1. Fandom has the characters appearances for Meow, but not for Strange Scales. From the descriptions, I don’t think Lockheed appeared in Scales. There is a new story too, so I’ll check to see if Lockheed shows up for this. Maybe we’re getting closer to Lovable Lockheed seeing print?
. . .
Jeff the Land Shark Superstar 5, final issue, and Magikhot is on the main cover, so I’m sold.
. . .
Godzilla Conquers the Multiverse 5, final issue! I wonder if there will be a fourth miniseries? States the X-Men appear, and Magik has appeared before, so I should just preorder it.
. . .
Alien vs X-Men 3, the Chris Claremont back up has both Kitty Pryde and Rachel Summers! They are the truest of friends! Hopefully they appear on one of the two variant covers.
. . .
Let’s see what November 2026 looks like for me :
Midnight X-Men 2, any cover
X-Men Incursions 1, main cover
DNX 4, the Vicentini cover
DNX 5, the Camuncoli cover
Jean Grey 1, any cover
X-Men 41, regular cover
X-Orcists 1, the Russell Dauterman cover
X-Men United 9, one of the variant covers
Black Cat 16, any cover
Jeff the Land Shark Superstar 5, the main cover
Godzilla Conquers the Multiverse 5, any cover
Alien vs X-Men 3, one of the variant covers
12 comics, that’s really pushing it there.
. . .
What are you interested in, dear reader?
Writer Kelly Thompson
Artist Tokitokoro
Color Artist Jim Campbell
Letterer VC’s Joe Caramagna
Issue opens with Jeff versus Street Sharks, which is very fun.
We are treated to a great team shot of the Jeff Coast Avengers with Magikhot.
I can only hope the JCA attack with honor.
I love so much that we are treated to Jeff figuring out who at least half the Amalgam characters are. He knows who Magik is, but not necessarily who Longshot is.
This is a very cute comic.
Jeff destroyed the set, so now everyone has to stop acting.
Mojo shows up to yell at Jeff, as Mojo is a jerk.
Magikhot, Jeff, and the rest of the Jeff Coast Avengers are banished to the green room, which is a fancy breakroom.
Like Kate Bishop, Kate-Locke (a combination with Psylocke), can understand Jeff, so now she’s deputy leader.
So cute how Magikhot doesn’t want any part of this nonsense.
Kate-Locke finally gets around to naming everyone for Jeff’s sake. We are also introduced to Wolvie-Kawaii. Who is also super cute.
Aw, Wolvie-Kawaii is sad that his entire team was scrapped.
Jeff is immediately taking by Wolvie-Kawaii, and truly, who isn’t?! And now the team has a new mission, keep the little guy super safe.
Issue ends with Spiral picking up Ken, Jeff’s other cute friend who is a squid or octopus. One of those. Maybe. He’s a Septapus.
Writer Jed MacKay
Penciler Tony S. Daniel
Inker Mark Morales
Colorist Arthur Hesli
Letterer VC’s Clayton Cowles
Variant Cover Alexander Lozano, as soon as I saw that plush Lockheed, I had to have this 80s Magik variant cover.
This was such a great comic!
It looks gorgeous too, Daniel, Morales, and Hesli really brought it this issue.
I really appreciate that we got to see how Magik interacts with this 70s Beast, as I don’t feel like they have too much character history together. She hung out with Teen Beast during Brian Michael Bendis’ All New X-Men / Uncanny X-Men tenure. Nothing else really comes to mind.
I really love Magik bringing Magneto to a temple in Merle, Alaska. That was very kind of her.
Maybe a reference to Kitty Pryde would have been too much to ask for?
Magik is such a great character, that we can establish where everyone is with her portals, Such a clever use of her power, and we get a quick glimpse of how she interacts with her team, as she’s looking for 70s Beast.
70s Beast is still unraveling his interaction with Krakoa Beast, the Chairman of 3K. He’s not used to seeing a personification of his inner darkness, so who else to ask but Magik, who has her own personal Darkchild.
Is this Magik learning about Krakoa Beast’s involvement in 3K?
No, Cyclops must have told them when he updated them on the Age of Revelation.
But always good to reestablish plot points.
Age of Revelation Darkchild did look cool, and I love that her and Juggernaut are Best Friends Forever.
Apparently, Cyclops has kept the Krakoa Beast a secret, and only Beast, Animalia, and now Magik know who they are truly up against.
70s Beast is so vulnerable here.
And I just love the softness of the colors here.
Magik tells 70s Beast that seeing her darkness personified is a gift.
It is interesting how living in a comic book universe, that one is treated to seeing what their worst selves look like. That must be such a trippy experience.
Magik must give the best hugs. The absolute rarest of gifts is a hug from Magik.
The panel of her saying she’s a big softy, and just thinks spikes and swords are cool is a panel that will live on forever. It is a shame she’s not seen saying it inside the panel, but might as well include the hug and the quote when reposting it.
There, I did it for you. You are so welcome.
Issue ends with an explosion at The Factory.
This probably is my favorite issue of this series thus far. It is so great!
Writers Eve L. Ewing & Evan Marcisse
Pencilers Tiago Palma & Eduardo Pansica
Inkers Tiago Palma & Oren Junior
Color Artist Brian Reber
Letterer VC’s Joe Sabino
Variant Cover Taurin Clarke, with Lockheed
Shadow Play, Part Two
Issue opens in a nightmare barren realm.
We see Kitty Pryde, Psylocke, Beast, Nightcrawler, Gambit, and Magneto, as they adjust to their new space.
We are treated to Demon versions of our X-Men, which is pretty intense.
Clearly, our X-Men learned a very important lesson from the Pokemon First Movie, and switch up opponents. That just makes sense.
Calico is leading Loolo and Loa to Louisiana, as Bronze and Marigold watch on.
Hopefully Marigold isn’t secretly a camera for Mister Sinister.
Cheslea St. Junior puts the Louisiana visitors in a dome, as that is her power.
We get a hint that maybe Shadow King is involved with this plot.
We get a connection to Uncanny X-Men / Unbreakable X-Men’s Shuvahrak plot, and maybe we are in Penumbra?
Kitty gets a quick update on what Shuvahrak and Perumbra is. No one is sure why Shuvahrak has taken the form of Emma Frost.
Demon Kitty is pretty intense.
Right when everyone needs it, Calico and Ember arrive to save the adults! I love so much that Calico and Ember are being spotlighted this issue.
I just wish we got a moment with Kitty and Becca & Ember this issue.
Scott & Emma have rejoined Graymatter Lane.
I like Axo being the one to mention that Kitty is also missing.
Calico is so happy to be reunited with everyone. Truly the X-Men are United here.
As is Ember!
Five Minutes Later.
Magik is here too! And as per the rule, Magik and Kitty Pryde cannot talk to each other. Why are they not at least sitting together?!
Marigold is here, still with Bronze, so we’re not even having Kitty and Marigold have a moment.
Or, heck, Magik and Marigold can finally meet.
Though I am a sucker for when all of our merry mutants are together.
I love so much that Magik’s War Captain instincts kick in.
You can just tell that Marigold is very impressed.
I’m not sure why Kitty doesn’t update Emma about Penumbra, and the giant Emma demon. Now is the time to do so.
Issue ends with Wither and Blade arriving, so maybe we’ll get more answers next issue?
This has been my favorite issue since the first issue.
31 Minutes
“X-Men are pushed to their limits as their past comes back to haunt them.”
Storm says the Previously On the X-Men.
Sunspot was added to the opening credits.
X-Men vs X-Factor instead of vs Magneto.
Aw, Cable and his uncle Havok are working together. But do they know that?
Cable sums it up, Gambit has to die.
Beast, Rogue, and Nightcrawler found Apocalypse’s ship, Ship, on the ocean’s floor.
If the X-Men destroy Apocalypse, might suffer Celestial wrath.
Rogue goes into the chamber for the knowledge, and starts losing her skin. It is pretty intense.
Gambit is sleeping, they could have at least put a blanket on him.
Val Cooper confronts Xavier through a video call.
Val Cooper thinks she can take down the X-Men.
Alex warns Val that this would be declaring war on Xavier, but I’m pretty sure they’ve been at a cold war this entire season.
X-Men know they are up against both X-Factor and X-Force.
There’s definitely tension between Bishop and Polaris.
Rogue asks a Celestial for help. I thought she was a speck on my phone.
Oh Rogue, trying to punch a Celestial.
I really don’t want to lose Rogue for Gambit.
Rogue is going to get a power up. I can only imagine this costume will be an action figure or a Funko eventually.
Aw, Rogue and Kurt get a great hug.
Strong Guy gets a moment in the battle.
Siryn?! Was she always there?!
Cable gets confronted by Scott and Jean.
Logan vs Psylocke AND Archangel.
Actually Morph and Logan. Morph morphed into Doctor Octopus.
Psylocke can’t scramble Logan’s brain, as it is already scrambled.
Blue Jet vs Red Jet. Havok being weird against Jubilee. I guess he’s trying to be friendly. Jubilee shows off some impressive moves.
Doesn’t Bishop only absorb energy attacks? And Sebastian Shaw absorbs physical attacks?
Gambit is up. He fights Multiple Man.
Gambit is at 86% from beig taken over by Apocalypse.
Cable takes Cyclops’ visor, and for once, Scott remembers to simply close his eyes. He’s learning.
Cable has made his way to Polaris, Bishop, and Gambit.
Did Cable actually kill Gambit, or is Xavier playing games?
I love how silent this scene is, no music.
Gambit woke up.
Gambit has become Apocalypse, and all of the mutants are present for it. Where is Rogue?
Apocalypse body, but Gambit’s grey head, and jacket. Expect this to be a two pack with New Rogue.
Instead of a bo staff, but he has a red energy sycthe.
He has Apocalypse’s voice too.
Is Jean getting the Phoenix? Oh, Apocalypse took over everyone, except Xavier.
They clearly were not trained to RESIST.
Rogue is here, ya’ll!
Light Rogue vs Dark Gambit.
Did Rogue simply take the Death Seed?!
That was very fast.
Rogue gave Cable the Death Seed.
Rogue’s head band looks like the Wonder Woman WW.
Rogue and Gambit kiss!
Unfortuantely, a kiss goodbye.
Rogue lost her power upgrade.
Rogue and Beast making intense eye contact from a distance.
No! I was worried Kurt was going to sacrifice himself for Rogue. I rather still lose Gambit.
Get Beak, Nature Girl, Wing, Jubilee, and Sunspot.
Xavier teaching Quentin Quire, Artie, the gal from Marvels, maybe Oya? Bishop and Polaris are having a cute picnic. Right next to the outdoor lesson, that’s awkward.
Colossus is painting Illyana and himself.
Rogue got a new casual outfit, and she’s with Gambit.
Kurt does have faith.
Credits.
Post credit scene! Still have four minutes left.
Are we about to get the Mystique is Val Cooper reveal?
What?! President Kelly lost the election to Crayton Creed. This can’t be good.
Val Cooper is reading a Mystique file, and then is confronted by . . . Val Cooper?!
Mystique IS determined to attack the United States!
I say, indeed!
I’m already looking forward to a more grounded season three.
Such a great episode!
. . .
No Kitty Pryde, dang.
No more Nightcrawler, and now Mystique is even more motivated to attack Xavier.
No Magneto resurrection either.
Thanks to disney fandom for the image above.
Legacy Uncanny 733
Writer Gail Simone
Artist Luciano Vecchio
Color Artist Matthew Wilson
Letterer VC’s Clayton Cowles
Wild Ride, Part One, guest starring Gabriel, Devil-Hunter
Gabriel is very Nick Fury coded.
I don’t love him explaining what Rogue means to Rogue. Okay guy.
Did he deserve to be bitten by Gambit? Yes.
Once Gambit bit Gabriel, he got a vision of Gambit slaying everybody, with Rogue being the last to fall.
Haven House, Louisiana. Calico is both sleeping, and crying. Becca is still sleep walking.
Monet and Quicksilver finally make it to the St. Juniors house. Which the X-Men really need to repair.
I like Monet and Jubilee chatting, even if it is about Monet mistaking the St. Juniors as the X-Men’s housekeepers.
I love so much Quicksilver helping Becca back to her bed. That’s one way to make me really like Quicksilver. Unfortunately, Becca wakes up, and immediately tells him he isn’t even a mutant. She probably didn’t want to be carried by him either.
Monet wants to see The New New Mutants in action. Even Ember got a new suit! I love this so much!!
Calico falls of Ember, and Quicksilver catches her. She continues to be upset with him, but really, she’s upset that she’s never going to see Gambit again. Quicksilver will never be Gambit. Which I’m pretty sure Quicksilver does not want to be Gambit either.
We cut back to Gabriel and a giant lesser demon who is a giant fly.
Quicksilver way oversteps, and makes a negative comment about Gambit. Calico was not far enough away, and she has Ember use his Rabies attack. Quicksilver is immediately defeated by Ember, and Monet has to get involved before Ember kills Quicksilver.
This is all very intense. Calico and Ember could have killed Quicksilver, and Calico may still do it. All she wanted to be was sad for a minute, which she’s used to. Oh Becca, you break my heart. At least we saw in Unbreakable X-Men, that Rogue and Gambit do adopt her as their daughter, so we know the weight of their love.
The lesser demon’s name is Thenasseil, the Tormentor of Thieves. As Rogue has to fight him away from Gambit, or Wyvern now.
Haven’s Non-Mutant Cemetery. Becca is having a cry, as Ember is nearby. Becca keeps breaking my heart with her quoting her horrible mother’s words. If she ever got outside, she’ll end up hurting people. She was the worst.
Deathdream has to put Sabretooth’s spirt away, as we see Feral, and two others I don’t recognize. A blonde male with a head sock, and an Iceman faced guy.
Logan finds Kurt in a chapel, as he’s prayer for his brother-in-law, Gambit.
Issue ends with Gabriel telling Rogue and Wyvern that they have to leave, and meet their next character in this RPG.
Odd the Next Issue box is still referring to them as The Outliers, and Gail Simone called them that on BluSky recently. Outlier is definitely more marketable for this grouping of characters.
This was such a great issue!
 | John Klein III on X-Men United 1 |
 | MoxieMk5 on X-Men United 1 |
 | Ron on Emily VanCamp |
| John Klein III on Exceptional X-Men 12 |
| MoxieMk5 on Exceptional X-Men 12 |
| John Klein III on X-Men United 1 |
| MoxieMk5 on X-Men United 1 |
| Ron on Emily VanCamp |
| John Klein III on Exceptional X-Men 12 |
| MoxieMk5 on Exceptional X-Men 12 |
Shadow and Flame with Magik 