The X-Men's Brutal Fight for the Future of Mutantkind is Now

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The following contains major spoilers for X-Men #23, on sale January 7 from Marvel Comics.

The final fight against the Age of Revelation has arrived, and only about a decade ahead of schedule.

In a preview of X-Men #23 (by Jed MacKay, Tony Daniel, Mark Morales, Fer Sifuentes-Sujo, and VC's Clayton Cowles) from Marvel Comics, readers find the X-Men of the present taking part in an otherwise ordinary meeting with Doug Ramsey not long after his transformation into Revelation. Unfortunately, it isn't long before Cyclops' consciousness is replaced with that of his future self, all so that someone will be willing to do what is needed and strike Revelation down before he can usher in the end of the world as they know it.

X-Men #23

Written by JED MacKAY
Art by TONY DANIEL
Inks by MARK MORALES
Colors by FER SIFUENTES-SUJO
Letters by VC's CLAYTON COWLES
Design by JAY BOWEN
Main cover art by TONY DANIEL, MARK MORALES & FER SIFUENTES-SUJO
Variant covers by IVÁN TALAVERA; JEREMY WILSON; LEONARDO ROMERO; LUCIANO VECCHIO; NETHO DIAZ, JP MAYER & ARTHUR HESLI; and STEFANO CASELLI & FEDERICO BLEE

The official solicit synopsis for X-Men #23 from Marvel Comics reads, "AGE OF REVELATION EPILOGUE! One X-Man of the present has been stranded in the Age of Revelation, fighting against impossible odds in the world of tomorrow. But while they’ve been there, what has their future counterpart been doing in their body in the present?"

Throughout the course of Marvel Comics' Age of Revelation event, readers have glimpsed the not-so-distant future of the Marvel Universe as it will stand approximately ten years from now. Back in July, Executive Editor and Conductor of X for Marvel Comics Tom Brevoort explained how the Age of Revelation will be treated going forward, particularly in the upcoming Shadows of Tomorrow storyline.

"Going into January and beyond, we’re kind of in the shadow of tomorrow, where the events going forward will all kind of live in the umbra of these events that we have just witnessed," Brevoort stated. "As far as we're approaching this, these are all legitimate futures. This isn't a What If world. These things exist, as far as even the present-day characters are concerned. So, you’ll see a certain amount of reflectivity in what happens."

The Age of Revelation was ushered in by the former New Mutant known as Cypher, Doug Ramsey, who was chosen as the worthy successor to Apocalypse's legacy. After undergoing a drastic transformation, the formerly meek mutant hero emerged as a hulking force of nature capable of bending the will and minds of others with little more than a whisper. Through his armies of Choristers and Seraphim, Revelation was able to lay claim to the vast majority of North America, transforming it into a surprisingly lush if infinitely treacherous landscape.

X-Men writer Jed MacKay previously touched on the wider impact of the Age of Revelation, stating that "The stories unfolding in the Revelation Territories and beyond will decide whether this is the dawn of a new world, or the end of one." MacKay added, "We've been exploring a whole world, and it's been really exciting to see other creators make corners of it their own!"

X-Men #23 goes on sale January 7 from Marvel Comics.